Starts as a police procedural, which is fine by me - I love them: Chicago cops turn up to investigate a death, the cause of death is very weird, and how it was managed is baffling. Cops hear about a similar murder a long way across the country...

Meanwhile, someone has just arrived in England - we don't know where from - and talks like someone from a bad 1930s film. She meets a grifter, they fall into some trouble together, and of course their paths eventually cross the paths of the American cops. And I can't tell you why or how without going into some of the key revelations, the discovery which was a massive part of why I enjoyed this novel so much.

I spent a lot of this novel not really sure who the traveller was, where they were from, and what their purpose would turn out to be. Sometimes this sort of suspense is really annoying, but not here: although their overall intention was mysterious, Oyebanji still managed to create a character who was fascinating and appealing enough that I wanted to keep hanging out with them. He also does some very clever things with the American cops, I think, although as a white Australian I'm really not in a position to fully comment on that.

The book is fantastic. There's wonderful characters, excellent interactions between them, and an intriguing and compelling mystery. It covers racism, mammoth questions like what justice really is or looks like - and is a standalone story. Highly recommended.

Esperance hooked me from page one and didn’t let go. I mean, how could it? It opens with an impossible murder - a father and son drown in seawater inside their 20th-floor Chicago apartment (with no water tank around, floors dry, and nail scratches on the ceiling). A dead barracuda is just lying there next to them. For me, that’s the kind of opening that demands attention, and trust me, Oyebanji knows exactly how to keep it.

All of this somehow ties to a woman in Bristol who dresses and speaks like she walked out of the 1930s Nigeria, has and builds tech that shouldn’t exist, and is on a very specific historical scavenger hunt. Yeah, I’m in.

The pacing is perfect - the short chapters told from two points of view (Detective Ethan Krol and Abi) fly by quickly thanks to the right mix of action, mystery, and those oh-crap moments where everything shifts. The sci-fi elements are there, but Oyebanji doesn’t over-explain them, which somehow makes them even cooler. I found the twists top-tier, but your mileage may vary. Anyway, just when I thought I had things figured out, nope. With that said, it’s possible some readers won’t be crazy about police procedural elements, but since I love them, I had no issues here.

I also loved the dynamic between Hollie and Abi. Hollie is basically most of us. Abidemi, on the other hand, is an enigma - charismatic, dangerous, and inhumanly brilliant. Their relationship had the odd but interesting energy, and I loved how their interactions went from trust and suspicion and back.

Even the antagonist had motivations that actually made sense. There’s logic to their actions, even if their methods are, let’s say, a lot.

By the time I hit the final act, I was all in. The twists come fast, the revelations hit hard, and the ending is equally satisfying and unsettling. I feel it’ll stick with me. If you’re into Blake Crouch-style thrillers, Neal Stephenson-esque tech mysteries, or just a smart, fast-paced story that refuses to be predictable, Esperance is absolutely worth your time.

It’s been a long time since I’ve read a thriller and I don’t know that I’ve ever read one this engaging. It hits all the usual marks and then some, since in addition to being a well-crafted police procedural/mystery, it’s also a well-crafted sci-fi novel. The social commentary is also spot on, though I’ll be curious to see if there are any changes in the final draft, particularly with how often race is mentioned in the first section. It seems to be intentional as a way of characterizing the white cop’s relationship to the idea of race, but it felt unnecessary, especially since it wasn’t consistent throughout the book.

Once the perspectives shifted, though, and especially as we got to know all the characters better, the book really hit its stride and became unputdownable. The final act was as thrilling as you could hope for it to be and kept me eagerly page-turning until the last. Overall, it was a very enjoyable read and I look forward to seeing how others enjoy it once it is released.

Many thanks to Adam Oyebanji and DAW Publishing for this advanced reader copy in exchange for my review.

This is so good. A new favourite author for me. Science fiction meets action meets twists and turns. Truly great read. I am off to read the author’s other books. More please.

This is so good. A new favourite author for me. Science fiction meets action meets twists and turns. Truly great read. I am off to read the author’s other books. More please. Thank you to the author. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

Writing: 5/5 Characters: 4/5 Story: 4.5/5

Part (very weird) murder mystery, part speculative fiction and a wow ending — Esperance is an evolving surprise from start to finish.

