Kubu sits down for a question-and-answer session with dru’s book musings so that we, the readers, can get to know him better.
What is your full name?
David Bengu, but most people know me by my nickname ‘Kubu’. That means hippopotamus in my language. I was very upset at first when a rich white boy at school first called me that. But after a while, I realised he didn’t mean it maliciously, but more as a term of affection. After all, I am quite big.
How old are you?
22
What is your profession?
I’m a detective sergeant in the Criminal Investigation Department of the Botswana Police Service
Do you have a significant other?
I am seeing a young woman in Gaborone. She is very significant to me, but I’m still not sure that she feels the same way.
What is her name and profession?
Her name is Joy Serome. She’s wonderful. She works at the Records Department in the Police Service.
Do you have any children?
No
Do you have any siblings?
No
Are your parents nearby?
They are both alive and live in a small town north of Gaborone called Mochudi. They don’t have much, but have done their very best for me. If I can be half as good as them, I’ll feel very proud.
Who is your best friend?
I’m a bit of a loner, so don’t have any close friends. I’ve just joined the police force so I haven’t made good friends there yet, but I hope I’ll find a good partner to work with at the CID. I’m quite friendly with Dr. Ian MacGregor. He’s from Scotland and the police pathologist. He’s a lot older than I am, but he’s a good listener and colleague. We had quite an adventure together up in Shakawe near the Okavango Delta, where an old Bushman skeleton was discovered quite by chance and it led to a big murder case.
Of course, I’m hoping that Joy will become a close friend.
Do you have any pets?
No, but I’d really like a dog if I manage to get my own home.
What town do you live in?
Gaborone
Do you live in a small town or a big city?
Gaborone is the biggest town in Botswana. We think of it as a big city, but it probably wouldn’t be regarded that way outside Botswana.
What type of dwelling do you own or rent?
I rent a room in someone’s home.
What is your favourite spot in your home?
That’s a difficult question because the room is so small. Probably the fridge.
What is your favourite meal and dessert?
Another difficult question! I love good food but can’t really afford it. However, I have had a rump steak, which I found delicious, especially with a glass of red wine. I have simple tastes for dessert. Ice cream and hot chocolate sauce is hard to beat.
Do you have any hobbies?
I like to read. Also, I listen to opera on the radio when I can. I love the blending of musical instruments with the human voice. And I love puzzles of any sort.
What is your favourite vacation spot?
I don’t think I ever had what would be called a vacation. When school or university was out, I usually spent the time at my parents’ house.
What is your idea of a really fun time?
Eating a good meal with a nice wine, in the company of someone I can talk easily to.
If you were to write a memoir, what would you call it?
I’ve Been So Lucky!
Amateur or professional sleuth and whom do you work with?
I’m a professional detective with the police service. I love the work but sometimes struggle with a few colleagues who, I think, are jealous that I became a detective sergeant without being on the beat. I believe one should put everything into whatever job you have.
What is a typical day in your life like in general and when you are on a case?
I walk to work early in the morning because I don’t have a car and that’s when it is cool. When I’m on a case, I’m thinking about it the whole time, even when I’m asleep. I’m fortunate to have an active subconscious. I always try to keep an open mind. When I was young, a Bushman friend of mine, Khumanego, took me into the desert and drew a circle in the sand. He asked me what I saw. When I answered, he laughed and said that Black men couldn’t see. When he showed me everything that was there that I hadn’t seen, I was very embarrassed. I made a promise to myself to become very observant and to see what others didn’t. It was also at that time, I decided I would become a detective, not only because I thought it would be very interesting and I like solving puzzles, but also I could contribute something to the future of the country.
A Deadly Covenant, A Detective Kubu Mystery #8
Genre: Police Procedural
Release: September 2022
Purchase Link
This is the eighth book in the Detective Kubu series and the second with him as a young man.
While building a pipeline near the Okavango Delta, a contractor unearths the skeleton of a long-dead Bushman. Kubu and Scottish pathologist, Ian MacGregor, are sent to investigate, and MacGregor discovers eight more skeletons.
Then an elder of the nearby village is murdered at his home. The local police believe it was a robbery, but Kubu thinks otherwise. So does a strange woman who claims it was an angry river spirit. The situation gets more confusing when the strange woman is found dead, apparently killed by a crocodile.
Assistant Superintendent Mabaku joins them as accusations of corruption are levelled and international outrage builds over the massacre of the Bushman families. But how do the recent murders link to the dead Bushmen, if at all? As Kubu and his colleagues investigate, they uncover a deadly covenant and begin to fear that their own lives may be in danger.
The young Kubu’s second big case mixes local mythology and tradition with smart police work to make for a satisfyingly immersive mystery that begs resolution until the last, unpredictable moment.
About the author
Michael Stanley is the pen name of Michael Sears and Stanley Trollip. The two are both South Africans and retired academics, Michael a mathematician and Stanley an educational psychologist. Michael lives in Knysna on the South African south coast, and Stanley splits his time between Minneapolis, Denmark, and Cape Town. Their award-winning mysteries, featuring Detective Kubu, are set in Botswana. Death of the Mantis was an Edgar finalist and Deadly Harvest an International Thriller Writers award finalist. The seventh Detective Kubu mystery, Facets of Death, was released in January 2020 by Poisoned Pen Press. The eighth mystery, A Deadly Covenant, was published in September 2022.
A stand-alone thriller, Shoot the Bastard, featuring investigative journalist, Crystal Nguyen, was published in June 2019 by Poisoned Pen Press. Outside North America, Orenda Books published it as Dead of Night.
They have written and published many short stories and have edited an anthology of short stories set in hot places called Sunshine Noir.
Connect with them on their website at michaelstanleybooks.com, on Faceboook, on Twitter at @detectivekubu, and on their blog, murderiseverywhere.blogspot.com.
All comments are welcomed.
Thanks Dru Ann!