Tina's been plotting her revenge for the last four years. Her mother was murdered and Tina knows exactly who is responsible. She joins the Goondas, a gang in her town of Sangui City, Kenya, and with their help, she vows that she will take his money, then his power, and finally, his life. On the night that she sneaks into his house to enact her plan, everything goes wrong and Tina finds herself caught by Michael, the killer's son who swears that his father is innocent. He convinces Tina to give him a few days to figure out the truth behind the murder and, in doing so, opens a door to a past full of secrets, lies, and a family history that she never knew existed.
Why It's Worth Reading:
This book was an absolute page-turner! I was totally gripped with the mystery behind Tina's family, her mother's move from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to Kenya years ago, and her complicated relationship with the wealthy and powerful Greyhill family. Plus, what's the last book that you read that was set in Africa? So many of the books published in the United States are either set here or in Europe. It's fantastic to leave the familiar settings behind and explore a completely new part of the world with these characters. Anderson does a really incredible job of connecting the setting, particularly the DRC, to the story, interweaving culture and history with the characters and their journey to unearth the truth. It reminded me regularly of how lucky I am to live in a place where I feel safe, secure and comfortable. Grab this one if you like a compelling mystery driven by politics, corruption, and revenge.
Book Details:
Title: City of Saints and Thieves
Author: Natalie C. Anderson
ISBN: 9780399547584
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: January 24, 2017
Awards/Accolades: 4 starred reviews only three days after its release
Source: Advanced Reader's Copy (Full disclosure: I received a free galley in exchange for my honest opinion.)
Do We Own a Copy?: Two on the New Book shelf now!