The Nigerwife

A brilliantly original novel about family, motherhood, identity and diaspora, with a crime thriller twist

In this superb thriller with a devastating conclusion, Vanessa Walters finally fulfils her precocious talent. One of my books of the year

Explores the ways a set of ex-pat women in Nigeria exchange autonomy for comfort. But it's a raw, and potentially fatal deal. A murderously good read!

A thrillingly suspenseful novel that reveals its riches, layers and secrets through effortlessly elegant prose, while exposing the imprisoning dynamics inside transactional relationships of patriarchal power. I was hooked right through to the shocking end

Bernardine Evaristo, Booker Prize-winning author of Girl, Woman, Other

The search for a missing woman, set against the backdrop of glamour and wealth, is utterly captivating. Lush, poignant and gripping with a killer ending to boot . . . Vanessa Walters is one to watch

Dark secrets seethe beneath the glamorous lives of Nigeria's uber rich. A propulsive and complex tale of passion and betrayal. Electrifying

A twisty and electrifying story of family ties, long-buried secrets and womanhood 
 
 
 
Nicole Oruwari has the perfect life: a handsome husband, a palatial house in the heart of glittering Lagos, Nigeria, and a glamorous group of friends. She left gloomy London and a troubled family past behind to become part of the Nigerwives: a community of foreign women married to wealthy Nigerian men. 
 
 
 
But when Nicole disappears without a trace after a boat trip, the cracks in her so-called perfect life start to show. As the investigation turns up nothing but dead ends, her auntie Claudine flies to Nigeria to take matters into her own hands. As she digs into her niece's life, she uncovers a hidden side filled with dark secrets, isolation and violence. But the more she finds out about Nicole, the more Claudine's own buried history threatens to come to light. 
 
 
 
The Nigerwife is a razor-sharp and inventive debut novel about the bonds of family, the echoing consequences of secrets and the fight for freedom in a world where nothing is as it seems. 
 
 
 
"A brilliantly original novel about family, motherhood, identity and diaspora, with a crime thriller twist' AFUA HIRSCH

Vanessa Walters was born and raised in London. She has a background in international journalism and playwriting and is a Tin House and Millay Arts resident. She is the author of two previous YA books and The Lagos Wife. She currently lives in Brooklyn. Film rights for The Lagos Wife have been optioned by HBO.

'Thrillingly suspenseful . . . Reveals its riches, layers and secrets through effortlessly elegant prose' BERNARDINE EVARISTO 
'A brilliantly original novel about family, motherhood, identity and diaspora, with a crime thriller twist' AFUA HIRSCH 
 
Nicole Oruwari has the perfect life: a handsome husband, a palatial house in the heart of glittering Lagos, Nigeria, and a glamorous group of friends. She left gloomy London and a dark family past behind for sunny, moneyed Lagos, becoming part of the Nigerwives-a community of foreign women married to wealthy Nigerian men. 
 
But when Nicole disappears without a trace after a boat trip, the cracks in her so-called perfect life start to show. As the investigation turns up nothing but dead ends, her Auntie Claudine decides to take matters into her own hands. Armed with only a cell phone and a plane ticket to Nigeria, she digs into her niece's life and uncovers a hidden side filled with dark secrets, isolation, and even violence. But the more she discovers about her niece, the more Claudine's own buried history threatens to come to light. 
 
An inventively told and keenly observant thriller where nothing is as it seems, The Nigerwife is a razor-sharp look at the bonds of family, the echoing consequences of secrets, and whether we can ever truly outrun our past. 
 
 
'The Nigerwife is an exceptional debut . . . pacy and unique. An absolute treat - it took all my expectations and threw them to the wind.' JANICE HALLETT 
'A murderously good read' SARAH LANGAN

Vanessa Walters

The Lagos Wife transports the reader to a world of privilege, excitement and warmth . . . A gripping mystery, a portrait of an exhilarating but perilous city and a nuanced examination of clashing cultures

An excellent novel . . . Beautifully written, immersive, thought-provoking. I recommend it very highly

Richly layered and deeply thoughtful, this is another excellent read that holds you in suspense until its shocking conclusion

The search for a missing woman, set against the backdrop of glamour and wealth, is utterly captivating. Lush, poignant and gripping with a killer ending to boot, The Lagos Wife shows that sometimes the perfect life and the perfect marriage aren't exactly what they seem. Vanessa Walters is one to watch!

Evokes skillfully the atmosphere of a wealthy life by the Lagos Lagoon . . . A shimmering success

Big Little Lies meets The White Lotus

&lsquo;The story is juicy, the detail about Lagos life is rich - I gobbled it all up&rsquo; PANDORA SYKES, Books and Bits'I was hooked right through to the shocking end' BERNARDINE EVARISTO 
 
'An excellent read' GUARDIAN 
 
'Big Little Lies meets The White Lotus' GOOD MORNING AMERICA 
 
'Beautifully written, immersive, thought-provoking' MARIAN KEYES 
 
'A gripping mystery, a portrait of an exhilarating but perilous city and a nuanced examination of clashing cultures' FINANCIAL TIMES 
 
'Obsessed' KERRY WASHINGTON 
 
'A shimmering success' DIANA EVANS 
 
THE PERFECT WIFE. THE PERFECT MURDER. 
 
Nicole Oruwari has the perfect life: a handsome husband, a palatial house in the heart of Lagos and a glamorous group of friends. She left London and a troubled family past behind to become part of a community of expat wives. 
 
But when Nicole disappears without a trace after a boat trip, the cracks in her so-called perfect life start to show. As the investigation turns up nothing but dead ends, her aunt Claudine flies to Nigeria to take matters into her own hands. As she digs into her niece's life, she uncovers a hidden truth. But the more she finds out about Nicole, the more Claudine's own buried history threatens to come to light.

Vanessa Walters

Praise for The Lagos Wife

The Lagos Wife transports the reader to a world of privilege, excitement and warmth . . . A gripping mystery, a portrait of an exhilarating but perilous city and a nuanced examination of clashing cultures< ...

An excellent novel . . . Beautifully written, immersive, thought-provoking. I recommend it very highly

A brilliantly original novel about family, motherhood, identity and diaspora, with a crime thriller twist

The Lagos Wife transports the reader to a world of privilege, excitement and warmth . . . A gripping mystery, a portrait of an exhilarating but perilous city and a nuanced examination of clashing cultures< ...

An excellent novel . . . Beautifully written, immersive, thought-provoking. I recommend it very highly

A brilliantly original novel about family, motherhood, identity and diaspora, with a crime thriller twist

The Lagos Wife transports the reader to a world of privilege, excitement and warmth . . . A gripping mystery, a portrait of an exhilarating but perilous city and a nuanced examination of clashing cultures< ...

An excellent novel . . . Beautifully written, immersive, thought-provoking. I recommend it very highly

A brilliantly original novel about family, motherhood, identity and diaspora, with a crime thriller twist

Books by Vanessa Walters

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