Critics' Opinion:
Readers' rating:
Published Apr 2016
368 pages
Genre: Mysteries
Publication Information
Darko Dawson, Chief Inspector in the Ghana police service, returns in this atmospheric crime series often compared to Alexander McCall Smith's The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency novels.
Darko Dawson has just been promoted to Chief Inspector in the Ghana Police Service - the promotion even comes with a (rather modest) salary bump. But he doesn't have long to celebrate because his new boss is transferring him from Accra, Ghana's capital, out to remote Obuasi in the Ashanti region, an area now notorious for the illegal exploitation of its gold mines.
When Dawson arrives at the Obuasi headquarters, he finds it in complete disarray. The office is a mess of uncatalogued evidence and cold case files, morale is low, and discipline among officers is lax. On only his second day on the job, the body of a Chinese mine owner is unearthed in his own gold quarry. As Dawson investigates the case, he quickly learns how dangerous it is to pursue justice in this kingdom of illegal gold mines, where the worst offenders have so much money they have no fear of the law.
"Starred Review. Exceptional ... Fans of mysteries that offer a window into another culture will be more than satisfied." - Publishers Weekly
"Dawson finds himself caught between warring factions - not just the good guys and the bad guys, but the good guys and the not-so-good guys." - Kirkus
"Quartey presents a good-hearted policeman in a noir world of exploitation and corruption." - Booklist
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Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Photo: Steve Monez
Based in Pasadena, California, Kwei Jones Quartey, M.D. is a writer of African crime fiction. He practiced medicine for more than 20 years while simultaneously working as a writer, balancing the two careers by writing early mornings before clinic. However, in 2018, he made the decision to retire from medicine to write full time.
Wife of the Gods, the acclaimed debut in his Inspector Darko Dawson series, was on the Los Angeles Times Bestseller List in 2009. A year later, G.O.G. National Book Club awarded him the title of Best Male Author.
In 2020, the Emma Djan Investigations series debuted with the highly praised The Missing American, followed by the sequel Sleep Well, My Lady.
In a starred review, Jane Murphy of Publishers Weekly says, " ... Quartey, also the author of the Darko ...
... Full Biography
Author Interview
Link to Kwei Quartey's Website
Name Pronunciation
Kwei Quartey: kway quart-ay
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