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Twenty in 2020
Deadly Sacrifice
When a child's severed hand is found, DC Toks Ade and DS Philip Dean are put on the case. Thrown into a world of Nigerian traditional customs, ritual sacrifice, and international trafficking, they must find the guilty parties before more children are lost and more limbs are found.
A chilling new thriller introducing Detectives Toks Ade, Philip Dean, and investigative author Coretta Davis.
A chilling new thriller introducing Detectives Toks Ade, Philip Dean, and investigative author Coretta Davis.
320 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2020
2 people are currently reading
114 people want to read
About the author
Stella Oni
9 books19 followersBritish Nigerian, Stella Oni, is the author of DEADLY SACRIFICE, a fast paced police procedural, set in London and Nigeria and about human trafficking and ritualistic killing. Its lead character is detective Toks Ade, the first black female police detective in UK fiction and published by Jacaranda Books.
Deadly Sacrifice was nominated for the SI Leeds Literary Prize and was an Audible Crime & Thriller pick.
She is a cake enthusiast who decorates exquisite cakes and an avid foodie who writes about Food, Culture and Tech on her blog and on Medium. She was also a contributor to Thrive Global and other publications.
Her dream is to travel around the world to taste and experience food from different culture. She believes that growing up within two worlds has given her a unique perspective.
Stella is working on book 2 of the Toks Ade Mystery series.
She is also writing “The Stranger in the House” – book 1 of The London House Mystery series. The lead character is Elizabeth Ojo, the clever housekeeper of the Mews luxury hotel in Knightsbridge, who gets embroiled in the troubles of her secretive wealthy guests. It is “The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency Clients Meet Crazy Rich Asians“.
Deadly Sacrifice was nominated for the SI Leeds Literary Prize and was an Audible Crime & Thriller pick.
She is a cake enthusiast who decorates exquisite cakes and an avid foodie who writes about Food, Culture and Tech on her blog and on Medium. She was also a contributor to Thrive Global and other publications.
Her dream is to travel around the world to taste and experience food from different culture. She believes that growing up within two worlds has given her a unique perspective.
Stella is working on book 2 of the Toks Ade Mystery series.
She is also writing “The Stranger in the House” – book 1 of The London House Mystery series. The lead character is Elizabeth Ojo, the clever housekeeper of the Mews luxury hotel in Knightsbridge, who gets embroiled in the troubles of her secretive wealthy guests. It is “The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency Clients Meet Crazy Rich Asians“.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
September 15, 2020
Stella Oni's writes a chillingly gruesome piece of crime fiction set in London, painting a vivid picture of the rundown crime ridden council estates, shifting location to Nigeria, a corrupt patriarchal country with its extreme inequalities between the wealthy and the poor, cults and brotherhoods with their deplorable practices of human and child trafficking, innocent human sacrifices and strong beliefs in juju. DS Philip Dean and DC Toko Ade, of the Stamford CID unit, are on their way to visit the grandmother, Mrs Bello, of a young 9 year old black girl, Venus, missing for two days. They are planning to re-interview her with Toko to act as a Yoruba interpreter. However, they are waylaid by a group of children who have discovered a hand, of a young black child, of approximately 4 years of age. The case brings worrying echoes of a heinous crime from the past where a young African boy's torso was found in the River Thames.
A post-mortem of the hand reveals the child had been tortured and abused in their life and there are concerns that this child's deadly fate may well be connected with that of the missing Venus. Toko is a struggling single mother, with a 15 year old son, Bode, a committed Christian and regular church goer. Bode's father is Femi, a rich Nigerian with his own family, who had never wanted Bode when Toko became pregnant. Femi, with a family and children in Africa, has since expressed desires to see Bode but Toko has rebuffed his efforts, all that is now set to change with Bode wanting to see him. Toko's friend, Coretta Davies, is an award winning investigative author, following her own lines of inquiries into the deadly world of child and human trafficking, the sacrifice of innocents, that has her going to Nigeria hoping to find proof of this hidden murky world, the horrifying practices, and those behind it.
Oni makes a powerful impact with this grim crime offering, showing the worst of humanity, in a case that cannot fail to affect and sicken the police with its depravity, with the buying and selling of children, and the terrors that await them. The parallel investigation by Coretta results in murders and dangers that threatens to close in on her, particularly as she insists on going to Nigeria to see what she can find out. I thought this was a strong foray into the crowded crime fiction genre by the author, but it is not without its issues. There were times when the story needed more coherence, tighter plotting and more judicious editing to avoid too much repetition. Having said that, I loved the diverse cast of characters, insights into families with members in Britain and Nigeria, and the gripping, if terrifying cases, the police have to handle. Many thanks to Jacaranda Books for an ARC.
