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Darko Dawson #5
Death by His Grace
Katherine Yeboah's marriage to Solomon Vanderpuye is all the talk of Accra high society. But when it becomes apparent that Katherine is infertile, Solomon's extended family accuses her of being a witch, hounding her until the relationship is so soured Solomon feels compelled to order Katherine out of the house they shared. Alone on her last night there, Katherine is savagely murdered by an intruder wielding a machete.
Chief Inspector Darko Dawson of the Ghanaian federal police has personal as well as professional reasons to find the killer fast: Katherine was the first cousin of his wife, Christine, who is devastated by the tragedy. As Darko investigates, he discovers three men had powerful motives to kill Katherine: Solomon, her husband; James Bentsi-Enchill, her lawyer and ex-lover; and her filthy rich pastor, Bishop Clem Howard-Mills. In order to expose the truth, he must confront the pivotal role religion plays in Ghana and wrestle with his old demons the investigation stirs up."
Chief Inspector Darko Dawson of the Ghanaian federal police has personal as well as professional reasons to find the killer fast: Katherine was the first cousin of his wife, Christine, who is devastated by the tragedy. As Darko investigates, he discovers three men had powerful motives to kill Katherine: Solomon, her husband; James Bentsi-Enchill, her lawyer and ex-lover; and her filthy rich pastor, Bishop Clem Howard-Mills. In order to expose the truth, he must confront the pivotal role religion plays in Ghana and wrestle with his old demons the investigation stirs up."
272 pages, Hardcover
First published August 29, 2017
48 people are currently reading
877 people want to read
About the author
Kwei Quartey
17 books762 followersKWEI QUARTEY
Biography
Kwei Quartey is a crime fiction writer and physician based in Pasadena, California. In 2018, having practiced medicine for more than 15 years while simultaneously working as a writer, Quartey finally retired from medical practice to become a full-time novelist. Prior to that, though, he had balanced the two professions by dedicating the early morning hours to writing before beginning each day in his clinic.
Quartey was born in Ghana, West Africa, to a Ghanaian father and Black American mother, both of whom were lecturers at the University of Ghana. Quartey describes how his family’s home was full of hundreds of books, both fiction and nonfiction, which inspired him to write novellas as early as the age of eight or nine. By then, Quartey was certain he wanted to be an author.
But his interests shifted by the time he was a teenager, when he decided he wanted to be a doctor. Quartey began on a science-to-medicine track in secondary school. After the death of his father, Quartey’s mother returned to the United States. By then, Quartey had already begun medical school in Ghana. Transferring to a medical school in the United States wasn’t easy, but he successfully gained admission to Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, DC.
After graduation from his residency training in Internal Medicine, Kwei Quartey returned to his love of writing. He went to a UCLA extension course in creative writing, and wrote two novels while in a writing group that met every Wednesday evening. But it would be a few years yet before Quartey would create the Inspector Darko Dawson series.
As a crime fiction writer, Kwei made the Los Angeles Times Bestseller List in 2009. The following year, the GOG National Book Club voted him Best Male Author. The five Inspector Darko Dawson novels, set in Ghana, are WIFE OF THE GODS, CHILDREN OF THE STREET, MURDER AT CAPE THREE POINTS, GOLD OF OUR FATHERS, and DEATH BY HIS GRACE.
Two novels, KAMILA and DEATH AT THE VOYAGER HOTEL (e-book) are non-Darko books.
In January 2020, Quartey’s new detective series launched to critical acclaim with THE MISSING AMERICAN, the debut of the Emma Djan Investigations and the introduction of the first West African female private eye in fiction. The second in the series, SLEEP WELL, MY LADY, was released January 12, 2021, immediately garnering attention for its unusual style of time shifts in relation to the crime.
THE MISSING AMERICAN was nominated for the 2021 Edgar Allan Poe Award for best novel, and won the 2021 Shamus Award for Best First PI Novel.
LAST SEEN IN LAPAZ, the third Emma Djan novel, was released February 2023, and the fourth, THE WHITEWASHED TOMBS, is expected 2024.
