Esperance
A whip-smart thriller in the vein of Blake Crouch, Andy Weir, and Neal Stephenson, Esperance plumbs the depths of a seemingly impossible crime rooted in racism, intergenerational trauma, and an inhuman concept of justice
Detective Ethan Krol is on the twentieth floor of a Chicago apartment building. A father and son have been found dead—their lungs full of sea water hundreds of miles from the ocean.
Abidemi Eniola has arrived in Bristol, England. She claims to be Nigerian, but her accent is wrong and she can do remarkable things with technology, things that Abi’s new friend, Hollie Rogers, has never seen before. Abi is in possession of a number of heirlooms that need to be returned to their rightful owners and Hollie is more than happy to go along for the ride.
But neither Abidemi Eniola nor her heirlooms are quite what they seem. Abidemi is a target of Ethan Krol’s investigations and Hollie’s life is about to become far more uncomfortable than she bargained for. In a clash of cultures, and histories and different ideas about right and wrong, Hollie’s safety is very much at risk. Someone’s justice will have to give way, and the consequences will be deadly.
Reviews
“This mixture of mystery, SF, and historical fiction is highly recommended for readers who love intricately blended genre stories that ask big questions. Those who fell hard for Rivers Solomon’s The Deep or Leslye Penelope’s Daughter of the Merciful Deep will find a kindred story here.”
“This excellent sf-thriller opens with Ethan Krol looking at three beings on the floor of his twentieth-floor Chicago apartment: a man, his son, and a barracuda ... Fans of Charles Stross' near-future police procedurals will be drawn to this one.”
“Lovers of sharp, fast sci-fi from the likes of Neal Stephenson will be right at home with Esperance. For this reader, it scratched about a dozen itches at once and then some. It’s exciting, inventive and murky, an ocean worth the plunge.”
“A fast-paced, superbly plotted blend of mystery and science fiction.”
"In Esperance, critically acclaimed writer Adam Oyebanji boldly combines the genres of murder mystery and science fiction to produce a compelling novel—which alone is no easy feat—that explores social structures and cultural history.”
“Oyebanji dextrously blends genres in this suspenseful sci-fi mystery ... yielding a satisfying, if grim, solution. Rob Hart and Blake Crouch fans should check this out.”
"Esperance is an engaging read because of the way Oyebanji blends these genres, as well as the thrill of learning who is behind the murders – and why."Locus (Adrienne Martini)
“Oyebanji utilizes lots of suspense, thrills, humor, cryptic allusions to ancient deeds, and moral debates to propel his plot. The result is a very satisfying read on all levels.”
"Esperance weaves science fiction, detective drama, and historical fact together to explore thoughtful themes and create a satisfying payoff... I went into this book blind, only knowing that it was a science fiction thriller, and was pleasantly surprised at how deftly it handles culturally fraught subject matter while balancing a really interesting story and a fun cast of characters. I’d recommend it to fans of either genre but also to folks who want to read a fresh, science fictional take on post-colonial revenge stories."
"Esperance is a compelling genre hybrid: part science fiction, part historical fiction, all delivered at the tempo of a gripping detective mystery."
“A fast-moving thrill ride of a story.”
"Esperance blends the crime genre and science fiction as well as any book I've read."
"Although they start in very different places, by the end of the story all our different threads come together in a satisfying conclusion that asks us to think carefully about we consider justice to be... As Esperance makes clear, throughout much of the USA’s history slavery has been legal, to treat other people as property not just considered right but necessary. Oyebanji has strong things to say about this and they’re couched in a story that doesn’t shy away from their consequences."ParSec
“In this brilliant story, Oyebanji makes the reader question perceptions of guilt and innocence, of vengeance and justice, of time itself--all the while asking what makes us truly human. A tour de force and most highly recommended.”Julie E. Czerneda, author of To Each This World
“A tightly wound plot told from two divergent points of view that will keep you guessing in the best ways. If you're a fan of SF mystery, ESPERANCE merges the best from both genres.”Michael Mammay, author of the PLANETSIDE series
“A police procedural genetically modified to include the best of science fiction, mystery, action, and suspense. With plot lines rooted in Africa, Britain, and North America—all three legs of the brutal Triangular Trade—this page-burner earns its moral heft by engaging with one of the ugliest mass human abuses in the history of our planet and considering what enslavement might have looked like through another planet’s eyes.”Donna Glee Williams, author of The Night Field
“A gripping mystery about an impossible murder combines with a marvellous story of a strange, possibly alien, odyssey around our present-day world, with all its problems and heritage. Guess the murder solution and you're a better reader than I, though the solution is both satisfying and resonant. Thrilling and sparky writing, extremely readable: a gem of a thriller.”Adam Roberts, author of Lake of Darkness
“A gripping, intricately plotted mystery which unravels its themes of justice, choices and consequence with huge assurance and flair.”E. J. Swift, author of The Coral Bones
"By the time I hit the final act, I was all in. The twists come fast, the revelations hit hard, and the ending is equally satisfying and unsettling. I feel it’ll stick with me. If you’re into Blake Crouch-style thrillers, Neal Stephenson-esque tech mysteries, or just a smart, fast-paced story that refuses to be predictable, Esperance is absolutely worth your time."
"The book is fantastic. There’s wonderful characters, excellent interactions between them, and an intriguing and compelling mystery. It covers racism, mammoth questions like what justice really is or looks like – and is a standalone story. Highly recommended."
"Exciting, dark, entertaining, heartfelt, and thought provoking to the core, I could not put Esperance down until I knew everything."
"Part (very weird) murder mystery, part speculative fiction and a wow ending — Esperance is an evolving surprise from start to finish."
"A cleverly-crafted mystery, great characters, fast action, humour in the writing and serious considerations under the fun. The cover quote calls Esperance a ‘tour de force’, and I heartily agree – I enjoyed it hugely."
Awards & Accolades
BookRiot: "6 Creepy Sci-Fi Books to Make Your Skin Crawl"
