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The Invisible Crowd
2 March, 1975: In Asmara, Eritrea, Yonas Kelati is born into a world of turmoil. At the same time, on the same day, Jude Munroe takes her first breath in London, England. Thirty years later, blacklisted in his war-ravaged country, Yonas has no option but to flee his home. After a terrible journey, he arrives on a bleak English coast. Overworked barrister Jude has already packed up for the day when Yonas's asylum case lands on her desk. Opening the file, she finds a patchwork of witness statements. A lifetime the same length as her own, reduced to a few scraps of paper. Soon Jude will stand up in court and tell Yonas's story. And how she tells it will change his life forever...
488 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2017
20 people are currently reading
453 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
July 22, 2020
Ellen Wiles deftly tackles the sensitive topic of the migration of refugees in her latest novel, ‘The Invisible Crowd’.
The book begins with the saga of a weekly occurrence: hundreds of Eritrean refugees crammed tightly into tiny boats and launched in the direction of Europe at the ‘able’ hands of smugglers with the promise of a better life. There is little regard for the chances of their making it, in this case, to England, where they are made to work interminable hours with no pay.
Through the characters in this incredibly well written book, Wiles also sheds light on the hardening of public opinion against such immigrants with each disembarkation, and the increasing growth of political appetite for some level of accountability. Those that begin to embark on the tedious process of seeking asylum are often represented by public defenders who do not speak the language nor have the time, the resources, or the empathy to build a tangible case.
A disturbing, poignant and yet heart warming tale of a crisis that has now morphed into a humanitarian disaster. An easy 5 stars for this one.
The book begins with the saga of a weekly occurrence: hundreds of Eritrean refugees crammed tightly into tiny boats and launched in the direction of Europe at the ‘able’ hands of smugglers with the promise of a better life. There is little regard for the chances of their making it, in this case, to England, where they are made to work interminable hours with no pay.
Through the characters in this incredibly well written book, Wiles also sheds light on the hardening of public opinion against such immigrants with each disembarkation, and the increasing growth of political appetite for some level of accountability. Those that begin to embark on the tedious process of seeking asylum are often represented by public defenders who do not speak the language nor have the time, the resources, or the empathy to build a tangible case.
A disturbing, poignant and yet heart warming tale of a crisis that has now morphed into a humanitarian disaster. An easy 5 stars for this one.
November 27, 2017
A very well-researched book, dealing with the problem of illegal migration. Doesn’t sound very readable put like that but I couldn’t put it down.
This is one of those books that everyone should read, and then discuss. Book clubs would love it.
The format of the book, telling the story from different characters' points of view, was interesting and kept things moving.
It has made me question the topics of migration, migrants, the way we behave to strangers and the whole concept of national borders.
Thank you Ellen Wiles.
This is one of those books that everyone should read, and then discuss. Book clubs would love it.
The format of the book, telling the story from different characters' points of view, was interesting and kept things moving.
It has made me question the topics of migration, migrants, the way we behave to strangers and the whole concept of national borders.
Thank you Ellen Wiles.
November 29, 2017
This is a novel that is uplifting and engaging, about the strength of friendships - both new and old - and how they can provide meaning and a lifeline even when fortune is fickle. I loved it. Although a work of fiction, Wiles provides an eye-opening and accurate look into the steep legal and practical challenges faced by the “Invisible Crowd” who are around us, in the West, today and arriving still. People like Yonas, a memorable and very likable protagonist, who at the prime of their lives are forced from their countries by violence. His experiences in England as a worker in captivity under the malevolent Aziz at times had me trembling, while Yonas’ vulnerability, resilience and the twists and turns of his survival schemes kept me turning pages until the end. Without giving too much away, his story becomes intimately entwined with a few characters who are from disparate parts of British society. If you like tales about unlikely friendships, as I do, this is a book for you.