Biography
Kwei Quartey is a crime fiction writer and physician based in Pasadena, California. In 2018, having practiced medicine for more than 15 years while simultaneously working as a writer, Quartey finally retired from medical practice to become a full-time novelist. Prior to that, though, he had balanced the two professions by dedicating the early morning hours to writing before beginning each day in his clinic.
Quartey was born in Ghana, West Africa, to a Ghanaian father and Black American mother, both of whom were lecturers at the University of Ghana. Quartey describes how his family’s home was full of hundreds of books, both fiction and nonfiction, which inspired him to write novellas as early as the age of eight or nine. By then, Quartey was certain he wanted to be an author.
But his interests shifted by the time he was a teenager, when he decided he wanted to be a doctor. Quartey began on a science-to-medicine track in secondary school. After the death of his father, Quartey’s mother returned to the United States. By then, Quartey had already begun medical school in Ghana. Transferring to a medical school in the United States wasn’t easy, but he successfully gained admission to Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, DC.
After graduation from his residency training in Internal Medicine, Kwei Quartey returned to his love of writing. He went to a UCLA extension course in creative writing, and wrote two novels while in a writing group that met every Wednesday evening. But it would be a few years yet before Quartey would create the Inspector Darko Dawson series.
As a crime fiction writer, Kwei made the Los Angeles Times Bestseller List in 2009. The following year, the GOG National Book Club voted him Best Male Author. The five Inspector Darko Dawson novels, set in Ghana, are WIFE OF THE GODS, CHILDREN OF THE STREET, MURDER AT CAPE THREE POINTS, GOLD OF OUR FATHERS, and DEATH BY HIS GRACE.
Two novels, KAMILA and DEATH AT THE VOYAGER HOTEL (e-book) are non-Darko books.
In January 2020, Quartey’s new detective series launched to critical acclaim with THE MISSING AMERICAN, the debut of the Emma Djan Investigations and the introduction of the first West African female private eye in fiction. The second in the series, SLEEP WELL, MY LADY, was released January 12, 2021, immediately garnering attention for its unusual style of time shifts in relation to the crime.
THE MISSING AMERICAN was nominated for the 2021 Edgar Allan Poe Award for best novel, and won the 2021 Shamus Award for Best First PI Novel.
LAST SEEN IN LAPAZ, the third Emma Djan novel, was released February 2023, and the fourth, THE WHITEWASHED TOMBS, is expected 2024.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
August 17, 2017
This is not Quartey’s first novel about Chief Inspector Darko Dawson who works for the Ghanaian federal police, but it is the first one I have read and it can stand on its own.
Dawson’s case is the brutal death of a young wife and is complicated by the fact that Dawson’s wife is her best friend. The Chief Inspector is reluctant to take the case because of the family connection but “soldiers ahead” when his boss says, “do it.”
This is a mystery with an excellent sense of place and time. It is also rich in its descriptions of day-to-day life and the intimate ties between family, and wealth and religion. It has a very large universe of suspects and few are eliminated in the first three-quarters of the book.
I was captured by the descriptions of local foods from kofi broke man to jollof rice. The kinds of celebrations were fascinating and the blending of various religions into the story was a nice complicating factor. Domestic life played a significant part in the arc of this narrative, and we also learn a good deal about the capabilities and short-comings of the police. Without spoiling the story I will just point out that DNA evidence has to be sent out of the country for analysis and that there seems to be only a single certified medical examiner for the entire country!
It was interesting to note how many of the aspects of government were preserved from the time that Ghana was a British Colony and who this free country decided to recognize by naming a building or road. The choices ranged from first Ghanaian president, Kwame Nkrumah to President George W. Bush!
Just as with The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, this author provides us with a close-up picture of a country that most of us will not have the opportunity to visit. What a great way to travel! I am grateful to my daughter for sending this book to me.
*!*! My copy contained a glossary at the end, which I only discovered after finishing the book. It would have been an even better read if I had used it!
Dawson’s case is the brutal death of a young wife and is complicated by the fact that Dawson’s wife is her best friend. The Chief Inspector is reluctant to take the case because of the family connection but “soldiers ahead” when his boss says, “do it.”
This is a mystery with an excellent sense of place and time. It is also rich in its descriptions of day-to-day life and the intimate ties between family, and wealth and religion. It has a very large universe of suspects and few are eliminated in the first three-quarters of the book.
I was captured by the descriptions of local foods from kofi broke man to jollof rice. The kinds of celebrations were fascinating and the blending of various religions into the story was a nice complicating factor. Domestic life played a significant part in the arc of this narrative, and we also learn a good deal about the capabilities and short-comings of the police. Without spoiling the story I will just point out that DNA evidence has to be sent out of the country for analysis and that there seems to be only a single certified medical examiner for the entire country!
It was interesting to note how many of the aspects of government were preserved from the time that Ghana was a British Colony and who this free country decided to recognize by naming a building or road. The choices ranged from first Ghanaian president, Kwame Nkrumah to President George W. Bush!
Just as with The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, this author provides us with a close-up picture of a country that most of us will not have the opportunity to visit. What a great way to travel! I am grateful to my daughter for sending this book to me.
*!*! My copy contained a glossary at the end, which I only discovered after finishing the book. It would have been an even better read if I had used it!
June 15, 2017
I have grown to really like this series set in Ghana with policeman Darko Dawson. I find it so interesting to read stories set in other countries. It's amazing to find out how well the police operate with all problems they have. They have almost no police cars and DNA tests must be sent to South Africa. People often pay the policeman to investigate their crimes. The country has rolling power blackouts with power on 12 hours and then out for 24 hours. Residents are forced to buy generators to continue their business. It's a fascinating look at another culture.
Darko's wife's cousin, Katherine, and her husband are unable to have children. They see fertility doctors and seek religious counseling. His family starts to call her a witch and he eventually leaves her at their urging. He pulls a fast one on her about the house ownership and on her last night in the marital home, she is brutally murdered.
Darko reluctantly leads the murder investigation that includes a bishop and his evangelical church. the husband and Katherine's divorce lawyer. The story ends on a true cliff hanger. I can't wait to see what happens next.
Darko's wife's cousin, Katherine, and her husband are unable to have children. They see fertility doctors and seek religious counseling. His family starts to call her a witch and he eventually leaves her at their urging. He pulls a fast one on her about the house ownership and on her last night in the marital home, she is brutally murdered.
Darko reluctantly leads the murder investigation that includes a bishop and his evangelical church. the husband and Katherine's divorce lawyer. The story ends on a true cliff hanger. I can't wait to see what happens next.
October 1, 2017
Chief Inspector Darko Dawson is back in Accra. His wife Christine's first cousin Kate is having fertility (and marital) problems with her husband Solomon, and is seeking help from her pastor. Then, Kate is brutally murdered in her own home, and the suspect list is quite large, especially since everyone seems to agree she is a nice lady. Darko is assigned a new female partner, which is unusual in Ghana. Author Quarey does a nice job making readers feel Ghanaian as well as wrapping Darko's family life into the story, without interfering with the police mystery. 3.5 stars rounded up.
November 7, 2017
This is the first volume that I have ever read by this author. It's easy, easy read and you can read this entire within an hour or two. Simple language and at times it seems awkward in nuance and word placements. But that could just be the colloquial cultural pattern.
What I liked the most about it was the placement in Accra, Ghana. Certain ways for transportation and the foodstuffs names/styles and much else had all kinds of nifty terms and locale exact words that I had never heard before. There is a glossary at the end which helps too. And I had never read a book with so much of Ghana particulars. This was 4 star in its detail about Ghana's structure. As when the boys were bummed out for lack of using their games because the electricity was off until a much later time. It was a good culture clash picture too in the DNA or various other medical tests vs the local traditional medical or sleuthing mode spar up.
The case itself and how it ended were just not favorites. It's the usual problem of infertility and the wife "must be jettisoned" as barren scenario. A terrible witch characteristic is seated in being a barren female for more than just a few cultures. And not only in Africa either, at all.
Darko is interesting and I'd liked to hear more about his two sons in particular. This is a stand alone and I probably would have get more out of it or enjoyed it more if it (or I) had held more depth for Darko's family. But I really disliked the rushed ending that left tragedy up in the air.