A post-mortem of the hand reveals the child had been tortured and abused in their life and there are concerns that this child's deadly fate may well be connected with that of the missing Venus. Toko is a struggling single mother, with a 15 year old son, Bode, a committed Christian and regular church goer. Bode's father is Femi, a rich Nigerian with his own family, who had never wanted Bode when Toko became pregnant. Femi, with a family and children in Africa, has since expressed desires to see Bode but Toko has rebuffed his efforts, all that is now set to change with Bode wanting to see him. Toko's friend, Coretta Davies, is an award winning investigative author, following her own lines of inquiries into the deadly world of child and human trafficking, the sacrifice of innocents, that has her going to Nigeria hoping to find proof of this hidden murky world, the horrifying practices, and those behind it.
Oni makes a powerful impact with this grim crime offering, showing the worst of humanity, in a case that cannot fail to affect and sicken the police with its depravity, with the buying and selling of children, and the terrors that await them. The parallel investigation by Coretta results in murders and dangers that threatens to close in on her, particularly as she insists on going to Nigeria to see what she can find out. I thought this was a strong foray into the crowded crime fiction genre by the author, but it is not without its issues. There were times when the story needed more coherence, tighter plotting and more judicious editing to avoid too much repetition. Having said that, I loved the diverse cast of characters, insights into families with members in Britain and Nigeria, and the gripping, if terrifying cases, the police have to handle. Many thanks to Jacaranda Books for an ARC.
December 19, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed this detective novel set in England with a touch of Africa. Detective Ade is reflective and courageous. She's a single woman raising her son. The opening case begins when some young kids find a severed hand of a child in their neighborhood. With all the twists and turns, tales of sacrifice, etc. and lively characters you'll be engrossed in the story right from the beginning. I personally hope Stella Oni is working on a book 2.
June 9, 2021
Deadly Sacrifice was an entertaining and engaging story, fulfilling my expectations of the genre while managing to infuse it with the culture and warmth I wanted, considering its British-Nigerian MC.
In this way, it manages to balance what can seem like opposing elements, i.e. crime fiction catered to a British audience and a Black British audience too, which are separate things. An example is how it deals with some of its white police officers characters scoffing at the idea and existence of juju. It demonstrates a love of language from word choice to musicality inherent in some of the speech which comes across in the text. The choice of multiple points of view also works well here. Set in London and parts of Nigeria, I enjoyed that we got to take a virtual trip to Nigeria too. It's a funny and light read, although the bodies kind of pile up as we go along. I don't feel like the end was predictable, even as the story raced away in various tangles, it manages to right itself back and ties up loose ends nicely. I also liked that it tackled some aspects of mental health sensitively. I only wish that it's MC Det Toks had not been so disparaging about her weight and body, even if they were said in that mock-serious tone that those older Nigerian aunties use. It's great that this is a series, so we have more adventures to look forward to. Overall it's a page-turner that keeps you coming back for more.
September 26, 2020
I would like to thank Netgalley and Jacaranda Books for a review copy of Deadly Sacrifice, the first novel to feature DC Toks Ade of the Met.
Recently transferred to CID Toks is thrown in at the deep end when a visit to investigate a missing nine year old starts with discovery of a severed child’s hand in the car park of a tower block. It has the mark of child sacrifice and Toks and her partner, DS Philip Dean, find themselves on the seamier side of Nigerian religion.
I enjoyed Deadly Sacrifice to a point, but have mixed feelings about it as a complete novel. It is not a long novel but it is eventful and crams in a lot of information although the flip side of this is a lack of depth at some points and some threads being abandoned with no explanation. I liked the plot which is interesting and unusual and I loved the context given to the background of child sacrifice and trafficking. It definitely makes for uncomfortable and sickening reading but learning about different cultures and mindsets is always a plus.
This novel reads like a debut as it has some issues. The narrative is split between Toks, Philip and Toks’s friend Coretta, an investigative journalist looking into human trafficking and child sacrifice with reference to Nigeria which seems to be hub. This is a worthy subject but Coretta’s information comes to her too easily and she never adequately grasps the danger she could be in. It’s a touch facile. The balance between the investigation and the personal is wrongly weighted. Both Toks and Philip have personal problems and much time is devoted to them without resolution or in Philip’s case forward momentum. I can only assume that more novels are planned to resolve these issues, otherwise they’re a waste of space.
I like Toks and think she’s a great character, smart and strong, but not overly sure of herself. Mostly I like the fact that she’s half hearted about her diet as I can so relate to that.
Deadly Sacrifice is a good read.
Recently transferred to CID Toks is thrown in at the deep end when a visit to investigate a missing nine year old starts with discovery of a severed child’s hand in the car park of a tower block. It has the mark of child sacrifice and Toks and her partner, DS Philip Dean, find themselves on the seamier side of Nigerian religion.