Ethan Karol is the Chicago PD detective trying to solve the seemingly inexplicable murder of a father and son, found drowned in seawater next to a large (also dead) fish on the 20th floor of a fashionable apartment building. Meanwhile, Abidemi Eniola is roaming the streets of Bristol (England), dressed in 30s attire, speaking in a weird accent, and full of technological trickery that is beyond anything her accidental sidekick, Hollie, has even considered possible. And both Karol and Eniola appear to be trying to track down a very specific, long ago sea captain…

All the characters are fun to read and slowly learn about. Character insight comes through action and behavior more than any kind of introspection. Themes of racism, justice, and intergenerational trauma are core to the story, but (IMHO) serve primarily as background motivation for what is an intense, action filled set of pages. In truth, a little more action than I usually care for, but so well-written and full of surprising twists I didn’t even have time to complain (to myself).

I’ve read all four of Oyebanji’s books in the last four months and they have all been written (or at least published) in the last three years. This is promising! Two books are straight up mysteries (not cozies, but also not *too* thrilling for me) and two are SciFi Crime / Mystery. Author has exactly the kind of interesting bio that leads to creative plots and unusual characters. I’ll be keeping an eye out for all his new, apparently rapidly produced(!), works.

I powered through this book in a couple of days, trying to make it last longer, but it’s a difficult one to put down. Comparisons to Blake Crouch and Andy Weir caught my attention, and the author did not disappoint.

The story starts out as a murder mystery, drowned bodies, with seawater in their lungs, are found many miles from the sea. It soon becomes apparent that the murderer has the ability to disrupt technology and hack in to systems that make him or her invisible to the investigator. Detective Ethan Krol is determined to find out why and how these families are being murdered,

Meanwhile, in Bristol, England, Abedimi Eniola is also hunting down targets, claiming she needs to deliver heirlooms to their rightful owners.

She says she is Nigerian, but speaks like a 30’s gangster moll, and seems not quite human.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and highly recommend. Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was everything that I was looking for from a thriller novel, it had that concept that I was looking for and thought the use of racism and trauma worked with the story being told. It has really well written and thought Adam Oyebanji wrote a strong story that the characters felt like they belonged in this universe. I thought everything fit together and was glad I read this.

This suspenseful sci-fi mystery opens with a seemingly impossible crime: two victims have been found drowned in seawater in a Chicago high-rise, hundreds of miles from the ocean. Detective Ethan Krol is assigned the case, which only gets stranger the more he looks into the details. Meanwhile, a mysterious woman named Abidemi Eniola arrives in Bristol, England, determined to return a family heirloom. As their paths verge together, the consequences could be deadly.

This was an extremely excellent sci fi concept, perfect for fans of Blake Crouch (or anyone who enjoyed Rivers Solomon's The Deep). The chapters were fairly short and jumped back and forth between the two perspectives, keeping the reader invested in both storylines. Information/background about what was really going on was eked out at a slow but steady pace, allowing the reader to start to piece together what was going on. Very well paced and well written. Highly recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A must read for all my peeps ! Chapter 1 starts off with a bang, a family is murdered but the evidence isn't making sense. The whole apartment is coated with sea water and the stench of fish. We have two bodies that are located in the apartment but their death confuses everyone as well. The father and son both drowned in sea water but there is no ocean located within driving distance in this Chicago apartment.

As you continue through the novel things get weirder but slowly start to click together. Our main protagonist, Abi is from Nigeria and can build and use technology that isn't from our world. We follow her and several other characters as they try to figure out the connections between these multiple murders and why.

THE FINAL ACT <3 Literal chef's kiss to the ending of this novel. I was unable to put it down as I was at the edge of my seat. A true thriller / sci - fi novel that hits the mark for my taste.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

In "Esperance," Adam Oyebanji weaves an intricate tale that blurs the lines between science fiction and social commentary, offering readers a thought-provoking exploration of human resilience, society's darkest impulses, and the enduring hope for a better future.

Set against the backdrop of a dystopian future, "Esperance" takes us to a world on the brink of collapse. The story follows a diverse cast of characters, grappling with their own struggles while navigating the remnants of a society that has been devastated by climate change, political corruption, and technological upheaval. "Esperance" is a tale of survival and resistance, as our protagonists band together to uncover hidden truths and challenge the oppressive systems that have led to their world's downfall.

Oyebanji masterfully tackles themes such as environmental degradation, the ethics of artificial intelligence, and the power dynamics inherent in societal structures. The novel delves into the consequences of humanity's relentless pursuit of progress at the expense of the natural world, urging readers to reflect on their own roles in shaping the future. The motif of hope, symbolized by the titular "Esperance" (meaning "hope" in French), runs through the narrative, reminding us that even in the darkest times, there is always a glimmer of light.

One of the standout aspects of "Esperance" is its rich and multifaceted characters. Oyebanji does not shy away from portraying their flaws and vulnerabilities, making them feel remarkably real and relatable. The protagonist, whose journey from disillusionment to empowerment forms the heart of the story, is particularly compelling. Supporting characters, each with their own unique perspectives and backgrounds, add depth and complexity to the narrative, ensuring that readers remain invested in their fates.

