ESPERANCE

Délé Ogundiran's narration brings intensity and clarity to an international thriller with a sprawling cast. Detective Ethan Krol has a lot to untangle in his latest murder case. All signs of guilt point to Abidemi, a Nigerian woman in England who claims to right ancestral wrongs by returning long-lost heirlooms. Ogundiran shifts smoothly between British and Nigerian-inflected English, adding dimension to the cultural layers of the story. Her pacing supports the thriller's urgent tone while giving listeners time to absorb the themes of colonial legacy and trauma. The narration enhances the novel's questions about justice, identity, and power, offering a consistent thread through a layered and unpredictable plot. Ogundiran's thoughtful performance balances action and cultural complexity. M.R. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2025]