What I liked the most about it was the placement in Accra, Ghana. Certain ways for transportation and the foodstuffs names/styles and much else had all kinds of nifty terms and locale exact words that I had never heard before. There is a glossary at the end which helps too. And I had never read a book with so much of Ghana particulars. This was 4 star in its detail about Ghana's structure. As when the boys were bummed out for lack of using their games because the electricity was off until a much later time. It was a good culture clash picture too in the DNA or various other medical tests vs the local traditional medical or sleuthing mode spar up.
The case itself and how it ended were just not favorites. It's the usual problem of infertility and the wife "must be jettisoned" as barren scenario. A terrible witch characteristic is seated in being a barren female for more than just a few cultures. And not only in Africa either, at all.
Darko is interesting and I'd liked to hear more about his two sons in particular. This is a stand alone and I probably would have get more out of it or enjoyed it more if it (or I) had held more depth for Darko's family. But I really disliked the rushed ending that left tragedy up in the air.
September 24, 2017
While you can technically jump into the series here and not feel lost, there is something–which I can’t reveal because mystery!–that happens which makes me advise that you read the entire series in order. With that said, I love novels that are set outside of the U.S., especially in countries we don’t usually get many books from. Add in a mystery, and make it a series and I’m so happy! This time around, Chief Inspector Darko Dawson of the Ghanaian federal police is looking into the murder of Katherine Yeboah, a woman having marital problems because of infertility. As Dawson tries to solve the case you also get to see glimpses into his private life of him caring for an ill father, and raising two boys with his wife. A good pick for anyone looking for a mystery series to binge and also a good choice for audiobook listeners.
--from Book Riot's Unusual Suspects newsletter: 1800s True Crime, and More Mysteries!
http://link.bookriot.com/view/56a8200...
--from Book Riot's Unusual Suspects newsletter: 1800s True Crime, and More Mysteries!
http://link.bookriot.com/view/56a8200...
July 16, 2018
I listened to the sampler on the audiobook section and i loved the narrator's voice so much I had to listen to the entire book.
This is the first book i have listened to by this author and I believe this is fifth issue in the series.
The book can be read as a standalone so this wasn't a problem but it left me wondering why I had not listened to this series before.
Absolutely brilliant story and wonderfully narrated with an ending i just didn't expect in a million years. I will definitely be looking for more from this author and would give more than five stars if I could. Totally brilliant.
This is the first book i have listened to by this author and I believe this is fifth issue in the series.
The book can be read as a standalone so this wasn't a problem but it left me wondering why I had not listened to this series before.
Absolutely brilliant story and wonderfully narrated with an ending i just didn't expect in a million years. I will definitely be looking for more from this author and would give more than five stars if I could. Totally brilliant.
January 11, 2020
Death by His Grace is engaging, and easy to read. I am only giving it 3 ⭐️s because I have read all of the Inspector Darko Dawson books [so far] and this one seems the least well-put-together.
October 23, 2017
This was the 1st Darko Dawson mystery I read (#5 in the series). I enjoyed the book, but I did not like the last paragraph!
August 27, 2017
This is my first read of a Kwei Quartey mystery and I'm disturbed I waited so long to start reading him. I now have to go back and read the other Darko Dawson adventures. Darko seems to be an efficient police inspector trying to solve the murder of Katherine, who married Solomon, a high society lawyer against the wishes of his sister and mother. This cross "caste" wedding in Ghana sets the stage for this fast paced tricky novel. The descriptions of Ghanaian foods, sights, sounds, lives, language and culture are lush, lively and luxurious. Kwei brings Accra, Ghana alive in a way that the country is almost a character. Darko is a solid husband, detective and son to his father who is suffering from dementia.
