One of the highlight of ARCs is that you are able to discover new amazing authors and series.
This is what happened with this ARC.
It's a fascinating, engrossing and entertaining story that kept me hooked till the last page.
I love Sibanda, a fascinating detective, as much as I liked the cast of characters.
The book is full of great description of Africa, the political and historical situation, and it keeps you hooked till the last page.
The mystery is great, full of twists and turns, and it keeps you guessing.
I loved the style of writing, the descriptions and the humour.
i look forward to reading other books in this series.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

This is the first in a fascinating crime series set in rural Matabeleland and national park in Zimbabwe by CM Elliot. It features bush expert, DI Jabulini Sibanda, trained at Nottingham Police College, but he grew up locally, and despite it being a rural purgatory for many impoverished Africans, for him it is home and his zoological, botanical and ornithological bush knowledge is key to his investigation and central to the novel. He is an impatient man, with a strong sense of frustration when others cannot understand or keep up with him, often bullying, but he is respected and inspires loyalty. He is obsessive and determined when it comes to crime, relentless in his efforts to progress police cases at the heavily under resourced Gubu Police Station. He is intending to marry his pretty and stylish girlfriend, Kanku, who so far, unlike other women of his experience, has been understanding of the demands of his job. His boss is Chief Inspector Stalin 'Cold War' Mfumo and his partner, Sergeant Ncuba is a city man with little knowledge of the bush, its abundant flora and fauna, but an expert when it comes to fixing the falling apart Land Rover, Miss Daisy, against all the odds.

Close to the Thunduluka Lodge, a luxury safari resort for rich western tourists, the mutilated body of a African man is discovered being feasted on by vultures. Initially it looks like a straightforward unfortunate death of someone lost in the bush, but Sibanda spots evidence that suggests otherwise, it is murder, possibly motivated by Muthi witchcraft, which has seen the killing of many Africans. However, its a tricky investigation, especially with its possible links to the rich and powerful Governor, Micah Ngwenya, a man Mfumo does not wish to see troubled at all, not that this concerns Sibanda in the slightest. In the meantime, there is the death of an African vagrant, killed by the owner of the farm, Robert McLean, because his wife had apparently been hit by the man, but it is transparently clear that nothing is as it seems. Aided by his bush knowledge, Sibanda chases leads that uncover surprisingly connections between the dead men.

This is a brilliant beginning to a series that immerses the reader into life in the African bush, Zimbabwe's colonial history and civil war, the corrupt land redistribution that failed to benefit any ordinary Zimbabweans, along with so many new owners suffering from a serious lack of farming expertise. The major highlight for me was the location, the colourful and vibrant wildlife and environment, often portrayed through Sibanda's eyes and knowledge. Sibanda himself finds himself challenged by a case that ventures close into his personal life. He is a flawed human being, who fails to see why anyone should be exempt from justice, even if they are rich and powerful. This is a great entertaining, dark and compelling read for anyone who is interested in crime fiction within the context of Africa and Zimbabwe in particular. Many thanks to Little, Brown for an ARC.

I haven't heard about this book before but it attracted my attention. I quite enjoyed the mystery, the writing. It was very approachable with some humor.
I would recommend it for a gripping summer read that'd be entertaining.

Thanks a lot to the publisher and Netgalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review.