A year after their best friend, Janet Uzor dies in a drowning incident, Pamela and Ebere are trying to cope and move on in their own unique ways. Pamela buries her emotions, while Ebere has been on a mission to find out what really happened to their friend, an excellent swimmer, whose death seems unfair and unconscionable. When Pamela begins to receive sinister letters threatening her life, she finally has to confront her fears, and with the help of Ebere, on/off boyfriend Eche, good friend Daniel Kalio, she sets out to find out who is after her life. But to succeed, they must first unravel the mystery behind Janet’s death before the clock runs out and Pamela finds herself at the mercy of a bloodthirsty killer.
Miracle Emeka-Nkwor was born and raised in the Garden city, Port Harcourt. She is a graduate of Biochemistry from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and has always likened herself to an overflowing drum of creativity. When she isn’t sketching designs, drafting patterns and bent over a sewing machine, her nose is buried in the pages of a good book.
It’s been a year since Pamela and Ebere best friend, Janet Uzor died and while Pamela is trying to move on from it, her friend Ebere just won’t deal with. Ebere is convinced that Janet was murdered and her death was not an accidental drowning because she is an expert swimmer. Through her investigation, Ebere also deduced that Janet’s death was not a one off situation, there is actually a serial killer amongst them. While Ebere’s got “proof” no one seems to believe her, not even her friend Pamela who she thought would listen to her.
Pamela is dealing with a lot, she lives with her father, her month left her a long time ago and the death of her best friend really did a number on her. She’s been having nightmares and one day she woke up to a mysterious note written in blood saying she will be killed next. With the notes frequency increasing she’s got not choice but to believe Ebere that there is a serial killer and there is strong urgency to solve this mystery, or she could be next.
I inhaled this book, I felt like I spent a day in the world of Pamela and Ebere and I just HAD to know what happened. I LOVED the twist, and I truly did not see it coming because… there were only two pages left in the book.
If you are looking for a fast paced read that will grip you, WHAT HAPPENED TO JANET UZOR is it!
Ebere has a theory that there is a killer out there that claims his victim every Christmas, she believes their best friend Janet, was one of his victims. Pamela pays no attention to Ebere's conspiracy theories until she and Eche start receiving letters written with blood. Since the adults pay no attention to their theories, Pam, Ebere, Eche and Daniel embark on a quest to solve the mystery presented to them.
I think it is important to know you shouldn't approach reading this book with the matured mind of an avid reader. The character development In this book was written to appeal to your teenage self. Once you do this, it would be smooth sailing.
This was a fast read for me (finished it in one sitting). The teenage crush and relationship drama took me down the memory lane of my teenage days. Although presented subtly, the author addressed things that we sadly seemed to have normalised in our present society. Things such as an older man chasing after girls that are barely legal, and being comfortable with the fact that our police system is poor at executing their duties which results daily in the death of innocent citizens. Another thing I picked up from this book is that you can never really know a person's true character and everybody has two sides, I wish the girls knew this. The death of Janet shows how grief can affect the lives of those mourning.
As much as this was a good and fast read, there is something I didn't fancy, to a certain level, some scenes didn't feel realistic and there were some loopholes I could not comprehend hence the reason why I rated it 3.7stars. I applaud the author for this book,she kept the suspense and tension building with each chapter ( I almost went to the back to find out the identity if the killer)
If you are looking for a quick read, this is for you. If you are looking for a good book for teenagers, this is for you. All lovers of YA, gather here because this one is for you too.
Full review to come but I just wanted to say I actually enjoyed this. If you’re a mystery lover, it might seem a bit familiar but it doesn’t make it any less engaging!
I like that more African authors are starting to write other genres outside literary fiction. Sometimes I just want to relax and play detective!
I’ll be sharing my full review closer to release date.
I was hyped about this book because Miracle has been a writer I've known since her days on Wattpad and to see her book out here with all the hype was alleviating. I like that more African authors are starting to write other genres aside from literary fiction. It is refreshing to, once in a while, read genre fiction and escape from all the serious stuff that is sometimes literary fiction.
