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Cell One: Quick Reads 2026: A pulse-pounding thriller with a twist you won't see coming
A high-profile kidnapping. A countdown to a live execution. The race is on to find the victim before the clock hits zero…
Rookie cop Bobby Fatokun's first day on the job in Lagos is off to a bad start. Not only has his life in London not prepared him for the hustle of the Nigerian city, but his new boss seems to be missing.
When a popular blog is hacked, the horrifying truth becomes clear – Superintendent Adams has been kidnapped, and his captors plan to kill him live on camera in a matter of hours.
As chaos unfolds and the team scrambles for leads, Bobby begins to suspect that Adams’ role in the police may have had something to do with his abduction.
But without knowing who he can trust, Bobby will have to rely on his instincts alone to find the truth before time runs out.
PRAISE FOR LEYE
‘Crime fiction’s best new voice for years’ LEE CHILD
‘Leye Adenle has my vote for crown prince of crime writers in the UK’ JAMES ELLROY
Rookie cop Bobby Fatokun's first day on the job in Lagos is off to a bad start. Not only has his life in London not prepared him for the hustle of the Nigerian city, but his new boss seems to be missing.
When a popular blog is hacked, the horrifying truth becomes clear – Superintendent Adams has been kidnapped, and his captors plan to kill him live on camera in a matter of hours.
As chaos unfolds and the team scrambles for leads, Bobby begins to suspect that Adams’ role in the police may have had something to do with his abduction.
But without knowing who he can trust, Bobby will have to rely on his instincts alone to find the truth before time runs out.
PRAISE FOR LEYE
‘Crime fiction’s best new voice for years’ LEE CHILD
‘Leye Adenle has my vote for crown prince of crime writers in the UK’ JAMES ELLROY
128 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 9, 2026
About the author
Leye Adenle
21 books71 followersLeye Adenle is a Nigerian writer. He has written a number of short stories and flash fiction pieces. Leye has appeared on stage in London in plays including Ola Rotimi’s Our Husband Has Gone Mad Again. He comes from a family of writers, the most famous of whom was his grandfather, Oba Adeleye Adenle I, a former king of Oshogbo in South West Nigeria. He lives in London.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
May 27, 2026
Bobby from England with no work experience whatsoever is the new rookie cop at the bar beach police station in Lagos, Nigeria.
A chief superintendent is kidnapped and about to be executed live on camera.
A lot of suspension of disbelief is required here. Even from the start. Like, they recruit someone from abroad with no experience and no connections, and he’s immediately promoted to deputy superintendent. What? How? Why? I have so many questions! I don’t know, this bothered me. It unfortunately kept me from getting hooked more by the rest of the story a bit too.
The best tip I can give: turn your brain off. Just go with it. I will say, the setting is pretty cool. The plot is intense, with quite a few twists and turns. But the story’s most obvious flaw in my opinion is that it was not written as a standalone novella. It’s made clear at the end that this is just a teaser for the first full length novel of a series. So it raises questions, but you don’t get the answers.
A chief superintendent is kidnapped and about to be executed live on camera.
A lot of suspension of disbelief is required here. Even from the start. Like, they recruit someone from abroad with no experience and no connections, and he’s immediately promoted to deputy superintendent. What? How? Why? I have so many questions! I don’t know, this bothered me. It unfortunately kept me from getting hooked more by the rest of the story a bit too.
The best tip I can give: turn your brain off. Just go with it. I will say, the setting is pretty cool. The plot is intense, with quite a few twists and turns. But the story’s most obvious flaw in my opinion is that it was not written as a standalone novella. It’s made clear at the end that this is just a teaser for the first full length novel of a series. So it raises questions, but you don’t get the answers.
April 10, 2026
Rating: 3.8/5
"Cell One" is part of the 2026 Quick Reads programme from The Reading Agency. The scheme is primarily intended to attract new readers or to tempt lapsed readers back into the fold, but you don't need to fall into either of those categories. Personally, I am a very much a supporter and always try to read all of the books they publish each year.
That point aside, I also have great admiration for any writer who can successfully tackle the short story format. There is a real skill in constructing a rounded story, with fleshed-out characters in the space of a hundred or so pages. Author, Leye Adenle, certainly pulls it off with this solid example of the genre that tells the story of rookie cop, Bobby Fatokun. Thrown straight into a high-profile kidnapping case in the Nigerian city of Lagos, we follow Bobby on his compelling first case. A gripping read that should take about ninety minutes of your time.
"Cell One" is part of the 2026 Quick Reads programme from The Reading Agency. The scheme is primarily intended to attract new readers or to tempt lapsed readers back into the fold, but you don't need to fall into either of those categories. Personally, I am a very much a supporter and always try to read all of the books they publish each year.
That point aside, I also have great admiration for any writer who can successfully tackle the short story format. There is a real skill in constructing a rounded story, with fleshed-out characters in the space of a hundred or so pages. Author, Leye Adenle, certainly pulls it off with this solid example of the genre that tells the story of rookie cop, Bobby Fatokun. Thrown straight into a high-profile kidnapping case in the Nigerian city of Lagos, we follow Bobby on his compelling first case. A gripping read that should take about ninety minutes of your time.
April 25, 2026
This was disappointing. I was expecting a short story and although that's what it is, it doesn't have an ending. As another reviewer said, it's more like a teaser for a longer novel.
