Crime and political thrillers that feel uncomfortably real.

In Yasin Kakande’s thriller, a CIA agent must uncover the truth about the missing president of Uganda.

When Uganda’s First Lady arrives in the United States carrying ten million dollars in cash, she also brings shocking news: a coup has taken place back home, and her husband, the president, may be dead—though this has not been confirmed. Her stepson, known as the General, is moving swiftly and ruthlessly to seize control, forcing parliament to swear him in as the country’s next leader.

Fearing that a power vacuum could destabilize the region, the U.S. government scrambles to uncover the truth. Enter CIA operative Shawn Wayles, dispatched on a covert mission to Kampala to determine whether the president is truly dead and, if so, to bring back proof.

Once on the ground, Shawn finds himself navigating a volatile and dangerous political landscape. As the General tightens his grip on power through intimidation and violence, Shawn races to gather intelligence. His mission grows more complicated when he encounters a mysterious woman named Joanne, to whom he feels a powerful attraction—one that threatens to derail his focus. “Men’s eyes trailed her, some full of hunger, others recognition. He didn’t like it.”

As Shawn edges closer to the truth, both he and Joanne find themselves in increasing peril, forced to make impossible choices in a city where betrayal is a means of survival.

Written in highly readable prose, the narrative moves at a brisk, cinematic pace, capturing both the tension of espionage and the human cost of political power struggles. While some plot developments arrive abruptly and a few narrative threads feel loosely connected, the story’s momentum rarely falters. The intrigue of a country on the brink of collapse provides a vivid and compelling backdrop, grounding the action in a sense of real-world urgency.

A sharp, fast-paced political thriller that blends espionage with high-stakes drama, the novel delivers enough tension and atmosphere to keep readers turning pages.