✍ A strong hook: Did WHTJU give me the hook I was after? Well, no and my reason is personal. I have grown to develop this 'thing' against the first chapters of books opening with someone waking up from sleep. Apart from that, everything else after just falls in place. I mean, I read past the first chapter to the last. That should mean something!
✍ The atmospheric setting: Through setting, the author succeeds in establishing an unsettling, apprehensive mood to reinforce the fear of an unknown killer lurking in the shadows—especially nearing those last few chapters.
✍ A sleuth: At the heart of every mystery is a character determined to solve the crime. I will give it to Ebere. Girl was determined! Want my opinion? The lads didn't need the police or whoever. They solved everything on their own.
✍ A crime: Yes! There wasn't just one, or two but several. I mean we even "coincidentally" unearth the hidden crimes of the Principal of Afobiri Sec.
✍Narrative momentum (?): I think the pace was okay-ish. Not too slow, not too fast…just enough information is given at the right time. And as I said in my pre-review video (is that a thing? 🤔😅), I don't find WHTJU very hair-raisingly thrilling but it has ENOUGH suspense to get you flipping.
✍ A satisfying ending: or rather, an UNEXPECTED ending. I mean, it is a mystery book, we always expect the unexpected but you are not ready for this unexpected. I thought I could have guessed the killer at some point but the author did a good job making it impossible to. If you ask me, that is the major selling point of the book.
I never thought [he] could do that. And all for what? Love? If this is what true love is, then I want no part of it. Abeg don't come and kill me in the name of love. 😅😆
✍ Red herrings: A good mystery tosses the reader off track and this book does just that.
✍BONUS? The characters are three dimensional. They feel relatable. There is enough drama and tension between the friends at some point to keep our sugar levels normal. We love good vawulence. 😅
M.E.N has made a good entry into the world of Nigerian Fiction and I know she is here to stay! Can't wait to read what she comes out with next. Please, don't keep us waiting. 🖤
I must say it’s a 3 because it was a YA book and I wasn’t aware of that, so mainly my fault. I wanted more complex storylines dealing with adult themes but that was obviously not the case. Again, my fault. Enjoyed this read though, it was really simple to follow. I cannot complain.
“There was evil in this world, and sometimes that evil hides in plain sight, curled up next to you wearing the face of someone you trust.”
This novel is the definition of effects of poor parenting on children. How teens are underrated. Stern parents only breeds pretentious kids with hidden characters. Abandonment in early stage of life creates a layer of personality and trauma, and most parent just don’t want to understand! Having children is not just because ‘I want to have a child for this person I’m in love with.’ It’s about, how can I handle an entire human? Can I raise him/her right? If things go south for my partner, can I handle the heartbreak without bleeding on this innocent child?
Despite the rave reviews I saw that made me buy this, it was just an okay read. There was nothing particularly shocking, and I didn't feel the effects of the 'twists and turns'.
I was very 'unshocked' by who the killer turned out to be.
This was by no means a bad attempt at a murder mystery, I just think it might be better suited to maybe secondary school students 🤷♀️
It's been a year since the death of Janet Uzor, and while one of her best friends, Pamela, is trying to move on, the other one has become an investigator. Ebere believes Janet was murdered and that there's a serial killer in town who might be responsible for the deaths of four other students from their school.
When Pamela starts receiving threatening letters daily, she begins to give Ebere's analogy a serious thought. Pamela and Ebere tell Pamela's on/off boyfriend Eche, and another classmate Daniel about the situation, and the four of them commence the search for the person after her life.
I bought this book because I was curious. I saw the title, read the synopsis, and knew there was no way I was leaving the bookstore without it.
It was an easy and satisfying read. I couldn't drop it the minute I started and was done reading in about three hours.
"Don't you think it's odd how every year for the past four years, someone in our school has died?"
Ebere has been on a mission to find out what happened to her friend Janet who was found unresponsive at a riverbank despite being an excellent swimmer. She learns about the death of other students from their school while investigating and believes they were all murdered.
I have read lots of crime and mysteries books and this one ranks very high! I couldn’t believe that I could be so surprised at the ending! How Ms Emeka-Nkwor kept me glued and engaged is a surprise! I thought I could easily guess the killer but I was led astray a few times!
This book has all the good ingredients for a crime/mystery thriller. She developed the characters as the story grew, however, it does not feel like a typical secondary teenage thriller. When you have read a lot of Enid Blyton, you would know how a teenage detective story feels. The characters are a little more developed for secondary kids!
That said, this novel is a must read for lovers of this genre! As someone said in a review, it’s really nice that Nigerians are beginning to delve into other genres of fiction!
I’d highly recommend this book! Miracle Emeka-Nkwor has a bright future in writing.
1. more care should have been given to the flow or the communication of information in this story. For one, in one page of the book we’re told Ebere is a deeper life girl, while the rest of the story tells us she’s a Jehovah witness (I feel like errors like that should have been taken note of before publishing😩)
2. To the actual story, tbh. I’d give it a 3.5 star. It was a good mystery I guess, but I feel like I don’t like how it was executed (For context: the book follows Ebere and Pam, both friends of Janet Uzor, working towards uncovering the mystery behind Janet’s murder because Pam started receiving death threats)
3. I genuinely like the idea of the book, but I truly think it could have been told better
Nevertheless, it was nice to read a Nigerian novel that doesn’t end in misery for the main character
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
What Happened To Janet Uzor revolves around Pamela, who with the help of her friends try to unravel the mystery behind the death of their friend Janet and the mysterious stuffs that have happened around them in the recent past. Pamela experiences a roller-coaster of events that never prepares her for what she would find out. This book is excellently written by Miracle Emeka-Nkwor and it is suspense-filled, keeping you on the your edge your seats, wanting more. You'll find out that you have even left the comfort of your reading table and jumped into the book as one of the external characters all for the purpose of finding out What Happened To Janet Uzor. Nothing prepares you for the finale... Grab your copy to find out more 😁
A Nigerian whodunit story featuring high school students.
It took me by surprise who committed the crimes. Wasn’t expecting that at all. And that’s a massive plus.
Steady paced and quite enjoyable dialogue. Everything about this book tickles my fancy. Reminds me of my teenage years reading Nancy Drew series. But this time, more pleasurable because the characters are Nigerians.
I’ll give my teenage daughter this book to read. Want her to read a Nigerian Nancy Drew like story 😊
Once again, thanks to Masobe books for sharing diverse stories from Nigeria instead of constant tales of woe.
We get to see teenage crime solvers in a Nigerian traditionally published book? Amazing!!! 😻
Life comes tumbling down when Pamela and Ebere lose a member of their trio, Janet Uzor in what seems like suspicious circumstances disguised as a drowning accident. Together with two of their male friends , they dig deeper and begin to uncover hidden secrets that may ultimately land them all in trouble ! ✰ One word. Captivating. I finished this book in about 2 hours + . It was that good. The writing was concise and straight to the point. The plot twists, OMG ?! This book was written so simply and beautifully, anyone at all can read it. It was so enjoyable. ✰ final notes : i would definitely recommend this for a very quick read or if you’re looking to get out of a reading slump. absolutely loved this one !!!
First off, I suck at reading and if I must read then jt has to be technical books because I’m a programmer but this book! This book brought to live my visual senses and imaginations, I felt like I was seeing a movie and I couldn’t stop reading until I was done.
Most interesting part, you can never figure out how the story would end, there’s always another twist when you just think you’ve unraveled the mystery.
Don’t believe me? Read the first 10 pages and see if you’d not want to continue.
The book is a short and fast-paced thriller with refreshing and intriguing storyline.
The suspense was thrilling and I couldn't wait to know who the mystery killer was.
To be candid, the plot wasn't really anything new to me and for an avid reader of suspense novel, i could almost tell who the killer was but that didn't stop the story from being interesting.
I really do like that more African authors are starting to write other genres aside from literary fiction.
The author really did a fine job with the twist and she deserves an applaud from me. 👏
What happened to Janet Uzor by Miracle Emeka-Nkwor (4/5 ⭐️) __ i read this book in March and i totally forgot to drop a review - so here you go! __ i liked this book a lot. i liked that it was different. it was not predictable and it definitely kept me on my toes.
this book focuses on 4 high schoolers at Afobiri Secondary School who were determined to find out what happened to their friend, Janet Uzor who they believed died under suspicious circumstances - and they had to do this before the clock runs out. 😮💨 __ this book is definitely a quick read. 🥳
The twist!!! I didn’t imagine. One minute we thought it was D and then we find out it’s E!!
This books delves into obsession, trust, friendship, love, family and I meannn I loved most of the characters except JANET herself but it’s nothing serious. 💅
The Author created a masterpiece💭miss @miraclenkwo I expect a sequel ngl.😩
This was honestly a breath of fresh air, It is amazing how something could feel so close to home. I needed this,I needed a touch of home,a familiar “Africanness” I loved the storyline,the plot twists were so good. I’m honestly happy I read this book.However It took me a while to differentiate btw the two main characters which was a bit of a hassle but It did not not depreciate my love for the art.
WHTJU was truly an intriguing book to read. The fact that it's based in Port Harcourt — I mean, a murder mystery in Port Harcourt with teenage characters is not what you see every day — is what drew me to buy and read this book.
I have no regrets. It was such a rush guessing the killer. I've always loved watching mystery and thriller movies and reading them too and this book didn't disappoint. The author did a good job.
Started this book and couldn’t drop it, what a twist!!!! This was a good read and for a debut book? This was really impressive.
“There was evil in the world, and sometimes that evil hides in plain sight, curled up next to you wearing the face of someone you trust. But there was goodness, too, even in the gossipy neighbour you had looked down on, or in the overbearing father that you had never truly appreciated”. 🥹🥹
Just when I thought our mysterious killer had been found, with evidence, then l received an invincible tap from the author that I should not be in a hurry to judge this book. Then came another suspect and yet another one.
This book is indeed a masterpiece, suspense-thrilled. In fact, my love for suspense thrillers just multiplied and I think M.E.N. only just began.
I liked the book, I loved the suspense! You'll be so eager to find out who the killer. I feel the plot wasn't anything new per se, like if you are an avid reader of suspense novels I think you'll easily be able to find out who the killer is but that didn't stop it from being a good read. I recommend everyone reading it, it's a short and fast paced read.
What happened to Janet Uzor was an enjoyable read. I thought I could tell who the killer was early in the book but nothing prepared me for the plot twist at the end. However, I wish there was more to why Dan was answering/acting that way during the interrogation. There was no explanation on that. For a debut, the writer did amazingly well. Thrilling and exciting read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I read this right after reading “A little life” and it’s just the exact kind of book I needed to take me out of the emotional rollercoaster of A little life.
It’s pretty much a basic beginner level serial killer ish kind of book. Although I would say I didn’t exactly expect the end to be that way. Either ways it was a fairly okay book
What happens when the death of your friend leads you to truth you can't live with? Do you know the people who are close to you? How are you relating with the neighbors living close to you?
Highly recommend this intriguing read to anyone in search of a thrilling read.
I loved this book. It was exciting, intriguing, and enthralling. However, the reason for Janet Uzor’s death lacked the depth that the story carried. It was unsatisfactory and underwhelming. Other than that, this is a wonderful book!
Well this was a book I’ve always wanted to read and well I can say that reading it was okay. I think it needed more fleshing out but the end really shocked me. My mouth was on the floor because howww. It was nice that’s for sure.
I think I've always thought Nigerian stories had to always be about Nigerian struggles and past history but this was a proper 'who-dun-it?' book, the plot twist had my gasping! I read this in about two days, very interesting, from start to finish.