"Marcia Pullman lay on her bed seemingly asleep, a small red rug lay across her legs and on the bedside table next to her was a half-full glass of water. If it weren't for the silver letter opener sticking out of her chest and the small bud of crimson that bloomed from where the blade went in, there was nothing whatsoever out of the ordinary about the scene."

"All Come to Dust" is a delightful Zimbabwean crime novel about a victim everyone hated, a detective determined to solve the mystery surrounding her death, and a host of possible suspects. Chief Inspector Edmund Dube is baffled by Marcia Pullman's early demise. Someone stabbed her, although it looks like she may have died before this happened. So, why would someone bother if the victim was already dead?

As soon as he begins to investigate, Edmund realises people close to and around Marcia are hiding things. The woman who discovered the body was a victim of Marcia's cruelty, while the latter's maid is avoiding giving answers about her movements on the day Marcia died. Marcia's husband seems to have connections high up in the largely corrupt police force, and another man is drawn into the saga after threatening to kill Marcia.

This is an interesting and often quirky examination of a crime that isn't a crime, investigated by a man who takes inspiration from books and movies. The reader is given the viewpoints of all the suspects, though it's hard to trust any of their narratives.

My only gripe with the book is that the large number of revelations are squeezed into only a couple of chapters at the end, making it feel a bit rushed. Otherwise, this is a highly enjoyable book, not only examining an interesting 'crime' but taking a look at a section of contemporary Zimbabwean society.

I tried so hard to enjoy this book as the pace was just too slow for me. I didn't connect with any of the characters very well so I think that added on to why it was difficult for me to get into.

I did enjoy the setting as this book was set in Zimbabwe and that this book gave insight on issues of colonialism and racism.

Overall, if it were more fast-paced, I think I would've enjoyed this book more.

The pacing of this story was the ultimate downfall of the story. There were pages and pages where it felt like nothing would happen and then a lot of things would happen all at once. The perspective and the writing were interesting and engaging but too much of the story felt slow and monotonous.

I tried so hard to enjoy this one more than I did. It really had such a great premise behind it and the writing was really good but my heart just wasn’t quite in it.

I love a good murder mystery, especially a good detective story and this one had all the marks of an Agatha Christie or Hercule Poirot style whodunit. Unfortunately for me it was just a little too bumbling and confusing.
It seemed way too long, as if the end would never arrive, but I desperately wanted to know what happened because I was actually invested in the characters. I think that’s where my frustration lay. Because it seemed too long it was often a chore to get there.

Set in Zimbabwe, the author expertly wove in issues surrounding racism and colonialism with stories past and present intertwining as it all came together. It’s a really slow burn style read, which I am absolutely a fan of, just again, because this was such a hefty book, it just took too long to reach the conclusion for me.

A great idea and premise for a story, just could have done a bit more tweaking and editing and my rating would absolutely have been higher.

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first story from a Zimbabwean perspective I've read, and I quite enjoyed it. It was a really interesting read with a lot of character development. A murder that may not actually be a murder is a great premise for a story. I also loved that it was one policeman determined to get to the bottom, no matter how many times he's told to leave it be. It added to the suspense and trying to work out just who was behind it all.

I felt as though the beginning was a little slow, and the pace picked up about halfway through. I have to say, I never figured it out until things were revealed, so it was well written. The last third was probably my favourite part as things started to unravel more and more.

I like that it was told with both past and present perspectives and how there were so many connections I didn't pick up on.

All in all, a well written story with a strong character focus.

What a great little murder mystery unlike any that I have read before, a first for me in Zimbabwean literature.

I really enjoyed this however I have seen other reviews of those who state it wasn’t for them, and a small part of me can see why.

The story is brilliant, well thought out, enjoyable to read and had such a good start to the book however the pace didn't stick and it got relatively slow through the middle.

It really is worth sticking around through thee slow pace though as the story really does pick up.
The outcome of the mystery at the end, certainly made this whopper of a book worth it.

Many thanks to the Publisher/Netgalley/Author for an advanced copy of this book.

