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Philip Taiwo #1
Lightseekers
When three young students are brutally murdered in a Nigerian university town, their killings - and their killers - are caught on social media. The world knows who murdered them; what no one knows is why.
As the legal trial begins, investigative psychologist Philip Taiwo is contacted by the father of one of the boys, desperate for some answers to his son's murder. But Philip is an expert in crowd behaviour and violence, not a detective, and after travelling to the sleepy university town that bore witness to the killings, he soon feels dramatically out of his depth.
Will he finally be able to uncover the truth of what happened to the Okiri Three?
As the legal trial begins, investigative psychologist Philip Taiwo is contacted by the father of one of the boys, desperate for some answers to his son's murder. But Philip is an expert in crowd behaviour and violence, not a detective, and after travelling to the sleepy university town that bore witness to the killings, he soon feels dramatically out of his depth.
Will he finally be able to uncover the truth of what happened to the Okiri Three?
465 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 4, 2021
223 people are currently reading
11074 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 586 reviews
June 17, 2021
Absolutely riveting and thought-provoking, Lightseekers takes crime fiction to contemporary Nigeria and weaves a tale that is both relevant and relatable.
Dr. Taiwo, a criminal psychologist, is called upon to investigate the public lynching of three university students at a nearby town. At its surface, the crime seems straightforward, with the mob getting out of control in its quest for vigilante justice after the three victims had been accused of stealing. But something doesn't add up, with the local police, the town, and the university all hurrying to hush up the matter.
I read a lot of mysteries, and this one stands out, both for its unusual crime and for its setting in modern-day Nigeria. The investigation was gripping from the first page, and I felt myself propelled along as I tried to figure out what happened and who is responsible.
The case unfolds carefully and methodically, though if I had to make a critique, it's that it's overly so at times. There were definitely moments when I've already put two and two together, and it feels like Dr. Taiwo is still getting there. Thankfully, it didn't slow down the pacing of the book, which still felt taut and urgent.
But this book is so much more than just an investigation. I don't know much about Nigeria, and I enjoyed the look into this country and its sociopolitical climate. I also appreciated the exploration into mob mentality, how tribalism can overtake facts, and its tenacious hold over society when opportunities are lacking. Though it takes place in Nigeria, I think any reader will see the parallels to many places in the world, including the U.S.
This is a tremendous debut, entertaining and insightful. I cannot wait to read more from Femi Kayode.
Dr. Taiwo, a criminal psychologist, is called upon to investigate the public lynching of three university students at a nearby town. At its surface, the crime seems straightforward, with the mob getting out of control in its quest for vigilante justice after the three victims had been accused of stealing. But something doesn't add up, with the local police, the town, and the university all hurrying to hush up the matter.
I read a lot of mysteries, and this one stands out, both for its unusual crime and for its setting in modern-day Nigeria. The investigation was gripping from the first page, and I felt myself propelled along as I tried to figure out what happened and who is responsible.
The case unfolds carefully and methodically, though if I had to make a critique, it's that it's overly so at times. There were definitely moments when I've already put two and two together, and it feels like Dr. Taiwo is still getting there. Thankfully, it didn't slow down the pacing of the book, which still felt taut and urgent.
But this book is so much more than just an investigation. I don't know much about Nigeria, and I enjoyed the look into this country and its sociopolitical climate. I also appreciated the exploration into mob mentality, how tribalism can overtake facts, and its tenacious hold over society when opportunities are lacking. Though it takes place in Nigeria, I think any reader will see the parallels to many places in the world, including the U.S.
This is a tremendous debut, entertaining and insightful. I cannot wait to read more from Femi Kayode.
January 9, 2021
For those crime and mystery readers who enjoy becoming more familiar with another country and its culture through the forum of crime fiction like myself, then Femi Kayode is a superb author to introduce you to Nigeria. The central protagonist is not a police officer or private investigator, Dr Philip Taiwo is a academic, a psychological investigator, who specialises in the harrowing field of crowd killings, a man who has been living and working in the United States, who has recently returned home to Lagos, Nigeria with his family, a move instigated by his wife, Folake. Having felt like an outsider in the US, he is surprised to find he is now seen as an outsider, an Americano, at home. He is asked by the Managing Director of the third largest bank, Chiemeka Nwamadi, to find the truth of the killing of his son, Kevin, one of the Okriti 3, 3 young students viewed as thieves and murdered by a crowd 2 years ago.
The public executions were captured by numerous digital witnesses, uploading their videos onto social media platforms. Persuaded by his influential father and feeling the need for space from his wife, Philip flies to Port Harcourt, meeting Salome Briggs on the plane, and picked up by his driver, Chika Makuochi, at the airport. It doesn't take long for Philip to see that Chika has skills beyond driving, giving him valuable assistance in his task, whilst simultaneously providing him with local knowledge and understanding of a culture that he is severely lacking. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the local community in Okriti are less than welcoming of another outsider coming to cast their judgement on an event where they were merely dispensing justifiable justice, everyone wants to forget it and move on, and this includes the local police, who claim the case is now closed with the arrests and upcoming trial of 7 people. In a narrative where Okriti palpably exudes increasing tensions, violence and volatility, it takes Philip a little time to understand just how much danger he and Chika are in.
Kayode paints an authentic depiction of Nigerian culture, moving seamlessly from the worlds of extreme wealth and luxury and the poverty, so often accompanied by the lack of opportunities, electricity and infrastructure, and the everyday norms where the military regularly create roadblocks for the purpose of collecting bribes from drivers. Additionally, it provides an insightful picture of its troubling history, such as the terrors of the Biafran civil war, and the curse of the discovery of oil, in the wake of which came murders, devastating destruction of the land, horrifying brutality and violence. This is high quality, smart, complex and engaging crime fiction which focuses on critical issues, such as the problems of social media, reflecting the contemporary global social realities of people’s machinations in sowing discord and divisions for their own agendas, by manipulating facts or spreading lies. There is a fascinating central protagonist in Dr Philip Taiwo, and I think this novel is likely to appeal to many crime fiction readers, and one which I hope will turn out to be a series. Many thanks to Bloomsbury for an ARC.
The public executions were captured by numerous digital witnesses, uploading their videos onto social media platforms. Persuaded by his influential father and feeling the need for space from his wife, Philip flies to Port Harcourt, meeting Salome Briggs on the plane, and picked up by his driver, Chika Makuochi, at the airport. It doesn't take long for Philip to see that Chika has skills beyond driving, giving him valuable assistance in his task, whilst simultaneously providing him with local knowledge and understanding of a culture that he is severely lacking. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the local community in Okriti are less than welcoming of another outsider coming to cast their judgement on an event where they were merely dispensing justifiable justice, everyone wants to forget it and move on, and this includes the local police, who claim the case is now closed with the arrests and upcoming trial of 7 people. In a narrative where Okriti palpably exudes increasing tensions, violence and volatility, it takes Philip a little time to understand just how much danger he and Chika are in.
Kayode paints an authentic depiction of Nigerian culture, moving seamlessly from the worlds of extreme wealth and luxury and the poverty, so often accompanied by the lack of opportunities, electricity and infrastructure, and the everyday norms where the military regularly create roadblocks for the purpose of collecting bribes from drivers. Additionally, it provides an insightful picture of its troubling history, such as the terrors of the Biafran civil war, and the curse of the discovery of oil, in the wake of which came murders, devastating destruction of the land, horrifying brutality and violence. This is high quality, smart, complex and engaging crime fiction which focuses on critical issues, such as the problems of social media, reflecting the contemporary global social realities of people’s machinations in sowing discord and divisions for their own agendas, by manipulating facts or spreading lies. There is a fascinating central protagonist in Dr Philip Taiwo, and I think this novel is likely to appeal to many crime fiction readers, and one which I hope will turn out to be a series. Many thanks to Bloomsbury for an ARC.
