Death in Kenya

by M.M. Kaye

Book Overview

Written by one of the most gifted storytellers of our time, Death in Kenya is a wonderfully evocative mystery, reminiscent of the best classic novels of Agatha Christie. When Victoria Caryll is offered a position at Flamingo, her aunt's family estate in Kenya's Rift Valley, she accepts-knowing full well that the move will give her a chance to see Eden DeBrett once again, the man she was previously engaged to. But she doesn't realize that coming to...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312901178
• ISBN13: 9780312901172
• Release Date: January 1984
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 308 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 4.2" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

Death in Kenya - one of the best

M.M. Kaye is a novelist of her time. She writes mysteries set in places at the end of the British Empire. All of Kaye's books are excellent and it's almost impossible to choose a favorite. Death in Kenya is excellent though and gives us not only a terrific mystery, but a window into a time and place long since past. We see into the erosion of the "white man's burden" - and it's consequences for the men and women who were at the outposts of an empire.

Fabulous blend of mystery, suspense and romance!

Before I read this book, the only works of M.M. Kaye that I had read were the Far Pavilions and Shadow of the Moon. Both were excellent but I had seen her as more of a romance writer and was therefore surprised to learn that she has written mysteries as well. Death in Kenya is a very well-written mystery with a nice touch of romance but the best part is the atomosphere. Kaye does a masterful job of recreating Colonial Kenya at the end of WWII where many settlers were born and bred in the country yet clung stubbornly to their British roots. The world they inhabit is one of bungalows, afternoon tea parties, card parties at clubs, and hunts - this sounds old-fashioned even for the 1950's, but you recognize that the winds of change were already blowing over the remaining colonized countries and the white settlers were desperately trying to hold on to a disappearing lifestyle. The mystery itself is intruiging - Victoria Caryll, a young girl who had been born in Kenya but was subsequently sent to England for her education is asked to come out and be with her aunt, Lady Emily DeBrett. Victoria is reluctant because returning to Kenya would meen meeting her cousin Eden DeBrett, who she had been formerly engaged to. As a teenager, she had been in love with Eden when he had broken her heart by abruptly calling off their engagement and marrying another girl. However, her aunt prevails upon her to come. But as she is on her way out, Eden's wife Alice is brutally murdered and the story takes off from there. The mystery is interesting and genuinely suspenseful and reading about Kenya was amazing! Kaye had actually lived in Kenya and her love for the country and indeed all of Africa clearly comes through. Highly recommended!

One more wonderful book by Kaye. . . . . .

I must tell all you that I enjoyed this just like I have enjoyed ALL OF HER BOOKS since I first read 'Far Pavillons'. She is the reason I still want to go to India! In "Death In Kenya" I could picture the setting having traveled to Africa in 1989 and I was fortunate to spend some time in the bush on safari and it was simply wonderful. Her books once again bring enjoyment to me. I am ashamed to admit that after I read 'Shadow of the Moon' I was sidetracked and never read any of the others, but I am making up time for the lapse now. "Death in Kenya" is thoroughly enjoyable and I am now looking forward to reading her "Golden Afternoon". How special!

My favorite "Death in..." mystery so far.

I've read "Death in Kashmir", "Death in Zanzibar", and now "Death in Kenya". I liked them all, but found this one to be the most fun. It has a very good twist at the end, with the discovery of the murderer. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the M.M. Kaye "Death in..." books!

loved it

I did especially enjoy this mystery by M.M. Kaye. I love all her books. The settings are exotic and beautifully decribed by someone who has obviously lived there and has known all the character types who appear in her stories. British drawing room mysteries without the drawing room. Lots of sightseeing, historical references, etc. It takes you back to a time that seems, to me at least, as very interesting. Cocktails, and tea, and nobody ever works for a living. Very intertaining.