The Lions’ Den
by Iris Mwanza
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Pub Date 6 Jun 2024 | Archive Date 6 Jun 2024
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Description
A remarkable, big-hearted debut from Zambian-American writer Iris Mwanza set in 1990's Lusaka in which a young lawyer must fight for the life of a teenage sex worker who is accused of crimes 'against the order of nature'
Rookie lawyer Grace Zulu does not give up easily. She escaped an arranged marriage to put herself through university. Now she’s got her first case.
Her client is young Willbess ‘Bessy’ Mulenga, who has been arrested for offences ‘against nature’. Bessy works in a men-only bar, loves to dance, to wear dresses and live freely. But in 1990s Zambia, following your own identity can get you beaten, jailed or even worse. Grace is determined to get Bessy out of custody. Then her terrified, bruised client goes missing without a trace. She knows something bad has happened and that someone is trying to cover it up. Along with the most unlikely group of allies, Grace must take on powerful enemies at the highest levels – even risk her own safety – to get to the truth. The whole truth.
A debut novel that soars with passion and humanity, The Lions' Den is a moving story of prejudice, corruption, injustice, courage and solidarity. It shows us that no cause is ever a lost one.
Advance Praise
‘A vibrant and pacey legal thriller with a big-hearted heroine you’ll be rooting for from the very first page’
PAULA HAWKINS
‘An evocative, touching, and – in multiple senses – moving portrait of Zambian life and politics at a moment of great transformation‘
NAMWALI SERPELL
‘A smash of a debut . . . Iris Mwanza has taken it all on, from the original reverberating assault of British colonialism to what happened next, to a sideswipe at contemporary Zambia, and she's done it with literal grace’
ALEXANDRA FULLER
‘Iris Mwanza’s first novel is an evocative journey into the sinister side of Zambia, a country which tries to tell you who to love, a journey into forced marriage and homophobia’
PETER GODWIN
‘The Lions' Den is a brave and necessary book . . . An impressive debut’
GABRIEL BYRNE
‘Searingly well-crafted . . . Humbling, illuminating and enrapturing!’
RICK COSNETT
‘The Lions' Den is a brave and scathing probe of Zambia's justice system. Grace is complex and compelling - the perfect advocate for all the Bessys of Zambia that go undefended’
MUBANGA KALIMAMUKWENTO
‘A brave tale, written with compassion and a keen eye for detail . . . Memorable, insightful and compelling’
FEMI KAYODE
‘A highly impressive debut, infused with Zambian history and culture that still echo today’
HAWA JANDE GOLAKAI
Available Editions
| EDITION | Hardcover |
| ISBN | 9781838859923 |
| PRICE | £16.99 (GBP) |
| PAGES | 256 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Teresa A, Reviewer
After Wilbess (Bessie) is arrested, Grace a novice lawyer is assigned to the case has to fight corruption and injustice to uncover the truth.
This book was so good. I haven’t read many books set in Zambia so this was an enlightening read. It was interesting to note how similar African countries are because the same issues plague West African countries. The pacing was perfect and kept me spellbound.
Definitely recommended 💯
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