His relationship with His wife's family is a little contentious, but his wife Christine is a loving and supportive spouse. She also happens to be the first cousin of Katherine, so when Katherine is found dead in her own home, she is devastated and is rooting for her husband to find the murderer. And Darko is thrown into the investigation that he initially tries to avoid due to familial ties. He quickly narrows down the suspects to three and Kwei keeps the reader guessing by not telegraphing the plot. I guessed wrong on the culprit, and good mysteries will make you do that. I am so glad that I finally read a Darko Dawson mystery and will read the rest of them in short order. Thrilled to be on the Kwei Quartey mystery train. Thanks to Edelweiss and Soho Crime for an advanced ecopy. Book publishes 8/29, 2017. ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5️⃣
His relationship with His wife's family is a little contentious, but his wife Christine is a loving and supportive spouse. She also happens to be the first cousin of Katherine, so when Katherine is found dead in her own home, she is devastated and is rooting for her husband to find the murderer. And Darko is thrown into the investigation that he initially tries to avoid due to familial ties. He quickly narrows down the suspects to three and Kwei keeps the reader guessing by not telegraphing the plot. I guessed wrong on the culprit, and good mysteries will make you do that. I am so glad that I finally read a Darko Dawson mystery and will read the rest of them in short order. Thrilled to be on the Kwei Quartey mystery train. Thanks to Edelweiss and Soho Crime for an advanced ecopy. Book publishes 8/29, 2017. ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5️⃣
July 31, 2017
If you haven't read Quartey yet, please try this one. This is a procedural but it's so much more. Ghana is as much a character as is Darko- who is the classic odd man out in his department. I like these books as much for the cultural and atmospheric aspects as I do with the story. This time the plot revolves around witchcraft accusations-not something I've read in any other series. The writing is not always as smooth as it could be (a good edit would take care of that) but it's measured and appropriate to the setting. Thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC. You can read this as a standalone, and if you do, hopefully it will make you go back and read the earlier ones. There's nuance here that I appreciated. Two thumbs up!
January 20, 2018
I enjoyed the Ghanaian culture and especially the mega-church insights! The story was entertaining but I found the ending a bit disappointing,
July 18, 2017
Note: This book won't be released until August 2017; I received a free uncopyedited version.
This fast-paced mystery set in Ghana introduced me to a completely unfamiliar locale and culture, but the skillful storytelling, adept foreshadowing, and intriguing description of life in this country made it hard to put the book down.
The protagonist, Inspector Darko Dawson, isn’t introduced until a number of chapters in, after a brutal and pivotal murder occurs.
Inspector Dawson is a complex character. He is compassionate with his helpless father who is sliding into dementia, generally patient with his sons, and respectful of his wife.
He is also not a flawless human, and can be exasperated and frustrated when his limits are tested. Darko grumbles when his working wife is too busy to cook a time-consuming traditional dish, and he has to settle for a ready-made substitute. He is blunt with his new rookie partner, who he initially perceives as too timid to do her job. At one point, Darko lectures one of his sons to stay away from wee, a term for marijuana in Ghana. Later on in the story, discouraged about ever finding the killer, he imbibes a little wee himself and has a realization about the case.
Character development is well done. All the foibles and vices of potential culprits are exposed to the light of day so the reader can assess whose greed, jealousy or hate might have spurred them to murder.
The author does a great job in sending the reader in the wrong direction with red herrings, until the final chilling scene with the killer. What I also appreciated about this story is that while the criminal is apprehended, the ending is not entirely wrapped up in a neat bow. The author injects a nice touch of ambiguity at the end, reminding us that real life can be uncertain.
This fast-paced mystery set in Ghana introduced me to a completely unfamiliar locale and culture, but the skillful storytelling, adept foreshadowing, and intriguing description of life in this country made it hard to put the book down.
The protagonist, Inspector Darko Dawson, isn’t introduced until a number of chapters in, after a brutal and pivotal murder occurs.
Inspector Dawson is a complex character. He is compassionate with his helpless father who is sliding into dementia, generally patient with his sons, and respectful of his wife.
He is also not a flawless human, and can be exasperated and frustrated when his limits are tested. Darko grumbles when his working wife is too busy to cook a time-consuming traditional dish, and he has to settle for a ready-made substitute. He is blunt with his new rookie partner, who he initially perceives as too timid to do her job. At one point, Darko lectures one of his sons to stay away from wee, a term for marijuana in Ghana. Later on in the story, discouraged about ever finding the killer, he imbibes a little wee himself and has a realization about the case.