The Invisible Crowd touches on similar themes to Dave Eggers' “What is the What”, though the style (fiction), structure (multiple voices) and story are unique and relate to particularly live questions of migration facing Europe. But ultimately all this is background as the book does what great fiction does best: I was fully drawn into another reality, the world of Yonas. I feel that this novel restored and deepened the parts of my humanity that perhaps many of us are at risk of losing when news coverage of migration threatens to overwhelm, and numb. So thank you for that. I do hope there will be a second installment so I can find out what happens with Yonas and [no spoilers...].
The Invisible Crowd touches on similar themes to Dave Eggers' “What is the What”, though the style (fiction), structure (multiple voices) and story are unique and relate to particularly live questions of migration facing Europe. But ultimately all this is background as the book does what great fiction does best: I was fully drawn into another reality, the world of Yonas. I feel that this novel restored and deepened the parts of my humanity that perhaps many of us are at risk of losing when news coverage of migration threatens to overwhelm, and numb. So thank you for that. I do hope there will be a second installment so I can find out what happens with Yonas and [no spoilers...].
January 31, 2021
The book traces Yonas an Eritrean asylum seeker. His experiences cover people smugglers, abusive employers, a heartless system, a lot of sadness and a pinch of happiness at the end. The narrators include Yonas and a host of characters he comes into contact with. The interviews with the Home Office civil servants are frankly terrifying.
The author is experienced as a human rights barrister and her knowledge shines through.
The book is a bit uneven but overall it is another important story on the inhuman way the first world treat those trying to join it.
The author is experienced as a human rights barrister and her knowledge shines through.
The book is a bit uneven but overall it is another important story on the inhuman way the first world treat those trying to join it.
February 14, 2018
4.5 Stars
Two people, born on the same day, yet worlds apart.
Yonas was born in Eritrea, Africa and has grown up in a world of conflict, war and unspeakable inhumanity.
Jude grew up in London and is a human rights lawyer, trying to make a difference to the lives of people who need the most help.
When Yonas is trafficked to the UK, he thinks he is on the first step of a journey that will help save himself and the family that he has left behind. It is not long before he realises that immigrants are not welcomed with open arms. Far from it. He becomes part of the Invisible Crowd...
This is a debut novel with a huge heart. It examines the realities of being a refugee; the indefinite detention centres; the legal obstacles; the tabloid press portrayal of immigrants and the stories behind some of these invisible faces. Wiles has experience in this area as she is a qualified barrister, has a MA in law and Human Rights and has worked with Burmese refugees. She writes with a sense of knowing the true tales behind the headlines.
Each chapter is assigned a character and the reader is invited into their world.There are tales from Eritrea; from the entrapped refugees; from the workers in the dentition centres; from the people who assist the immigrants and the ones that are determined to expose them to government officials. Each chapter begins with a quoted headline from a red-top newspaper. Shockingly, these are referenced at the end of the novel, showing the mass-hysteria that can be created by a frenzied attack on minorities.
The Invisible Crowd is a poignant and powerful tale that will gnaw at your insides. It is all the more shocking by its accurate portrayal of a system that is seriously flawed. I read over 200 pages in one sitting and most of this was spent picturing the horrors of fleeing from one form of torture, to another. While there is little lagging toward the end, this is a wonderful novel which may leave a bitter aftertaste: It's the aftertaste of ignorance and compliance.
Two people, born on the same day, yet worlds apart.
Yonas was born in Eritrea, Africa and has grown up in a world of conflict, war and unspeakable inhumanity.
Jude grew up in London and is a human rights lawyer, trying to make a difference to the lives of people who need the most help.
When Yonas is trafficked to the UK, he thinks he is on the first step of a journey that will help save himself and the family that he has left behind. It is not long before he realises that immigrants are not welcomed with open arms. Far from it. He becomes part of the Invisible Crowd...
