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emilyberrios's review against another edition
dark
funny
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Very interesting perspective and take. Lively story telling, characters with depth and complexity, likeable yet imperfect characters, loathsome characters too. A very fun read!
Book left a number of loose ends and unresolved issues at the end. There was deserved disciplinary action against Darko that didn't seem to have lasting repercussions, the Bedome priest got his manhood cut off, the remaining Trokosi still need rescuing, what happened to his auntie? So many unresolved questions that seem important enough and relevant to Darko's life enough that they should have been resolved in at minimum a post script, I think.
Book left a number of loose ends and unresolved issues at the end. There was deserved disciplinary action against Darko that didn't seem to have lasting repercussions, the Bedome priest got his manhood cut off, the remaining Trokosi still need rescuing, what happened to his auntie? So many unresolved questions that seem important enough and relevant to Darko's life enough that they should have been resolved in at minimum a post script, I think.
stephanie19's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.25
annieca's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
revacholdawn's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
book_concierge's review against another edition
4.0
Digital audiobook performed by Simon Prebble.
First in a series featuring Detective Inspector Darko Dawson of Accra, Ghana. Dawson is a dedicated family man with a loving wife and a charming, if medically fragile, young son. He’s also somewhat of a rebel in the police force and frequently at odds with his cantankerous boss. He’s not happy about his new assignment in remote area of Ghana; a young woman – a promising medical student and AIDS worker – has been found dead in a jungle area near the small town of Ketanu. The local police are not equipped to handle an investigation like this, and Dawson, who has relatives in the town, is fluent in the local indigenous language. But what he uncovers brings up many memories of his own mother, who disappeared without a trace after a visit to her sister in Ketnau.
Oh, I am going to like this series! Darko is a principled man, but he has his demons, and he seeks solace in smoking marijuana. He’s also sometimes prone to resorting to his own brand of vigilante justice. But there’s no denying that he’s a talented – and tenacious – detective. The way he ferrets out small clues and pieces the puzzle together is marvelously portrayed. There are plenty of suspects and motives and a compelling subplot to keep the reader off balance and guessing.
I also really appreciated the information on the cultural ideologies and customs of this small corner of Ghana. There’s a significant clash between traditional beliefs and modern-day medicine. And Dawson also needs to tread carefully in the political minefield that is the turf of the areas leaders, who, if not exactly corrupt, are certainly misguided and provincial in their thinking.
Simon Prebble does a marvelous job reading the audiobook. He really brings these characters to life.
First in a series featuring Detective Inspector Darko Dawson of Accra, Ghana. Dawson is a dedicated family man with a loving wife and a charming, if medically fragile, young son. He’s also somewhat of a rebel in the police force and frequently at odds with his cantankerous boss. He’s not happy about his new assignment in remote area of Ghana; a young woman – a promising medical student and AIDS worker – has been found dead in a jungle area near the small town of Ketanu. The local police are not equipped to handle an investigation like this, and Dawson, who has relatives in the town, is fluent in the local indigenous language. But what he uncovers brings up many memories of his own mother, who disappeared without a trace after a visit to her sister in Ketnau.
Oh, I am going to like this series! Darko is a principled man, but he has his demons, and he seeks solace in smoking marijuana. He’s also sometimes prone to resorting to his own brand of vigilante justice. But there’s no denying that he’s a talented – and tenacious – detective. The way he ferrets out small clues and pieces the puzzle together is marvelously portrayed. There are plenty of suspects and motives and a compelling subplot to keep the reader off balance and guessing.
I also really appreciated the information on the cultural ideologies and customs of this small corner of Ghana. There’s a significant clash between traditional beliefs and modern-day medicine. And Dawson also needs to tread carefully in the political minefield that is the turf of the areas leaders, who, if not exactly corrupt, are certainly misguided and provincial in their thinking.
Simon Prebble does a marvelous job reading the audiobook. He really brings these characters to life.
suzannemseidel's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
A very compelling murder mystery with lots of layers
millarpa's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
poojbooj's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
5.0
the story telling was so beautiful and i enjoyed how the mystery was not fully predictable
adventures_of_a_french_reader's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
Interesting first book in a mystery series set in Ghana where modernity clashes with tradition and superstitions. In this first book, we get to know detective inspector Darko Dawson: his family, his past, his good and bad qualities. I'm quite curious about reading the next book in the series (on hold at my library).
ovenbird_reads's review against another edition
3.0
Around the World: Ghana
Setting and details about Ghanaian culture/ritual/religion/beliefs etc were really interesting and are predominantly what kept me reading. The actual plot was good enough, but not earth shattering.
Setting and details about Ghanaian culture/ritual/religion/beliefs etc were really interesting and are predominantly what kept me reading. The actual plot was good enough, but not earth shattering.