Character development is well done. All the foibles and vices of potential culprits are exposed to the light of day so the reader can assess whose greed, jealousy or hate might have spurred them to murder.
The author does a great job in sending the reader in the wrong direction with red herrings, until the final chilling scene with the killer. What I also appreciated about this story is that while the criminal is apprehended, the ending is not entirely wrapped up in a neat bow. The author injects a nice touch of ambiguity at the end, reminding us that real life can be uncertain.
February 20, 2020
The murder victim, Katherine, is the first cousin of Dawson's wife Christine, so this complicates Dawson's investigation. Katherine was married to Solomon, a successful lawyer, who was leaving her and accusing her of being a witch because she had not been able to give him a child. Solomon's mother and sister joined in the accusations and encouraged him to cheat her out of her share of their house and to leave her. The brutal murder of Katherine and an elderly gatekeeper has any number of suspects - the husband, of course, the attorney who is representing Katherine in her action against her husband and who is her ex-lover, a mentally ill man who claims to love Katherine and is seen across the street from the scene of the crime, the charismatic bishop who had been "counseling" Katherine about her problems and who had designs on her, and a couple of lesser clergy in the bishop's orbit.
The plot is a bit thin and the characters, with the exception of Darko and his sons, are getting a bit stale. I could certainly do with less of the pious, judgmental mother in law.
The plot is a bit thin and the characters, with the exception of Darko and his sons, are getting a bit stale. I could certainly do with less of the pious, judgmental mother in law.
June 3, 2017
I received his book as a gift from my best friend who is a librarian (and was able to get an advanced copy). My parents are from Ghana, and I love murder mysteries, so this book was right up my alley!
Having never read the other books in the series, I can only review what I know from this particular book. I enjoyed the storyline-- the author kept me guessing until the very end (which is becoming more difficult the more I read mysteries!) There wasn't much character development, but this could perhaps be due to it being the 5th book in a series.
I had a huge problem with the sudden ending of the book. Like, very sudden. As in, I went to flip the page but there was only a glossary. Does Darko really die just like that? Has he not been in the other books? What happens after everything??
Aside from the rushed ending, I appreciate the Ghana setting, and the references using actual Ghanaian words and phrases. I'm a bit intrigued by the other books Quartey has written.
Having never read the other books in the series, I can only review what I know from this particular book. I enjoyed the storyline-- the author kept me guessing until the very end (which is becoming more difficult the more I read mysteries!) There wasn't much character development, but this could perhaps be due to it being the 5th book in a series.
I had a huge problem with the sudden ending of the book. Like, very sudden. As in, I went to flip the page but there was only a glossary. Does Darko really die just like that? Has he not been in the other books? What happens after everything??
Aside from the rushed ending, I appreciate the Ghana setting, and the references using actual Ghanaian words and phrases. I'm a bit intrigued by the other books Quartey has written.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 30, 2017
Kwei Quartey's 5th novel in the Darko Dawson series. A friend scored me an ARC at Book Expo in New York. The publication date is scheduled for August 29, 2017. Started reading it and it's really good! Murder, witch accusations, family issues, lashes of religion, bad mother-in-law..... and a great setting in Accra and Darko Dawson on the case!
Read it practically without a break except to sleep! It is so good. So many possibilities, so many pulls and tugs, so much to contend with both personally and professionally for Darko. There is a moment near the end which I am very unhappy about, but it will resolve itself one way or another.
The Mystery Book Group read the first in the series and really enjoyed it. I thought I'd read them all, but somehow missed the 4th book, but have it on order so I can remedy that situation.
Read it practically without a break except to sleep! It is so good. So many possibilities, so many pulls and tugs, so much to contend with both personally and professionally for Darko. There is a moment near the end which I am very unhappy about, but it will resolve itself one way or another.
The Mystery Book Group read the first in the series and really enjoyed it. I thought I'd read them all, but somehow missed the 4th book, but have it on order so I can remedy that situation.
