Easy Motion Tourist (An Amaka Thriller, 1)

I enjoyed the plot, interesting female lead character and strong sense of place, and it was all elevated by the snappy, zingy writing. Definitely will read more by this author!

If Nigeria is even half as dangerous as it’s portrayed in Leye Adenle’s “Easy Motion Tourist” I’m not sure I will ever go anywhere near the place. (And, according to multiple travel advisories, Nigeria is definitely not safe!) So I enjoyed the vicarious journey to a land where crime gangs run rampant, gun battles are an everyday occurrence and, if you're not too careful, your internal organs might just wind up being removed without your permission.So it goes with Guy Collins, a British journalist with a broken heart who ventures out on his own one night, despite warnings, to see the real Lagos. He soon winds up witness to a butchered corpse, harrowing police brutality, and a stay in the local jail before he crosses paths with the mysterious Amaka, a woman with a mission to protect ladies of the night against potentially dangerous Johns, who appear to be everywhere.Personally I found the plot line of EMT hard to follow with so many bad guys with very similar nicknames and the frustrating peculiarity of no one in this book having a physical description. I’m all for spare writing but a few details go a long way. It also really isn’t until halfway through the book that the plot establishes itself. I also found Guy’s discovery of the destination for the stolen body parts a little facile and the story underdeveloped. There are perhaps too many gun battles. But the atmosphere is one-of-a-kind and there are some memorable scenes, particularly Guy’s jail stay, and some wonderful characters and use of language a local could only know. It all felt very authentic. Early on I decided just to roll with the story and enjoy it as it unfolded. Readers of international crime looking for something new will not be disappointed.

Readable thriller in the same, very general, vein as works by Carl Hiaasen. Semi satirical thriller set in Nigeria. Most of the bad guys are drawn from central casting and the heros are are a crusading Nigerian woman who tries to help women involved in the sex trade and the male protagonist is a white reporter from England named Guy Collins. Guy is is none too experienced and no great mind either and has to be rescued on a pretty regular basis. There is a love story angle and Guy returns to the UK at end of the book. This is the sort of thing you might read if you were sick in bed or waiting around an airport. I believe this is Adenle's first novel , I hope he will grow with experience as he can write well, but his lack of experience shows here. I might also suggest that if he sets another novel in Nigeria that hew make all the characters Nigerian and work on character development.

If you enjoy very British police procedurals where the detectives wear suits and everything is done according to the law, this is not the book for you. However, if you enjoy a trip to Lagos and want to experience the risks and dreams that this city offers, this is a real pleasure. Introducing an English journalist into the plot allows Leye to introduce readers to the intricacies of Lagos life through the thoughts and experiences of an outsider. Complex plot and a vast cast of characters, I enjoyed this very much and look forward to the next in the series.

I saw this reviewed favorably in a British newspaper review of recent crime fiction and what a find it turned out to be! Although it's apparently the writer's debut, this is confident mature crime fiction writing. It also offers a fine sense of place for the writer's country of Nigeria. Although there is a white British protagonist it is very much an ensemble piece alternating with the other major characters' points of view, a fierce social warrior in the female character, a morally ambivalent police lieutenant, and a pair of evil criminal antagonists from the upper and lower social strata of Lagos as nasty as any bad guy in South African crime writer Roger Smith's books. There is also some compelling romance and mordant humor throughout the fast paced plot. Emotionally credible, passionate, and involving throughout.I would also rank this up there with another great African crime novel, Zulu.This writer deserves many fans!

Really enjoyed this original take on crime fiction. Evocative setting, smooth pacing, diverse characters. If anything, I wanted the story to keep going.Only drawbacks: the climax did feel a bit rushed and Guy Collins came across as more like a 25 year old than a 36 year old.

I bought this book a year ago on my kindle and only just got around to reading it. I am happy and sad at the same time. Happy that it was such a good book and sad that it took me this long to read it. The book was well written, kept my interest the whole way through and i wanted to read another novel to keep it going. But this is the only book available on kindle by the author. Great read and i would recommend it.

I really liked everything about this book. The characters were unique and played vital roles in making the story good. The plot is something I never imagined. The author started with a story to report something about Nigerian elections but it turned out to be a crime thriller. I am ready to read only the 2nd , 3rdetc sequel of this book for a whole year cos I won't be bored. Good book Leye.

Very well written and entertaining

Easy Motion Tourist is a seriously compelling, gripping, and shocking crime thriller that never slows up! Leye Adenle is a master storyteller who can cleverly weave a picture of a world so dark and disturbing, yet even in the darkest moments find humour that releases the tension of fear you feel for Guy and Amata as they navigate a Hades level nightmare. Every character is 3 dimensional, even the most heinous has a hint of humanity. The imagery is vivid without ever being wordy and the story is cleverly woven with fact that makes you question just how much of this story is fiction! This is a piece of fiction that is clearly based on reality, you truly care for their plight, and crave the justice they seek and like The Whistleblower 2010- directed by Larysa Kondracki, I can see this as a huge box office hit!

Ever been to lagos ?. No ? Me neither. But for a few hours it felt like I was in Lagos. This book takes us on a wonderful voyage through the underbelly and power circles of lagos. Once guy is interrupted of his evening drink and he steps out to the evening lights, the action is unrelenting. The beauty of this novel is that it shows you a city with all it charms and chaos through the eyes of a foreigner. from car jacking criminals to showering dollars, female body guards and bloody shoot outs to organ trade, nothing is beyond the scope of this book. But the icing of the cake is it's female lead and her relentless single minded pursuit of justice for the side lined. girls in the oldest profession in every city needs an Amaka to fight for them.From the ambitious small time crooks to the politically powerful, the story of betrayal and revenge is believable and intense. The Nigerian English adds to the charm and the police station narratives are believable for anyone who has grown up in a developing country. There is also a glimpse of the politics of power, where the powerful is always causing trouble, but is always scheming it to happen away from their peaceful sanctuaries.The ending will leave you on the edge but you'll feel happy that there is more to come..

Leye captures the true essence of the Lagosians in this gripping story that had me put my life on hold for 2 days while I raced to the end of the book! There was nothing predictable about this story and I love how he was able to start several story lines and weave them together seamlessly. I don't want to give any part of the story away so I can't really talk about my favourite parts. I love , love that the characters are so believable. I am Lagosian and this story is very believable, that was the major trip for me. I look forward to the sequel. Well done Leye. This was an amazing read!

First chapter in and didn't know what to expect. I was intrigued. So I read on. Then I couldn't put it down.As many reviewers have said, the beauty of the book is that you believe in the characters. In their stories. In who they are and what motivates them. The protagonist is not your run of the mill Mother Theresa type. She is complex and unexpected. The unusual affiliations will intrigue you. You will question the meaning of good and bad. You will root for the underdog and simultaneously abhor the underdog. You will have conflicting emotions. You will laugh, be angry and come close to tears. You will love this book!! READ IT!!!! READ IT!!! READ IT!!!!Leye has outdone himself. Can't wait for another book from him!