A Carrion Death, the first book in the Detective Kubu Mystery series, was shortlisted for best debut mystery novel for the Barry, Macavity, and Strand Magazine Critics' awards. It was also shortlisted for the UK's Crime Writers Association Debut Dagger award, and for the Minnesota Book Awards Genre Fiction.

Death of the Mantis, the third book in the series, was shortlisted for the Anthony and Edgar awards and won the Barry Award for best paperback original mystery.

A Death in the Family is the fifth book in this exceptional series and begins with a bang when Kubu's elderly father is murdered. Kubu is ordered away from the case, but as usual, he has trouble following orders.

Meanwhile, in the small town of Shoshong, the local Chinese-owned mine wants to take over part of the village. A week later, a senior official in the Department of Mines is found dead. Kubu becomes convinced that the official was murdered.

As always, Michael Stanley creates a seamless and complex mystery with a fascinating look at modern-day Africa.