Hell's Gate

Detective Mollel #2

by Richard Crompton

The gripping second novel in Crompton’s sharply plotted Mollel series—"a compulsive whodunit" (Ian Rankin)

It must have been someone's idea of a joke. Too many offended egos back at headquarters, too many influential people unhappy with him in Nairobi. And yet, with his record, almost impossible to dismiss. So where had they sent Mollel? Straight to Hell.

When Mollel, a former Maasai warrior turned detective, ends up in a small, fly-blown town on the edge of a national park, it looks as if his career has taken a nosedive. His colleagues are a close-knit group and they have not taken kindly to a stranger in their midst. Mollel suspects they are guilty of the extortion and bribery that plague the force, but when the body of a flower worker turns up in the local lake, he wonders if they might be involved in something more disturbing.
     For all is not as it seems in Hell's Gate. Amid rumors of a local death squad, disappearances, and blackmail, Mollel is forced not only to confront his Maasai heritage but also to ask himself where justice truly lies. In upholding the law, is he doing what is right?

Genres: Mystery, Africa, Fiction, Crime, Mystery Thriller, Kenya, Detective

256 pages, Hardcover

First published May 29, 2014

About the author

Richard Crompton lives in Nairobi, Kenya, with his wife and their three young children. A former BBC journalist, Crompton left London several years ago when his wife, a human rights lawyer, was offered a job in Rwanda helping to prosecute the perpetrators of genocide.

Reviews

[Maureen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another outing for Mollel, the former Massai warrior turned cop. Amongst other things, he investigates murder and local corruption, and there’s plenty of suspense to keep the story flowing. Mollel is a cop with great integrity, and his Massai background makes this series quite unique.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second mystery featuring Masaai detective Mollel, following the excellent debut novel, “The Honey Guide.” “The Honey Guide” was set in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi, but this novel sees Mollel sent to the small township nicknamed Hell, after “Hell’s Gate National Park.” The small town is the home of a lakeside hotel, where a diminishing number of tourists arrive to see the wildlife;, put off by violent outbreaks after disputed election results. The lake is also surrounded by flower farms where, shortly after Mollel arriving, one of the workers is sacked for stealing less than perfect blooms and attempting to sell them on the roadside. Later, she is found dead and Mollel is thrown into an investigation which involves murder, blackmail, corruption and poaching.

At times, I was unsure whether this book was less ‘fast moving’ and more confusing; but the storyline was anchored by the character of Mollel and my interest in the world the author has built around him was enough to keep me engrossed. Before long, Mollel has run into a familiar character – Collins Kiunga, his old partner from Nairobi, who is accompanying Judge Oberkampf from the International Criminal Court. Mollel’s new partner, Shadrack, already concerned as to why Mollel has been demoted, becomes suspicious and believe he is spying on his new colleagues.

During this novel, Mollel works undercover, is dragged through the courts, imprisoned and goes on the run. Often neither him, nor the reader, is sure of who can be trusted and who the enemy really is and, during this novel, the author looks at some pretty uncomfortable issues – from extorting money from displaced people, violence against women, what it means to be Kenyan in a society divided by tribal loyalties, wildlife poaching and where do you find justice in a system where both the police and legal system are corrupt? We also learn more about Mollel’s past and discover that, despite the imperfect system, he is a man that is beyond corruption. It is no exaggeration to say that this is a brilliant series and I will certainly be reading on.

[Janine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really don't do detective films, series or books very well because I usually end up wondering whether I 'got' it. It always seems that there are so many false leads that when the crime is on the point of being solved, everything happens at once. This happens in Hell's Gate as well, as your perception of 'goodies' and 'baddies' gets completely tangled. Do I know who did it and why? I think so, but that's not why I read it. I read it for the Nairobi setting and the flashes of recognition from several visits.

For my complete review, please visit:
https://residentjudge.com/2020/12/26/...

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review will follow

[Elisabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wasn't really in the mood. Found it rather confusing.
Interesting aside: searching for this book, I noted a total of SEVEN novels with the same name. Really? Why?