I enjoyed Deadly Sacrifice to a point, but have mixed feelings about it as a complete novel. It is not a long novel but it is eventful and crams in a lot of information although the flip side of this is a lack of depth at some points and some threads being abandoned with no explanation. I liked the plot which is interesting and unusual and I loved the context given to the background of child sacrifice and trafficking. It definitely makes for uncomfortable and sickening reading but learning about different cultures and mindsets is always a plus.
This novel reads like a debut as it has some issues. The narrative is split between Toks, Philip and Toks’s friend Coretta, an investigative journalist looking into human trafficking and child sacrifice with reference to Nigeria which seems to be hub. This is a worthy subject but Coretta’s information comes to her too easily and she never adequately grasps the danger she could be in. It’s a touch facile. The balance between the investigation and the personal is wrongly weighted. Both Toks and Philip have personal problems and much time is devoted to them without resolution or in Philip’s case forward momentum. I can only assume that more novels are planned to resolve these issues, otherwise they’re a waste of space.
I like Toks and think she’s a great character, smart and strong, but not overly sure of herself. Mostly I like the fact that she’s half hearted about her diet as I can so relate to that.
Deadly Sacrifice is a good read.
September 9, 2020
Audiobook Review
Stell Oni promised us a lot in this book but only manages to deliver some of it. I did get a strong sense of the culture and places from the rundown London estates to the fascinating contradictions offered by a country like Nigeria. I never felt though that I was getting a particularly "gripping journey" and some of the writing seemed quite questionable. When near the start of the book a completely random old Chinese man steps up and for no apparent reason says something like 'Don't worry, you are feted to find her' then the only way to react is to roll your eyes.
On the bright side there is some excitement over the finish and a suitable gruesome plot at the heart of this. Weruche Opia gives an impressive performance with a particularly impressive array of character voices to throw into the mix. Some of her male voices were perhaps a bit on the dodgy side but it's a rare narrator indeed that can traverse both sexes with more aplomb than she does.
I think if Audible are going to keep bringing forth unknown authors like this they should perhaps help those authors more with improved editing before committing it to Audio. A little more investment in quality with some of the structure and writing elements might just have gone a long way here.
As it is, it really isn't that bad but there is bound to be disappointment when a title like this is release as 'Audible's Crime and Thriller Pick of the Month'. It's good that they often like to showcase debutant authors , I certainly applaud that because it must be very hard getting a start in such a crowded market place, but they should bill it for what it is when there are so many high quality new releases out there.
Stell Oni promised us a lot in this book but only manages to deliver some of it. I did get a strong sense of the culture and places from the rundown London estates to the fascinating contradictions offered by a country like Nigeria. I never felt though that I was getting a particularly "gripping journey" and some of the writing seemed quite questionable. When near the start of the book a completely random old Chinese man steps up and for no apparent reason says something like 'Don't worry, you are feted to find her' then the only way to react is to roll your eyes.
On the bright side there is some excitement over the finish and a suitable gruesome plot at the heart of this. Weruche Opia gives an impressive performance with a particularly impressive array of character voices to throw into the mix. Some of her male voices were perhaps a bit on the dodgy side but it's a rare narrator indeed that can traverse both sexes with more aplomb than she does.
I think if Audible are going to keep bringing forth unknown authors like this they should perhaps help those authors more with improved editing before committing it to Audio. A little more investment in quality with some of the structure and writing elements might just have gone a long way here.
As it is, it really isn't that bad but there is bound to be disappointment when a title like this is release as 'Audible's Crime and Thriller Pick of the Month'. It's good that they often like to showcase debutant authors , I certainly applaud that because it must be very hard getting a start in such a crowded market place, but they should bill it for what it is when there are so many high quality new releases out there.
December 28, 2021
I didn't really feel like this one worked. OK, it has a lot of good ingredients: the prose flows along nicely and evertything, the characters are original and interesting and the London setting was well done too, so it has a lot of the right ingredients but the world it creates just didn't sit right: it centres on human sacrifice in traditional rituals in Nigeria and Benin, and she has obviously got a lot of background knowledge; certainly more than I knew; although obviously I knew it existed, if you'd asked me to guess the extent of it I wouldn't have dreamed it was anything like as prevalent as Stella Oni indicates. She also seems to hint at the existence of actual magic and witchcraft, which I didn't have much time for.
