Author: Kwei Quartey
Genre: Mystery, Darko Dawson Series #1
Published: 2009
Personal Rating: 4.25/5 (very good +)
Format: Audiobook
Format: Audiobook
Yearly Count: 17
Detective Inspector Darko Dawson working in the capital city of Accra, Ghana, is assigned a case in a small, remote village where a murder has occurred. He was chosen specifically due to his familiarity with the area (relatives live there) and his ability to speak the language.
Oh, I liked this book. A lot. Darko is a wonderful new character to the police procedural/mystery genre. He is a stellar inspector and devoted family man, but he has some anger issues, as well as, a nasty habit. Sounds like a real person, doesn't he? :)
I was intrigued by the plot the whole way through because there was so much more going on around the case. I don't care to read about witchcraft or anything along those lines, and there was some of that. However, it fit with the old customs of the village and didn't pose a problem for me at all.
I'm so glad that I got to this one now, because the second in this series is being published in July. I want to stay on top of it, so I plan on getting to it as soon as possible.
Yes! I too really liked this book and am really looking forward to the next one. Hopefully the follow up will be as strong.
ReplyDeleteI liked Darko and his complex character, and the mix of old and new customs.
I heard of this book from a fellow teacher, who was interested in the Ghana setting, because she had travelled there as a pre-service teacher.
I had no idea this was going to be a series - I need to read this one soon, I guess. It sounds so good!
ReplyDeleteRaidergirl3 ~ I picked this one up randomly and am so glad I did. I'm really looking forward to the next!
ReplyDeleteThat's interesting about your fellow teacher . . . Ghana! I'm imaging an incredible experience. :)
Bermudaonion ~ I really, really liked it! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
My mystery book group read this one last year. We all enjoyed it and I especially enjoyed learning more about Ghana. Looking forward to the next installment this summer. Glad it worked well for you.
ReplyDeleteKay ~ It did work out well! I think I'm going to stop by your blog to see what you had to say.
ReplyDeleteI've had the first Delany book ready and waiting for me. I hope to get to it before the summer ends. Oh my! I can't believe I have summer on the brain, especially when we are expecting snow flurries today. Maybe that's why!!! Haha
I picked this one up last year from the library and never got to it..I should change that!
ReplyDeleteStaci ~ I didn't pick it up when it first came out because I thought it would be too much like McCall's series. It's not. This book has more depth in character and plot.
ReplyDeleteStaci ~ Okay - that would be Alexander McCall Smith. :) McCall was obviously all that stuck in my head.
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