Fly Catcher
Formats: E-Book, Paperback
Ages: 16-18, 18+
Longlisted for the Bridport First Novel Prize 2023
West Africa and an unknown boy is killed on the vast palm oil plantation of the powerful corporation, Arranoil. Nobody knows his name, where he came from, or who brought him to work on the estate.
Karen Hamm has travelled to the country to investigate corruption. She's on a mission to find millions of dollars in missing aid but her enquiries are met by a wall of silence.
A chance meeting draws Karen into the dangerous world of local politics and the struggle for better working conditions on the plantations.
After the murder of her friend Songola, a young activist, Karen heads to the remote estate of Arranoil, to find out why she was killed and what it had to do with the millions of dollars in missing aid – a corrupt and treacherous path leading all the way back to her own government.
IMMERSE YOURSELF IN THE TROPICS WITH A PAGE-TURNING READ
“So impressed with the richness of detail.”
“Unputdownable!”
“A gripping read.”
“The author paints evocative pictures of both beauty and poverty in the country.
Reviews
What a brilliant book - set in Sierra Leone, about which I know nothing. A thriller navigating African aid complexities. Covering power plays, poverty, violence, against women in particular. In particular the fear that comes along with insecurity and lack of power. I so enjoyed this book, and look forward to reading more from PC Cubitt.
I’ve been totally captivated by this book - it’s not just a story about a group of characters, but an incredible insight into African politics, and what it’s like trying to live in countries blighted by corruption at the highest level. The author perfectly describes the surroundings and atmosphere of Freetown and beyond - I could visualise in my mind what the places and the people were like, and most importantly see the injustices they have to endure, some of which are hard to imagine. I liked the way that the author switched the tone of her writing to suit each character, and in doing so put forward different opinions and thinking. The story unfolds quite gradually, and builds a framework of interesting characters who are cleverly linked together. Solving the unanswered questions in the story kept me hooked and wanting to read on. I’ve actually learned a lot about Africa from this book, and can clearly see why you might be drawn to it - the people, the sights, sounds and smells, all of which seem much more vivid to me now. What a wonderful first novel!