[Mariña Loureiro · Rating 1 out of 5]

«—Solo me pregunto a quién te refieres con «tu gente». Porque ninguno de ellos es masái. Pero ¿quizás quieres decir keniano? El mundo sabe que somos salvajes, ¿verdad? Porque eso es lo que las redes de noticias les ha mostrado. Kenianos matando a kenianos. Gracias a Dios que estás aquí, Justine Oberkampf de la Corte Penal Internacional, para mostrarnos lo equivocado de nuestro comportamiento. Para castigarnos. Porque «mi gente» es obviamente incapaz de solucionar nuestros propios problemas.
Kiunga encorva los hombros y resulta evidente que se centra en conducir.
—En realidad, Mollel —contesta Oberkampf despacio, comedida—, cuando dije «tu gente» me refería a la policía.»

No tengo muy claro por qué escogí este libro pero, sobre todo, no tengo nada claro por qué lo terminé. Supongo que el leopardo me nubló el discernimiento.
Por momentos me pareció tan incomprensible (y sin embargo simplón: la peor combinación posible) que supuse que estaba leyendo la tercera parte de una trilogía y me faltaban absolutamente todas las referencias.
Un señor blanco que nos cuenta un montón de tramas kenianas torpemente conectadas. Igual soy yo que no entendí nada, pero no lo recomiendo en absoluto.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detective Mollel has been sent to a remote town on the edge of Hell's Gate National Park. He and his new police colleagues view each other with mutual mistrust, and corruption, extortion and casual violence seem to be a way of life in the area. Then a woman's body is found in a lake near the flower farm where she worked, and Mollel begins to suspect that the corruption lies deeper than he had realised.

This is an original and exciting novel, with a heroic leading figure in Mollel. The Kenyan setting is vividly brought to life - the tensions between different communities, the struggle for money and ensuing corruption at all levels, the beauty and harshness of the landscape - all these play their part in making this an engaging and unusual detective story. There is also some examination of Mollel's youth in a Maasai village and the childhood experiences that formed his character - these are very skilfully woven into the story.

Sadly it looks like this series may have come to an end, hopefully only temporarily as I would love to read more about Mollel.

[M. Gallego · Rating 2 out of 5]

Entretenida novela policíaca ambientada en Kenia. Mollel, el protagonista, ingresa en prisión preventiva y se entrevista con Mdosi, un capo local, también encarcelado, pero con grandes privilegios, que quiere que el preso recién llegado, antes sargento detective, le explique por qué sus hombres están desapareciendo. Tras la entrevista, los guardias encuentran al policía, con un cuchillo en la mano, mientras el mafioso “yace en un charco de sangre” [pág. 18, cap. 1, "Han tomado el cielo y lo han rodeado"]. A través de "flashbacks", la novela nos muestra qué le ocurrió a Mollel la semana previa para que fuera encarcelado, hasta volver al momento del apuñalamiento de Mdosi y sus consecuencias. La trama se entrelaza con recuerdos del protagonista durante su infancia masái con su hermano menor Lendeva.

https://mgallegog.blogspot.com/2025/0...

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a real page turner! I begrudged every minute away from it as I couldn't wait to find out the truth behind the secrets of Hells Gate...and it keeps you wondering - even when you think you've worked it out.

The author certainly knows the geography of the area covered in the book and has researched the local ways of life well. The characters are fully thought out, fit the roles they play and interact with each other effortlessly, bringing the pages to life in the mind of the reader...leading us along with them throughout.

I fully enjoyed my short time among the citizens of Hells Gate and definitely recommend this book to anyone that loves a mystery or crime read.

I own a soft back copy of this book.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this read. Africa based ‘detective’ story, the unlikely main character being a Masaai and encountering a lot of tribal prejudice amongst other things as he investigates murder and local corruption. A lot of twists and turns in the plot, perhaps too many for a credible outcome? Strong novel nevertheless

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a mystery within a mystery within a mystery. It's that compact.

When it comes to Mollel - it's always conflicting as he has a deep sense of responsibility to get things right and he takes a unconventional way to solve matters.

I'm not sure about this book. It's partly interesting, partly unmoving. I don't know, I'm on the fence with this book.

[Maxime · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book via goodreads in exchange for an honest review
This book had a bad start I nearly dnr however gave it a couple more goes and got more into the characters and storyline which is why I just couldn't give it more than 3 stars

[Sarah Baenen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compelling plot, and I learned even more about Kenyan culture.

