I'm not usually one for quirky speculative fiction ... but this was great. A cross between police procedure, superstition, magic and more.
I really enjoyed the characters and the different storylines. It wasn't what I expected, but I'm glad I read it. It's always good to expand your horizons

In Chicago Detective Ethan Krol is called in to investigate a strange crime. A father and son have been found dead, drowned in sea water but miles from the coast. As he looks further he finds similar crimes ranging from the US to Nigeria. In Bristol Hollie meets Abi, a strange but fascinating woman who leads her on a quest.
I normally hate science fiction but this book is a wonderful exception. It starts as a simple crime novel but then goes into really bizarre territory yet is completely gripping. Having read Oyebanji's previous work, I knew that the story would be exciting and clever. Yes, I hated the whole aliens from outer space bit but I did like the idea of gbese against the slave trade. Based on the story of the slave ship, the Zong, this is high concept fiction that works.

That was a very addictive novel, a mashup between a sci-fi novel and a thriller, and completely original and unlike anything I have read before.
A Chicago detective investigates a strange murder: a father and his son, drowned in sea water in their immaculate skyscraper flat. Soon he realises this is part of a series of similar deaths, in the US, Nigeria and the UK. Meanwhile a British woman, Hollie, befriends a strange humanoid with incredible powers and follows her on a quest across continents.
It was honestly so unique and so incredibly different to what I have ever read, but I really enjoyed it. The characters were good, especially Abi, the humanoid with powers, and the writing was really engaging. There's great suspense and I was really curious to see how it would end.

Free ARC sent by Netgalley.

I don’t think I’ve ever read anything quite like Esperance. It’s a detective story, it’s science fiction and it’s got an opinion on the generational legacy of colonialism and slavery. I thoroughly enjoyed it, especially the lovely friendship that develops between Abi and Hollie.

Adam Oyebanji writes excellent mystery&thriller novels. This one is amongst the best as it takes you on a labyrinthine ride that always makes you feel like there's something you don't know or understand.
Gripping, engrossing, and intriguing.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Esperance is an enthralling and captivating novel. It is mostly a mystery, and much of it revolves around determining who perpetrated an impossible crime. It is also a story of friendship, family, and a quest for justice.

The story begins quickly, with our impossible crime, introducing us to one of our main characters, Ethan. It is he and Abi, who we meet a little while later, who propel the story onwards, but they both have their own agendas and therefore, the reader is very much left in the dark about some elements. We quickly realise Abi is far from what she seems. We quickly realise Ethan has his own demons, but we're swept along in the mystery of the entire thing. I adored that Abi spoke with a 1930s flavour. It really gave her character an extraordinary shine.

I loved the historical elements of the story and how they combined with the otherworldly ones. I found the whole story quite extraordinary and incredibly enjoyable, although, of course, tinged with sorrow for the real-life elements it's built upon.

The ending, when it came, perhaps felt a little rushed. I would have loved to know more about the otherworldly elements.

That said, readers of quirky mysteries interlaced with otherworldly elements, as well as those who love a good tale of retribution, will devour this novel, just as I did.

If it's not quite a five-star read, it so very nearly is that I feel it would be wrong not to give it.

My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my review copy.