So when her mother is found shot to death in Mr. But Tina soon learns that the Greyhill fortune was made from a life of corruption and crime. Her mother quickly found work as a maid for a prominent family, headed by Roland Greyhill, one of the city’s most respected business leaders. After fleeing the Congo as refugees, Tina and her mother arrived in Kenya looking for the chance to build a new life and home. In the shadows of Sangui City, there lives a girl who doesn’t exist. Unfortunately, the library branches close to my house didn’t have it in stock but eventually I was able to procure a copy from a different area.

Rachel suggested City of Saints and Thieves and I decided to try it since I’d never heard of it or its author before. The story is interesting and my curiosity about what will happen next makes me tempted to complete it, but - ugh! - I really am not feeling it. The pace was ploddingly slow, it’s character-focused, which I usually love, but neither one of us were interested in the characters. We initially planned to read The Devourers by Indra Das together but after a few pages in, we realized it wouldn’t work well for a buddy-read.

But finally uncovering the incredible truth about who killed her mother-and why-keeps her holding on in this fast-paced nail-biting thriller.I read this in a buddy-read with Rachel from Life of a Female Bibliophile. But as soon as she steps inside the lavish home, she’s overtaken by the pain of old wounds and the pull of past friendships, setting into motion a dangerous cascade of events that could, at any moment, cost Tina her life. It’s a job for the Goondas that finally brings Tina back to the Greyhill estate, giving her the chance for vengeance she’s been waiting for. With revenge always on her mind, Tina spends the next four years surviving on the streets alone, working as a master thief for the Goondas, Sangui City’s local gang. Greyhill's personal study, she knows exactly who’s behind it.

In the shadows of Sangui City, there lives a girl who doesn't exist. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo meets Gone Girl in this enthralling murder mystery set in Kenya.

City of thieves and saints