Lightseekers by Femi Kayode
The story of Light Seekers takes place in Nigeria, with the reader travelling from Lagos to Okriki, a small university town close to Port Harcourt, a major hub for the country’s oil industry. However, the main character, an investigative psychologist who has just returned from the United States, has been given the duty of determining why it occurred. The crime—mob violence that results in the terrible murders of three students—is never shrouded in mystery. Along the journey, we learn tidbits about the Biafran War, regional history, conflicts, corruption, and the thoughts of the main character as he adjusts to life in Nigeria.
Lightseekers by Femi Kayode
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The characters all came to life on the pages, the plot was engaging, and the conclusion was unexpected. I adore psychological thrillers where the author raises issues that demand further discussion and differing viewpoints.
Lightseekers not only satiated my urge but also significantly increased my cultural understanding of Nigeria. Style-wise, I found myself quoting names and dialectal distinctions aloud and enjoyed the occasional chuckle at amusing explanations of misconceptions. I can’t wait to read the following book in this series.
This book has a lot of impacts. Because it’s written in the present tense, it has a dreamlike quality that makes you feel as though you’re floating above the protagonist as he works his way through deceit and falsehoods to discover the real reason why three boys died. Lightseekers is an investigation of fear, change, and exploitation and how the things that unite are also the things that divide. It is set in the south of Nigeria and is based on actual occurrences. A superb debut and I eagerly anticipate speaking with Dr Philip Taiwo once more soon.
