I thought this was a great book! Though the character that was the centre of the plot was fairly unlikeable, I thought the setting, the characterisation, the pacing and more were all great. I enjoyed this book so much I read it in two sittings.
I want to thank Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

Title: "All Come to Dust" by Bryony Rheam - A Gripping Tale of Resilience and Redemption

Rating: ★★★★☆

Having delved into an advanced reader copy of "All Come to Dust" by Bryony Rheam, I was pleasantly surprised by the depth and complexity of the narrative. Rheam weaves a compelling story that revolves around family, secrets, and the enduring power of love.

The novel follows the lives of the Richardson family, primarily focusing on Zoe, a spirited and resilient young woman. The story explores her tumultuous journey as she grapples with past tragedies and seeks to unravel the mysteries surrounding her family's history. Rheam's writing is both evocative and emotionally charged, drawing readers into the atmospheric world she has created. The characters are multi-dimensional, with their intricate relationships and personal growth serving as the driving force behind the narrative. "All Come to Dust" beautifully examines themes of forgiveness, redemption, and the enduring bonds of love, making it a poignant and thought-provoking read.

I am sincerely grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me the opportunity to explore this advanced reader copy. "All Come to Dust" is a four-star novel that delivers a rich and immersive story, full of compelling characters and a deep exploration of human nature. It is a testament to Bryony Rheam's storytelling prowess and her ability to craft a narrative that leaves a lasting impact on readers.

Thank you netgalley for the arc in exchange for a review.
This mystery was pretty interesting, but I had a hard time keeping all the characters straight and couldn’t focus on where the story was going.
This just didn't work for me if I’m honest.
Although the premise itself is some where interesting, I did find myself wanting to know who the murderer is, it was just so hard to push through it all in the end.

This mystery was pretty interesting, but I had a hard time keeping all the characters straight and focused on where the story was going.

This story just didn't work for me. Although the premise itself is very interesting, and I did find myself wanting to know who the murderer is, it was just so hard to push through.

The pace was too slow for me, and I kept pushing off picking up this book to continue reading it because I knew a lot of reading will take place without a purpose whatsoever.

I found myself bored most of the time. You expect to be intrigued, scared, frustrated, and curious when you read these kinds of stories, but I was everything but that.

One major thing I found frustrating was all the needless background details about ALL of the characters. I personally love character-based stories, but here, we got so much info-dumping with no point whatsoever.

At some point I expected the author to make the story faster, more interesting, and I expected everything to fall into place. In essence, to get an explanation why I had to read all this extra information. Alas, I was disappointed.

A murder mystery in suburbia with all the bells and whistles.

Thank you NetGalley and Parthian Books for giving me the opportunity to read this.

A surprisingly addictive story but with a disappointingly weak ending.
Really disappointed as there were lots of little parts not tied up.

I have attempted to get into this many times, but unfortunately, this isn't for me, which is disappointing as I was looking forward to reviewing this after hearing such great feedback!

I am still recovering my deep love of reading following way too much time at home and isolated with world events overshadowing the pull of fiction. I chose this book because - mystery! That's always been a go-to genre in bad times. This book starts out strong and reveals its unexpected depth as it progresses. This is no Precious Ramotswe tale - as much as I enjoy those. Not only are social, political and personal issues present to give flavor to the stew. They become the meat and give the novel its heft. Thanks to NetGalley for providing an excellent reading experience.

I really enjoyed this book. It was my first time reading a book set in Zimbabwe and I didn't have any particular expectations, this is a murder mystery with an unusual setting. I was pleasantly surprised and am looking forward to other books by this author. Thank you Net Galley.

The prose is very good. The mystery though...I felt a little bit cheated by the conclusion and wasn't happy with how the character of the chief inspector was handled. It promised much but fell a little bit flat. I think it would have been a much neater book if the wordcount weren't so high.

Chief Inspector Edmund Dube is introduced in All Come to Dust as he investigates the stabbing of a rich woman, Marcia Pullman. He is then refused access to the case, and police documents, and is removed from the case after it is determined she died of renal failure. Edmund’s past is revealed in a sequence of flashbacks to 1979 as he continues his investigation. A slow-paced police procedural set in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, with subtle references to race, class, mental health, memory, and colonialism.

“All Come to Dust,” a mystery by Bryony Rheam, is a classic murder investigation steeped in Zimbabwean culture. Many components of the book can only take place in such settings, and they are necessary for the novel to evolve in the first place. The protagonist is a lone wolf with a complicated personality and backstory who is dedicated to completing his task. The characters are well-developed, albeit slowly, with just enough cliches or stereotypes to lead the reader to believe they already know something. At the same time, the plot is both compelling and tiny or contained. It takes its time unraveling and provides enough red herrings mixed in with its hints along the way to make you want to keep reading and not feel cheated out of a satisfying conclusion. Throughout, it is a portrayal of how class, race, and gender still work in contemporary Zimbabwe, not so much an indictment as a laying bare of how injustice and privilege are still baked into everyday life, and the attempts of diverse individuals to break free.

