Our local newspaper solicited suggestions for Summer Reading and one of the contributors mentioned that Mukoma Wa Ngugi’s Nairobi Heat starts in Madison, Wisconsin. Since I spent many pleasant years in Madison, I was immediately attracted to this thriller. The book opens with the murder of a white teenager at the doorstep of an African activist who teaches courses in Genocide at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The narrator is an African-American detective employed by the Madison Police Department. The investigation leads the detective to Nairobi and a chaotic search for clues in Africa. The body count mounts up. If you’re in the mood for an unusual thriller (with echoes of Le Carre’s The Constant Gardener) give Nairobi Heat a try. It’s a quick read. GRADE: C+
Although I should read more books set in exotic (to me) places, the grade doesn’t inspire me that this is the one.
Ditto. A C+ from you is not that encouraging, though I like the cover design a lot.
There are a lot of African-set mysteries these days. I really liked Deon Meyer’s South African-set THIRTEEN HOURS and SEVEN DAYS, both with Benny Griessel.
Patti, the body count in NAIROBI HEAT bothered me.
Jeff, I think you and Patti would probably enjoy Deon Meyer’s African series more than NAIROBI HEAT.
Check out Roger Smith-a South African Crime writer-mainly Mixed Blood and Dust Devils. Also James McClure wrote a very good series starting with The Steam Pig.
Steve, you’re right about James McClure’s THE STEAM PIG. I’ll definitely check out Roger Smith’s MIXED BLOOD and DUST DEVILS. Thanks for the recommendations!
No interest.