This is a debut novel with a huge heart. It examines the realities of being a refugee; the indefinite detention centres; the legal obstacles; the tabloid press portrayal of immigrants and the stories behind some of these invisible faces. Wiles has experience in this area as she is a qualified barrister, has a MA in law and Human Rights and has worked with Burmese refugees. She writes with a sense of knowing the true tales behind the headlines.
Each chapter is assigned a character and the reader is invited into their world.There are tales from Eritrea; from the entrapped refugees; from the workers in the dentition centres; from the people who assist the immigrants and the ones that are determined to expose them to government officials. Each chapter begins with a quoted headline from a red-top newspaper. Shockingly, these are referenced at the end of the novel, showing the mass-hysteria that can be created by a frenzied attack on minorities.
The Invisible Crowd is a poignant and powerful tale that will gnaw at your insides. It is all the more shocking by its accurate portrayal of a system that is seriously flawed. I read over 200 pages in one sitting and most of this was spent picturing the horrors of fleeing from one form of torture, to another. While there is little lagging toward the end, this is a wonderful novel which may leave a bitter aftertaste: It's the aftertaste of ignorance and compliance.
November 12, 2017
Like nothing you have read before. It deals with sensitive issues of immigration.
December 21, 2017
What a thought-provoking book title, and a very astute way to describe this particular group of people.
The story is about a refugee fleeing a brutal civil war and the people he encounters on his journey to freedom. The process to remain and the interviews are quite frankly bordering on harassment.
There is being specific and then there is being insulting for the fun of it. Victim blaming is the least of it. I know it is their job to determine whether there is an actual threat waiting for them if they return to their home country, so a certain level of toughness is to be expected.
I’m not going to lie, the headlines from the ever so reliable and never objective newspapers are depressing. It also angers me that the masses are spoon-fed this over-hyped tripe as real news, and of course the majority believes the headlines are not only true, in their minds they also apply them to every single refugee. The masses are whipped into a frenzy and blame everything on any foreigner they can find, even if they are of the fictional variety. There are bad apples in every basket, regardless of which type or brand of apple they are.
Wiles has written an interesting all-round account of the political situation we find ourselves in. In fact she has probably barely broken the seal on the Pandora’s box of trauma refugees go through. Human trafficking, profiting from the desperation of others, modern day slavery and just exploitation in general.
It’s important that people comprehend the difference between an immigrant and a refugee. A refugee has bag full of trauma by the time they arrive in the safe haven they are heading for. They encounter discrimination, racism, neglect and pure dislike.
Hopefully this story will make a few readers reconsider their opinions on refugees and the personal individual stories behind each person.
*I received a copy of this book courtesy of the publisher.*
The story is about a refugee fleeing a brutal civil war and the people he encounters on his journey to freedom. The process to remain and the interviews are quite frankly bordering on harassment.
There is being specific and then there is being insulting for the fun of it. Victim blaming is the least of it. I know it is their job to determine whether there is an actual threat waiting for them if they return to their home country, so a certain level of toughness is to be expected.
I’m not going to lie, the headlines from the ever so reliable and never objective newspapers are depressing. It also angers me that the masses are spoon-fed this over-hyped tripe as real news, and of course the majority believes the headlines are not only true, in their minds they also apply them to every single refugee. The masses are whipped into a frenzy and blame everything on any foreigner they can find, even if they are of the fictional variety. There are bad apples in every basket, regardless of which type or brand of apple they are.
Wiles has written an interesting all-round account of the political situation we find ourselves in. In fact she has probably barely broken the seal on the Pandora’s box of trauma refugees go through. Human trafficking, profiting from the desperation of others, modern day slavery and just exploitation in general.
It’s important that people comprehend the difference between an immigrant and a refugee. A refugee has bag full of trauma by the time they arrive in the safe haven they are heading for. They encounter discrimination, racism, neglect and pure dislike.
Hopefully this story will make a few readers reconsider their opinions on refugees and the personal individual stories behind each person.