July 3, 2017
I've been a fan of the Darko Dawson books since I read Children of the Street. I don't usually pick up mystery novels, but setting them in Ghana provides for a refreshing twist. Darko Dawson is your typical investigator trying to find justice in a corrupt world, and he's usually up against some pretty corrupt forces.
This is the fifth novel in the series, and I found it to be a page-turner just like the others. If you enjoyed any of the other books I'd recommend this one. If you are new to the series this book stands alone pretty well, though you'll understand Darko and his family better if you've read the earlier books.
This is the fifth novel in the series, and I found it to be a page-turner just like the others. If you enjoyed any of the other books I'd recommend this one. If you are new to the series this book stands alone pretty well, though you'll understand Darko and his family better if you've read the earlier books.
August 9, 2017
It’s apparently a cause for divorce and also a crime punishable by death to be infertile in Ghana because Katherine is not only harassed and tormented for not giving birth, she is brutally murdered on her last night in her marital home. Hotshot detective, Darko Dawson is called in to solve her murder. This case is very personal for Darko because Katherine is his wife’s cousin. Initially, Darko didn’t want to take the case due to fear of being biased but his family and boss encouraged him to.
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August 11, 2017
I love Kwei and his mystery series. This book was a very easy read as well as a pager turner. I love inspector Darko and have also gained a fondness for his wife Christine as well. I even liked Christine's cousin Katherine and hate that she met her demise. Everyone is a suspect and he has you going back and forth as to who her killer is. I love Kwei's writing style and how he is able to write in a way that you can actually picture the scene as if you have been there. I love being able learn about another culture in the comfort of my own home. That ending though...WOW
July 14, 2017
Another awesome, exciting page turner by Kwei Quartey! I looked forward to this book and was drawn in to the Darko Dawson mystery once again. Quartey describes each character so cleverly that the reader feels they are in the same room with them. His love for Ghana brings the country alive for me while I'm reading. I can't wait to see what our Chief Inspector Dawson is up to next!
February 21, 2018
3.5 stars. Weak series entry marred by monsuspenseful, dragged out opening that feels like a separate story. Still solid once we finally get to Darko with authentic cultural info on Christianity in Ghana and some intriguing twists.
April 26, 2018
Another terrific entry in this series of police procedurals set in Ghana. I am liking the main character, Darko Dawson, and his family more and more in each volume! Also, the stories show a lot of the culture and atmosphere of Ghana. Highly recommended.
October 8, 2017
Chief Inspector Darko Dawson is pulled into an investigation when his wife's cousin is brutally murdered with a machete.
December 25, 2017
First time reading this series. This was a true mystery, you don't know the perpetrator until the end. Learn about Ghana, going start looking for other books in the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 7, 2018
Fun read and lots of local colour re the Accra area.
This is the first one I've read of the series so will go back and start at the beginning now.
This is the first one I've read of the series so will go back and start at the beginning now.
December 18, 2023
Wow. This turned out to be a pleasant surprise. I happened to be browsing Libby through my library, saw this book and decided to check it out. It was a very good decision, now I have a new to me author to add to my collection. And I have to go back and check out the author's backlist. This was such a good read. It kept me hooked from start to end, and I was so shocked and surprised by the story line. I will at some point get to the author's backlist and will be looking for any future works from this author.
February 7, 2018
So so novel. Not my cup of tea.
June 14, 2018
Another good Ghanaian mystery. This book reveals the entertwining of religion and witchcraft in the Ghanaian culture. Inspector Dawson also faces challenges in brining up his adopted son.
August 19, 2017
This was a fun and fast read. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me an ARC in return for an honest review.
I was intrigued by the cover and pulled in by the subject - a detective story set in Ghana. I am not a series reader so jumping in at book 5 concerned me but the book stands on it's own reasonably well. There were a few typographical errors which I hope will be cleaned up before publication later this month, but overall I enjoyed the book.
Darko Dawson is a senior detective doing the best he can in an underfunded and archaic police department in Accra. He is tasked with mentoring a new recruit in this story, a young and seemingly timid woman named Mabel Kusi. The two make for an interesting pair as the story progresses. I enjoyed their camaraderie. The story is told in a very linear, almost simplistic, style. It is Chapter 15 before the murder occurs. I don't read a lot of murder mysteries but those that I have read generally begin with the murder and fill in the back story as the investigation progresses. Not so here. Much of the character development has occurred by the time the body is discovered.
