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fullybookedwithdanielle's review
4.0
I downloaded this from Netgalley because I’ve been wanting to read something from Jacaranda Books for ages plus I LOVE crime thrillers! The premise of it immediately captured my attention so I hit that request button and got to reading.
DCI Toko is called to investigate a disturbing case where missing body parts belonging to young black children are turning up all over the city. The police race to find out who, or what, is behind these murders. Alongside this, Toko’s best friend Coretta is an investigative journalist who delves deep into this murky world. What they discover is a place of Nigerian magic and cults.
I really had fun with this book, it was a definite page turner for me however I do have a few criticisms. I thought the chapters ended really abruptly sometimes which I thought was a bit disconcerting, however sometimes it did work. Not sure if this was just me though! I also felt like at the beginning, Oni focused too much on educating people on Nigerian culture, to the point that it drove the plot, instead of being a natural part of the plot. I definitely enjoyed the second half of the book more than the first, as I thought the plot and characters really came into their own by this point.
I love love loveeeeed the whole Nigerian magical aspect of it! I found it to be an incredibly compelling aspect, and one that makes it stand out from its other crime thriller counterparts. Deadly Sacrifice also explores some deeper topics such as human trafficking, child abuse and adopting in Nigeria. It was certainly eye opening to learn about this stuff.
Thank you to Netgalley for the book and all views are my own.
DCI Toko is called to investigate a disturbing case where missing body parts belonging to young black children are turning up all over the city. The police race to find out who, or what, is behind these murders. Alongside this, Toko’s best friend Coretta is an investigative journalist who delves deep into this murky world. What they discover is a place of Nigerian magic and cults.
I really had fun with this book, it was a definite page turner for me however I do have a few criticisms. I thought the chapters ended really abruptly sometimes which I thought was a bit disconcerting, however sometimes it did work. Not sure if this was just me though! I also felt like at the beginning, Oni focused too much on educating people on Nigerian culture, to the point that it drove the plot, instead of being a natural part of the plot. I definitely enjoyed the second half of the book more than the first, as I thought the plot and characters really came into their own by this point.
I love love loveeeeed the whole Nigerian magical aspect of it! I found it to be an incredibly compelling aspect, and one that makes it stand out from its other crime thriller counterparts. Deadly Sacrifice also explores some deeper topics such as human trafficking, child abuse and adopting in Nigeria. It was certainly eye opening to learn about this stuff.
Thank you to Netgalley for the book and all views are my own.
jendella's review
4.0
Child trafficking, human sacrifice and dark trip around the more disturbing networks in the Nigerian diaspora… This was a gripping crime novel featuring a black woman detective, Toks Ade set in a London that is grimly familiar. I feel weird saying it was enjoyable because it was very dark, but that’s my truth! I finished it in a day!! I know some of my country folk will object to the representation of Nigerians embedded in criminal underworlds, but we need 360 representation guys!! That’s true equality, not having to play up to the perfect, excellent Other all the time.
the_secret_librarian's review
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I love a thriller and so I was delighted when Jacaranda books published this as part of their Twenty in 2020 (the first time that a UK publisher published 20 titles by 20 black British authors in a year).
This book was inspired by true events that took place in 2001 when the torso of a young African boy was found in the river Thames.
The story follows DC Toks Ade, a British-Nigerian woman who is investigating the crimes alongside her colleague Phillip Dean. The book also follows Coretta Davies, a journalist who is trying to discover more about the world of human trafficking and child sacrifice.
I found the story engaging and the characters well written and they all had a depth to them. There are obviously content warnings and some of it makes for gruesome reading but it is a topic that I have not personally read much about in a fiction book before. This was a great read and I look forward to reading more from Stella.
This book was inspired by true events that took place in 2001 when the torso of a young African boy was found in the river Thames.
The story follows DC Toks Ade, a British-Nigerian woman who is investigating the crimes alongside her colleague Phillip Dean. The book also follows Coretta Davies, a journalist who is trying to discover more about the world of human trafficking and child sacrifice.
I found the story engaging and the characters well written and they all had a depth to them. There are obviously content warnings and some of it makes for gruesome reading but it is a topic that I have not personally read much about in a fiction book before. This was a great read and I look forward to reading more from Stella.
the_fbc_paris's review
4.0
I was hooked! Delighted to have discover DC Toks Ade and am already looking forward to the next book in the series.
Warning: there are some rather gruesome scenes involving young children so just be prepared going into this.
Warning: there are some rather gruesome scenes involving young children so just be prepared going into this.
nadia's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This was a gripping, fast-paced read, on an incredibly gruesome subject. It was awesome having the book set across London and Nigeria, both places I'm tied to. It was also great to have the main character of a detective novel be a brave Black British Nigerian woman! 😍
I would have taken a book 50-100 pages longer! It felt like everything wrapped up rather quickly and conveniently and I had several things I wanted some more elaboration on!
I would have taken a book 50-100 pages longer! It felt like everything wrapped up rather quickly and conveniently and I had several things I wanted some more elaboration on!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Violence, Trafficking, and Death
abbie_'s review
dark
tense
fast-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Trafficking, and Violence
Moderate: Fatphobia
sllyllyd's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I really enjoyed this. The book follows three main characters through two separate investigations. They all became real to be, flaws and all and I was rooting for them!
Enjoyed the plot very much although a bit gruesome (it's in the blurb, I should have known!) but won't spoil it here. If you like thriller/ crime then this is an excellent read.
Enjoyed the plot very much although a bit gruesome (it's in the blurb, I should have known!) but won't spoil it here. If you like thriller/ crime then this is an excellent read.
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