This is an intriguing and often amusing look at a crime that isn’t a crime, as examined by a man who draws inspiration from books and movies. The reader is given the perspectives of all the suspects, however, it’s difficult to believe any of them. In the end, I enjoyed this story. It grew heavier than I had anticipated and dealt with several difficulties I’m currently working through. If you’re seeking a mystery that also serves as a character study of Zimbabwe, this is the book for you.

All come to dust was a bit of a dragging read for me. While the book started off well and was engaging, the pace was a bit off afterward. Somehow it fell flat for me.

I wanted to love this one but it fell a little flat and left me wanting more. I liked it and it would be great for fans of slow butn Police procedural story.

I was excited to be able to read this book, however it fell flat on its face. I really struggled to finish it and I doubt I will look out for books written by this author in the future.

At first glance, this seems to be a straightforward murder mystery set in Zimbabwe. Rich white woman Marcia Pullman is found dead on her bed, stabbed in the chest before her book club evening event. Chief Inspector Edmund Dube is first on the scene and is determined to solve the mystery.

But both Marcia and Edmund turn out to be complex characters and what seems on the surface to be happening is completely different underneath. An interesting and thought provoking read.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing a review copy in exchange for honest feedback.

This second novel by African author Bryony Rheam is crime fiction, a contrast to her earlier historical debut novel a decade ago. All Come to Dust introduces Chief Inspector Edmund Dube as he investigates the stabbing of a wealthy woman, Marcia Pullman. It is then discovered she died due to kidney failure and he is denied access to the case, police records and removed from the case. A series of flashbacks to 1979 provide Edmund’s backstory as he continues to investigate. A gentle paced police procedural with subtle insights into race, class, mental health, memory and colonialism as played out in the city of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Fiction’s newest memorable police detective makes for a pleasant read and three-and-a-half-star. With thanks to Parthian Books and the author, for an uncorrected advanced review copy for review purposes. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own and freely given, without persuasion.

To simply describe this beautifully written, densely textured, novel as a murder mystery would be an egregious understatement. To describe it as a police procedural, or a maverick cop, or a psychological thriller – for it is all of these – would similarly undersell it. To set the scene, the story centres around Edmund Dube, a black Zimbabwean, at two specific points in his life. In 1979, aged seven (the Jesuitical age when personality is formed), he is almost the only non-white pupil at a prestigious school in Bulawayo, Rhodesia. His access to the school had been facilitated by Chief Inspector McDougal, for whom Edmund’s mother worked as a maid. Now, in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, he is Detective Chief Inspector Edmund Dube. The cultural shifts evidenced in that name change underpin this book but are subliminal not overt. The reader doesn’t need to know the history because the writing provides the ambience.
When a woman is reported as murdered, Edmund rushes off to investigate and quickly establishes that the paperknife buried in the centre of her chest is not the murder weapon, because she was dead before she was stabbed. The deceased is a white woman, Marcia Pullman, part of the dwindling number of such individuals, rich, influential, a pillar of society and detested by almost everyone. Her husband is a beefy, obnoxious, functioning alcoholic who, on the face of it, runs a safari company. Both of these sound like stereotypes, caricatures, but in this writer’s hands they are neither. Edmund begins an investigation but is swiftly removed from the case (if a natural death embellished with a dagger actually constitutes a case) and side-lined, ridiculed. Clearly the Pullman’s have enormous influence within this kleptocracy. Edmund, and an unlikely (indeed random) assistant, must try to resolve if there is a murder; if so who is the murderer; what illegal activities surround the Pullman’s apparent control of the local powers-that-be? And what connection, if any, is there with his childhood?
The quality of the writing, the skilful use of metaphor, the sense of place, the depth of the characterisation, the intricacy of the plot, combine to produce a singular work. This book is way above five stars.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.

An interesting start, a plot full of promises but the story didn't keep my attention and feel flat.
Not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

A murder that may not be a murder but is probably still a murder in a village in Zimbabwe.

This had a fabulous start and I was in it with all the book club characters who all seemed to have reasons to kill the book club host!

Then the middle of the story took me a while to get through. I had the initial feelings of a cozy mystery, but it became much more serious with all sorts of issues ranging from decolonization, racism, classism, human trafficking, adoption, and ageism. I felt like the murder mystery was more of a tool with which the author wanted to delve into her view of Zimbabwean life, as complicated and messy as it may be. It did take me a bit to work out the various perspectives.

The ending took all the backstories and details and seemed to work it all together very well. I enjoyed the Poirot-esque homage and reveals at the end.

Ultimately, I did enjoy this story. It became heavier than I had expected and dealt with some issues I am still processing. If you are looking for a mystery with what I would almost describe as a character study of Zimbabwe, grab this book which will be out March 4, 2022!

Thank you to NetGalley and Parthian Books for the opportunity to read this digital ARC.