So the picture she paints is pretty hair-raising and doesn't really show much of the developing, modern side of the country. If i was planning a trip there I'd be pretty terrified. To counteract this lurid portrayal of her country she puts some expository dialogue into the mouths of some of the characters early on, saying that Africans aren't all busy performing mumbo-jumbo rituals (Those might not be the exact words but it's pretty close). Then, when that's over with, she gets back to depicting Nigeria as a place where everyone is busy performing what can only be described as mumbo-jumbo rituals, murdering babies left right and centre. Even more bizarrely, having given all this background detail about Nigeria, she has the main antagonist be a guy with the very non-nigerian sounding name of "Steve Briggs", aided and abetted by his two white foster carers who live in Hampstead. Umm... what? Well, apparently this is what happens: it starts wuith cultural appropriation and the next thing you know the white people have built an impregnable torture dungeon under their house with a password that is surprisingly easy to guess. And somehow the larger network of trafficking she has hinted at gets forgotten about.
I can't help feeling it would have been better if they'd had to tackle the people-traffickers head-on and made it a more realistic story. Otherwise it just felt like a typical serial killer novel with a bit of local colour and a lot of shock value.
Woof - well, when i sat down to write this I didn't think I was going to go this negative. I actually quite enjoyed it believe it or not. I don't know where all this complaining came from!
So the picture she paints is pretty hair-raising and doesn't really show much of the developing, modern side of the country. If i was planning a trip there I'd be pretty terrified. To counteract this lurid portrayal of her country she puts some expository dialogue into the mouths of some of the characters early on, saying that Africans aren't all busy performing mumbo-jumbo rituals (Those might not be the exact words but it's pretty close). Then, when that's over with, she gets back to depicting Nigeria as a place where everyone is busy performing what can only be described as mumbo-jumbo rituals, murdering babies left right and centre. Even more bizarrely, having given all this background detail about Nigeria, she has the main antagonist be a guy with the very non-nigerian sounding name of "Steve Briggs", aided and abetted by his two white foster carers who live in Hampstead. Umm... what? Well, apparently this is what happens: it starts wuith cultural appropriation and the next thing you know the white people have built an impregnable torture dungeon under their house with a password that is surprisingly easy to guess. And somehow the larger network of trafficking she has hinted at gets forgotten about.
I can't help feeling it would have been better if they'd had to tackle the people-traffickers head-on and made it a more realistic story. Otherwise it just felt like a typical serial killer novel with a bit of local colour and a lot of shock value.
Woof - well, when i sat down to write this I didn't think I was going to go this negative. I actually quite enjoyed it believe it or not. I don't know where all this complaining came from!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 18, 2020
I have to admit that I am completely unfamiliar with the crime fiction genre, and therefore perhaps not the best candidate to write a review. But because I heard about this book through a personal contact, I decided to give it a go.
When I opened the first page of Stella Oni’s Deadly Sacrifice, I immediately found myself caught up in the chilling crime scene that DS Philip Dean and DC Toku Ade are called in to investigate. I likewise found myself drawn into the seedy, rundown estates of London where a lot of the action takes place, and which Oni depicts vividly.
Right from the beginning we learn of the horrifying discovery of a child’s hand, and are gradually lured deeper and deeper into the sinister world of Nigerian religious customs centred around magic and human sacrifice – in this case, more harrowingly, child sacrifice. As the story progresses and more body parts are discovered, we realise that they are linked to an earlier unsolved child murder and, more recently, a missing child. The fact that these gruesome cults from Nigeria have somehow been transported to London makes for yet more spine-chilling reading. We can only fear the worst for the missing child.
I immediately took to the central characters of single mother DC Toku Ade, her police partner DS Philip Dean, and her friend Coretta Davies, an investigative author. I was caught up with the poignant relationship between Ade and her 15-year-old son, and empathised hugely with Ade’s sense of unease when her son’s long-term absentee father suddenly appears on the scene, wanting to muscle his way back into his abandoned child’s life. I also liked the more glamorous image that Oni painted of Coretta and her spicy marriage.
When the action moves to Nigeria later in the novel, I found myself not only intrigued but also richly informed about a country I know so little about. Oni portrays the Nigerian settings in a rich and seductive way that evoke all the five senses. I could really imagine myself being there. The action at this point in the novel became nail-biting and I was unable to put the book down until reaching the very satisfying conclusion – which I am not about to divulge here!
I can see Deadly Sacrifice being perfectly suited to a screen adaptation or a TV crime series, starring three central characters who are ideal for further development in subsequent books and episodes. I look forward to re-acquainting myself with the dark but compelling world of crime which Oni has clearly researched and depicts with convincing detail. If subsequent books involve further delving into the exotic and fascinating world of Nigeria, all the better!
When I opened the first page of Stella Oni’s Deadly Sacrifice, I immediately found myself caught up in the chilling crime scene that DS Philip Dean and DC Toku Ade are called in to investigate. I likewise found myself drawn into the seedy, rundown estates of London where a lot of the action takes place, and which Oni depicts vividly.
