Inside the secret reading society

The Artist Vanishes by Terry Westby-Nunn

– reviewed by Paige Nick

A cleverly told mystery thriller, one of the best I’ve read. The novel runs in two parallel threads: ‘then’ and ‘now’. ‘Then’ tells Sophie’s story. She starts out a struggling artist who creates powerful pieces that prod society. After a massive grant from big pharma on a testicle project, Sophie hits the big time, until a new project goes horribly wrong and she disappears without a trace, but with lots of suspects.

‘Now’ tells James’ story. He is a washed-up alcoholic documentary film maker who is driven to create a doccie about Sophie’s life and the mystery of her disappearance.

Beautifully written, easy to read, and set in Cape Town, which makes it even more enjoyable.

The Girl With the Louding Voice by Abi Daré

– reviewed by Ayesha Kajee

I spent muchof the recent long weekend re-reading this unusually crafted page-turner, which I first bought and read as an e-book during the strict lockdown last year.

The re-read didn’t disappoint. Tracing the dogged determination of poverty stricken protagonist Adunni to improve her circumstances through education and her ‘louding voice’, Dare’s debut novel is a revelation, and an easy read despite its use of Nigerian pidgin English. If you haven’t read it, I urge you to do so.

‘Now’ tells James’ story. He is a washed-up alcoholic documentary film maker who is driven to create a doccie about Sophie’s life and the mystery of her disappearance.

Beautifully written, easy to read, and set in Cape Town, which makes it even more enjoyable.

My Sister, the Serial Killer

by Oyinkan Braithwaite – reviewed by Susan Bowles

Korede’s dinner is interrupted one night by a distress call from her sister Ayoola.

This will be the third boyfriend Ayoola has killed in ‘self-defence’. A short thriller with the most amazing narrator.