Author by YASIN KAKANDE

YASIN KAKANDE

Author

What happens when murder, politics, and international diplomacy intertwine in a deadly game of deceit and desire? A Murder of Hate takes readers deep into this thrilling collision, where the stakes couldn’t be higher. Boston detectives Lisa Garcia and Basudde "Bus" Erias, two fierce rivals, are thrust into the heart of a chilling investigation when the niece of an African president-an exchange student in Boston-is brutally murdered. As they dig deeper into the case, they uncover more than just a killer; they expose the dark and deadly connections between Washington's power players and the ruthless dictators they secretly support. Through captivating scenes and a richly drawn setting, the story explores complex issues of race and nationality, unraveling the tangled threads of identity and loyalty. Beneath the surface of this thrilling investigation lies a scathing commentary on the corrupt, double-dealing world of international politics-and the powerful corporations that hold it all together. Fast-paced, thought-provoking, lanced with a sexual passion and utterly original, A Murder of Hate is a crime thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat until its electrifying conclusion.

Reviews

Racism, corrupt international politics, sex, and rape—these urgent themes converge in the murder of Sheila Musinga, the niece of Uganda’s president and a student at Boston’s Essex University. Kakande presents Sheila, who was born to a Ugandan father and Swedish mother, as more than just the impetus for the investigation that follows, delving into the young woman’s struggles with her identity, which often aligns more with her European heritage despite her African roots. Sheila’s only other Black classmate, Shawn Wayles, finds her perspectives on racism in America both fascinating and frustrating as their complex relationship unfolds against the backdrop of cultural and racial divides. When Sheila’s half-naked body is discovered in a car, Detective Lisa Garcia and her partner, Detective Basudde “Bus,” a Ugandan-American officer with CIA connections, zero in on Shawn as their number one suspect. But the truth runs much deeper than jealousy and unrequited love.

Journalist Kakande, author of nonfiction titles like Green Card Brides: The Lives of Black Migrants in America, brings a welcome repertorial eye to the story, weaving a gripping thriller that is smart and revealing about gender, race, and identity. Through a mix of flashbacks, recordings, and interrogations, Kakande uncovers the pressures of privilege, the burden of expectations, political corruption across nations, racism, and the dangers and temptations of power. Vivid depictions of torture, sexual assault, violence, graphic language, and intimate moments make the story strikingly visceral and authentic—and at times, deeply unsettling.

Detective Bus’s CIA connections and Ugandan heritage add layers of tension and conflict, while the portrayal of gender dynamics further deepens the story’s exploration of power struggles and social inequities. As they search for the truth, the detectives build a relationship of their own, even as past intelligence work proves a complicating factor. The case resolves with an urgent reminder that nothing is ever as simple as it seems, and that you can’t trust anyone—especially anyone in politics.

Takeaway: Smart, gripping mystery of murder, migrants, and international politics.

Comparable Titles: Wanda M. Morris’s What You Leave Behind, S.A. Cosby’s All the Sinners Bleed.

Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: –
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

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