City of Saints & Thieves by Natalie C. Anderson

They escape to Kenya where her mom became a maid for the wealthy Greyhill family. Tina and her mother are refugees from the Congo. You do the dirty work down there in town, and the Ring is where you retreat. Sangui: City-state on a hill, port to the world, and a fine bloody place to do business. We pass a break in the houses and trees, and I catch a glimpse of the dark Indian Ocean. There’s a great deal of diversity and the story is enthralling. It also doesn’t hurt that the writing is very strong. The main reason to pick this up is for the rich and beautiful setting.

It is a revenge story that is also part murder mystery. I'm in!Ī young adult contemporary standalone set in modern day Africa.

If this is a sign of what is forthcoming in young adult fiction this year, consider me an extremely happy lady. Update: accidentally deleted this review, so here it is again :/ But finally uncovering the incredible truth about who killed her mother-and why-keeps her holding on in this fast-paced nail-biting thriller. But as soon as she steps inside the lavish home, she’s overtaken by the pain of old wounds and the pull of past friendships, setting into motion a dangerous cascade of events that could, at any moment, cost Tina her life. It’s a job for the Goondas that finally brings Tina back to the Greyhill estate, giving her the chance for vengeance she’s been waiting for. With revenge always on her mind, Tina spends the next four years surviving on the streets alone, working as a master thief for the Goondas, Sangui City’s local gang. Greyhill's personal study, she knows exactly who’s behind it. So when her mother is found shot to death in Mr. But Tina soon learns that the Greyhill fortune was made from a life of corruption and crime. Her mother quickly found work as a maid for a prominent family, headed by Roland Greyhill, one of the city’s most respected business leaders. After fleeing the Congo as refugees, Tina and her mother arrived in Kenya looking for the chance to build a new life and home. In the shadows of Sangui City, there lives a girl who doesn't exist.

City of Saints & Thieves by Natalie C. Anderson