Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

I'm happy I could read this arc because I discovered a new to me series and an excellent author.
The mystery is solid, a good mix of crime and psychological thriller, but what really fascinated me was the Ghanian setting as the story is a full immersion in a different culture.
The author is a good storyteller and I thoroughly enjoyed this gripping story.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Sleep Well My Lady was my introduction to the author and book series and although it reads really well on its own, it is part of a larger narrative from Kwei Quartey's earlier novels.

The story takes place in Accra, Ghana where we learn that Lady Araba, a successful self-made fashion icon has been found murdered in her bed, the morning of the first day of Accra Fashion Week. Although her driver was quickly arrested for the murder, Araba's Auntie Dele believes that real killer was Araba's boyfriend, famous TV presenter and notorious alcoholic, Augustus Seeza. Determined to get justice for her niece, Dele hires Emma Djan and her colleagues at the Sowah Private Investigators Agency.

I enjoyed the immersion of Ghanaian culture throughout, the language, the food yet also the insight to the class and wealth disparities, and political corruption. Quartey masterly takes us through many twists and turns, shifting from past to present and different POV's in a way that was very natural and added multiple layers to the story. Through this excellent storytelling the readers are instantly draw into Araba's life, meeting possible suspects who all seem to have motives and had me constantly rethinking my original speculations. Quartey does such a great job at making you warm to Araba, you feel concerned about her welfare, by knowing her family ordeals, the issues in her love life and all the positive ambitions she had for her business. I was rooting for her, even while knowing that ultimately her life ended tragically, it was heart-breaking but makes you really determined to find the killer along with Emma and the PI team.

Sleep Well My Lady needs to be a part of your book club, especially if you love crime mysteries because you are going to want to discuss it with someone. I'll be keeping my eye out for the next instalment.

TW: Sexual abuse, alcoholism


Thank you Allison & Busby and NetGalley for providing me with a copy to review.

The author 100% makes you feel as though you have travelled to Ghana yourself. I was not aware this was a follow on so will be looking out for other books from the author. I was kept interested, immersed and the story was full of suspense! It was a murder mystery meet psychological thriller and it is a perfect mash up!

Sleep Well, My Lady by Kwei Quartey

As soon as I picked this up it reminded me just how much I love a good murder mystery. A gruesome murder, a missing murder weapon, and multiple suspects…all of which have their own compelling motives. All of it was there, a classic murder mystery with a modern twist. What’s not to love?

‘Sleep Well, My Lady’ is a Ghanaian murder mystery that follows private investigator Emma Djan and her team as they attempt to find the killer of the wonderous Lady Araba who has been brutally murdered in her bed at night. The team must overcome fraud, unreliable witnesses, and powerful politicians to see justice come to light.

Like all good murder mysteries this was a quick and enticing read. It flitted through time culminating with the unravelling of the multiple story lines with the real killer and their motive coming to light. I found it to be an interesting look at Ghanaian society, which I do not think I have ever read about before, and I found its large cast of strong female characters hugely refreshing, especially the role of PI Emma Djan.

Another aspect of the novel which I really enjoyed was the social commentary that it provided with its look at abusive relationships, alcoholism, trauma, class inequalities, and ultimately, the way in which women are punished for the actions of men.

TW/ Alcoholism, Graphic Imagery, Sexual Abuse, Sexual Assault, Sexual Assault on a minor.

A massive thank you to Allison and Busby for including me on their Blog Tour for this book! Also, thank you to Netgalley for approving my request!

#SleepWellMyLady #NetGalley @AllisonandBusby

Hard-hitting talk show host Augustus Seeza has become a household name in Ghana, though plagued by rumors of lavish overspending, alcoholism, and womanizing. He’s dating the imposing, beautiful Lady Araba, who leads a self-made fashion empire. Araba’s religious family believes Augustus is after her money and intervenes to break them up. A few days later, just before a major runway show, Araba is found murdered in her bed. Her driver is arrested after a hasty investigation, but Araba’s favorite aunt, Dele, has always thought Augustus Seeza was the real killer.