Oyebanji's prose is lyrical and evocative, painting vivid pictures of a world in ruins an immersive reading experience, drawing readers into the bleak yet captivating world of "Esperance." The pacing is well-balanced, with moments of tension and introspection seamlessly interwoven, keeping the reader engaged from start to finish.

While "Esperance" excels in its thematic depth and character development, it occasionally falters in its plot execution. Certain plot twists and resolutions may feel predictable to seasoned readers of the genre, and there are moments where the narrative momentum slows. However, these minor drawbacks do not detract significantly from the overall impact of the novel.

"Esperance" by Adam Oyebanji is a compelling and thought-provoking read that offers a powerful critique of contemporary societal issues through the lens of speculative fiction. Its exploration of hope, resilience, and the human spirit makes it a poignant and timely addition to the genre. Readers who enjoy stories that challenge them to think deeply about the world around them will find much to appreciate in this novel. Highly recommended for fans of dystopian fiction and social commentary.

I received this book free from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Written by Adam Oyebanji and published by DAW Books in 2025, this is a Science Fiction Novel. It is set on Earth in the present day in places like Chicago, IL, Providence, RI, Bristol, U.K. and Edenborough, Scotland. It ends near the country of Jamaica. The story opens as one of the protagonists, Detective Lieutenant Ethan Krol of the Chicago Police Department, investigates two apparent murders in a high-rise apartment in that city. The victims are found in an apartment on the twentieth floor of the building. They are a father and son surnamed “Okoro,” Amadi and Benedict. Benedict is only about a year old, and Amadi is a twenty-five-year-old medical student at Northwestern University. Jennifer Freeman Okoro, wife and mother, has survived and is in the hospital.

The bodies of the two males are soaking wet with what turns out to be seawater. The cause of death is drowning. Also, there is a dead barracuda on the floor near the bodies. How did the fish, and the seawater, get to the twentieth floor of an apartment building in the heart of the Midwest, many miles from any ocean? It is a mystery. According to the doorman, the only visitor to the apartment was an African American appliance repairman who was installing a new washer and dryer for the family. His name was “A. Bello” from Super Eagles Plumbing. Upon inspection, though, the washer and dryer had not been replaced, and there were scratch marks on the ceiling and numerous holes drilled in the walls. The scratch marks turn out to be from the father who had scratched the ceiling as he was drowning. What?! The ceiling??

Krol’s ex-wife calls him to ask if he is going to attend his daughter’s wedding. She is engaged to an African American man, and Krol seems to be a racist. Besides, he has been told that he has an inoperable brain tumor that will cause his death before the wedding. During his investigation, Lieutenant Krol learns that “A. Bello” was the name of the first Prime Minister of Nigeria, and that The Super Eagles was the name of that country’s soccer team. Race plays a major part in this story.

The story now shifts to Bristol, U.K., where Abidemi Eniola, a tall black woman has arrived seeking to find a specific woman named Kirsty Forbes. Along the way, she runs into another woman (literally) named Hollie Rogers and knocks her sandwich from her hand. Hollie demands a replacement for her food, and Abi tells her she has no money, but only a diamond, which she shows her. Hollie takes Abi to a man named Dean Slim, who immediately tries to cheat Abi in an exchange of diamonds for cash. Eventually, Hollie and Abi are able to locate Kirsty Forbes, and Abi treats her with a device that implants nano-robots in her body to help protect her from the killer who is on his way to continue the evil work he began in Chicago.

The scene then shifts back to the United States where Lieutenant Ethan Krol receives a telephone call from a Providence, Rhode Island cop named Detective Lieutenant Nicole Gutierrez. Lieutenant Gueterriez has responded to a publication that Ethan had sent out telling of the strange circumstances of the murders. It seems that the same thing has happened in Providence. Ethan drives to Rhode Island and soon the two detectives team up and travel back to Chicago where more strange murders have taken place. It takes them a while to figure out that the killer is a black male, while Abi is a black female, and that while the black male is a killer, Abi is trying to prevent more deaths. By its ending, the story moves back to Bristol, and then to Scotland, before terminating near Jamaica.

This book is well written and fast paced. I found no major logical inconsistencies, and only one major loose end: Ethan leaves a home that has served as a headquarters for the killer while his entire SWAT team is lying unconscious on the floor of the garage, even though the whole house is probably going to be consumed by flames from the decaying machinery in its basement. Why doesn’t Ethan call for help for his team of officers? Would he really let them all burn to death?

I found this novel to be quite entertaining, and I would recommend it to those who enjoy good science fiction. I award all five of the five available stars.