A former Maasai warrior investigates corruption and crime in a small community. The story takes him to a flower farm, a prison, a nature reserve, and a few other interesting settings. Good twists at the end make me want the next book to come out soon.

[Steven Vaughan-Nichols · Rating 5 out of 5]

Would you believe there could be a fresh take on an honest cop doing his best in a corrupt world? You will if you read this second novel about Mollel, a Maasai police officer in a hell hole outside of Nairobi Kenya. Excellent mystery.

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick and easy read with a nicely complex lead character, that explores some of the issues faced by modern day Kenya. Didn't enjoy it quite as much as the first book.

[Libros Imprescindibles · Rating 1 out of 5]

Absurdo

[H Beeyit]

No quote marks.

Thank you, 1- and 2-star reviewers. You are shining lights in the darkness, helping me find my way.

[Jean Papillon · Rating 3 out of 5]

surprisingly not so bad

[Don · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book had promise but seemed to stall each time it livened....or maybe my listening became distracted.

[Michael Logan · Rating 5 out of 5]

First up, the disclaimer. I know the author personally and managed to scab an advance copy from him through relentless nagging. Nonetheless, the following review represents my honest opinion. However, if you suspect that this is just one author blowing smoke up another author’s bum, read no further and disregard my star rating.

The first Mollel mystery, The Honey Guide, followed the Maasai detective’s investigation into the murder of a prostitute in the Kenyan capital Nairobi as the city spiralled into violence following disputed elections. This gave the book a grand and chaotic feel, and as such Hell’s Gate is a change of pace—a smart decision by Mr. Crompton, in my view, and one that works very well as a counterpoint to the first novel.

Mollel has been sent to Maili Ishirini, a tiny Kenyan village on the shores of Lake Naivasha, ostensibly because he has upset his superiors in Nairobi by being an incorruptible do-gooder. While this town—described rather unkindly as ‘fly-blown’ in the blurb—may seem like the last place on earth where an investigator of Mollel’s stature can sink his teeth into a meaty mystery, there is far more going on than meets the eye (Think Hot Fuzz).

As is my preferred approach, I’m not going to mention many specifics to avoid spoilers. I will say, though, that events get going with a flash-forward bang—well, more of a stab, actually, and Mollel is the one wielding the knife. This sets up the story nicely and allows Mr. Crompton to take his time a little as he introduces us to the sleepy town and the murder of a flower farm worker before catching up with his first chapter halfway through the novel. Suffice to say that nothing is what it seems, and there are plenty of smart twists and turns and pongs of red herring to delight crime fans.

Mr. Crompton has a strong feel for pacing, and his prose is perfectly judged: sparse and clean when the plot needs to move forward; more lyrical and descriptive when it is time to reflect. This is a book to be consumed in large gulps rather than sipped. I found myself promising to go off and get on with various tasks that needed doing, but then indulging in just one more chapter. And then just one more. So much so, in fact, that I read it a day. Fortunately I am off work at the moment, so I didn’t need to hide in the office toilet to do so.

Criticisms? Well, as in the first book, Mr. Crompton ties in the story to the wider issues affecting Kenya, such as corruption, extrajudicial killings, traditional values versus modernity, environmental degradation, poaching, and the International Criminal Court investigation into the post-election violence. This is a lot to fit in, and occasionally it feels that Mr. Crompton is slightly shoehorning certain elements into the plot to touch on all of these points. Then again, all plots are artificial constructs designed to tell a story or flag an issue, so this is a relatively small gripe.

In summary, if you enjoyed the first Mollel book, you will definitely enjoy this. And, if you are new to the series, you can pick it up without having read the first. Mr. Crompton is adept at squeezing in just enough backstory to keep you filled in without creating chunks of repetition for those who read the first.

On the whole, this is a first-class crime thriller that—thanks to its unusual setting in terms of the genre—will appeal to those seeking out something slightly different.
I give it 4.5 stars and, since I’m a rounder-upper by nature, choose to give it 5 on Goodreads.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book, in part because of a familiarity with some of the locations but also because of the way the story unfolds. It touches on quite sensitive subjects and as such the plot and the characters are very believable.

