30 Jan 2012DEATH OF THE MANTIS shortlisted for Minnesota Book Awards
DEATH OF THE MANTIS is one of four books chosen for the shortlist for Best Genre Fiction 2011 for the Minnesota Book Awards.  The winner will be announced in April.
19 Jan 2012DEATH OF THE MANTIS SHORTLISTED for EDGAR
DEATH OF THE MANTIS is one of five mystery novels chosen by the Mystery Writers of America as their shortlist for Best Paperback Original for 2012.  The MWA Edgar awards are the "academy awards" of the mystery writing world.  You can read the full list of nominations by clicking here.
4 Jan 2012DEATH OF THE MANTIS compared to Tony Hillerman`s Navajo novels
In Gumshoes Around the Globe (Sun Courier, January 1), Kathy Hickman chose DEATH OF THE MANTIS and A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO DIE (Malla Nunn) to represent South Africa. 

Of  DEATH OF THE MANTIS she said:

"A well-paced complex plot keeps the reader guessing, and the novel's sense of place is so masterfully rendered that the snowbound reader will happily burn in the heat of Botswana's Kalahari desert.

Reminiscent of Tony Hillerman's love of Navajo culture and customs, "Death of the Mantis" incorporates legendary mystical elements with a lament for the disappearing culture of the nomadic Bushmen."

If you would like to read the full article, click here.
12 Dec 2011DEATH OF THE MANTIS New Website
We have a new website giving articles and information on the Bushman and Kalahari backstories of DEATH OF THE MANTIS.  Also "photo albums" with pictures of the area, the birds, and the animals of Botswana.

Whether you are interested in a deeper appreciation of the issues or just would like to see the areas described in the book, we think you will enjoy it.

You can get to it by clicking the link under the cover picture of DEATH OF THE MANTIS on the DetectiveKubu website, or simply by clicking here.
20 Nov 2011DEATH OF THE MANTIS in LIBRARY JOURNAL TOP 10
Library Journal has rated DEATH OF THE MANTIS as one of their top ten mysteries published in 2011. You can read their comments and the full list for 2011 by clicking here.
31 Oct 2011Bookreporter Review
Bookreporter reviewed DEATH OF THE MANTIS:

“DEATH OF THE MANTIS is one of those rare books that transcends its rich genre. While there is a mystery at its core, it is also a study of the human condition, of the best and worst of people who do what they do for the best and worst of reasons. And Kubu is one of the best friends you will make between the pages of a book ... A wonderful piece of work, a novel that is quietly perfect in every way.”

We promise that we paid no money for this, nor wrote it ourselves!!
31 Oct 2011STRAND MAGAZINE TOP 12
Recently STRAND magazine voted DEATH OF THE MANTIS as number 5 in its list of top mysteries for 2011.  Here is the full list:

1. Buried Secrets by Joseph Finder (St. Martin’s Press)

2. Carte Blanche by Jeffery Deaver (Simon & Schuster)

3. Delirious by Daniel Palmer (Kensington)

4. Damage by John Lescroart (Dutton Adult)

5. Death of the Mantis by Michael Stanley (Harper)

6. 13 Million Dollar Pop by David Levien (Doubleday)

7. Nearest Exit by Olen Steinhauer (Minotaur Books)

8. Thick as Thieves by Peter Spiegelman (Knopf)

9. Inmate 1577 by Alan Jacobson (Norwood Press)

10. A Simple Act of Violence by R.J. Ellory (Overlook)

11. Serial by John Lutz (Kensington)

12. Strong at the Break by Jon Land (Forge)
9 Aug 2011Library Journal Starred Review!

Library Journal gives Death of the Mantis the thumbs up:

"VERDICT: Impossible to put down, this immensely readable third entry from (Michael Stanley) delivers the goods. Kubu’s painstaking detecting skills make him a sort of Hercule Poirot of the desert."

2 Aug 2011Booklist review
"As the investigation progresses, Kubu is drawn deeper into the hot, dangerous, and mysterious Kalahari, chasing a killer and the legendary source of the Namibian diamonds. As in the previous titles, Stanley creates a seamless and complex mystery, replete with the unique atmosphere of modern Botswana".
21 Jul 2011Witness Reviews Death of the Mantis

"Kubu himself, intelligent, ­honourable, a fine detective, a loyal friend, and proud family man who delights in good food and drink, is always a pleasure.  In him, Trollip and Sears have created a robust and believable ­series character... Full marks."
8 Jul 2011LOUISE PENNY
Best selling author of the Inspector Gamache series said:

"Death of the Mantis, by Michael Stanley, is the best book I’ve read in a very long time. I’m fascinated by Africa and now I really want to visit Botswana. Through this book, I’ve come to love the people there, and fall totally for the main character – a policeman, nicknamed Kubu, the Setswana name for Hippo. He is gentle, wise and loyal to his family, his colleagues and his friends. He is altogether a lovely man. Death of the Mantis is a fantastic read. Brilliant!"

11 Jul 2011Cape Times Reviews DEATH OF THE MANTIS
The Cape Town morning daily - Cape Times - said: "Most fascinating is that the story surrounds and reveals many of the ancient traditions and current ways of the Bushman in the red Kalahari ... you will want to keep reading about the desert and its prey to the very end."
25 Nov 2010Every day from all over the globe! The Murder is Everywhere blog.
Join international mystery writers every day at Murder is Everywhere. Cara Black (Paris), Leighton Gage (Brazil), Tim Hallinan (Bangkok), Jeffrey Siger (Greece), Yrsa Siggurdardottir (Iceland), Dan Waddell (England) and the two of us (Botswana) write stories about the countries in which we set our stories - stories that make fascinating reading. To go to the blog click here.
26 Jul 2010Third Detective Kubu manuscript attracts interest
Rights to the third Detective Kubu mystery, Death of the Mantis, have been bought by HarperCollins in the USA, Headline in the UK, and Eichborn in Germany.

Publication dates are still unknown.