*I received a copy of this book courtesy of the publisher.*
August 11, 2025
I really enjoyed the way the story was told from different perspectives and how likeable the main protagonist was. I agree with some other reviews that perhaps there was too much detail around some of the less integral characters, but I didn’t feel it detracted too much. For me, the story highlights how, with every relationship we have, we hold a piece of someone’s life in our hands, and how fragile that piece can be, without us always being aware. Perhaps it’s not the most subtle of books as other reviews have mentioned, but I think it still lands well. I found myself wanting to know what happens after - always a good sign for me.
August 8, 2024
Each chapter was a headline from the daily Mail
April 26, 2019
I loved this story about the very real struggles Asylum Seekers face during their journey to the U.K and the problems they face once they arrive in the UK. This book drew me in very quickly and kept me wishing and hoping for a happy ending. I’d highly recommend reading this book to teach and educate everyone about this fragile crisis.
July 26, 2018
The Invisible Crowd by Ellen Wiles is a powerful contemporary novel surrounding the topic of seeking asylum. It is an intense read and one that will horrify you, break your heart, and cause you to realise that people the world over want the same thing - someone to love them and a place to call home. I would like to say that I enjoyed the novel but that sounds flippant in light of the subject matter. So I will say that it was a powerful read that totally consumed me, held my attention, invaded my life and I could not put it down.
The novel uses the microcosm of focusing in on one man - Yonas from Eritrea - to represent a macrocosm of unknown faces. We see the world from his point of view. He interacts with others. There are chapters written from others points of view. We see the impact Yonas has on lives around him.
The novel is about love, loyalty, bravery and a search to be loved and to belong. There are some big hearts out there who help and there are some absolutely awful people who abuse, take advantage or just do not care. There are some difficult to read scenes as Yonas fled persecution. There are topics of self harm, trafficking, cruelty and suicide.
The Invisible Crowd is such a powerful read - a work of fiction but based on the author's factual knowledge. If you only read one book this year - read this one and open your eyes to the world around you. To the hardships some innocents face.
The Invisible Crowd has the potential to be the next best seller. It certainly deserves to be. This book is crying out to be read - please buy and read it today.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
The novel uses the microcosm of focusing in on one man - Yonas from Eritrea - to represent a macrocosm of unknown faces. We see the world from his point of view. He interacts with others. There are chapters written from others points of view. We see the impact Yonas has on lives around him.
The novel is about love, loyalty, bravery and a search to be loved and to belong. There are some big hearts out there who help and there are some absolutely awful people who abuse, take advantage or just do not care. There are some difficult to read scenes as Yonas fled persecution. There are topics of self harm, trafficking, cruelty and suicide.
The Invisible Crowd is such a powerful read - a work of fiction but based on the author's factual knowledge. If you only read one book this year - read this one and open your eyes to the world around you. To the hardships some innocents face.
The Invisible Crowd has the potential to be the next best seller. It certainly deserves to be. This book is crying out to be read - please buy and read it today.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
August 17, 2020
Sometimes we all need to put ourselves in someone else's shoes.
Yonas Kelati is Eritrean. He has fled Eritrea as an asylum seeker, and been trafficked to Britain where he works in an illegal factory along with his friend the artist Gebre. This book follows his story, in the form of interviews with people who have encountered him on his journey through the asylum seeking process. In between the interviews we hear from Yonas himself, and fill in the gaps between the stories.
The difference between the average asylum seeker as portrayed by the tabloids, and Yonas, is that he is highly intelligent, a journalist, whose English is very good. (He turns up at an English class expecting to learn literature). Even so, he is still tripped up at every turn when he attends a Home Office interview.
Each chapter is headed with a real headline from a tabloid or semi-tabloid newspaper about asylum seekers. (Yonas collects such headlines). By the end, I had earmarked certain papers I never want to buy again.
This is a chilling story, reminding me in some ways of Marina Lewycka's Two Caravans, but rather than Eastern European, this is the African who we see on the news crossing the Channel in inadequate boats, the African who shells your prawns in terrible conditions, who rootles through dustbins to find food, and who in the end, we desperately want to succeed.
This story is not comfortable, but it is a story we all need to read.
Yonas Kelati is Eritrean. He has fled Eritrea as an asylum seeker, and been trafficked to Britain where he works in an illegal factory along with his friend the artist Gebre. This book follows his story, in the form of interviews with people who have encountered him on his journey through the asylum seeking process. In between the interviews we hear from Yonas himself, and fill in the gaps between the stories.
The difference between the average asylum seeker as portrayed by the tabloids, and Yonas, is that he is highly intelligent, a journalist, whose English is very good. (He turns up at an English class expecting to learn literature). Even so, he is still tripped up at every turn when he attends a Home Office interview.
Each chapter is headed with a real headline from a tabloid or semi-tabloid newspaper about asylum seekers. (Yonas collects such headlines). By the end, I had earmarked certain papers I never want to buy again.
This is a chilling story, reminding me in some ways of Marina Lewycka's Two Caravans, but rather than Eastern European, this is the African who we see on the news crossing the Channel in inadequate boats, the African who shells your prawns in terrible conditions, who rootles through dustbins to find food, and who in the end, we desperately want to succeed.
This story is not comfortable, but it is a story we all need to read.
September 28, 2018
Emotionally demanding and intellectually enthralling, ‘The Invisible Crowd’ is not an easy read, but Ellen Wiles’ strong prose sweeps her audience effortlessly along. The story of Yonas, an Eritrean refugee surviving under the radar in England, is told by multiple narrators, each engagingly identified by their choice of coffee. The lead narrator is Jude, the female barrister who must plead Yonas’ case in court. The fact that she and he were born on the same day causes Jude to compare her life experiences with those of her client. Although Yonas’s experience is described in third person, the first person voices of several narrators chime in, each one describing their relationship with him in an individual style. The ‘issues’ associated with his status cause Yonas suffering that seems almost unbearable, but Wiles avoids the ‘worthy’ label by using his devastating human story to evoke a powerful response. A happy outcome for Yonas depends not only on willingness to plod through legal processes, but also on friendship, generosity and love. Whether or not he achieves that outcome, each reader must decide for themselves. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed ‘You Don’t Know Me’ by Imran Mahmood.
February 1, 2020
This is our current Book And A Beer read, chosen from a shortlist of six books about 'young people'. It took me a while to get into this book, however I must have read the last half in on sitting. The story of Yonas, and his horrific and hard-breaking journey is not only eye-opening but will stay with me for a long time. I understand that Ellen Wiles used to be a human rights barrister and her expertise and knowledge comes across clearly, but not in a patronising or overwhelming way. Instead, she makes the reader sympathise for Yonas, in every situation. And it's not just emptathy, it's an understanding of what an immigrant goes through in getting to this country and then despite the fear, the terror and the humiliation, they are not believed because there is a lack of 'evidence'.
I enjoyed the style of the book, with the interviews of his friends and family intispersed between Yonas' and Jude's accounts, however I didn't really feel a need for Jude's character and I thought more would be made of the fact that they had been born on the same day but had obviously different lives. Despite this, a must-read.
I enjoyed the style of the book, with the interviews of his friends and family intispersed between Yonas' and Jude's accounts, however I didn't really feel a need for Jude's character and I thought more would be made of the fact that they had been born on the same day but had obviously different lives. Despite this, a must-read.
March 1, 2021
This book sat on my bookshelf for two years. I eventually decided to start with it after seeing this title in the list of New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern's book recommendations on Book Depository.
I picked up this book at the Big Bad Wolf in 2018 because the title was catchy and the blurb was intriguing. Most of all, the story is something I'm somewhat drawn into: migration and refugees.