Right from the beginning we learn of the horrifying discovery of a child’s hand, and are gradually lured deeper and deeper into the sinister world of Nigerian religious customs centred around magic and human sacrifice – in this case, more harrowingly, child sacrifice. As the story progresses and more body parts are discovered, we realise that they are linked to an earlier unsolved child murder and, more recently, a missing child. The fact that these gruesome cults from Nigeria have somehow been transported to London makes for yet more spine-chilling reading. We can only fear the worst for the missing child.
I immediately took to the central characters of single mother DC Toku Ade, her police partner DS Philip Dean, and her friend Coretta Davies, an investigative author. I was caught up with the poignant relationship between Ade and her 15-year-old son, and empathised hugely with Ade’s sense of unease when her son’s long-term absentee father suddenly appears on the scene, wanting to muscle his way back into his abandoned child’s life. I also liked the more glamorous image that Oni painted of Coretta and her spicy marriage.
When the action moves to Nigeria later in the novel, I found myself not only intrigued but also richly informed about a country I know so little about. Oni portrays the Nigerian settings in a rich and seductive way that evoke all the five senses. I could really imagine myself being there. The action at this point in the novel became nail-biting and I was unable to put the book down until reaching the very satisfying conclusion – which I am not about to divulge here!
I can see Deadly Sacrifice being perfectly suited to a screen adaptation or a TV crime series, starring three central characters who are ideal for further development in subsequent books and episodes. I look forward to re-acquainting myself with the dark but compelling world of crime which Oni has clearly researched and depicts with convincing detail. If subsequent books involve further delving into the exotic and fascinating world of Nigeria, all the better!
October 10, 2020
There is a new heavyweight player in the game of crime fiction writing and her name is Stella Oni. Deadly sacrifice is a thoroughly enjoyable book to read, a gripping page-turner that keeps the reader on the hook till the very end. This book is written by someone with a strong dedication to the art of crime fiction and it shows in the characters, the plot, structure and the story. Stella’s writing style has the effect of pulling the reader into the story, at certain points, shivers literally went down my spine and my jaw dropped wide open. The story sets the pulse racing and as we follow Detective Toks search for the killers and torturers of a little girl in London.
This is a crime novel like no other that I have ever read. It is very obvious that Stella is a writer dedicated to her craft as she delves into the underbelly of Nigerian ritualistic kills, human trafficking and even touches on the hidden hands of the Nigerian elites in these crimes. The book does not hold back on the gory details of the crime, but Stella manages to temper these moments with compassion from the characters.
Detective Toks Ade is the star of the show, the writer brilliantly shows us her strengths and vulnerabilities as a new detective and single mother too. She moves the story along at a good pace and I thought it was clever how the author did not shy away from acknowledging her Nigerian background especially with the food, she also used it to her advantage while investigating the gory crime. I loved the broody Detective Dean and Toks best friend, the True Crime Author- Corretta Davies. I especially like how the writer inter-twinned the stories between the lives of these three complex characters.
Overall, a great debut crime fiction novel, it is obvious the writer Stella Oni knows here genre and a lot of research and love was put into writing this book. Like all great writers, she leaves you wanting more and I can't wait to follow Detective Ade on her next case. Great reading.
This is a crime novel like no other that I have ever read. It is very obvious that Stella is a writer dedicated to her craft as she delves into the underbelly of Nigerian ritualistic kills, human trafficking and even touches on the hidden hands of the Nigerian elites in these crimes. The book does not hold back on the gory details of the crime, but Stella manages to temper these moments with compassion from the characters.
Detective Toks Ade is the star of the show, the writer brilliantly shows us her strengths and vulnerabilities as a new detective and single mother too. She moves the story along at a good pace and I thought it was clever how the author did not shy away from acknowledging her Nigerian background especially with the food, she also used it to her advantage while investigating the gory crime. I loved the broody Detective Dean and Toks best friend, the True Crime Author- Corretta Davies. I especially like how the writer inter-twinned the stories between the lives of these three complex characters.
Overall, a great debut crime fiction novel, it is obvious the writer Stella Oni knows here genre and a lot of research and love was put into writing this book. Like all great writers, she leaves you wanting more and I can't wait to follow Detective Ade on her next case. Great reading.
October 26, 2020
I downloaded this from Netgalley because I’ve been wanting to read something from Jacaranda Books for ages plus I LOVE crime thrillers! The premise of it immediately captured my attention so I hit that request button and got to reading.
DCI Toko is called to investigate a disturbing case where missing body parts belonging to young black children are turning up all over the city. The police race to find out who, or what, is behind these murders. Alongside this, Toko’s best friend Coretta is an investigative journalist who delves deep into this murky world. What they discover is a place of Nigerian magic and cults.
I really had fun with this book, it was a definite page turner for me however I do have a few criticisms. I thought the chapters ended really abruptly sometimes which I thought was a bit disconcerting, however sometimes it did work. Not sure if this was just me though! I also felt like at the beginning, Oni focused too much on educating people on Nigerian culture, to the point that it drove the plot, instead of being a natural part of the plot. I definitely enjoyed the second half of the book more than the first, as I thought the plot and characters really came into their own by this point.
I love love loveeeeed the whole Nigerian magical aspect of it! I found it to be an incredibly compelling aspect, and one that makes it stand out from its other crime thriller counterparts. Deadly Sacrifice also explores some deeper topics such as human trafficking, child abuse and adopting in Nigeria. It was certainly eye opening to learn about this stuff.
Thank you to Netgalley for the book and all views are my own.
DCI Toko is called to investigate a disturbing case where missing body parts belonging to young black children are turning up all over the city. The police race to find out who, or what, is behind these murders. Alongside this, Toko’s best friend Coretta is an investigative journalist who delves deep into this murky world. What they discover is a place of Nigerian magic and cults.
I really had fun with this book, it was a definite page turner for me however I do have a few criticisms. I thought the chapters ended really abruptly sometimes which I thought was a bit disconcerting, however sometimes it did work. Not sure if this was just me though! I also felt like at the beginning, Oni focused too much on educating people on Nigerian culture, to the point that it drove the plot, instead of being a natural part of the plot. I definitely enjoyed the second half of the book more than the first, as I thought the plot and characters really came into their own by this point.
I love love loveeeeed the whole Nigerian magical aspect of it! I found it to be an incredibly compelling aspect, and one that makes it stand out from its other crime thriller counterparts. Deadly Sacrifice also explores some deeper topics such as human trafficking, child abuse and adopting in Nigeria. It was certainly eye opening to learn about this stuff.
Thank you to Netgalley for the book and all views are my own.
December 14, 2020
Two firsts for me; listening to my first audio book and discovering the writing talent of Stella Oni!
In Deadly Sacrifice, Oni creates a world of intrigue, crime and ritual sacrifice. And if that isn't thrilling enough, how about discovering traditional Nigerian customs and delving into the world of human trafficking.
The protagonist, DC Toks Ade, a British-Nigerian woman stops at nothing to unravel the truth when a child's severed hand is found and we learn that a young child has been reported missing.
I found this a chilling and well paced debut. We follow Ade's investigations and begin to learn more about her as person. The supporting characters, such as her partner and author friend, also have stories that weave into the main narrative and add the mystery.
As debuts go, I found this well written and absorbing. All of Oni's characters have depth and completely jump off the page at you. Because I listened to this on audio I had to focus, because a lot happens and I didn't want to miss a beat. I like to try to guess 'whodunnit' when I'm reading a crime novel, but this one certainly had me guessing until the end.
A highly recommended read and I'll be looking out for the follow up!
In Deadly Sacrifice, Oni creates a world of intrigue, crime and ritual sacrifice. And if that isn't thrilling enough, how about discovering traditional Nigerian customs and delving into the world of human trafficking.
The protagonist, DC Toks Ade, a British-Nigerian woman stops at nothing to unravel the truth when a child's severed hand is found and we learn that a young child has been reported missing.
I found this a chilling and well paced debut. We follow Ade's investigations and begin to learn more about her as person. The supporting characters, such as her partner and author friend, also have stories that weave into the main narrative and add the mystery.
As debuts go, I found this well written and absorbing. All of Oni's characters have depth and completely jump off the page at you. Because I listened to this on audio I had to focus, because a lot happens and I didn't want to miss a beat. I like to try to guess 'whodunnit' when I'm reading a crime novel, but this one certainly had me guessing until the end.
A highly recommended read and I'll be looking out for the follow up!
November 28, 2020
Did I tell you all I'm a scaredy cat??? How I ended up reading a book highlighting human sacrifice but also assumptions of blame that tie in with this I do not know...
