Nairobi Ndoto

by Mahua Cavanagh

Set in Nairobi, Kenya, Nairobi Ndoto follows three expatriate women whose ndoto--the Swahili word for dreams--become a nightmare when their world is thrown into turmoil by murder.

Tilly, Pauline, and Zara each dreamed of a life abroad in Kenya filled with adventure, opportunities, and new beginnings. Reality didn't match the dream. Tilly thought her move to Kenya would be temporary, but nearly ten years and three kids later, she no longer knows what home is. Dealing with an increasingly strained marriage and the unexpected downsides of life abroad, Pauline struggles to establish herself as more than a trailing spouse. Zara, tired of shuttling between Nairobi and Mogadishu and sleeping in borrowed shipping containers, longs for stability. When someone in their expat circle engages in illicit activity, the women become entangled in a murder. Lines are crossed and friendships tested as they sift through the shock and tragedy.

292 pages, Paperback

Published September 15, 2022

About the author

I’m a third culture kid from New York. Nairobi Ndoto, my debut novel, was inspired by the four years I spent living in Nairobi, Kenya. These days, I’m living in Vienna, Austria. When I’m not working on my next novel, I’m having fun diving into Viennese life, exploring the city, and learning German.

Reviews

[Mona · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was beautifully written and I got to explore the world of three expat women living in Nairobi - the adventures as well as the struggles they faced. I felt like I was living in Nairobi and seeing it through their eyes and I learned a bit about expatriate life and it's realities. I loved all three of the main characters and I was rooting for each of them. The book had some surprises which made it all the more interesting. I look forward to reading the author's next book.

[Jason Wrubell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an entertaining and fully realised dive into the lives of trio of expats finding their way in Nairobi.

Cavanaugh takes her time with character development and displays a deft touch with dialogue, making the people on the page feel all the more real. It felt almost as if I were eavesdropping on Tilley, Pauline, and Zara.

Getting to know Nairobi through their eyes was a joy, and I love it when an author pulls back the curtain on a specific place or culture and allows us to live in it for a while. Despite the specifics of the setting, the relationship issues and fundamental questions her characters ask themselves are recognisable by anyone. The mystery adds another layer to this sense of immediacy, with everyone's motivations and choices made (good and bad) relatable.

Nairobi Ndoto is a delightful read that deals with themes of belonging and purpose as Cavanaugh's characters go through the difficult and sometimes confusing process of "finding themselves" in a place.

[Clara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved everything about this book. It was such fun to be back in the familiar setting of Nairobi- I was an expat myself there for 5 years and miss it every day. The story had so many unexpected twists. A great view into the expat life in Kenya. This book made me want to move back.

[Rachel Lusava · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a delight to read. It’s extra delightful if you’ve lived in Nairobi as an expat for many years (as I have) and catch all the perfect references and details about this life (I say as I sip my Spring Valley coffee - ha!). I appreciate that it develops unique characters and their personalities (while acknowledging their privileges). And finally, the mystery was compelling — I got to a point where I couldn’t put it down.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Brief
Nairobi Ndoto offers an interesting look into expat life in Nairobi, Kenya, as well as a fascinating glimpse into crime investigation. Tilly, Pauline, and Zara are not just expat women living in Nairobi, but women with hopes and dreams independent of the men in their lives, but the sexism they face is just one hurdle they have to clear. Tilly has been happily living in Kenya for a decade with her husband and three sons as a stay-at-home mom, but part of her craves something more. Pauline, on the other hand, has longed for expat life, but her husband’s career has taken precedence, leading them to Nairobi and Pauline straight into a boring life at home as she struggles against sexism to find a job matching her experience. Zara has traveled the world, but longs to settle down. She hopes Nairobi will be it for her, but something that was meant to be nothing but fun might have dire consequences for her. These three women spend much of the novel forming and exploring what could be strong female friendships, making for a delightful women’s fiction novel that manages to both explore expat life and showcase the strength and resilience women have. There’s a murder mystery twist as well, but it’s shoved to the last quarter of the book, making it rushed when the investigation into the murder felt like it could have been a really interesting story. Nairobi Ndoto, though, manages to shine as it focuses on these three women, all while hinting at something darker lurking around the corner.