But it took me an entire month to finish this one during commutes. I could not even bring myself to dedicate at least an hour a day for it. I liked the idea, the treatment, and the intention on why and how this book was written, but it failed to capture my attention enough for me to even think about it for days.
It felt like I'm reading a draft that was not meant to be consumed by the public yet—akin to Harper Lee's Go Set A Watchman. If this was given more time, it has the potential to become a next To Kill A Mockingbird.
Good story nonetheless. It gave me a glimpse on how the general public in the UK perceives migrants and asylum seekers.
The ending was a total dud though, like a forced happy ending to a chic-flick movie.
I picked up this book at the Big Bad Wolf in 2018 because the title was catchy and the blurb was intriguing. Most of all, the story is something I'm somewhat drawn into: migration and refugees.
But it took me an entire month to finish this one during commutes. I could not even bring myself to dedicate at least an hour a day for it. I liked the idea, the treatment, and the intention on why and how this book was written, but it failed to capture my attention enough for me to even think about it for days.
It felt like I'm reading a draft that was not meant to be consumed by the public yet—akin to Harper Lee's Go Set A Watchman. If this was given more time, it has the potential to become a next To Kill A Mockingbird.
Good story nonetheless. It gave me a glimpse on how the general public in the UK perceives migrants and asylum seekers.
The ending was a total dud though, like a forced happy ending to a chic-flick movie.
December 25, 2017
This book had a good heart but I kind of feel like it's sermonizing. It's very obvious what the author's views on asylum are and she really wanted to get her point across. She whacks you over the head with it repeatedly until half way through Im going yes! I agree with you now can we have some character development?
It has an interesting structure. An asylum seeker's case lands on an over worked barrister's desk, due to be in court in a week or so. She wants to give him the best defence so she goes & meets everyone whose life he has touched. Chapters alternate between the 'invisible crowd' & Yonas, the Eritrean asylum seeker.
I could have read more about Yonas, but I'm not enjoying the people whose life he touches, it's written in a pretty terrible vernacular style & it delves too deep into the lives of bit players. Sorry, I just don't care about Molly's daughter's anxiety if she's not going to come back & where did the tabloid journalist come from?
Anyway, if it changes one person's mind then all for good but I prefer my reading to have a little more subtlety.
It has an interesting structure. An asylum seeker's case lands on an over worked barrister's desk, due to be in court in a week or so. She wants to give him the best defence so she goes & meets everyone whose life he has touched. Chapters alternate between the 'invisible crowd' & Yonas, the Eritrean asylum seeker.
I could have read more about Yonas, but I'm not enjoying the people whose life he touches, it's written in a pretty terrible vernacular style & it delves too deep into the lives of bit players. Sorry, I just don't care about Molly's daughter's anxiety if she's not going to come back & where did the tabloid journalist come from?
Anyway, if it changes one person's mind then all for good but I prefer my reading to have a little more subtlety.
January 6, 2019
This book is powerful. Wiles' legal background and profound concern for the lost and lonely refugee immigrants comes through very clearly in her book 'The Invisible Crowd'!
Not only does Wiles, very skilfully and with first hand insight, portray the plight of refugees arriving in their new chosen home, but she also describes the forces that ejected such people from their homelands. Scary stuff.
The perilous escape from the refugees' homeland, the circumstances which still prevail in those countries and how the left-behind family is often compromised and has pinned their hope for survival on the family member who has escaped to 'greener pastures' is heart rending.
Wiles manages to combine reality with a healthy dose of 'fiction' to create a thoroughly readable book: impenetrable, inept bureaucracy contrasted with decent humanity and human love. Just when things can't get worse, a 'mensch' steps in and brings hope.
Thank you, Ms Wiles, for a good read which above all was enlightening.
I highly recommend this book.
Not only does Wiles, very skilfully and with first hand insight, portray the plight of refugees arriving in their new chosen home, but she also describes the forces that ejected such people from their homelands. Scary stuff.