However, somehow I did 🙈🙈🙈
I managed to finish listening in the middle of the day as the night time was proving too much for my brain 🤣🙈
Thriller/mystery/ horror are not my genres. I think this book is Def a 4⭐⭐⭐⭐ for keeping a non thriller gal engaged and wanting more. Those used to this genre comment below and let me know your thoughts
1. I've already mentioned the talented narration please see previous posts
2. I love that we are beginning to see black British women in different genres and narratives. Our main character hero is a detective, cultural background from Nigeria
3. I love the concept of being used at times by our non black colleagues as cultural expert within the work place feel free to push that back on them boo
4. I love that in the darkest moments of this book all hero could do was to whisper a prayer under her breath... Best believe I was doing the same as Mr villain man was wayyyyy too convincing
However, somehow I did 🙈🙈🙈
I managed to finish listening in the middle of the day as the night time was proving too much for my brain 🤣🙈
Thriller/mystery/ horror are not my genres. I think this book is Def a 4⭐⭐⭐⭐ for keeping a non thriller gal engaged and wanting more. Those used to this genre comment below and let me know your thoughts
1. I've already mentioned the talented narration please see previous posts
2. I love that we are beginning to see black British women in different genres and narratives. Our main character hero is a detective, cultural background from Nigeria
3. I love the concept of being used at times by our non black colleagues as cultural expert within the work place feel free to push that back on them boo
4. I love that in the darkest moments of this book all hero could do was to whisper a prayer under her breath... Best believe I was doing the same as Mr villain man was wayyyyy too convincing
November 12, 2021
Deadly Sacrifice by Stella Oni
This gritty police thriller is not for the faint-hearted as it deals with disturbing subject matter, child trafficking, human sacrifice and abuse.
Oni takes us on a graphic journey through the halls of power corrupted by greed, and the hellish lives led by some desperate and vulnerable people.
A complex plot takes junior detective DC Toks Ade, partner DS Philip Dean and her friend, true crime writer Coretta Davies on an interwoven journey back to her home country Nigeria in their bid to solve a murder linked to human sacrifice and a missing child case. All the while dealing with their own complex lives.
The Nigerian community food and dress are described with warmth and authenticity while Oni raises relevant questions about superstition, coercive control and the impact of ancient customs in todays society.
Toks is a great character who offers us a fresh perspective on police thrillers - and will no doubt stand alongside more familiar flawed heros such as Rebus as the series grows.
This gritty police thriller is not for the faint-hearted as it deals with disturbing subject matter, child trafficking, human sacrifice and abuse.
Oni takes us on a graphic journey through the halls of power corrupted by greed, and the hellish lives led by some desperate and vulnerable people.
A complex plot takes junior detective DC Toks Ade, partner DS Philip Dean and her friend, true crime writer Coretta Davies on an interwoven journey back to her home country Nigeria in their bid to solve a murder linked to human sacrifice and a missing child case. All the while dealing with their own complex lives.
The Nigerian community food and dress are described with warmth and authenticity while Oni raises relevant questions about superstition, coercive control and the impact of ancient customs in todays society.
Toks is a great character who offers us a fresh perspective on police thrillers - and will no doubt stand alongside more familiar flawed heros such as Rebus as the series grows.
October 4, 2020
I listened to this on Audible and was pleasantly surprised. This crime thriller was well paced with enough suspense and surprise to keep my attention to the end. Oni has a way of describing characters that is subtle but leaves no doubt about how we are supposed to feel for this person. On a number of occasions the low key shade in the descriptions made me chuckle. Reading this, I was mostly rooting for DC Toks and at other times I was shouting at her to think before she acted. As with any good crime novel, I was sucked into trying to predict the end and identify the culprit and I was mostly wrong in that pursuit but I wasn't disappointed. By the time I was nearing the last 2 hours, I literally couldn't put it down and made myself go on a long walk so that I could listen to the end before dealing with the rest of my real life. I am excited to hear that this is only the first in the series for DC Toks. I'll keep my eyes peeled for what comes next.
January 31, 2022
I love a thriller and so I was delighted when Jacaranda books published this as part of their Twenty in 2020 (the first time that a UK publisher published 20 titles by 20 black British authors in a year).
This book was inspired by true events that took place in 2001 when the torso of a young African boy was found in the river Thames.
The story follows DC Toks Ade, a British-Nigerian woman who is investigating the crimes alongside her colleague Phillip Dean. The book also follows Coretta Davies, a journalist who is trying to discover more about the world of human trafficking and child sacrifice.
I found the story engaging and the characters well written and they all had a depth to them. There are obviously content warnings and some of it makes for gruesome reading but it is a topic that I have not personally read much about in a fiction book before. This was a great read and I look forward to reading more from Stella.
This book was inspired by true events that took place in 2001 when the torso of a young African boy was found in the river Thames.
The story follows DC Toks Ade, a British-Nigerian woman who is investigating the crimes alongside her colleague Phillip Dean. The book also follows Coretta Davies, a journalist who is trying to discover more about the world of human trafficking and child sacrifice.
I found the story engaging and the characters well written and they all had a depth to them. There are obviously content warnings and some of it makes for gruesome reading but it is a topic that I have not personally read much about in a fiction book before. This was a great read and I look forward to reading more from Stella.
October 22, 2021
Detective Toks Ade and her partner Philip Dean investigate the disappearance, mutilation and murder of children, aided by true crime writer Coretta Davies.