The ending was annoying. What happened to Rocky? Was he in on it or not?
Is the novel going to rewrite this story into a longer story and finish it off? Why did they want Bobby to watch?
I don't really enjoy when the main character is an amateur at what they're doing either, which is what Bobby is, especially when they're being constantly talked down too.
Don't think I'll bother with anymore books following this character.
The ending was annoying. What happened to Rocky? Was he in on it or not?
Is the novel going to rewrite this story into a longer story and finish it off? Why did they want Bobby to watch?
I don't really enjoy when the main character is an amateur at what they're doing either, which is what Bobby is, especially when they're being constantly talked down too.
Don't think I'll bother with anymore books following this character.
May 11, 2026
2.5 rounded up since the main problem is there isn't enough
Thoughts:
This is the first quick reads book that I have read and felt like it didn’t quite feel right. I read quick reads as a taster for new authors as well as whenever a story sounds interesting but I know the point is accessible stories for new and returning readers but this one felt more like the beginning of the authors full book rather than a story in it’s own right and we need to go buy/read the new book to be able to find out who actually did it which I’ve never felt before even with the books that are shortened versions of full length novels. We did find out why the kidnapping happened and the build up is great so I was looking forward to the explanations and while I did like the why it’s frustrating that the rest of the story is just missing. It’s a shame as the premise, writing and characters were all great, I just wish it was either a novel in its own right or penned as a prequel novella rather than a quick reads book.
Favourite Quote:
“Stop talking unless someone asks for your opinion. The problem with people like you is that you think you're better than locals because you studied abroad. Look, we're not stupid here. Lose that know-it-all attitude before you irritate everybody.”
Thoughts:
This is the first quick reads book that I have read and felt like it didn’t quite feel right. I read quick reads as a taster for new authors as well as whenever a story sounds interesting but I know the point is accessible stories for new and returning readers but this one felt more like the beginning of the authors full book rather than a story in it’s own right and we need to go buy/read the new book to be able to find out who actually did it which I’ve never felt before even with the books that are shortened versions of full length novels. We did find out why the kidnapping happened and the build up is great so I was looking forward to the explanations and while I did like the why it’s frustrating that the rest of the story is just missing. It’s a shame as the premise, writing and characters were all great, I just wish it was either a novel in its own right or penned as a prequel novella rather than a quick reads book.
Favourite Quote:
“Stop talking unless someone asks for your opinion. The problem with people like you is that you think you're better than locals because you studied abroad. Look, we're not stupid here. Lose that know-it-all attitude before you irritate everybody.”
May 7, 2026
An electric little crime thriller set within the police force itself - a rookie cop moves to a new continent after being recruited and finds himself in a case he'd never have imagined. Immediately, Bobby discovers the sheer ego and arrogance that is rife within the police force, before leaping into a fast, tense investigation to find his new boss before he's killed on live stream. It's a searing indictment of police brutality and government corruption told from within the system itself. Clever, fast and exciting - however it does leave on a very mean cliffhanger so I guess I'll be back to see where Bobby goes next.
May 28, 2026
I really loved this book and i’m so excited that it’s just the beginning, although I would have liked to know if Rocky was in on it from this book but I can be patient. I like Bobby’s character because you can see how he comes to understand the world he just stepped into and realize that his personal mission may not be as easy as he hoped but he is ready to fight.
I honestly can’t wait for the next book and I hope we get more insight into the side characters and I wonder who will be in the remaining chairs!?
I honestly can’t wait for the next book and I hope we get more insight into the side characters and I wonder who will be in the remaining chairs!?
May 12, 2026
3 stars ⭐️ Cell One is part of the 2026 Quick Reads programme from The Reading Agency. I was gifted my copy when attending a reading event.
This was an okay read, an interesting thriller but I was left with questions at the end. I think rather than a short story it was a teaser for a full book which was disappointing. However I did like how it was set in Nigeria as I felt it did give me a flavour of West Africa.
This was an okay read, an interesting thriller but I was left with questions at the end. I think rather than a short story it was a teaser for a full book which was disappointing. However I did like how it was set in Nigeria as I felt it did give me a flavour of West Africa.
April 15, 2026
Disappointed that this wasn’t a fully rounded short story but instead appears to be a teaser for a book due for release Sept 2026. Really enjoyed what I read hence the rating but unsure if I will pick up the book follow up.
April 19, 2026
this was not very good. the voice actor was bad but the story was also not very interesting. one part was slightly but nothing actually came of it and it had no real ending other than a ‘to be continued’. written as part of a scheme to get people into reading but pretty dire for a thriller.
April 10, 2026
Short storiy. Exciting read
April 18, 2026
Quick read! Thriller!
April 22, 2026
Umm that was a waste of my time, basically was my library book of the week. However I personally found it more confusing and just unable to connect to the character 😐
April 23, 2026
3.5 star nice short read.
April 23, 2026
An ok read.
April 27, 2026
A captivating short story and quite action packed, but it doesn’t really reach a conclusion. It seems more to encourage you to read the authors next book due to be published later in the year.
May 4, 2026
This was a good read but has no ending, characters are just hanging around at the end? I don't think I'll be reading anymore from the author
May 10, 2026
Excellent quick read!
May 7, 2026
A very short story but it was okay
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews