The Fall of Saints: A Novel
Wa Ngugi’s debut is a somewhat improbable journey into the sordid world of international human trafficking. Mugure, a young Kenyan woman, is working in New York at a law firm when she meets Zack, a charismatic Estonian lawyer. In no time, Zack sweeps her off her feet, and they marry. When Mugure learns she can’t have children, Zack brokers the adoption of an adorable little two-year-old boy, Kobi, from Kenya. Mugure doesn’t question the adoption until several years later, when she comes across a piece of paper with Kobi’s name scribbled on it alongside the name of a corporation her husband has dealings with. This discovery prompts Mugure to launch an investigation into the details of her son’s adoption, which raises more questions. Why are there discrepancies in her son’s medical records? Why is the adoption agency now a shady curio shop? Mugure’s nagging concerns lead her to Kenya, where she dodges bullets and uncovers a sinister trafficking ring. It’s more than a bit over the top, but wa Ngugi’s novel explores a timely issue from a unique perspective. --Kristine Huntley