Almost a year later, Dele approaches Emma Djan, who has finally started to settle in as the only female PI at her agency. To solve Lady Araba’s murder, Emma must not only go on an undercover mission that dredges up trauma from her past, but navigate a long list of suspects with solid alibis. Emma quickly discovers that they are willing to lie for each other—and that one may still be willing to kill.

Review
This book is really well written. You learn so much about Lady Arabas traumatic upbringing but also a lot about culture.

The chapters were a little confusing for me personally as they were set in so many different times; day of the murder, ten months later, twenty years ago etc but saying that it also layered up the story to give you a better background.

I loved reading how the investigation unfolded and the different roles all the characters played in the outcome and especially loved Emma's undercover roles.

I had my suspicions of Arabas killer throughout the book and let's just say my detective skills were shocking. Amazing twists and turns.
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Another #russelreads this evening (thank you
@AllisonandBusby
via #NetGalley), this time of SLEEP WELL, MY LADY by Kwei Quartey.

When a famous fashion designer is murdered at her home, the police immediately arrest her driver. But several months later, and not everyone is happy.

Enter private investigator, Emma Djan, who soon uncovers a variety of suspects and realises that the motive for murder may be hidden by the lies that people tell themselves.

Lies - both told to others and ourselves - form the heart of this book, which uses the structure of the procedural mystery to explore a variety of themes and ideas. Some may be uncomfortable (such as the truth revealed early about Lady Araba's Preacher father) while others speak to our ideas of who we consider suspect in such a case, but each thread is handled with a sensitive touch, the straightforward narrative voice avoiding sensationalism and allowing the reader to experience events directly.

It's also great to read a book set somewhere other than the usual locations -- I can't think of many other mysteries I've read set in Ghana. The language and dialogue works to set the scene, with unfamiliar words clear through context (although there's a glossary included if you need to confirm) and character, and there's a clear sense of local culture which is shown through the drama rather than being explicitly stated or explained.

SLEEP WELL, MY LADY will be released at the end of the month, and is an engaging, clever and sometimes surprisingly poignant mystery that doesn't shy away or overly sensationalise some of its harder edges.

This is the second in Kwei Quartey's Ghana set crime series featuring Emma Djan, the only female private investigator in Yemo Sowah's Private Investigations Agency, based in Accra. This is my first read in the series, and it can be reasonably read as a standalone. In a non-linear narrative that shifts from various points in the past to the present, it focuses on the murder of self made fashion designer and icon, Lady Araba Tagoe at the start of Accra's prestigious fashion week, with the theme of her show 'WeToo' a play on #MeToo, to highlight the rampant sexual assaults in the fashion industry, as part of her role as an activist and influencer. Lady Araba was murdered in her multi-million dollar home in the gated community of Trasocco Valley, Ghana's version of Beverly Hills.

Ten months after the murder, the chauffeur, Kweku-Sam, languishes in prison after apparently signing a confession, with the police investigation stalling and no action taken on the evidence collected at the crime scene by one of the few forensically trained officers, Sergeant Paul Boateng, moved shortly after the murder to a different police unit. Araba's favourite aunt, Aunt Dele, along with many others, does not for one minute believe the chauffer is guilty, picked by corrupt police service to take the fall for the murder. Dele believes the real killer is Araba's on-off married boyfriend, the sacked famous TV presenter Augustus Seeza, a troubled alcoholic being supported by Araba, including financially. She contends that Seeza's powerful parents, the judge Julius and doctor, Caroline, managed to get the police to scupper any real investigation to protect their beloved son. Emma plays a significant role in the investigation, including going undercover, along with Yemo, Jojo, Walter and Gideon, as they look into a host of suspects.

Quartey gives the reader insights into Ghanian culture, the social, economic and political circles, where the rich and powerful carry enormous influence in a nation where there are vast inequalities. The prose carries a pacing and feel that makes it feel distinctly different from European and American crime fiction, including specific ways that the characters relate to each other, along with the greater need to tread extremely carefully around and not upset people in power. This is a engaging and entertaining crime read which kept my interest throughout, and I particularly liked the character of Emma. I think it will appeal to readers looking for something different within the crime genre whilst being informative of Ghana. Many thanks to Allison and Busby for an ARC.