[Aki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ich habe bereits den ersten Band "Wenn der Mond stirbt" um den Massai - Ermittler Mollel gelesen und war auf den zweiten wirklich sehr gespannt.
Konnte er meine Erwartungen erfüllen und fast nahtlos an den ersten Band anknüpfen?
Lest selbst.

Nach den Ereignissen rund um seinen letzten Fall, wird Mollel in die Provinz Nairobis versetzt.
Auch dort macht er sich nicht wirklich viele Freunde, stößt auf Mauern des Schweigens und der Ablehnung.
Als auch hier die Leiche einer jungen Frau gefunden wird, gerät er schnell in ein Bett aus Lügen und Intrigen, muss am Ende sogar um sein eigenes Leben fürchten. Er muss sich sogar die Frage stellen, ob er wirklich noch für die richtige Seite kämpft.

Der Schreibstil hat mir wie auch im ersten Band wirklich gefallen. Mollel ist trotz oder gerade wegen seiner eigenbrödlerischen Art ein Typ, den man irgendwie einfach ins Herz schließt.
Er sagt, was er denkt und handelt oft so, wie man es gar nicht von ihm erwartet.

In diesem Buch spielt auch die Vergangenheit des sympathischen Ermittlers eine Rolle, welche mittels Rückblenden in die Geschichte eingebaut wurde.

Auch bei diesem Band hat Richard Crompton den Leser deutlich spüren lassen, wie sehr ihm Nairobi selbst ans Herz gewachsen ist und wie sehr er sich damit beschäftigt hat.
Durch verschiedene Handlungsstränge, die am Ende zueinander führen, nehmen den Leser mit auf eine Reise durch das wunderschöne Nairobi.
Durch die detailgetreue Erzählweise des Autors, fühlt man sich fast wie.. Zuhause.
Der Spannungsbogen wird recht konstant aufrecht erhalten, auch wenn ich selbst finde, dass der Autor auch hier noch weitaus mehr Luft nach oben hat.
Dennoch ein Buch, welches ich euch durchaus als Krimi in einer anderen Welt ans Herz legen möchte.

[Bonnie Brody · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book featuring Masai detective Mollel. The setting is again Kenya, but this time it starts off with Mollel in a filthy prison in a backwater town far from Nairobi. As the book goes back in time one week, the reader finds out what has transpired to have placed Mollel in this situation.

Mollel has been demoted and sent to Hell, actually Hell's Gate National Park, a nowhere place far from any real town or settlement. There are six other policemen there, all tight as can be and corrupt. They are suspicious of Mollel and this puts him in personal danger. Shortly after the novel opens, the body of a woman who has been fired from her job at a flower farm, is found in a nearby lake.

The murder, along with intrigue and the back story of Mollel's life, make for an interesting read. As usual, there is a lot of information about the Kenyan uprising of 2007 and the cultural issues that Kenya faces. I was in Kenya during this uprising and was confined to my hotel in Nairobi. I find the information in this book fascinating and it brings back memories of my time in east Africa.

The problem with this novel is that it is confusing at times and I had some difficulty following what was happening. There are no quotation marks and the reader has to figure out who is talking by the author's use of dashes to indicate narrative. It is not as riveting as the first book in the series because it moves much more slowly. However, mystery buffs looking for something different would do well to try out this series.

[Jamie Barringer (Ravenmount) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won my free copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway.

A flower-picker dies and Mollel, a cop from Nairobi, newly reassigned to Hell, investigates the death as his first case in his new position. His coworkers think he is a spy, sent to investigate them, and when an old friend of his from Nairobi turns up unexpectedly in the company of a woman from the International Criminal Court, it seems unlikely that Mollel will survive his new post. Meanwhile his Maasai roots are drawing at him, and he must try to reconcile his past with his current predicament.

I really enjoyed this one. I've read a lot of crime/police/mystery novels lately, and while they all have their own quirks, most are pretty similar once you get past the personality of the sleuth. Books in this genre from places other than Britain and the US are a bit more interesting sometimes, but usually still very similar to all the rest. However, Hell's Gate is set in Kenya, and while the author (and thus the sleuth/hero) understands what Western readers would expect of police and the justice system, the world within which this story takes place is a bit different. For the first few chapters it is disorientingly unclear whether there really is any actual 'rule of law' in Kenya, especially in a backwoods place like Hell (a small town near a tourist landmark called Hell's Gate). This disorientation resolves after a while, but not enough to let the reader forget where the story is taking place.