Extended Thoughts
Over the past couple of years, I’ve really been enjoying African-inspired fantasy, so I was excited to see this women’s fiction novel, with a murder mystery twist, is set in Nairobi. I’ve never visited, but the author lived as an expat in Kenya for a few years, so I put my trust in her as far as accuracy. It was fun to get to know a segment of Nairobi’s society and get a glimpse into expat life. As a women’s fiction novel, it’s focused on three expat women, all three of them looking for something Nairobi to make a life with. There’s also a bit of a murder mystery they end up mixed up in, but that felt a little rushed towards the end.

Nairobi Ndoto zooms in on the lives of three expat women as they lead their lives in Nairobi, as well as a bit in Mogadishu, and become entangled with each other. Tilly has been in Nairobi for almost a decade with her husband and three sons, her youngest having been born there. Her mother keeps calling for her to return to the States for at least an extended stay, and she’s a little confused about where, exactly, home is. She’s been a stay-at-home mom the entire time she’s been in Nairobi, but her blog about expat life might be her key to finding something of her own in Nairobi. Pauline and her husband have been expats for a couple of years, and Pauline is growing restless as her husband spends the work weeks in Mogadishu and she encounters a great deal of sexism in trying to get a reasonable job for her level of experience and knowledge. Beyond that, there’s just as much tension with her husband, creating equally tense weekends when he’s home. Zara has lived as an expat in several different countries, and she’s ready to settle down somewhere. Nairobi might just be the place, but her current beau complicates her life in a way she never saw coming.

I really enjoyed spending time with these three women. I loved that they each had their own dreams and worked hard to pursue them despite the hurdles Nairobi’s society and laws put in their paths. They were amazing women to follow, and I liked that their expat lives were all a little different from each other. Tilly was probably my favorite, but that might also be because I felt like she told most of the story. Besides, she’s the glue that held the three women together, befriending both separately before bringing them in to become a trio. I loved how levelheaded she is and was so willing to lend a hand wherever she could. She felt like a pillar in Nairobi’s expat community, and just felt so welcoming. I really felt for Pauline in so many ways. She, herself, felt like an incredible woman. There’s a fire and a drive in her, as well as the craving for something for herself instead of just being a lonely housewife. But her husband is a huge problem, and I honestly hated his guts. I also hated some of the decisions Pauline made regarding him and just found myself screaming at her to do something, but I also understood why she was stuck. I also hated how sexist the men were when she tried to get her career off the ground again. I can’t speak to any accuracy about how society in Nairobi functions, but it certainly seemed like a really tough hurdle for Pauline to clear. Finally, there’s Zara. I liked her because she’s single and only has herself to consider when it comes to what she wants out of life. But I struggled with her a little because she often felt younger than her stated age. I could kind of understand some of her choices because she’s never really been in one place long term, but it made her come off as naive, and I figured out the big things in her story line too early. There were a lot of things I liked about her when it came to her drive and ambitions, but her personal life felt like a bit of a mess and I honestly expected her to be more experienced.

As a women’s fiction novel, these three women were really excellent. All three were seeking something, and I liked that they worked really hard to not have to depend on the men in their lives. I did appreciate Tilly and Dave’s marriage, though. I adored everything about it, from the open communication to how they always seemed to be on the same page. I loved that they got each other, and that Dave always supported her. Beyond that, I loved the budding friendships the women had with each other. Since the expat community seemed to shift and change so much, I appreciated that their friendships felt a bit on the intense side, but also light on details. As close as they felt, there was a lot they didn’t know about each other, which makes sense considering how often their community changes, and I really liked how it played into the murder mystery plot.

Speaking of the murder mystery. The description made it sound like it was a big part of the story, but the novel really seemed to revolve about these three women and the lives they tried so hard to make and the friendships they cultivated with each other. Honestly, it felt a little light on plot to me as I often felt like I was just along for the ride in watching the lives of three expat women in Nairobi unfold. I spent much of the novel looking for the mystery. There’s a thread of it woven in that’s easy to see a mile away, but it felt like it took a really long time to build up. The mystery part wasn’t really much of a mystery to the reader, and perhaps not even much of one to the women, so I was left feeling a little disappointed. What I did enjoy, though, was how the Nairobi police handled it. I was impressed with the level of detail they had, but really felt like a lot of the process was left out. I had hoped for the women to play a larger, more key role, but this was crammed into the last quarter of the book. It felt rushed and almost glossed over.