The perilous escape from the refugees' homeland, the circumstances which still prevail in those countries and how the left-behind family is often compromised and has pinned their hope for survival on the family member who has escaped to 'greener pastures' is heart rending.
Wiles manages to combine reality with a healthy dose of 'fiction' to create a thoroughly readable book: impenetrable, inept bureaucracy contrasted with decent humanity and human love. Just when things can't get worse, a 'mensch' steps in and brings hope.
Thank you, Ms Wiles, for a good read which above all was enlightening.
I highly recommend this book.
December 26, 2023
A moving book about an asylum seeker from Eritrea, Yonas and his journey when he lands on the English shores. In light of the current situation in England and how hard the conservative party (currently in the Prime Minister's office) are waging a full war against refugees and asylum seekers, this book is even more timely.
This book is not easy to read because the life of an asylum seeker in the United Kingdom is not easy (and this is why I only gave the book 3 stars, it was just very dark, even in parts when it is suppose to be light).
I wish more people could read this book, but the very people whose eyes need to be opened to these poor peoples plights are the very people who will not pick up this book. Maybe it could be read in schools where maybe minds can be opened.
I would recommend for a book club; there is a lot to digest here - I kinda wish I had read this in conjunction with a book club, so I could discuss and hash out. This book will stay with you well after you finish it.
This book is not easy to read because the life of an asylum seeker in the United Kingdom is not easy (and this is why I only gave the book 3 stars, it was just very dark, even in parts when it is suppose to be light).
I wish more people could read this book, but the very people whose eyes need to be opened to these poor peoples plights are the very people who will not pick up this book. Maybe it could be read in schools where maybe minds can be opened.
I would recommend for a book club; there is a lot to digest here - I kinda wish I had read this in conjunction with a book club, so I could discuss and hash out. This book will stay with you well after you finish it.
July 29, 2019
The story of Yonas, born in Asmara, Eritrea who's life in his war ravaged country is hell. Taken prisoner for writing about the atrocities to the Eritean people he escapes to London. The people he meets are woven into his new life as he tries to survive and make enough money to send home to his sister. He lost so much in his country...family members and any sense of security....the UK will be better, it must be. He is such an enigmatic personality that others attach themselves to him seeing the good in a human being struggling within a new culture, in a new country. This is a tale of people seeking asylum in the UK, the troubles they face as well as the support they are given. And it's a tale of a strong, mostly optimistic man who is kind, intelligent, understanding and hopeful that he can find peace after all.
July 5, 2018
This is a story about immigration to the UK. The facts of people's lives versus the public commentary. This is a story about friendship and family and big hearted people and narrow minded ones. "Just doing my job" is used several times as an excuse for hard heartedness.
Yonas and Gebre are illegal migrants to the UK, forces to work to pay back the people smugglers. After a horrifying incident Yonas has had enough and escapes. We learn of his travels through the black economy before he applies for asylum and then the awful process he undergoes. Meanwhile Gebre follows a different and darker path.
It was hard to read this book in places, and hard to put it down. I am unclear about what the ending means.
Yonas and Gebre are illegal migrants to the UK, forces to work to pay back the people smugglers. After a horrifying incident Yonas has had enough and escapes. We learn of his travels through the black economy before he applies for asylum and then the awful process he undergoes. Meanwhile Gebre follows a different and darker path.
It was hard to read this book in places, and hard to put it down. I am unclear about what the ending means.
August 31, 2023
An excellent book written about an Eritrean refugee trying to make his way in England. Throughout the book I felt so lucky and really think your luck depends on being born in the right place at the right time. The book was written from many points of view which kept the story moving nicely. It would've got 5 stars except for two things. Firstly, (spoiler look away now) ....
