Hour of the Red God (Detective Mollel) - Softcover

"A spectacular fiction debut . . . Instantly elevates the author, now a Nairobi resident, to the first rank of African crime writers." --"Publishers Weekly" [starred review]

"["Hour of the Red God"] combines a sinuous plot, a wonderfully complex and tragic protagonist, and a remarkable portrait of a city that is simultaneously exotic yet familiar . . . All fans of international crime fiction will want to follow Mollel through Nairobi's mean streets." --"Booklist"

"Former BBC journalist Crompton's debut features a unique voice, an in-depth look at diverse Kenyan rites and political chicanery, and a hero who, one hopes, is just at the beginning of his fictional career." --"Kirkus Reviews"

"["Hour of the Red God"] is not the first mystery novel to be set in Kenya, but it must be the first in which the cop hero is a Masai warrior . . . Mollel, whose wife was killed in the 1990 bombing of the U.S. embassy in Nairobi, investigates the brutal murder of a prostitute. He is drawn into nasty local politics and corruption as Kenya holds its 2007 general elections and faces the violence that follows. National events and Mollel's family problems are blended into a good plot and an interesting cast of characters." --"The Times" (London)

"In Richard Crompton's hands, Nairobi makes for an exotic and exciting setting, a multilayered city pulsing with intriguing chaos. It's the characters, though--especially the steadfast and scarred Mollel--and the hope and fear the city's people experience and inspire, that elevate "Hour of the Red God "and keep you turning the pages, full of hope and fear of your own." --Bill Loehfelm, author of "The Devil She Knows"

"A compulsive whodunit set in Kenya, where tribal politics can get you killed."--Ian Rankin
"Spellbinding and grimly fascinating."--"The Christian Science Monitor
""An impressive novel...full of the indigenous sights and sounds we crave in such a work."--"The Wall Street Journal
""It's an unusual feeling for a mystery fan to get in on a new series this good from the first book....Richard Crompton's debut Detective Mollel novel is a fantastic read, an exotic hard-boiled noir with heart and a fascinating, troubled hero."--"The Cleveland Plain Dealer
""From the moment we meet Mollel...we enter an entirely fresh world....This is a smashing debut, as fleet-footed as the warrior himself. It will make you long for the next installment."--"Financial Times" (London)

A compulsive whodunit set in Kenya, where tribal politics can get you killed. "Ian Rankin"

Spellbinding and grimly fascinating. "The Christian Science Monitor"

An impressive novel...full of the indigenous sights and sounds we crave in such a work. "The Wall Street Journal"

It's an unusual feeling for a mystery fan to get in on a new series this good from the first book....Richard Crompton's debut Detective Mollel novel is a fantastic read, an exotic hard-boiled noir with heart and a fascinating, troubled hero. "The Cleveland Plain Dealer"

From the moment we meet Mollel...we enter an entirely fresh world....This is a smashing debut, as fleet-footed as the warrior himself. It will make you long for the next installment. "Financial Times (London)""

A compulsive whodunit set in Kenya, where tribal politics can get you killed. Ian Rankin

Spellbinding and grimly fascinating. The Christian Science Monitor

An impressive novel...full of the indigenous sights and sounds we crave in such a work. The Wall Street Journal

It's an unusual feeling for a mystery fan to get in on a new series this good from the first book....Richard Crompton's debut Detective Mollel novel is a fantastic read, an exotic hard-boiled noir with heart and a fascinating, troubled hero. The Cleveland Plain Dealer

From the moment we meet Mollel...we enter an entirely fresh world....This is a smashing debut, as fleet-footed as the warrior himself. It will make you long for the next installment. Financial Times (London)

-A compulsive whodunit set in Kenya, where tribal politics can get you killed.- --Ian Rankin

-Spellbinding and grimly fascinating.- --The Christian Science Monitor

-An impressive novel...full of the indigenous sights and sounds we crave in such a work.- --The Wall Street Journal

-It's an unusual feeling for a mystery fan to get in on a new series this good from the first book....Richard Crompton's debut Detective Mollel novel is a fantastic read, an exotic hard-boiled noir with heart and a fascinating, troubled hero.- --The Cleveland Plain Dealer

-From the moment we meet Mollel...we enter an entirely fresh world....This is a smashing debut, as fleet-footed as the warrior himself. It will make you long for the next installment.- --Financial Times (London)