April 27, 2021
Dr. Philip Taiwo is a psychologist who is asked to investigate the murder of three university students in Nigeria. They were killed by a mob who suspected them of stealing. As with all mystery novels, there are lying witnesses, secrets and hidden motives. In this case, I thought there were a few too many things crammed into the plot - cults, child abuse, drug dealing, anti-gay legislation, mental illness, religious tensions and some weird twin thing. Even the reason why Taiwo was chosen to investigate is too complicated. I like reading books set in different countries, so I liked the setting of this book. However, I thought it was 100 pages too long and the investigation started running around in circles. I would try the author again though. 3.5 stars
May 25, 2022
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Lightseeker is a propulsive thriller that combines a who/whydunnit with a thought-provoking social commentary. Set in Nigeria, Lightseeker is predominantly narrated by Dr. Philip Taiwo, an investigative psychologist who has recently returned to Nigeria after having spent years in the United States. A husband and a father of two, Philip struggles to readjust to Nigeria’s sociopolitical climate. When he becomes convinced that his wife is cheating on him, he finds himself giving in to his father’s request to investigate the mob killing of three university students that occurred a few years beforehand. Their deaths were linked to their being members of a confraternity, but one of the victims’ fathers, who is connected to Philip’s own father, is adamant in his belief that his son would never join a cult. Philip takes the opportunity to get away from his marriage troubles and finds himself travelling to a village near Port Harcourt. Here he is aided by his driver and guide Chika, who is employed by the victim’s father, and who seems to have many hidden skills. The two soon pick up on the hostility that locals harbor against outsiders, especially those who are seeking to unearth a recent and tragic occurrence. Not only are the local authorities unwilling to help them, but they seem intent on obstructing their investigation. The locals instead see them as a threat, often refusing to talk to them. The students at the university seem more open to discussing the killing but it is only when the rapport between Philip and the locals worsens, to the point where his well being is at stake, that he begins to understand what occurred.
Not only did the story have a strongly rendered setting but the author was able to incorporate diverse and numerous issues within Philip’s investigation. Religious tensions between the town’s Christian and Muslim communities, class and educational disparities, cultism and herd mentality, politics and corruption, as well as the long-lasting consequences of colonialism. Because Philip is not from this town and has yet to fully readjust to Nigeria, we mostly glimpse and understand things through his ‘naive’ eyes, which makes for an immersive experience. The shifting dynamic between Philip and Chika was compelling and I appreciated the way their bond develops.
Now, on the things that didn’t quite convince me. One, well, it’s a crucial one. Once Philip decides to accept this request to investigate the Okriki Three he never seems to really doubt that their deaths were not ‘simply’ the horrific result of a mob killing. And the thing is, he believes this with no substantial proof. The locals' unwillingness to discuss it or the police’s general shadiness can be understood as a sign of their guilt over their role in the mob killing. Yet, he ‘knows’ that something else is going on…and I didn't really buy it. Early on he really had nothing to consolidate this belief and yet throughout the course of the narrative, he operates under that assumption. The narrative also shifts to a different point of view, and these chapters are very brief and intentionally ambiguous…and I found them cheap. I have never been a fan of mysteries that provide us with short, and corny usually, chapters from the ‘bad guy’s’ perspective. That the bad guy in question here is clearly experiencing a severe mental disorder was also…dodgy. True, this time around the person is not a psychopath but their (likely) disorder is still routinely stigmatized in the media and popular culture.
My last issue has to do with the female characters in the novel. On his flight to Port Harcourt Philip just happens to be seated near an attractive girlboss who, quelle surprise, is somehow connected to his case. He seems to entertain the possibility of cheating on his wife because this woman is such a girlboss. Fair enough, I don’t particularly mind reading about characters who behave badly or have bad thoughts. However, the language he uses to describe her and refer to her combined with the story’s running gag (Philip declaring that a happy marriage can be achieved by never contradicting your wife in an argument/discussions because “women be like”...especially ‘nagging’ wives who are often mad about nothing…and the thing is, his wife seems far more reasonable and clear-eyed that he is. She barely has any ‘page-time’, but I wondered why Philip would brag about his ‘tactics’ when the only conflict in his marriage seems a result of him having (recently) seen something that has led him to jump to certain conclusions. I hated that he is not quite ‘proven’ right but that what he had seen had escalated into something to be concerned about. Even more frustrating, she blames herself! Like wtf! Also, how could Philip, an investigative psychologist who is shown to be fairly intuitive, be so ready to believe the worst about his wife? Especially given the fairly banal nature of what he’d seen? The woman who helps Philip in the investigation serves the function of a plot device: adding further tension to the troubled marriage subplot and aiding Philip in his investigation when the story needs it.
While the resolution to the mystery was a bit dragged and not particularly satisfying, I did find the majority of this story gripping and I look forward to whatever the author writes next.
Lightseeker is a propulsive thriller that combines a who/whydunnit with a thought-provoking social commentary. Set in Nigeria, Lightseeker is predominantly narrated by Dr. Philip Taiwo, an investigative psychologist who has recently returned to Nigeria after having spent years in the United States. A husband and a father of two, Philip struggles to readjust to Nigeria’s sociopolitical climate. When he becomes convinced that his wife is cheating on him, he finds himself giving in to his father’s request to investigate the mob killing of three university students that occurred a few years beforehand. Their deaths were linked to their being members of a confraternity, but one of the victims’ fathers, who is connected to Philip’s own father, is adamant in his belief that his son would never join a cult. Philip takes the opportunity to get away from his marriage troubles and finds himself travelling to a village near Port Harcourt. Here he is aided by his driver and guide Chika, who is employed by the victim’s father, and who seems to have many hidden skills. The two soon pick up on the hostility that locals harbor against outsiders, especially those who are seeking to unearth a recent and tragic occurrence. Not only are the local authorities unwilling to help them, but they seem intent on obstructing their investigation. The locals instead see them as a threat, often refusing to talk to them. The students at the university seem more open to discussing the killing but it is only when the rapport between Philip and the locals worsens, to the point where his well being is at stake, that he begins to understand what occurred.
Not only did the story have a strongly rendered setting but the author was able to incorporate diverse and numerous issues within Philip’s investigation. Religious tensions between the town’s Christian and Muslim communities, class and educational disparities, cultism and herd mentality, politics and corruption, as well as the long-lasting consequences of colonialism. Because Philip is not from this town and has yet to fully readjust to Nigeria, we mostly glimpse and understand things through his ‘naive’ eyes, which makes for an immersive experience. The shifting dynamic between Philip and Chika was compelling and I appreciated the way their bond develops.
Now, on the things that didn’t quite convince me. One, well, it’s a crucial one. Once Philip decides to accept this request to investigate the Okriki Three he never seems to really doubt that their deaths were not ‘simply’ the horrific result of a mob killing. And the thing is, he believes this with no substantial proof. The locals' unwillingness to discuss it or the police’s general shadiness can be understood as a sign of their guilt over their role in the mob killing. Yet, he ‘knows’ that something else is going on…and I didn't really buy it. Early on he really had nothing to consolidate this belief and yet throughout the course of the narrative, he operates under that assumption. The narrative also shifts to a different point of view, and these chapters are very brief and intentionally ambiguous…and I found them cheap. I have never been a fan of mysteries that provide us with short, and corny usually, chapters from the ‘bad guy’s’ perspective. That the bad guy in question here is clearly experiencing a severe mental disorder was also…dodgy. True, this time around the person is not a psychopath but their (likely) disorder is still routinely stigmatized in the media and popular culture.
My last issue has to do with the female characters in the novel. On his flight to Port Harcourt Philip just happens to be seated near an attractive girlboss who, quelle surprise, is somehow connected to his case. He seems to entertain the possibility of cheating on his wife because this woman is such a girlboss. Fair enough, I don’t particularly mind reading about characters who behave badly or have bad thoughts. However, the language he uses to describe her and refer to her combined with the story’s running gag (Philip declaring that a happy marriage can be achieved by never contradicting your wife in an argument/discussions because “women be like”...especially ‘nagging’ wives who are often mad about nothing…and the thing is, his wife seems far more reasonable and clear-eyed that he is. She barely has any ‘page-time’, but I wondered why Philip would brag about his ‘tactics’ when the only conflict in his marriage seems a result of him having (recently) seen something that has led him to jump to certain conclusions. I hated that he is not quite ‘proven’ right but that what he had seen had escalated into something to be concerned about. Even more frustrating, she blames herself! Like wtf! Also, how could Philip, an investigative psychologist who is shown to be fairly intuitive, be so ready to believe the worst about his wife? Especially given the fairly banal nature of what he’d seen? The woman who helps Philip in the investigation serves the function of a plot device: adding further tension to the troubled marriage subplot and aiding Philip in his investigation when the story needs it.
While the resolution to the mystery was a bit dragged and not particularly satisfying, I did find the majority of this story gripping and I look forward to whatever the author writes next.
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June 3, 2024Murder mystery with a Nigerian born, US educated psychologist dragged unwillingly into a cold case involving the necklacing (mob murder) of three students. Fairly brutal in its depiction of Nigerian politics and corruption, and the gross inequality, as well as showing the human cost of a non functioning system and the different ways it hurts people.
I loved a lot about this, except the murderer, whose motivation honestly ended up feeling like a bit of a sideshow to the story. That can work very well--the truth of what happened spools out a lot further than a simple whodunnit--but I almost wanted less of him in that case, and I was a bit uncomfortable with elements of the story relating to abuse and mental illness. The good stuff is great and I'm absolutely getting the next one, the plotting just needed another shake.
I loved a lot about this, except the murderer, whose motivation honestly ended up feeling like a bit of a sideshow to the story. That can work very well--the truth of what happened spools out a lot further than a simple whodunnit--but I almost wanted less of him in that case, and I was a bit uncomfortable with elements of the story relating to abuse and mental illness. The good stuff is great and I'm absolutely getting the next one, the plotting just needed another shake.
January 26, 2021
One of the best things you can do for yourself if you read a lot of crime and mystery is to start reading books from outside the US and UK. The genre has so much more to offer when it breaks from the same old settings and characters, and this is a solid example. The crime, the investigator, and just about everything else here would never happen in a US-set mystery.
I really liked the setup here, our investigator, Dr. Philip Taiwo, is not an amateur detective or a police officer. Instead he's a psychologist who specializes in crime who is brought in to investigate the death of a university student by his rich and powerful father who's looking for the answers he wants to hear. Adding to the complexities are the small town's potentially corrupt police force, ongoing conflict between the university students and the townspeople, and a brewing feud between Christians and Muslims. Oh, and there's Taiwo's driver, who is definitely not who he claims to be.
The setup is all strong, though the ending for me was too complicated and the occasional interspersed second narrator didn't work. This was one of those stories where the protagonist kept insisting there was a reason for something, when the odds were it was random and arbitrary, and I had to suspend some disbelief. But I will say, that the rising violence and threats here felt much more real than they normally do because of the tumultuous situation Taiwo finds himself in.
Content warnings are strong here, the killing itself is very brutal and is discussed several times in detail. There is also, in addition to regular violence, rape of a child (off the page). While religion comes into play, it is not with much detail and nothing there struck me as particularly problematic.
I really liked the setup here, our investigator, Dr. Philip Taiwo, is not an amateur detective or a police officer. Instead he's a psychologist who specializes in crime who is brought in to investigate the death of a university student by his rich and powerful father who's looking for the answers he wants to hear. Adding to the complexities are the small town's potentially corrupt police force, ongoing conflict between the university students and the townspeople, and a brewing feud between Christians and Muslims. Oh, and there's Taiwo's driver, who is definitely not who he claims to be.
The setup is all strong, though the ending for me was too complicated and the occasional interspersed second narrator didn't work. This was one of those stories where the protagonist kept insisting there was a reason for something, when the odds were it was random and arbitrary, and I had to suspend some disbelief. But I will say, that the rising violence and threats here felt much more real than they normally do because of the tumultuous situation Taiwo finds himself in.
Content warnings are strong here, the killing itself is very brutal and is discussed several times in detail. There is also, in addition to regular violence, rape of a child (off the page). While religion comes into play, it is not with much detail and nothing there struck me as particularly problematic.
February 28, 2021
I need to preface this review with the fact I very rarely read crime fiction and so I am not in the best position to compare this to the many crime fiction options out there.
What attracted me to this debut offering by clinical psychologist, Femi Kayode, was both the setting and the crime. No simple murder this one, but rather a "necklace" lynching of three university students carried out by a violent mob in a small university town in Nigeria. This fictional story is based upon a real event, the case of the "Aluu Four". It remains a very interesting premise for a crime-story especially with the undertones of religious extremism, the legacy of the Biafran war, and the role of social media in whipping up hysteria within a community. Kayode, has done plenty of research for this novel and I think at some point this comes at the expense of the novel as a whole. At times, dialog feels like characters are quoting from psychology texts or papers on mob-violence.
There is an unfortunate use of a second voice in this novel that I think was an abject flop. I can't reveal why this part annoyed me without giving away a plot point but the occurrence of this type of villain always makes me eye-roll, so it is unfortunate it was relied upon here.
In summary, Lightseekers had enormous potential and I salute a crime story that is not set in London or New York with the victim a poor girl caught unawares on a train, cabin or stalked through dark woods. But ultimately, I decided this would have made an ideal true crime story with clinical insights into historical lynchings rather than the slightly hap-hazard first novel this turned out to be.
What attracted me to this debut offering by clinical psychologist, Femi Kayode, was both the setting and the crime. No simple murder this one, but rather a "necklace" lynching of three university students carried out by a violent mob in a small university town in Nigeria. This fictional story is based upon a real event, the case of the "Aluu Four". It remains a very interesting premise for a crime-story especially with the undertones of religious extremism, the legacy of the Biafran war, and the role of social media in whipping up hysteria within a community. Kayode, has done plenty of research for this novel and I think at some point this comes at the expense of the novel as a whole. At times, dialog feels like characters are quoting from psychology texts or papers on mob-violence.
There is an unfortunate use of a second voice in this novel that I think was an abject flop. I can't reveal why this part annoyed me without giving away a plot point but the occurrence of this type of villain always makes me eye-roll, so it is unfortunate it was relied upon here.
In summary, Lightseekers had enormous potential and I salute a crime story that is not set in London or New York with the victim a poor girl caught unawares on a train, cabin or stalked through dark woods. But ultimately, I decided this would have made an ideal true crime story with clinical insights into historical lynchings rather than the slightly hap-hazard first novel this turned out to be.
December 19, 2020
Light Seekers was a wonderfully intense read, beautifully written and embodying a sense of place and culture that was utterly compelling.
Cleverly designed to have maximum impact in a quietly disturbing way, Femi Kayode engages the reader with relatable and layered characters, a mystery that has many underlying themes and a vividly drawn setting. The Nigerian backdrop and off kilter sense keeps you involved throughout the addictive narrative and you could easily polish this off in one sitting.
A really terrific novel. Absolutely highly recommended.
Cleverly designed to have maximum impact in a quietly disturbing way, Femi Kayode engages the reader with relatable and layered characters, a mystery that has many underlying themes and a vividly drawn setting. The Nigerian backdrop and off kilter sense keeps you involved throughout the addictive narrative and you could easily polish this off in one sitting.
A really terrific novel. Absolutely highly recommended.
May 24, 2021
LIGHTSEEKERS is one of the best books thus far released in 2021. As the first publication of Nigerian author Femi Kayode, it is an impressive debut. It can be read as a mystery and holds up quite well in that category. But it is written for the intelligent reader, one who either is quite familiar with African history and politics, or one who is willing to spend a bit of time familiarizing themself with that background.
Luckily, being almost ancient, I belong to the first group. I became interested in Africa at the age of 11 (1951), initially attracted to the animals, but quickly developing a fondness for the peoples and countries on the continent. I travelled (on my own) and lived in Tanzania for 18 months when I was 23-24. I didn’t know much about Nigeria then, as I was living on the east coast. But two years after I returned to Canada, the Biafran war broke out and I can still visualize the myriad photos of starving Biafran children splattered over the covers of newsmagazines. LIGHTSEEKERS mentions the Biafrian war but it doesn’t describe the horror; it assumes the reader is aware of those starving children — the genocide — that took place at that time. The novel alludes to the many different tribes living in Nigeria, but until you live in Africa, you don’t realize that tribal identity is everything. People belong to a tribe, not a county. Tribal relationships (extended families) and friendships are far more important than western concepts of justice and fairness. In addition, there is the fact that Nigeria should not be one country at all, but two. The Muslin North was joined to the Christian south by the UK mainly for the benefit of the Royal Dutch Shell Oil Company (the North providing the military support to keep the south under Company control). All this is present in LIGHTSEEKERS, but not spelled out in detail. The reader must catch the references as they are mentioned. Many of the problems stemming from the initial colonial joining of two very different cultures has resulted in an overall “culture of corruption”. This corruption is clearly pointed out in the novel, but the initial source of the corruption is not clearly spelled out. This is a mystery novel, not a textbook, but it helps if the reader comes prepared to understand why people act as they do — very different from people in the UK, for example.
As a mystery, it stands up. I had guessed who the villain was about 50% through the novel, but not his motivation. It was not until around the 85 to 90% mark that I understood his reasoning, and that was what the protagonist, Dr. Taiwo, had set out to discover.
The writing style is good. Initially, I felt it was a bit stilted, but soon was lost in the story. Although it was written in English, English was probably not the author’s first language. On page 224, he writes: “where Salome is looking as glamorous as...” instead of “where Salome looks as glamorous as...”. On page 225, he writes “I’m introducing her...” instead of “I introduce her...”. In Africa, many fluent speakers of English nonetheless use the present continuous verb tense where an American or UK speaker would use the simple present tense. Those were two instances that immediately caught my eye and evoked my memories of typical African speech patterns. I suspect the publisher’s proofreader missed these.
I am going to conclude with a quote from Paromjit’s review because she said it better than I could: “This is high quality, smart, complex and engaging crime fiction which focuses on critical issues, such as the problems of social media, reflecting the contemporary global social realities of people’s machinations in sowing discord and divisions for their own agendas, by manipulating facts or spreading lies.”
Luckily, being almost ancient, I belong to the first group. I became interested in Africa at the age of 11 (1951), initially attracted to the animals, but quickly developing a fondness for the peoples and countries on the continent. I travelled (on my own) and lived in Tanzania for 18 months when I was 23-24. I didn’t know much about Nigeria then, as I was living on the east coast. But two years after I returned to Canada, the Biafran war broke out and I can still visualize the myriad photos of starving Biafran children splattered over the covers of newsmagazines. LIGHTSEEKERS mentions the Biafrian war but it doesn’t describe the horror; it assumes the reader is aware of those starving children — the genocide — that took place at that time. The novel alludes to the many different tribes living in Nigeria, but until you live in Africa, you don’t realize that tribal identity is everything. People belong to a tribe, not a county. Tribal relationships (extended families) and friendships are far more important than western concepts of justice and fairness. In addition, there is the fact that Nigeria should not be one country at all, but two. The Muslin North was joined to the Christian south by the UK mainly for the benefit of the Royal Dutch Shell Oil Company (the North providing the military support to keep the south under Company control). All this is present in LIGHTSEEKERS, but not spelled out in detail. The reader must catch the references as they are mentioned. Many of the problems stemming from the initial colonial joining of two very different cultures has resulted in an overall “culture of corruption”. This corruption is clearly pointed out in the novel, but the initial source of the corruption is not clearly spelled out. This is a mystery novel, not a textbook, but it helps if the reader comes prepared to understand why people act as they do — very different from people in the UK, for example.
As a mystery, it stands up. I had guessed who the villain was about 50% through the novel, but not his motivation. It was not until around the 85 to 90% mark that I understood his reasoning, and that was what the protagonist, Dr. Taiwo, had set out to discover.
The writing style is good. Initially, I felt it was a bit stilted, but soon was lost in the story. Although it was written in English, English was probably not the author’s first language. On page 224, he writes: “where Salome is looking as glamorous as...” instead of “where Salome looks as glamorous as...”. On page 225, he writes “I’m introducing her...” instead of “I introduce her...”. In Africa, many fluent speakers of English nonetheless use the present continuous verb tense where an American or UK speaker would use the simple present tense. Those were two instances that immediately caught my eye and evoked my memories of typical African speech patterns. I suspect the publisher’s proofreader missed these.
I am going to conclude with a quote from Paromjit’s review because she said it better than I could: “This is high quality, smart, complex and engaging crime fiction which focuses on critical issues, such as the problems of social media, reflecting the contemporary global social realities of people’s machinations in sowing discord and divisions for their own agendas, by manipulating facts or spreading lies.”
July 15, 2025
Der Mob
Der Psychologe Dr. Philip Taiwo wird gebeten, den Tod von drei jungen Männern zu untersuchen, die von einem Mob grausam umgebracht wurden. Besonders der Vater eines der Opfer kann den Tod seines Sohnes nicht verwinden. Er glaubt einfach nicht, dass sein Sohn das getan hat, wessen er verdächtigt wurde. Auch scheint die Polizei nicht in alle Richtungen ermittelt zu haben. Zwar wurden einige der vermeintlichen Täter angeklagt, doch ist die Anklage brüchig. Taiwo will den Auftrag eigentlich nicht annehmen. Zum einen weil sein Vater ihn darum bittet, zum anderen aber weil er aus gewissen Gründen auch mal von zu Hause raus muss, ändert er seine Meinung.
In seinem ersten Fall hat der Heimkehrer aus Amerika Dr. Philip Taiwo in seiner Heimat Nigeria einiges auszuhalten. Da er immer noch keine Festanstellung hat, nimmt er manchmal besondere Aufträge an. Bei der Suche nach der Wahrheit verschlägt es ihn in die Universitätsstadt Port Harcourt. Die Studenten wurden verdächtigt, Überfälle begangen zu haben. Als es dann so schien, es gäbe wieder einen Vorfall, bildet sich ein Mob, der drei junge Männer quasi zu Tode hetzt. Ein Vater kann das Ergebnis der polizeilichen Untersuchung nicht akzeptieren. Er hofft, dass durch Taiwos Hintergrund als Psychologe und dessen anderer Blickwinkel einen neuen Ansatz bringen.
Der Autor hat einen sehr menschlichen, aber auch hartnäckigen Ermittler geschaffen, der in seinem ersten Fall eben nicht die laufende Untersuchung begleitet, sondern im Nachhinein evaluiert, was schlecht oder auch gut gelaufen ist. Allerdings ist keiner richtig begeistert von Taiwos Auftauchen. Das kann richtig gefährlich werden. Es wird berichtet, wie eine eigentlich gute Sache sich im Laufe der Zeit genau ins Gegenteil verkehrt. Die Ideengeber sind nicht glücklich, aber der Zeitpunkt ist verpasst, ungute Entwicklungen einzuhegen. Wie Philip Taiwo immer mehr neue Tatsachen ausgräbt, das ist sehr packend geschildert. Vieles ergibt sich anders als zuerst vermutet. Zwar hinterlässt die Auflösungen einen etwas unfertigen Eindruck, dass schmälert aber kaum den Eindruck, dass man hier ein wirklich tolles Buch über ein fremdes Land hat, das ganz anders, aber doch ähnlich ist.
Der Psychologe Dr. Philip Taiwo wird gebeten, den Tod von drei jungen Männern zu untersuchen, die von einem Mob grausam umgebracht wurden. Besonders der Vater eines der Opfer kann den Tod seines Sohnes nicht verwinden. Er glaubt einfach nicht, dass sein Sohn das getan hat, wessen er verdächtigt wurde. Auch scheint die Polizei nicht in alle Richtungen ermittelt zu haben. Zwar wurden einige der vermeintlichen Täter angeklagt, doch ist die Anklage brüchig. Taiwo will den Auftrag eigentlich nicht annehmen. Zum einen weil sein Vater ihn darum bittet, zum anderen aber weil er aus gewissen Gründen auch mal von zu Hause raus muss, ändert er seine Meinung.
In seinem ersten Fall hat der Heimkehrer aus Amerika Dr. Philip Taiwo in seiner Heimat Nigeria einiges auszuhalten. Da er immer noch keine Festanstellung hat, nimmt er manchmal besondere Aufträge an. Bei der Suche nach der Wahrheit verschlägt es ihn in die Universitätsstadt Port Harcourt. Die Studenten wurden verdächtigt, Überfälle begangen zu haben. Als es dann so schien, es gäbe wieder einen Vorfall, bildet sich ein Mob, der drei junge Männer quasi zu Tode hetzt. Ein Vater kann das Ergebnis der polizeilichen Untersuchung nicht akzeptieren. Er hofft, dass durch Taiwos Hintergrund als Psychologe und dessen anderer Blickwinkel einen neuen Ansatz bringen.
Der Autor hat einen sehr menschlichen, aber auch hartnäckigen Ermittler geschaffen, der in seinem ersten Fall eben nicht die laufende Untersuchung begleitet, sondern im Nachhinein evaluiert, was schlecht oder auch gut gelaufen ist. Allerdings ist keiner richtig begeistert von Taiwos Auftauchen. Das kann richtig gefährlich werden. Es wird berichtet, wie eine eigentlich gute Sache sich im Laufe der Zeit genau ins Gegenteil verkehrt. Die Ideengeber sind nicht glücklich, aber der Zeitpunkt ist verpasst, ungute Entwicklungen einzuhegen. Wie Philip Taiwo immer mehr neue Tatsachen ausgräbt, das ist sehr packend geschildert. Vieles ergibt sich anders als zuerst vermutet. Zwar hinterlässt die Auflösungen einen etwas unfertigen Eindruck, dass schmälert aber kaum den Eindruck, dass man hier ein wirklich tolles Buch über ein fremdes Land hat, das ganz anders, aber doch ähnlich ist.
May 24, 2021
I've seen this billed as a "thriller" but I think that's slotting this novel into too narrow of a niche.
Dr. Taiwo, an investigative psychologist in Nigeria, is looking into the lynching of three college students at the request of the father of one of the murdered young men. The psychologist angle gives it a slightly different view, especially as Dr. Taiwo is trying to look at group/mob dynamics (having studied lynchings in the American South). I liked the Nigerian setting & think Kayode has done a good job of capturing the places, people, & events to give a real sense of place & time for the uniqueness of Nigeria. I felt immersed in the sights, sounds, smells.... While the main character himself is Nigerian, he's also been in the US for many years, so he is experiencing both an insider's & an outsider's perspective.
You can read this as an investigative thriller type story (& that would work, if that's what you seek as a reader), but there are more layers here like different social strata, confraternities, religion, police response (or lack thereof), power dynamics, mob manipulation/mentality, prejudice, scams/crime, the Biafran War, & more. It's a book that straddles the line of books for entertainment (seems the wrong word for the seriousness of the topic), while also providing lots of food for thought & rabbit trails to follow & learn. Overall recommended.
Dr. Taiwo, an investigative psychologist in Nigeria, is looking into the lynching of three college students at the request of the father of one of the murdered young men. The psychologist angle gives it a slightly different view, especially as Dr. Taiwo is trying to look at group/mob dynamics (having studied lynchings in the American South). I liked the Nigerian setting & think Kayode has done a good job of capturing the places, people, & events to give a real sense of place & time for the uniqueness of Nigeria. I felt immersed in the sights, sounds, smells.... While the main character himself is Nigerian, he's also been in the US for many years, so he is experiencing both an insider's & an outsider's perspective.
You can read this as an investigative thriller type story (& that would work, if that's what you seek as a reader), but there are more layers here like different social strata, confraternities, religion, police response (or lack thereof), power dynamics, mob manipulation/mentality, prejudice, scams/crime, the Biafran War, & more. It's a book that straddles the line of books for entertainment (seems the wrong word for the seriousness of the topic), while also providing lots of food for thought & rabbit trails to follow & learn. Overall recommended.
November 9, 2023
Always eager to open my mind to new cultural perspectives, as well as unique angles to criminal forensics, I eagerly reached for Femi Kayode’s debut thriller. Set in Nigeria, the story follows Philip Taiwo, an investigative psychologist who has been tasked with examining a mob attack on a handful of young men who were killed in the skirmish. While many feel that the mob was uncontrollable, Taiwo wonders if there is a deeper impetus that drove them to attack. Formidable work by Kayode in this captivating thriller.
Dr. Philip Taiwo may have received his education in investigative psychology from an American university, but he is far from unfamiliar with Nigerian way of life. Back in Lagos, Dr. Taiwo is summoned to investigate and report on the public torture of three men by a wild mob in a smaller Nigerian city. Dr. Taiwo reluctantly agrees, making his way to Port Harcourt. Dr. Taiwo begins getting the lay of the land, only to discover this case is anything but closed by the locals and police.
While Dr. Taiwo is less concerned about pointing fingers, he has a vested interest in learning what has happened. Hoping to write up an academic paper with what he learns, Dr. Taiwo probes those who were around the events that led to the mob, if only to learn what actually happened on the ground. Some feel vindicated in admitting their part, while others assure Dr. Taiwo that the reasoning for the mob rule was built on false pretences. Police exclaimed that they did all they could, though some are wary about the quickness of the investigation and refusal to re-examine the evidence.
Faced with pressure he puts on himself, Dr. Philip Taiwo probes as deeply as he can. This puts him in danger, seeking to find truths that many want buried in a city where politics, social advancement, and overall preconceived notions fuel a narrative that is as skewed as it is biased. Fermi Kayode writes a masterful piece that had me gripped until the final page turn.
There is something to be said for an author who can educate a reader about a new and foreign culture with ease. Femi Kayode does so with this piece, which explores not only the cultural difference within Nigeria, but also the strong social and political divisions both within the country and with the Western world. Kayode does so effectively with his narrative, flavouring the story not only with these differences, but also providing a strong story that gains momentum throughout the reading experience. There is something about the book that kept me reading, particularly when I felt completely out of my element. Perhaps it was the ability to offer something educational or even an aspect of newness, but I was completely taken by the story and could not get enough.
Characters emerge throughout the book and provided me with something entertaining and educational in equal measure. Dr. Philip Taiwo is certainly a key part of that development, through his struggles to be a good father and husband, as well as his thirst for knowledge when it relates to this case. Seen as both a Nigerian and outsider, Taiwo struggles to make sense of things and to be accepted by those he calls Nigerian. The author builds on this throughout the piece and keeps the reader well aware of the struggles as they build.
Plot development is key to understanding the story. While this is a crime thriller, the perspective taken—through the eyes of an investigative psychologist—offers a unique perspective and tries to entice the reader. There are many twists to be seen throughout the piece, but the case, while seen as cold and closed, is anything but as Taiwo probes deeper to better understand what has happened. This leaves the reader wanting to know more and hopes paint the idea of preconceived notions by some as to how the crime narrative ought to be told. I am eager to see what is next for Femi Kayode and this series, as I see a second book is about to be published. I will get my hands on it and report back soon!
Kudos, Mr. Kayode, for piquing my interest!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Dr. Philip Taiwo may have received his education in investigative psychology from an American university, but he is far from unfamiliar with Nigerian way of life. Back in Lagos, Dr. Taiwo is summoned to investigate and report on the public torture of three men by a wild mob in a smaller Nigerian city. Dr. Taiwo reluctantly agrees, making his way to Port Harcourt. Dr. Taiwo begins getting the lay of the land, only to discover this case is anything but closed by the locals and police.
While Dr. Taiwo is less concerned about pointing fingers, he has a vested interest in learning what has happened. Hoping to write up an academic paper with what he learns, Dr. Taiwo probes those who were around the events that led to the mob, if only to learn what actually happened on the ground. Some feel vindicated in admitting their part, while others assure Dr. Taiwo that the reasoning for the mob rule was built on false pretences. Police exclaimed that they did all they could, though some are wary about the quickness of the investigation and refusal to re-examine the evidence.
Faced with pressure he puts on himself, Dr. Philip Taiwo probes as deeply as he can. This puts him in danger, seeking to find truths that many want buried in a city where politics, social advancement, and overall preconceived notions fuel a narrative that is as skewed as it is biased. Fermi Kayode writes a masterful piece that had me gripped until the final page turn.
There is something to be said for an author who can educate a reader about a new and foreign culture with ease. Femi Kayode does so with this piece, which explores not only the cultural difference within Nigeria, but also the strong social and political divisions both within the country and with the Western world. Kayode does so effectively with his narrative, flavouring the story not only with these differences, but also providing a strong story that gains momentum throughout the reading experience. There is something about the book that kept me reading, particularly when I felt completely out of my element. Perhaps it was the ability to offer something educational or even an aspect of newness, but I was completely taken by the story and could not get enough.
Characters emerge throughout the book and provided me with something entertaining and educational in equal measure. Dr. Philip Taiwo is certainly a key part of that development, through his struggles to be a good father and husband, as well as his thirst for knowledge when it relates to this case. Seen as both a Nigerian and outsider, Taiwo struggles to make sense of things and to be accepted by those he calls Nigerian. The author builds on this throughout the piece and keeps the reader well aware of the struggles as they build.
Plot development is key to understanding the story. While this is a crime thriller, the perspective taken—through the eyes of an investigative psychologist—offers a unique perspective and tries to entice the reader. There are many twists to be seen throughout the piece, but the case, while seen as cold and closed, is anything but as Taiwo probes deeper to better understand what has happened. This leaves the reader wanting to know more and hopes paint the idea of preconceived notions by some as to how the crime narrative ought to be told. I am eager to see what is next for Femi Kayode and this series, as I see a second book is about to be published. I will get my hands on it and report back soon!
Kudos, Mr. Kayode, for piquing my interest!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
June 14, 2021
After reading the first 50-100 pages, I was ready for a five-star review. Fantastic! However, things sorta-kinda got bogged down in the middle and the end was downright confusing, so one star off. Overall, the book has a 'Dickensian' feel to it in that characters are never exactly who or what they seem to be. (Lots of books use this technique.) However, for the MC - and me, the reader - it quickly became a 'I trust no one' kind of book.
Dr. Philip Taiwo, a forensic psychologist, has returned to Nigeria from the US, joining his family living there. As a favor to a friend of his father, he travels to a relatively remote village to write a report on a killing which happened a year ago: the 'Okriki Three', three male university students who were beaten and tortured, then killed via 'necklace' by a village mob. This all happened a year ago, and yes, the government is investigating the crime and has several possible suspects awaiting trial. Dr. Taiwo's job is merely to write a forensic report on the crime, focusing on mob violence/justice, its causes and so on, and which is surely a vital use of his time and skills. (Mob violence, with often lethal ends, can happen anywhere/everywhere.) So I found that part of the book fascinating, a subject I've certainly never delved into and seldom read about. Bravo! (Hate to say I loved it; but I enjoyed learning about the topic.)
Dr. Taiwo is accompanied to the village by a kind of 'handler' or combination driver/guide who knows the region, many of the subjects, etc. Along the way Philip also meets a woman on a plane, and some of the students involved, including the one who blamed the Okriki Three of robbing him. (And therefore, inciting the anger which led to the three students' murder.) There's a missing gun, mention of mercenaries, fraternities/cults, corrupt and not-so-corrupt police. It gets to be a kind of hodge-podge of motives, means, cultural and religious differences; you name it, it's there. Exciting in places, thoughtful and nuanced in others, it's a good read.
Four stars.
Dr. Philip Taiwo, a forensic psychologist, has returned to Nigeria from the US, joining his family living there. As a favor to a friend of his father, he travels to a relatively remote village to write a report on a killing which happened a year ago: the 'Okriki Three', three male university students who were beaten and tortured, then killed via 'necklace' by a village mob. This all happened a year ago, and yes, the government is investigating the crime and has several possible suspects awaiting trial. Dr. Taiwo's job is merely to write a forensic report on the crime, focusing on mob violence/justice, its causes and so on, and which is surely a vital use of his time and skills. (Mob violence, with often lethal ends, can happen anywhere/everywhere.) So I found that part of the book fascinating, a subject I've certainly never delved into and seldom read about. Bravo! (Hate to say I loved it; but I enjoyed learning about the topic.)
Dr. Taiwo is accompanied to the village by a kind of 'handler' or combination driver/guide who knows the region, many of the subjects, etc. Along the way Philip also meets a woman on a plane, and some of the students involved, including the one who blamed the Okriki Three of robbing him. (And therefore, inciting the anger which led to the three students' murder.) There's a missing gun, mention of mercenaries, fraternities/cults, corrupt and not-so-corrupt police. It gets to be a kind of hodge-podge of motives, means, cultural and religious differences; you name it, it's there. Exciting in places, thoughtful and nuanced in others, it's a good read.
Four stars.
February 6, 2021
Lightseekers is an exceptional crime novel, that just happens to be a debut. Kayode crafts a wonderfully evocative sense of people and place, immersing readers in the physical and societal landscapes. The Namibia-based author finely balances exciting action and rising tension with thoughtful explorations of a variety of issues such as social media misinformation and the conflation of justice and violence. As Taiwo undertakes a harrowing, dangerous investigation he traverses luxury hotels to scummy apartments of drug addicts, and broaches conflicts between Muslims and Christians, locals and students. There’s quite a lot of texture to this tale but it never overwhelms the story. A bruising, intense read from a powerful new voice in crime fiction. Hopefully just the beginning for Femi Kayode and Dr Philip Taiwo.
November 18, 2021
If this had been from the perspective of any other character I probably would have liked this book. I strongly did not like the main character.
This story follows Philip an investigative psychologist who runs from his marital problems to solve the case of the murders of 3 young men in Nigeria, the Okriki Three. The 3 young men were murdered by an entire town that mobbed against them. Philip is called by a politician who's son was one of the 3 men. He wants Philip to figure out who did this to his son and why. At first Philip doesn't want to take the case, but he becomes suspicious his wife is cheating on him and his father strongly wants him to take the case so he hops on a flight to the town to begin investigating.
This mystery had way too much of Philips' marriage as a main plot point. Also I found Philip exceptionally misogynistic. At times I was so frustrated when reading that I had to put the book down and not read it for a couple days. The perils of his marriage added absolutely nothing to the story and just slowed the story down.
I hated the ending. For Philip being an investigative psychologist and having a need to understand why humans act the way that they do and why decisions are made... I personally felt that the ending did not wrap up well at all. I thought we would get Philip diving into the psychology of the main bad guy and it would make for an interesting read/ break down. But it did not.
I could write more but honestly I don't want to spend more time/energy talking about this book.
This story follows Philip an investigative psychologist who runs from his marital problems to solve the case of the murders of 3 young men in Nigeria, the Okriki Three. The 3 young men were murdered by an entire town that mobbed against them. Philip is called by a politician who's son was one of the 3 men. He wants Philip to figure out who did this to his son and why. At first Philip doesn't want to take the case, but he becomes suspicious his wife is cheating on him and his father strongly wants him to take the case so he hops on a flight to the town to begin investigating.
This mystery had way too much of Philips' marriage as a main plot point. Also I found Philip exceptionally misogynistic. At times I was so frustrated when reading that I had to put the book down and not read it for a couple days. The perils of his marriage added absolutely nothing to the story and just slowed the story down.
I hated the ending. For Philip being an investigative psychologist and having a need to understand why humans act the way that they do and why decisions are made... I personally felt that the ending did not wrap up well at all. I thought we would get Philip diving into the psychology of the main bad guy and it would make for an interesting read/ break down. But it did not.
I could write more but honestly I don't want to spend more time/energy talking about this book.
July 25, 2022
It was interesting to find that the story was inspired by similar true shocking events - Aluu Four lynching.
March 8, 2021
Lightseekers is the most unusual book I have read this year and can be enjoyed on different levels.Most immediately, it is a fascinating crime novel. The protagonist,Dr Philip Taiwo, is an investigative psychologist. Born in Nigeria, he has been university trained and employed in the United States.He and his family have recently returned to Nigeria. Philip’s family is well connected and he is approached by one of his father’s friends from their university days,Chiemeka Nwamadi.Chiemeka’s son, Kevin, was one of three students murdered two years ago. They were set upon by a mob , labeled as thieves and executed by “ necklace killing”. The incident went viral on social media and the police have lagged in their investigation, hoping that the incident will die down.Philip’s task is to clarify the causes of this horror and posthumously restore Kevin’s good name.
Fulfilling this mandate takes Philip to southern Nigeria, first to Port Harcourt and then to the neighboring town of Okriki, the scene of the murder of the “ Okriki Three.” He is met by his driver and liaison,Chika, who will serve as his guide. Ironically, Philip quickly realizes that he is a stranger in his native country and must assimilate to the society and customs just as he had when emigrating to the United States. Delving into this miasma, Philip and Chika sift through conflicting accounts of events and encounter hostile and sometimes violent people determined to silence them. Their inquiries provide an overview of the tensions and history of conflict in Nigeria. Tensions are elevated by the contrast of wealth and poverty, historical disputes between ethnic and religious groups and lingering bitterness from the Biafaran war.
These factors lead to a societal sense of disruption and alienation similar to those Philip is experiencing on a personal level.The author, Femi Kayode,trained as a clinical psychologist and he employs this canvas to raise issues of alienation as a trigger for personal and societal breakdowns leading to mass violence.There is much to assimilate in this novel, which was inspired by a similar murder in Nigeria in 2012.
Fulfilling this mandate takes Philip to southern Nigeria, first to Port Harcourt and then to the neighboring town of Okriki, the scene of the murder of the “ Okriki Three.” He is met by his driver and liaison,Chika, who will serve as his guide. Ironically, Philip quickly realizes that he is a stranger in his native country and must assimilate to the society and customs just as he had when emigrating to the United States. Delving into this miasma, Philip and Chika sift through conflicting accounts of events and encounter hostile and sometimes violent people determined to silence them. Their inquiries provide an overview of the tensions and history of conflict in Nigeria. Tensions are elevated by the contrast of wealth and poverty, historical disputes between ethnic and religious groups and lingering bitterness from the Biafaran war.
These factors lead to a societal sense of disruption and alienation similar to those Philip is experiencing on a personal level.The author, Femi Kayode,trained as a clinical psychologist and he employs this canvas to raise issues of alienation as a trigger for personal and societal breakdowns leading to mass violence.There is much to assimilate in this novel, which was inspired by a similar murder in Nigeria in 2012.
February 25, 2022
This is the story about an investigative psychologist (please see author comment below on the difference between investigative and forensic psychologists) who, shortly after returning home to Nigeria after living in California for many years, is asked by his fancypants father to help a friend investigate the murder of said friend's son, a college student who, along with two other students, had been cruelly tortured then burned alive by a town mob. Dr. Psychologist Taiwo jumps at the chance to get away from his wife, Dr. Professor Taiwo, whom he has decided is having an affair.
As the story unfolds, the reader finds out that our fine psychologist knows very little about anything, likes to jump to conclusions, is fortunate to be surrounded by smart and capable people, and has some amazing luck.
I enjoyed the story, overall, but did not enjoy the main character. All the supporting characters were more interesting, more dynamic, and more able to think rationally that our guy. Also, the mystery was a little convoluted but that could have been my fine USAmerican sensibilities wanting step-by-step rational explanations and not getting them, exactly.
I was very interested, however, in the exploration of fraternities-turned-cults (they're called cults in the book) as well as the intersection of small town sensibilities amidst college town life.
It's an entertaining read and I recommend it to anyone who likes light mystery with a true crime flavor but not a clever, aware, capable protagonist.
As the story unfolds, the reader finds out that our fine psychologist knows very little about anything, likes to jump to conclusions, is fortunate to be surrounded by smart and capable people, and has some amazing luck.
I enjoyed the story, overall, but did not enjoy the main character. All the supporting characters were more interesting, more dynamic, and more able to think rationally that our guy. Also, the mystery was a little convoluted but that could have been my fine USAmerican sensibilities wanting step-by-step rational explanations and not getting them, exactly.
I was very interested, however, in the exploration of fraternities-turned-cults (they're called cults in the book) as well as the intersection of small town sensibilities amidst college town life.
It's an entertaining read and I recommend it to anyone who likes light mystery with a true crime flavor but not a clever, aware, capable protagonist.
September 19, 2021
I have mixed feelings about this book. The writing is great, the character's unique perspective as a Nigerian returning from years of education/professional life in the US to Nigeria is enlightening. Social interactions, local tensions, political, religious, caste and otherwise are explored in a fascinating way.
But - without spoilers - the crux of the investigation and its resolutions was disturbing and I believe provides a misguided emphasis on individual abnormal psychology as a root cause as opposed to the larger social forces. I'll be thinking about this for awhile, but at the moment, my feelings are . . . mixed about how the resolution was handled.
But - without spoilers - the crux of the investigation and its resolutions was disturbing and I believe provides a misguided emphasis on individual abnormal psychology as a root cause as opposed to the larger social forces. I'll be thinking about this for awhile, but at the moment, my feelings are . . . mixed about how the resolution was handled.
April 25, 2021
Just as light is deflected and reflected by the surfaces it hits, the story of the "Okriki Three" in Femi Kayode's excellent debut novel presents many twists and turns as investigative psychologist, Dr. Philip Taiwo, and his driver and guide, Chika (who has his own secret motives), are hired to delve into discovering why three university students had been brutally attacked, tortured and set afire by an angry mob of local villagers of Okriki outside the city of Port Harcourt, Nigeria. As an academic psychologist, Taiwo, who has recently returned with his family to Lagos, Nigeria after a period of time living in the U.S., is hired by the father of one of the three students to determine the how and why, not the solution to a crime as an investigating detective would do. This makes for an interesting twist from the typical detective novel. The characters are well portrayed and the setting realistic. Taiwo's marital situation is a secondary theme that makes this story realistic, as belief and trust in a loved one are also explored. Kayode manages to incorporate the social ills in Nigeria including the effects of the Biafran wars, poverty, drugs, educational discrepancies, political and police corruption, locals' suspicions of outsiders, religious disagreements, mental illness, and the manipulation of a vulnerable public by outliers on social media platforms. The characters are not always what they seem and duplicity makes the truth difficult to discover. The secondary voice that begins the book provides an eeriness and suspense that are entangled in the events of the story. Although a bit long/slow at times, the book was engaging and whenever I put it down, I was eager to pick it up again to find out what happens next. (less)
May 25, 2025
This was great!
April 16, 2025
perfectly neutral in the end. I need a pros and cons list a la gill re: winter street because I think there are many pros and cons and neutrals(?) and they ultimately cancel each other out.
February 21, 2021
Femi Kayode is a talented writer. This, his debut novel tells the story of Dr Philip Taiwo, an investigative psychologist who is approached to uncover the truth in Okriki, Nigeria behind the mob killing of three university students.
Several different possibilities knit together why things culminated as they did:- Drugs, Homosexuality and Religious differences.
The pace of this story is fast and the characterization excellent with the impact of social media on the psyche and historical tension and grudges underpinning mob behaviour.
4 Stars. Congratulations to the author.
Several different possibilities knit together why things culminated as they did:- Drugs, Homosexuality and Religious differences.
The pace of this story is fast and the characterization excellent with the impact of social media on the psyche and historical tension and grudges underpinning mob behaviour.
4 Stars. Congratulations to the author.
Read
July 31, 2021In contemporary Nigeria, three university students are beaten, tortured, and burned in an act of mob violence filmed on social media. The father of one of the victims hires investigative psychologist Philip Taiwo to help him make sense of the vicious crime. This one succeeds much more as a look into contemporary Nigeria and insight into the origins and repercussions of mob violence than it does as a mystery (in particular, the "villain" disappoints), but it was a suspenseful read.
* Review by Angie from Information and Reader Services *
* Review by Angie from Information and Reader Services *
October 7, 2021
The writing was a little rough in the beginning, but either it got better around the 100 page mark or I just got used to it. It was an enjoyable read. There were a few questionable things done or said by the protagonist, but they didn't detract from the book. The ending felt rushed and I not sure about the antagonist mental representation here.
Overall, I'd say give it a read and see what you think of it.
Overall, I'd say give it a read and see what you think of it.
Read
April 17, 2025it’s a no from me unfortunately
March 26, 2021
thoughts coming shortly
February 12, 2022
It is a good one. kinda slow pacing but very engaging. Dr. Philip Taiwo is on a mission to reveal the lynching of three students. Why were they killed? Also, the dilemma between Taiwo and his wife is portrayed beautifully and solved in a style.
Political atmosphere, religious clash of Nigeria was a new thing for me to know. I would love to have many more from the author. Kudos to him for his debut...
Political atmosphere, religious clash of Nigeria was a new thing for me to know. I would love to have many more from the author. Kudos to him for his debut...
May 1, 2022
I think this book got a little zany towards the end, and the main villain could have been fleshed out a bit more, or just differently. However, this is a largely exciting book with a great protagonist and complicated case with several twists.
October 4, 2021
Nigeria has produced some excellent new mystery and thriller writers in recent years and Femi Kayode is no exception. His debut novel Lightseekers could be described as a psychological thriller, but it’s completely different from the type of book that comes to mind in that sort of pigeonhole. This is a special book, and the reviewers agreed. Kayode won the UEA/Little, Brown Award for Lightseekers when he was still writing the novel.
The premise in Lightseekers is that three students are beaten and set on fire by a mob angry about the gangsterism they associate with the nearby Okriki university. It was motivated by the real murder of four young men near Port Harcourt. The protagonist, Philip Taiwo, shares Kayode's professional interests as a psychologist, and his expertise in understanding crowd psychology makes him an unusual and intriguing character. He’s rounded out by his ambivalence about Nigeria and his issues with his lawyer wife. Philip is asked to investigate what really happened and why by the grieving father of one of the young men. He persuades Philip to take on the job, and provides him with resources including a driver. It turns out that the father, the head of the local police station, and even the driver have more complex agendas of their own. When Philip reaches Okriki, he meets one stone wall after another and soon the locals want him out. He has to find his way through all these complex relationships. Certainly mob violence can happen anywhere in the world and in any culture, but Lightseekers couldn’t be set anywhere else. The powerful tribal hierarchies, the university fraternities/cults/gangs and the resulting relationship with the townspeople in the area, the mixture of religions, the heat, the food, the traffic, all give a powerful sense of place.
The premise in Lightseekers is that three students are beaten and set on fire by a mob angry about the gangsterism they associate with the nearby Okriki university. It was motivated by the real murder of four young men near Port Harcourt. The protagonist, Philip Taiwo, shares Kayode's professional interests as a psychologist, and his expertise in understanding crowd psychology makes him an unusual and intriguing character. He’s rounded out by his ambivalence about Nigeria and his issues with his lawyer wife. Philip is asked to investigate what really happened and why by the grieving father of one of the young men. He persuades Philip to take on the job, and provides him with resources including a driver. It turns out that the father, the head of the local police station, and even the driver have more complex agendas of their own. When Philip reaches Okriki, he meets one stone wall after another and soon the locals want him out. He has to find his way through all these complex relationships. Certainly mob violence can happen anywhere in the world and in any culture, but Lightseekers couldn’t be set anywhere else. The powerful tribal hierarchies, the university fraternities/cults/gangs and the resulting relationship with the townspeople in the area, the mixture of religions, the heat, the food, the traffic, all give a powerful sense of place.
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