Thursday, December 13, 2012

Children of the Street by Kwei Quartey


First Line: A day shy of his seventeenth birthday, Musa was a boy with the survival instincts of a grown man.

If you're a child living on the streets of Accra in Ghana on the west coast of Africa, you have to develop these survival instincts or you will die. There are sixty thousand other homeless street children in Accra. Musa is merely one of many.

When Detective Inspector Darko Dawson is called out to investigate the murder of one such street child in the slum of Agbogbloshie, little does he know how much he's going to learn about what it's like to grow up on the streets.

Dawson is an admirable but flawed character. His one vice has been smoking marijuana, and although he's been weed-free for several months now, he knows that particular illegal vice could come back to bite him at any time. He has a wife he loves deeply and a small son who was born with a heart defect. Darko and his wife are desperately trying to save money for their son's needed surgery, but the boy is running out of time.

Perhaps it's because Dawson is so worried for his son that this case of a serial killer targeting street children becomes all-consuming for him. As he follows leads through organizations that try to help these children, Dawson gets to know a few of the youngsters better-- and he becomes determined to do something for them.

Quartey has created a thrilling police procedural that's also strong social commentary. Moreover, it's not soapbox social commentary; through all of Dawson's relationships with family members, friends, and co-workers, through his investigation into suspects from all walks of life, the reader gets to see the real Ghana. It's a country which has had a lot of help in creating its current problems, and it's clear that all those responsible should have a part in solving them.

Writing a book that's part mystery part social indictment is a delicate task. Quartey has managed to do this very well. He's created a compelling story with memorable characters that's made even stronger by his portrait of the country in which his story is set.

Children of the Street by Kwei Quartey 
ISBN: 9780812981674 
Random House © 2011
Paperback, 335 pages

Police Procedural, #2 Detective Inspector Darko Dawson series
Rating: A
Source: Purchased at The Poisoned Pen.

12 comments:

  1. Gosh, I thought this was a good book. One of the best I've read in the last couple years. Thanks for this review.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're welcome, Joe. Quartey is so adept at telling an eye-opening story. I heard his publisher dropped him, and I certainly hope he finds a new one so we can read more about Dawson, his investigations, and Ghana.

      Delete
  2. This series sounds like something a little different for me - and I'm anxious to try it!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ooh, this sounds awesome! I've only read a couple of mysteries set in Africa - and they were set in the colonial era, not modern day. I'm definitely going to have to look for this one.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There are some excellent mysteries set in modern day Africa, Jessica. Another of my favorites is the Detective Kubu series written by Michael Stanley.

      Delete
  4. I LOVE this series and can't wait for his next one!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh, this is awful that Quartey's publisher dropped him. There are few enough published African writers, including of crime fiction.

    This sounds like a very good book, albeit a painful one. I'm afraid I'll just get so angry over the inequality and injustice in the world -- especially affecting children who deserve to have decent lives and futures.

    This is an example of the "haves" and "have nots" in the world, which should be remedied.

    Anyway, I'd like to read this book but it sounds like it's plucked out of reality and more than painful. I hate to read about children in such desperate circumstances and poverty, without much help, having to fend for themselves. However, it's the real world in so many places. I do not blame the people of Ghana at all; there's so much poverty everywhere.

    Hope this author can continue his detection and social commentary. It's needed.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Cathy - What a great blend of a taut, well-written story and a discussion of an important social issue. It's very hard to balance the two but I'm glad it happens here. What an effective way to tell a story that needs to be told.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, it is. It's been sticking like a burr in my mind ever since I read the book.

      Delete

Thank you for taking the time to make a comment. I really appreciate it!