Mystery and Murder in Kenya

 

A review of The House at Mbabati by Samantha Ford

                Samantha Ford is a British author who sets many of her books in Africa.  The House at Mbabati is no exception.  The plot revolves around killings that took place years ago and the denials and coverups that ensued. All, however, is carefully revealed via an intrepid journalist. Of course, there is a remarkable twist at the end.  Even so, it is a well-paced story which is an entertaining read.

The Kenya setting is quite okay although some of the European social antics were more appropriate in colonial times than in the eighties where the story is set.  Luke, the African retainer is a bit mythical, but he is needed for the story.  He is, however, the only African in the mix.  The house itself is overblown, but also necessary. Exaggeration adds to the enjoyment.

Being the nitpicker that I am, I found several inconsistencies in descriptions. First was the presence of Maasai warrior cattle keepers alongside the road north from Nairobi to Nyeri and Nanyuki.  Although certainly symbolic of Kenya, that is not their turf.  Secondly, arriving by ship in Mombasa, then taking a ferry to the mainland to catch the train is wrong. True Mombasa is an island, but it is connected to the mainland via causeway over which the railroad runs. No need for a ferry.  Thirdly, the business of the plantation associated with Mbabati was sisal. Yet the area – two hours north of Nanyuki – is not one of Kenya’s sisal growing areas. It is ranch land. Finally, the title, dissecting Mbabati in Swahili: M denotes place, so, the title means house at the location of babati.  I can’t find a definition of babati. That’s okay it can be made up, which it apparently is. I like the fact that the title is redundant. It actually reads The House at at babati.  The two closest Swahili words are mbali which means far away or mbati which is metal roofing.

Nitpicks aside I enjoyed the book.