The plot has been detailed to death in other reviews here. Suffice it to say the story drew me in, there were plenty of suspects to consider, Darko, as a character, is flawed enough to keep things interesting, and Quartey does a good job of weaving many interesting and educational cultural details of his beloved country into the story. On the down side, I guessed the murderer fairly early on and the surprise (cliffhanger?) ending was entirely too abrupt but, overall, a good read. I hope to find the time to read books one through four in the series.
I was intrigued by the cover and pulled in by the subject - a detective story set in Ghana. I am not a series reader so jumping in at book 5 concerned me but the book stands on it's own reasonably well. There were a few typographical errors which I hope will be cleaned up before publication later this month, but overall I enjoyed the book.
Darko Dawson is a senior detective doing the best he can in an underfunded and archaic police department in Accra. He is tasked with mentoring a new recruit in this story, a young and seemingly timid woman named Mabel Kusi. The two make for an interesting pair as the story progresses. I enjoyed their camaraderie. The story is told in a very linear, almost simplistic, style. It is Chapter 15 before the murder occurs. I don't read a lot of murder mysteries but those that I have read generally begin with the murder and fill in the back story as the investigation progresses. Not so here. Much of the character development has occurred by the time the body is discovered.
The plot has been detailed to death in other reviews here. Suffice it to say the story drew me in, there were plenty of suspects to consider, Darko, as a character, is flawed enough to keep things interesting, and Quartey does a good job of weaving many interesting and educational cultural details of his beloved country into the story. On the down side, I guessed the murderer fairly early on and the surprise (cliffhanger?) ending was entirely too abrupt but, overall, a good read. I hope to find the time to read books one through four in the series.
July 5, 2023
This is the second Darko Dawson book I've read and my rating is 3 stars = I like it by GR's 5 star system. Edit: After reading one of the other reviews, I've upped this to 4 stars as it reminded me how much I liked the writing of the local culture including the exposés.
Comments:
- I love the setting in Ghana. You really get a good feel of the local setting, the people, the places and the culture. For an armchair traveler/reader, it's the next best thing to reading a travel book or going there.
- The writing is easy to read and follow, it's only 253 pages long so I finished it within 12 hours.
- It's a decent police procedural. But it's also part of a series so you get to follow along with Darko's private life and whatever else happens at his department. Dawson is a Chief Inspector of the CID. This is one of the few books where I wished the author would bulk it up with more of what else is going on as I found the "everything else" quite interesting as well.
- The only shortcoming of this book is that the author is not quite the master of the "whodunit" craft. I liked everything else about this book but there wasn't a lot of suspense and the author failed to ramp up on the intrigue that was there; same as the other book I read. I also disliked the title, which will make sense when you read it.
Overall, I liked this book as a Darko Dawson book with a bit of whodunit thrown in. It was a pleasant read and I would strongly recommend this to readers who want to read about other cultures and countries.
I got this book as a free ARC.
Comments:
- I love the setting in Ghana. You really get a good feel of the local setting, the people, the places and the culture. For an armchair traveler/reader, it's the next best thing to reading a travel book or going there.
- The writing is easy to read and follow, it's only 253 pages long so I finished it within 12 hours.
- It's a decent police procedural. But it's also part of a series so you get to follow along with Darko's private life and whatever else happens at his department. Dawson is a Chief Inspector of the CID. This is one of the few books where I wished the author would bulk it up with more of what else is going on as I found the "everything else" quite interesting as well.
- The only shortcoming of this book is that the author is not quite the master of the "whodunit" craft. I liked everything else about this book but there wasn't a lot of suspense and the author failed to ramp up on the intrigue that was there; same as the other book I read. I also disliked the title, which will make sense when you read it.
Overall, I liked this book as a Darko Dawson book with a bit of whodunit thrown in. It was a pleasant read and I would strongly recommend this to readers who want to read about other cultures and countries.
I got this book as a free ARC.
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