Esperance

Detective Ethan Krol investigates an impossible crime in Chicago: a father and son found dead with their lungs full of sea water, hundreds of miles from the ocean. Meanwhile, Abidemi Eniola arrives in Bristol, England, claiming to be Nigerian but speaking with an unusual accent. She possesses remarkable technological abilities and a collection of heirlooms she claims need to be returned to their rightful owners. Her new friend Hollie Rogers agrees to help her. However, neither Abidemi nor her heirlooms are what they initially appear to be. Abidemi becomes the target of Krol's investigation, and Hollie's involvement draws her into circumstances far more complex than expected. As the detective's pursuit intersects with Abidemi's mission, a clash emerges involving different cultures, histories, and competing concepts of justice, with deadly consequences. The novel blends genres across a suspenseful sci-fi mystery rooted in themes of racism, intergenerational trauma, and questions of justice. Esperance was a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize.