Truth Is a Flightless Bird
“Aid worker. Smuggler. Time bomb.” Truth is a Flightless Bird is a literary crime novel set in present day Nairobi. It follows Nice, a pregnant aid worker smuggling drugs into the city; Duncan, the pastor who tries to save her; Ciru, the traditional healer who holds her fate; and Toogood, the trafficker whose network binds them together. It is a tightly plotted, nuanced portrayal of characters caught between love, debt, faith, and survival in a rapidly changing East African city. Told in close third person, moving between the characters’ perspectives with richly detailed scenes that balance action, atmosphere, and interior life, Truth is a Flightless Bird asks what it means to tell the truth when every official story is bent, and how far love—for a child, a friend, a city, a god—can reach in a system designed to grind people down. It is a story about being pinned to the ground by history, geography, and power, and about the small, stubborn acts of courage that still take flight. The novel offers both page turning suspense and a thoughtful examination of power and complicity, making it a strong choice for lovers of literary crime and character driven thrillers and for anyone interested in contemporary African cities, and morally complex stories about faith and power.
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Bestselling author of mystery novels, weaving suspense and intrigue. Captivating readers with every page turn.
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"Hussain’s Truth is A Flightless Bird is a fast-paced story set in an African city that never sleeps. Like the characters of the novel, he manages to capture a city that’s as unpredictable as it is memorable. A noteworthy debut"
"Truth Is a Flightless Bird is a compelling thriller that blends literary and noir elements into a harrowing character study of three flawed people in blind pursuit of an unobtainable future."
“Hussain’s earnest debut dramatizes the fraught social and economic circumstances of modern-day East Africa.”
Truth is a Flightless Bird is an intriguing mystery about the drugs trade and the people caught up in it. It’s a fascinating insight into Nairobi, from the vibrant rich quarters to the poverty ridden streets… There’s a strong story here, grounded, at times in some shocking insights. The setting, mostly Nairobi, is brilliantly observed… Akbar Hussain is very good at demonstrating how for people will go for the promise of a better life
It's a wonderful read - a genre I'm not very familiar with, but I enjoyed very much. I also gave a shout-out to the Press, which I think is doing admirable (and necessary) work.
US President Barack Obama is scheduled to visit and Nairobi is abuzz. But the real story for us is related via several characters: Nice, Duncan, Ciru, and Toogood. All of them in difficult circumstances, all of them connected in some way to the illegal drug trade. With their stories, comes the story of two cities, and much about the culture within. You are transplanted to the unsavoury parts of the drug world, good and bad. Much like the characters, also not all bad and not all good.
“With its intriguing title, Truth is a Flightless Bird by Akbar Hussain is a debut literary fiction novel. It is set in Nairobi just prior to an imminent American Presidential visit by Barack Obama…Its easy-flowing narrative captures the ambiance of Nairobi and its machinations played out in this enjoyable tale.”
This novel was a breathless rush from beginning to end. I can see how this would make a fantastic television series…Truth is a Flightless Bird is a fantastic novel of place. It gives the reader a view into a world most of us will never get to see or experience in person…