Never say Never
Anthony Mugo's Never Say Never is a compelling story of a teenager's quest for education under the most difficult conditions. Daniel Muthini Njoki, the son of a poor, single mother, is arrested and taken to a remand home in Murang'a, then to Getathuru Reception Center. He is subsequently transferred to other approved schools: Kerricho, Othaya, and finally Kabete, where he sits and passes the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education. The doors to a university are now open. Although he is an innocent inmate, and although textual evidence points in the direction of the mother, the question of who engineered his arrest is part of what makes this work so interesting. The sum total is a superlatively well written novel about the difficulties, the challenges, and the hopes of getting an education in Kenya.
Never say Never won the inaugural Burt Award for African Literature in Kenya.
Read an excerpt here.
Ask the Stars
In Ask the Stars, Titus Mutuiria remembers how at the age of ten he seemed to lead a normal life of sibling rivalry with Njorua, Antonnina and Sarah until some events from their past threaten to rewrite his life. Njorua and Antonnina learn that Mutumia Mutana, the mother they have always known is not their biological mother while Titus learns that Muthuri Mukaru is not the biological father of himself and Sarah. What follows is a gripping story of jealousy, fear, loyalty, friendship and love as the siblings grow and confront an array of challenges as the family forge solutions to the troubles that beset them. The story of young love between Titus and Joan and the actions of a lurking rapist in the village bring added dimensions to the story, showing that things are not always what they seem. Eventually, the teenagers and their parents must nurture a love that strengthens their family and that also brings sanity to the village.
Ask the Stars won the Burt Award for African Literature in 2014.
Read an excerpt here.
The Lollipop Flew Away:
Mike Sanse Murder Mysteries Book 1
"I was surprised at how Mike Sanse solved the puzzle of the murder. He never gave up no matter how bad things seemed. I liked the ending best. He solves his case. Good and different read for me." Amazon Customer.
Emilio Gitonga is murdered following a quarrel with Bob Gitau, his son. In the quarrel father disowns son and son threatens father's life. When Bob is found at the scene of crime holding the murder weapon he is put on trial. His fate appears to be sealed until his wife hires Mike Sanse, a former CID officer now a private investigator, to interrogate the case. The judgment is a week away. Sanse has a week to stop the bank from repossessing his home. Can the police stand being challenged? Did Bob kill his father? If not, can Sanse navigate the web of deception, blackmail and greed in time?
The Lollipop Flew Away is the first book in the Mike Sanse Murder Mysteries Series.
Read an excerpt here. Read a review here.
Darling... I Need Your Corpse:
Mike Sanse Murder Mysteries Book 2
When a decapitated body is found Diana Ciuri identifies it as that of her husband who went missing two days ago. Oscar Ciuri happens to be a popular candidate in the oncoming elections.
Senior Detective Cosmas Pai and Senior Detective Mike Sanse fell apart when the latter pointed his gun at the former. Pai transferred to Kathare to distance himself from Sanse. Sanse has since lost his job to become a private investigator in Kathare. He has information that could cost Pai his job.
And now Pai’s boss wants the two men to be partners all over again.
The two rivals must find a common ground and find Oscar Ciuri’s killer before his mad supporters burn down the town. Just when the two think they have it figured out another body surfaces…
Darling... I Need Your Corpse is the second book in the Mike Sanse Murder Mysteries Series.
Read an excerpt here.
All I Ever Wanted
Blame it on the Stars