As disappointed as I was in the mystery component, I did enjoy Nairobi Ndoto. I enjoyed reading about Tilly, Pauline, and Zara and their budding friendship. I enjoyed reading about their expat lives. I especially loved Pauline’s housekeeper. There’s a lot I don’t know about Nairobi and, while I can’t comment on any accuracy, I like to think I learned at least a little about the city. I do wish more of the landscape had been present, but this felt like it was focusing more on how society functions, especially as it pertains to the expat community. It all felt very privileged to me, but I loved how the women appreciated the people of Nairobi. It sounds like a fascinating place and, while there are things I’d love to know more about, I can’t wait to get the opportunity to visit one day.

Nairobi Ndoto was a fun women’s fiction novel about three expat women. At first, I was a little disappointed it was focused on expats, but I liked how they each handled the way society functions and how much they appreciated different aspects of Nairobi. I had a great deal of fun exploring with them, and in coming to understand how things function there. Even though I wished for more regarding the mystery, I thought this was a wonderful women’s fiction novel and I enjoyed my time with Tilly, Pauline, and Zara.

Thank you to the author for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own and independently expressed.

[Douglas Drummond · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Nairobi Ndoto and congratulate Mahua Cavanagh on a debut novel well done. The setting is modern day Nairobi with a side of Mogadishu where some of the characters go on outreach. I gained interesting insight into life in East Africa. Although two of the principal characters will be murdered, I don’t really think of this novel as a murder mystery. The theme is more about the experience of expats living in a foreign country and culture. The narration is third-person for the most part with numerous first-person thought bubbles inserted. The writing style is pedestrian narration. All in all, a light, enjoyable and enlightening read.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book! A fun, well-crafted, entertaining read that I couldn’t put down. With all of the interesting characters and plot twists, I was sad to see it end.

[Dina Honour · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tilly, Pauline, and Zara are friends with Nairobi the tie that binds them together, albeit loosely. Yet each woman experiences the city very differently. Zara is an impassioned advocate working for a UN agency. Pauline is a frustrated "accompanying spouse" who is looking to find her own footing after following her husband's career, and Tilly is the "old-timer" of the group, having lived and loved Kenya long enough to consider it home.

Expat friendships often make for strange bedfellows.

The novel weaves together the experiences of the three, neatly encapsulating a broader picture of expatriate life: that is, it's never the same for everyone, regardless of whether you are calling the same place home. There are frustrations and triumphs, the things that someone else loves is the very thing that drives another crazy.

Cavanagh's intimate knowledge of the landscape made the descriptions of Kenya come to life, as did the detail of day-to-day life, favorite spots and traffic woes make it seem familiar to the reader even when it's not.

The introduction of a crime/mystery was also a welcome element.

I look forward to reading Cavanagh's next book.

[Inga Aksamit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mahua Cavanagh’s novel, Nairobi Ndoto, drew me in from the start with its rich storytelling and well-drawn characters. Set in Kenya, it follows a group of expatriate women—each from different cultural backgrounds—as they navigate friendship, secrets, and life in a country that both challenges and transforms them. The cross-cultural details feel authentic, and the tension between the women adds depth and momentum. Beautifully written and layered, this novel captures the complexities of belonging and the subtle ways people reinvent themselves in unfamiliar places. A thoroughly engaging and satisfying read.

[Mahua Cavanagh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for checking out my debut novel. I would be so grateful if you could please leave a review - it helps a lot, especially for new authors.

Nairobi Ndoto is a labor of love that was inspired by the four years I lived in Nairobi. The women's fiction story gives a glimpse into expat life and how things don't always go as planned.

I hope you enjoy it.

[Claire Pientok · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was good! I loved how the characters had small connections that ended up all going head-to-head with one another. I also really liked learning about the city of Nairobi, different overseas lifestyles, and the life of the expatriate community. It wasn't my favorite writing style, but I loved the storyline.