[Vontel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a most interesting book, taking place in Africa, where Mollel (a Maasi) has been demoted from Sargeant in Nairobi, and sent to a small force out of the city. I'm not sure I read the first book, and will have to go back and do so if I didn't. He was earlier a hero for exposing police corruption in the city. The challenges in parts of Africa, everything from the poverty, and those with criminal and political corruption, work arounds to try to achieve some justice in the face of a corrupt judicial system, the aspirations of the International Justice agencies, the inroads of Chinese investors, of large scale industrial farming, and the poaching of exotic animals, particularly the ivory and rhino horn trade. Turns out Mollel is "under cover" to determine the corruption within this local police force, located near the "Hell's Gate National Park". Enlightening information about the Maasi, and particularly Mollel's family experiences, which have helped propel him to where he is today, and continue to dog him into this stage of his life and work as a policeman.

[Seymour · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, Africa: your enchantments thrill and appall me in equal measure. Having grown up in sub-Saharan Africa, this book gave rise to any number of buried sensations. I very nearly moved to the area where the action is set a number of years ago, before various local troubles (some of which are mentioned in the book) put pay to the plans. From the safety of my armchair in England, I once again had the opportunity to ponder the complexity, brutality and injustices of those faraway places as I followed the footsteps of detective Mollel, investigating an apparent suicide that turns out to be embedded in a web of callous corruption. The crime fighter himself turns out to be unable to escape the force of his nation's history, played out in the lives of tribespeople, officials and outsiders, dwarfed by the magnificent scenery of the Rift Valley. This was a provoking and cleverly constructed yarn and no trouble at all to read in a single sitting. I hope there will be more to come.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is actually the second in Crompton's Detective Mollel series, but I got it first from the library so I started here. The writing is vivid and the action engaging. Crompton does a pretty adequate job of sorting through some of the complexities of life in Kenya without letting explanation and background material cloud the narrative. BUT, I'm a little uncomfortable with an author trying to explore ethnic identity and its relation to Kenyan politics on what can only be an outside's observations. Writing as an outsider for an audience of outsiders, Crompton obviously can't explore the intensely nuanced intersections of class, ethnicity and gender that make up Kenyan identity. Still, he writes a great detective story and the slip ups and missing elements are not going to be noticed by anyone who hasn't spent considerable time in Kenya. If yiu like a good, fast paced detective story with a fascinating setting, this is a great read.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I rate this a 3.5.

Next flight to Kenya, please. This mystery is the same as any other - greed, corruption, and murder, but the culture and location makes this one more interesting. Our hero, Mollel, is a Maasai warrior who left the tribe to become a policeman in Nairobi. This sequel finds him undecover in a small town outside of Nairobi near a nature preserve. While trying to solve a case of mysterious disappearances, Mollel deals with hazing, poaching, and international investigations, which bring him back to his Maasai roots to solve.

Richard Crompton was a journalist which is evident in his writing. It is very hard to follow conversations but his descriptions of Kenya show the pride of his chosen homeland. He also shares ia very good understanding of the Maasai and their navigation of life in the crossroads of traditional and modern society. I look forward to the next installment .

[Gary Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this novel a joy to read. It is beautifully written and refreshingly set in Kenya. A plot indistinguishable in itself as a crime story which could be set anywhere in the world, comes to life, rejuvenates the genre of crime writting, with the character of Mollel and the African setting.

Mollel's character of a down trodden police officer is characteristic in all crime novels, his description, methods, and attitude are not. This novel brings fresh air to sometimes a stale genre.

Can't wait to read The Honey Guide.

[John Benson · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I really liked the first book in this series on Detective Mollel, I was disappointed in this second book. I could picture the setting very well as I went to high school on the escarpment right above Hell's Gate and Lake Navaisha in Kenya. This book is hurt by having a story go in too many different directions and trying to hit on many of the harder themes in Kenyan life whether they have to do with globalization, tribalism, poaching, or environmental degradation. The book has too many subplots and in the end I felt confused and disappointed in the book.