When Trouble Sleeps

I would like to thank Netgalley and Myrick Marketing & Media LLC for a review copy of When Trouble Sleeps, the second novel to feature Lagos based lawyer Amaka Mbadiwe.

When a plane crash kills a candidate for governor of Lagos State Chief Ojo is quickly named as his replacement. The very Ojo Amaka hopes to hold to account for past behaviour. This quickly puts her on a collision course with a ruthless party which will stop at nothing to get their man elected.

What a read. Its powerful, gritty depiction of the graft, corruption, greed and arrogance (pick your own synonym to add to the list) is not only deeply unsettling but frightening and well worth five stars. I thought the author was maybe exaggerating for effect until, mid novel, I read a news article (https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/indian-election-reveals-role-of-money-as-43-percent-of-mps-face-criminal-charges-20190616-p51y6t.html) about the latest Indian elections where millions of pounds worth of cash and valuables were confiscated from political parties and where almost 43% (yes, forty three) of the lower house’s elected representatives are awaiting trial on criminal charges up to and including murder. Now, I have no problem accepting the brazen lawlessness depicted in the novel.

I had more difficulty with the format of the novel which switches point of view within the chapters and sometimes from paragraph to paragraph. I find it difficult to concentrate with all changing perspectives and the large cast of characters so was initially very confused about what was going on, where all the characters fitted in and what their motives were. I only began to settle in to the read after having read 20% of the novel. The rest of the novel, however, is worth the effort. It is tense, taut, violent and very readable with some good twists. I am drawn to foreign authors, not just for learning about new locations which I love but because they see things differently to me, making their novels more unpredictable and more of an adventure. When Trouble Sleeps is no different. I didn’t try to guess the outcome or any of the stops on the way and instead thoroughly enjoyed the roller coaster to the clever ending.

I haven’t read Easy Motion Tourist, the preceding novel, so I feel I lost a bit of information on Amaka’s motive as to why she helps prostitutes and how her organisation came to exist. What is obvious is that she is dedicated to her cause and a smart operator in getting a result.

When Trouble Sleeps is not initially an easy read but bear with it as it turns into an exciting, action packed thriller which I have no hesitation in recommending as a good read.