THE LION’S DEN BY IRIS MWANZA
Hardback published by Canongate Books 6th June 2024
ISBN 9781838859923
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.
MY REVIEW
Today I’m shouting at the top of my voice, The Lion’s Den, by Iris Mwanza, is the best lawyer’s fiction novel that’s a must buy, must read. I just can’t believe this Iris Mwanza’s first novel. This book definitely needs to be on all of your reading lists. I’ve never before read about a lawyer set in Zambia. Grace, is a strong character, who loved law school, with its clever arguments in court. She has tried to get out of an arranged marriage. Now Grace an Zambian lawyer, has been assigned to a law firm, and is excited to be given her first case representing her first client. A young boy named Willbess could face fourteen years in prison for wearing a dress, and is accused of committing acts of nature. The penal Code for homosexual sex. He is a respectable boy, arrested for fighting, and being found in a dress.There’s a wicked police man who beat Willbess, and knocked lawyer Grace unconscious. Determined, Grace will do everything in her power, in her law profession to set Willbess free, and make an official complaint about her being assault by a policeman. My heart rate certainly shot up reading this page-turning debut novel, as I followed lawyer Grace facing , some problems during the start of her first case. Calling all, Crime readers/ bloggers that love a good crime fiction novel, you need to read The Lion’s Den. I guarantee all of you that once you have started to read this novel, you won’t be able to stop reading. I’m now a firm follower and watching author Iris Mwanza, for her next novel.
Iris Mwanza is a Zambian American writer. A lawyer in my early career, I now work at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on gender equality by day, and writes thrillers by night. I’m delighted for this debut novel The Lions’ Den to go out into the world. https://www.instagram.com/iriscmwanza https://www.Twitter.com/IrisMwanza
I would like to say a very huge thank you to Canongate Books, for sending me a copy of this page-turning novel.
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