When Marcia Pullman is found dead,Chief Inspector Dube,goes to investigate,however soon the victim's husband and even the rest of the police want him off the case.This is a VERY slow burn that goes for 500 pages, but I did enjoy the detail of the investigation and it kept me hooked,you never know what's going to happen next. Set in Zimbabwe, it touches corruption and racial themes.

‘’All Come to Dust’’ is a typical-not-so-typical murder mystery. Set in post-colonial Zimbabwe, the book is written in a detailed and colourful prose. However, the book is very slow. Actually very slow. Sometimes for pages nothing really happens and it feels like the story gets completely lost within all sorts of unnecessarily small details. I honestly got pretty lost, and judging from the other reviews: I wasn’t the only one.

This was a deeply character driven murder mystery with some intriguing insights into life in post-colonial Zimbabwe. There were some twists and turns that were exciting, but this is a slow-paced novel to be certain. Worth the read in the end if only for Rheam’s prose.

I was not able to finish this book.
I finished a few chapters and I was lost, and quite frankly bored.
I looked ahead to see it was 500 pages and I just didn’t want to commit to it.
I am sure it is a great novel, I just didn’t want to complete.

A really great book, constantly on edge to find out what happened including a lot of tiny details which kept making me even more and more curious

This is a great read and i would recommend you read this! This was a really fun read which I read so so quickly. I was kindly gifted an e-book in return a honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. Based in Zimbabwe, it’s a long meandering tale but written so well that I enjoyed every twist and turn. The characters are interesting and the plot really good.

A Reminiscence Of His Own…
A death at a home in the suburbs of Bulawayo brings the enigmatic Chief Inspector Edmund Dube to the scene. When it becomes clear that people don’t want to answer questions, the Inspector begins a reminiscence of his own. A well written whodunnit which evolves into so much more as the tale progresses. Written with a sharp eye, dry humour and a keen observance of life. A wholly satisfying read.

All Come to Dust is a novel by a Zimbabwean set in modern Zimbabwe. On the surface, it is a classic—and very complex—mystery. I thought it was beautifully written and very descriptive; however, it touched on several characters’ pasts too much to be a true mystery.

I loved this book thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read it. I would add it to my collection.

I really enjoyed this book. It was my first time reading a book set in Zimbabwe and I didn't have any particular expectations, but this was actually an awesome murder mystery with an unusual setting. I was pleasantly surprised and I will definitely be reading other books by this author. Sometimes the descriptions were a little bit lengthy, but at the same time I liked how vivid the places seemed so I didn't mind it that much. It was a 4 star read for me.

What a great . Book! .it has everything a great mystery needs to make you not want to put it down. The characters were all interesting, the story took place in Zimbabwe which was different from most of the m books I read and the mystery held my interestuntil the end. The story is about a “sort of”. murder of a most unlikable woman. Edmund, the only policeman on the force that is not corrupt is determined to get the killer. But, Edmund is fighting his own personal demons which add to the intensity of the story. This all makes for a most intense story!

Thank you Bryony, Parthian Books and NetGalley for the digital arc of this book. The moment I started reading the first chapter, I couldn't put it down. But, as I kept on reading, I fell in and out of the story.

The narration is good. The writing style is elegant. However, the plot is slow, long and elaborate. The characters are created phenomenal especially Dorcas and Craig. I couldn't understand Edmund as much as I wanted to like him. I also felt, some scenes related to Edmund's past are extended unnecessarily.

Overall, it was a decent read. You may feel you are getting into the hype but the next moment, you may shrug and say, "Come to the point, already!" Readers need to bite down time and patience in order to complete reading this long book.

I didn't know what to feel about this book when I first started it. Though well-written and the characters development was not up to par. It can be slow at first, as it took me a while to read and finish the book. I felt as though the author really took their time in describing every detail in the first half, and then not know how to finish the other half so it felt a bit rushed. But all in all, I did enjoy reading the book - just not the fast-paced thriller/mystery that I'm familiar with.