It is no surprise that this, Laura Fish's third novel, was the ‘S I Leeds Reader's Choice Winner’ in 2022. It opens with the death of Koliwe's father, a tragedy which leads to her decision to travel to his birthplace in Eswatini, the former Kingdom of Swaziland. Having never fit into life in rural Oxfordshire because of the colour of her skin, she hopes to find connection. Instead, she discovers that modern Mbabne is far from the idyllic paintings her father presented, with both the AIDs crisis and political unrest very much to the fore as she attempts to make her mark as an international development worker. Again, she finds herself trapped between two versions of herself: not a local, not connected to her ancestors, but also not truly one of the British expats either. Koliwe’s story will leave you with many questions about the history of colonialism and international aid, grief and guilt. KM

Published by Fly on the Wall Press