Tail of the Blue Bird

A journey through mystery and cultural intersections

Nii Ayikwei Parkes author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Vintage Publishing

Published:3rd Jun '10

Currently unavailable, our supplier has not provided us a restock date

Tail of the Blue Bird cover

In Tail of the Blue Bird, a forensic pathologist confronts the clash between scientific logic and ancient traditions in a mysterious Ghanaian village.

In the heart of Ghana lies Sonokrom, a village that has remained unchanged for centuries. Here, the community thrives in harmony with nature, speaking the language of the forest and honoring their ancestors through rituals and traditions. The tranquility of this village is disrupted when sinister remains are discovered, possibly human, alongside the mysterious disappearance of a local man. This unsettling event prompts the arrival of Kayo, a young forensic pathologist who believes that scientific reasoning can unravel even the most perplexing mysteries.

As Kayo partners with Constable Garba, they navigate the complexities of the case, which intertwines the ancient beliefs of the villagers with the logical frameworks of modern science. The investigation challenges Kayo's convictions, forcing him to confront the limitations of Western logic in the face of deeply rooted cultural practices and supernatural elements. The story unfolds as the clash between old and new worlds intensifies, revealing truths that transcend mere scientific explanation.

Tail of the Blue Bird is not just a mystery; it is a profound exploration of the relationship between tradition and modernity in developing Africa. The narrative invites readers to reflect on the ways in which these worlds intersect, ultimately leading to a deeper understanding of both the characters and the cultural landscape they inhabit.

A delightful book that combines the basic tug of the whodunit with the more elegant pleasures of the literary novel * Independent *
A lyrically beautiful tale * Arise *
A deeply complex novel; each character, every line entices the reader into feeling the beating heart of urban and rural Ghanaian lives... Parkes' steady, assured writing weaves a cosmological mystery that keeps you guessing to the very last page * Courttia Newland *
A brilliant new voice * Time Out *
A magical and engaging read -- Margaret Busby
An African whodunit that alludes to the troublesome relationship that lies between the modernity and custom ... Parkes has managed to write fabulously poetic and fresh prose that is both vernacular and contemporary * Hisham Matar *
In this tale of crime, punishment, and forgiveness Parkes' landscapes are filled with magic, his characters speak with the wisdom of the ancients; he has used his poet's sensibility to recreate for us the oral tales, fables and wonders of a world before time, a world overtaken by time * Helon Habila *
The novel has a compelling draw; the supernatural is undercut by a psychological authenticity with strong Freudian resonance and a very human pull...like all good detective stories of the gentler persuasion, it is a humane investigation of human failing as much as it is about crime, but it also touches on more threatening and mysterious territory * Times Literary Supplement *

ISBN: 9780099526124

Dimensions: 197mm x 130mm x 11mm

Weight: 129g

176 pages