A Killing in Lagos opens at dawn, in the city’s quieter, grittier edges—where the waste of the wealthy is dumped overnight and where two men make a discovery that will shake Nigeria’s elite. The body of Kike Bankole, a fearless investigative journalist and daughter of a powerful man, is found among the rubbish. It’s a stark, arresting beginning, and the novel never loses that sense of urgency.

At the heart of the story is Remi, Kike’s brother, a London lawyer who has spent nearly a decade avoiding the city that shaped him. His return to Lagos is charged with grief, guilt, and the complicated love that comes with going home after too long. The moment he steps off the plane, he’s pulled back into a world of dazzling wealth, deep-rooted tradition, and political power plays that operate in the shadows.

The novel shines in its portrayal of Lagos itself—vibrant, chaotic, beautiful, and unforgiving. It’s a city where influence can open doors or close them forever, where truth is a dangerous pursuit, and where Kike’s work clearly threatened the wrong people. As Remi digs into her final investigation, he uncovers a tangle of motives: corruption, family secrets, political ambition, and the kind of systemic injustice Kike dedicated her life to exposing.

What elevates the book is its emotional depth. Remi’s grief is raw, but so is his determination. His journey becomes as much about confronting his own past as it is about finding his sister’s killer. The tension builds steadily, and the revelations feel both shocking and tragically inevitable in a world where power protects itself at any cost.

A Killing in Lagos is a compelling blend of mystery, family drama, and social commentary—richly atmospheric, morally complex, and impossible to put down.

With thanks to Amen Alonge, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC