Cathy C. (cathyskye) -
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.
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.
Vivian Q. (bellasgranny) -
Another winner from Kwei Qusrtey. Second in his Darko Dawson series set in Ghana, West Africa. Quartey writes really well, his characters and storyline are very interesting and Ghana truly comes alive for me. I can't wait for his next effort. He's presently working on his third installment, but has posted on Facebook that Random House will not publish it and he is looking for a new publisher or will epublish. I hope that we continue to hear from this talented author.
Andrew K. (kuligowskiandrewt) -
The streets of any big city are "home" - term used very loosely to an assortment of runaway and thrown-away children. These kids have to watch each others' backs against all threats including each other because no one else is there to do it. Sometimes, their self-developed safety net fails.
In "Children of the Street", Kwei Quartey explores the issue of runaway children in Accra, the capital of Ghana because there appears to be a serial killer that has discovered that they are easy prey. Quartey looks at their lives, their struggle to survive, and the efforts limited, as resources don't come close to matching need to assist them in their day-to-day struggles AND to emerge to a more fulfilling life.
Quartey also uses this book as an opportunity to examine the issues of a highly politicized police department, where decisions and promotions are determined by who you know and by the status of the person making any particular request or complaint. Unlike other authors reflecting upon similar themes, Quartey actually allows that the right thing sometimes gets done not always as quickly or as efficiently as might be desired, though.
This book has been on my To Be Read list for quite awhile; I did myself a disservice by not opening it shortly after I acquired it.
RATING: 4 1/2 stars, rounded up to 5 stars. I enjoyed reading it, and will remember it after I've moved onto other books.
POSTSCRIPT RANT: Some of the promotional material I've seen for this book, including a quote on the back cover from the Wall Street Journal, compares the author / lead character to Alexander McCall Smith's Number One Ladies Detective Agency. In my opinion, other than the fact that both series are set in Africa (in vastly different parts of the continent) featuring locally born protagonists, these two series have nothing in common, and find the comparison lame on multiple levels, perhaps even just a bit racist.
In "Children of the Street", Kwei Quartey explores the issue of runaway children in Accra, the capital of Ghana because there appears to be a serial killer that has discovered that they are easy prey. Quartey looks at their lives, their struggle to survive, and the efforts limited, as resources don't come close to matching need to assist them in their day-to-day struggles AND to emerge to a more fulfilling life.
Quartey also uses this book as an opportunity to examine the issues of a highly politicized police department, where decisions and promotions are determined by who you know and by the status of the person making any particular request or complaint. Unlike other authors reflecting upon similar themes, Quartey actually allows that the right thing sometimes gets done not always as quickly or as efficiently as might be desired, though.
This book has been on my To Be Read list for quite awhile; I did myself a disservice by not opening it shortly after I acquired it.
RATING: 4 1/2 stars, rounded up to 5 stars. I enjoyed reading it, and will remember it after I've moved onto other books.
POSTSCRIPT RANT: Some of the promotional material I've seen for this book, including a quote on the back cover from the Wall Street Journal, compares the author / lead character to Alexander McCall Smith's Number One Ladies Detective Agency. In my opinion, other than the fact that both series are set in Africa (in vastly different parts of the continent) featuring locally born protagonists, these two series have nothing in common, and find the comparison lame on multiple levels, perhaps even just a bit racist.