I hate books that don't have an ending that answers the biggest question of the plot. It is really unsatisfying and makes me stressed! Secondly, one of the characters was written in second person and the rest were not which confused me and I'm not keen on second person. Otherwise, a brilliant book. Hopefully the author will write another about Yonas' life after the decision!
I hate books that don't have an ending that answers the biggest question of the plot. It is really unsatisfying and makes me stressed! Secondly, one of the characters was written in second person and the rest were not which confused me and I'm not keen on second person. Otherwise, a brilliant book. Hopefully the author will write another about Yonas' life after the decision!
October 20, 2021
3.5 stars
This story is both disturbing and moving. The story of a refugee, smuggled into the UK, escaping his homeland in Africa. I liked the way the tale was told, alternating between Yonas's memories, thoughts, and experiences and "interviews" with characters he meets and interacts with along the way. Interestingly, the author was involved in immigration law and asylum seekers, and I suspect that contributes to the "real feel" of the book. Unfortunately, I felt a little let down by the ending, which nudged it off a four-star rating.
This story is both disturbing and moving. The story of a refugee, smuggled into the UK, escaping his homeland in Africa. I liked the way the tale was told, alternating between Yonas's memories, thoughts, and experiences and "interviews" with characters he meets and interacts with along the way. Interestingly, the author was involved in immigration law and asylum seekers, and I suspect that contributes to the "real feel" of the book. Unfortunately, I felt a little let down by the ending, which nudged it off a four-star rating.
April 24, 2022
4+ stars. Another heartbreaking story, another war, endless loss, suffering, grieving. Yet, so much hope, even when there is almost nothing left to fight for. The main character of this novel embodies the thousands of asylum seekers that reach safe corners of the world with just one obsessive thought, i.e. to survive. The prose is nicely written, and I enjoyed the very personal perspective of each chapter. I am glad the author decided to add a bit of “expected” mundane events, they really contribute to make this story something anyone can relate to.
November 27, 2023
It took some time for the pace to increase but I thoroughly enjoyed This book! The authors ability to give us different POVs and the honesty with which she writes… she ensures that we recognize the different parties involved in cases of asylum seeking and illegal immigrations and ensures that she gives us a broad range of perspectives and ideologies, never quite calling anything black or white. Looking forward to read her other book as well
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 14, 2025
Through the characters in this incredibly well written book, Wiles also sheds light on the hardening of public opinion against such immigrants with each disembarkation, and the increasing growth of political appetite for some level of accountability. Those that begin to embark on the tedious process of seeking asylum are often represented by public defenders who do not speak the language nor have the time, the resources, or the empathy to build a tangible case.
March 1, 2018
Enjoyable topical read about illegal immigrants in the UK. I think it's good to be writing about this and making people think about immigration and the hardships that some people have to go through. The book is well written, showing different points of view on the issue, but there were sections that I felt were a bit contrived. Would still recommend!
September 26, 2018
As a lawyer who once used to deal with asylum cases, I found this book particularly interesting. It’s also an important voice among the sea of mostly negative press coverage on the issue of immigration. We picked this book for our book club meeting and had plenty to discuss! So I definitely recommend.
June 8, 2019
This book had me rivotted from the beginning and really pricked my conscience and made me realise how affected I too have been by all the fake rubbish news about migrants. Loved this book and thank you to the author for putting a a story to the crisis we are unfortunately seeing that. Highly recommend this book.
May 12, 2020
This incredible book uses multiple perspectives to tell a nuanced story of an unpapered immigrant trafficked into the UK after escaping from torture and imprisonment in Eritrea. It should be required reading for anyone working in detainment centres, and migration policy developers. Empathy building, educational and altogether enthralling.
January 6, 2021
Second book in a row I read about migration. Very strong format which avoids the trap of being formulaic while covering a huge range of issues within the asylum seeker/migrant topic. Very compelling characters and a pulsing story. Could easily have been didactic and full but is given real life throughout. The Invisible Crowd as a title really takes on meaning as you read.
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