So here's the warning... this chilling novel is a hard read, containing child abuse, ritual sacrifice and human trafficking. It's not luridly written, but neither is it for the faint hearted.
The seedy side of London and the strong Nigerian cultural vibe are well drawn, along with a palpable sense of gathering evil. I did find myself slightly confused in places as the various plot links were made; however the final confrontation was suitably frightening. Some points were left unresolved, probably due to future sequels.
Frankly I find depictions of the foul depravity of humanity to be far more disturbing than most typical paranormal horror. All in all, an engrossing, if not enjoyable walk through the underbelly of life.
So here's the warning... this chilling novel is a hard read, containing child abuse, ritual sacrifice and human trafficking. It's not luridly written, but neither is it for the faint hearted.
The seedy side of London and the strong Nigerian cultural vibe are well drawn, along with a palpable sense of gathering evil. I did find myself slightly confused in places as the various plot links were made; however the final confrontation was suitably frightening. Some points were left unresolved, probably due to future sequels.
Frankly I find depictions of the foul depravity of humanity to be far more disturbing than most typical paranormal horror. All in all, an engrossing, if not enjoyable walk through the underbelly of life.
April 5, 2022
Free Auduble listen, and unlike most of those, this was good, especially for the first in what I really hope will be a series.
I liked the characters, the writing was solid, and I found the examination of different cultural practices interesting. And I liked that the solution was unexpected. The subject matter was difficult but the author couldn't have handled it better.
An aside, but it took me way too long to recognize the image on the cover. It's a pot. Because of course it is. I was there thinking it was some kind of wormhole or something and that this was going to be a techno-thriller. D'oh.
I liked the characters, the writing was solid, and I found the examination of different cultural practices interesting. And I liked that the solution was unexpected. The subject matter was difficult but the author couldn't have handled it better.
An aside, but it took me way too long to recognize the image on the cover. It's a pot. Because of course it is. I was there thinking it was some kind of wormhole or something and that this was going to be a techno-thriller. D'oh.
August 1, 2022
A weak detective mystery about sensational subject matter.
The glimpse into the world of child farming, smuggling and sacrifice in London and Nigeria was interesting. And I liked the intercultural aspect of people with Nigerian heritage living in London and straddling two cultures.
But the mystery solving came so easily my mind barely ticked over to work it out. The villain was unconvincing. We were told he was a charismatic leader type, that’s it. It’s a lot of information plonked on the end smacking of deus ex machina.
I would really like to read more novels involving protagonists with diverse backgrounds so I hope more do get written and published.
The glimpse into the world of child farming, smuggling and sacrifice in London and Nigeria was interesting. And I liked the intercultural aspect of people with Nigerian heritage living in London and straddling two cultures.
But the mystery solving came so easily my mind barely ticked over to work it out. The villain was unconvincing. We were told he was a charismatic leader type, that’s it. It’s a lot of information plonked on the end smacking of deus ex machina.
I would really like to read more novels involving protagonists with diverse backgrounds so I hope more do get written and published.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 13, 2021
Amazing British detective story looking at African ritual killings and a child trafficking ring mainly between Nigeria and UK from the perspective of Nigerian-British DC Toks Ade, her partner DS Philip Dean and friend true crime author Coretta Davies.
Totally enjoyed reading and later listening to the audio of this book. Full of gripping points of view and well developed characters. I wish there was more of an epilogue but the story ends with the close of the case which was a truly fitting end.
Totally enjoyed reading and later listening to the audio of this book. Full of gripping points of view and well developed characters. I wish there was more of an epilogue but the story ends with the close of the case which was a truly fitting end.
October 14, 2022
One of the most thrilling novels I have read .I love the writer's poetic license and the she leads readers to the character's mind.I kept flipping pages and never wanted this story to end. It's so monstrous and diabolical at what people do in some African countries just to belong to the top echelon. This looks like non fiction to me. Thanks Stella for this . It's epic.
December 6, 2020
I was hooked! Delighted to have discover DC Toks Ade and am already looking forward to the next book in the series.
Warning: there are some rather gruesome scenes involving young children so just be prepared going into this.
Warning: there are some rather gruesome scenes involving young children so just be prepared going into this.
August 1, 2021
DC Toks Ade and her crime writer friend Coretta Davies investigate human trafficking and missing children in London and Lagos. Thrilling, with some upsetting scenes, and a great range of believable characters, doing their best in the worst of circumstances.
December 25, 2021
Stella Oni crime fiction novel ‘Deadly Sacrifice’ absolutely fantastic the police investigations keeps you in suspense and the travels from London to Nigeria are very exciting. Oh and then the basement!!
I never saw that one coming, look forward to more.
I never saw that one coming, look forward to more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2022
Highly enjoyable.
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