Anthologies#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| Once Upon a Crime: An Anthology of Murder, Mayhem and Suspense |
2009 |
Buy |
| Crimespree Magazine #52 |
2013 |
Buy |
| Sunshine Noir |
2016 |
Buy |
| CWA Anthology of Short Stories: Mystery Tour |
2017 |
Buy |
| Ten Year Stretch |
2018 |
Buy |
Detective Kubu Reading Order#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| A Carrion Death |
2008 |
Buy |
| A Deadly Trade |
2009 |
N/A |
| A Deadly Trade / The Second Death of Goodluck Tinubu |
2009 |
Buy |
| The Death of the Mantis |
2011 |
Buy |
| Deadly Harvest |
2013 |
Buy |
| A Death in the Family |
2015 |
Buy |
| Dying to Live |
2017 |
Buy |
| Facets of Death |
2020 |
Buy |
| A Deadly Covenant |
2022 |
Buy |
Detective Kubu Collections Reading Order#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| A Carrion Death |
2008 |
N/A |
| Detective Kubu Investigates |
2013 |
Buy |
| A Deadly Trade |
2009 |
N/A |
| Detective Kubu Investigates 2 |
2019 |
Buy |
| Death of the Mantis |
2011 |
N/A |
| Deadly Harvest |
2013 |
N/A |
| A Death in the Family |
2015 |
N/A |
| Dying to Live |
2017 |
N/A |
| Facets of Death |
2020 |
N/A |
| A Deadly Covenant |
2022 |
N/A |
Non-Fiction#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| A Taste of Africa |
2013 |
Buy |
Short Story Collections#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| African Mysteries |
2020 |
Buy |
Standalone Novels#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| Dead of Night |
2019 |
Buy |
Michael Stanley is the joint pen name of South African-born authors Michael Sears and Stanley Trollip. Sears is a mathematician who specialized in geological remote sensing, while Trollip is an educational psychologist with expertise in computer-aided learning. The two combined their first names to create their shared pseudonym and began writing the Detective Kubu mystery series together.
The Kubu books are set in modern-day Botswana and follow Assistant Superintendent David “Kubu” Bengu as he investigates murders that often touch on the country’s politics, wildlife trade, and cultural tensions. “Kubu” means hippopotamus in Setswana, a fitting nickname for the large, patient detective who loves opera and good wine. The series launched with A Carrion Death in 2008 and has continued through nine novels, including A Deadly Covenant in 2022. The New York Times noted that “readers may be lured to Africa by the landscape, but it takes a great character like Kubu to win our loyalty.”
Beyond the Kubu novels, the writing duo has published short story collections, contributed to several crime fiction anthologies, and written a cookbook called A Taste of Africa. Their standalone thriller Dead of Night appeared in 2019. Throughout their work, Sears and Trollip bring an insider’s knowledge of southern Africa to stories that balance suspense with a strong sense of place.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many books has Michael Stanley written?
Michael Stanley has written 27 books across six series.
What was Michael Stanley's first book?
Michael Stanley’s first book is A Carrion Death, published in 2008.
Who is Detective Kubu?
Detective Kubu is Assistant Superintendent David ‘Kubu’ Bengu of the Botswana Criminal Investigation Department. ‘Kubu’ means hippopotamus in Setswana, a nod to his large build. He is an opera-loving, wine-drinking detective who investigates complex murders across Botswana. Entertainment Weekly called him ‘The African Columbo.’