IN TURBULENT WATERS

Debut author Etchie presents a modern novel of redemption that focuses on a young artist trying to transcend a life of brutal violence.

Although still in college, Tosan “Tos” Mayuku’s reputation for terror precedes him. It’s 2004, and he’s a former leader of a Nigerian group of militant youths known as the Warri Vanguard. Tos is now known as the “Don” of a ruthless gang known as the Black Owls. However, Tos is like many young men of his community, coming of age in a culture of corruption in which male youth are used as pawns in a war for power and resources. He also has a rare artistic gift, capturing on canvas the blood-soaked reality of his community. Although this talent is hidden from the world, he gets the chance to take a new path in life when he saves a fellow student named Akpoebi “Ebi” Dabiri from a campus assault. Ebi, the daughter of a political minister, connects Tos with an American art dealer who offers him a new life in New York City. But it turns out that the Black Owls’ enemies are hidden in plain sight, and the romantic relationship Tos begins with Ebi places a bounty on his head. The chaos that follows threatens Tos’ very soul, revealing just how far he will go to protect those he loves. Etchie offers an intricate story of survival that’s gripping from the first page. Its meticulous research helps to make the narrative utterly immersive, and although it’s quite lengthy at more than 650 pages, readers may find it nearly impossible to put down. The fast-paced work provides rich details and modern memento mori, including parallels between the fast-living Nigerian youth and slain American rappers Biggie Smalls and Tupac Shakur. Although many characters die, some find their paths to brighter futures. The juxtaposition of petroleum-fueled violence with the oil paint of Tos’ art reminds readers that, even in the darkest corners of the soul, the light of love can shine.

A raw and often brilliant crime story.

- Kirkus Reviews