Truth Is a Flightless Bird
Set in the fractured heart of contemporary East Africa, Truth Is a Flightless Bird is a searing literary thriller that explores the underworlds of Nairobi and Mogadishu, where power, love, and survival collide. When Nice, a sharp-witted UN aid worker in Mogadishu, becomes entangled with her drug-trafficking boyfriend, her life takes a sharp, violent turn. Abducted by the corrupt and brutal Officer Hinga and his haunted sidekick Ciru, Nice is swept into a kidnapping scheme fueled by desperation and greed. Back in Nairobi, her former lover Duncan—a white American pastor struggling with his own disillusionment—leaves the comfort of his expat life and dives headfirst into Kenya’s criminal underworld in a risky rescue attempt. Set against the backdrop of President Obama’s visit to Kenya, Akbar Hussain’s novel is more than a gripping story—it’s a visceral critique of colonialism, capitalism, and imperialism, wrapped in a brutal love letter to modern Nairobi. The novel deftly weaves complex characters, dark humor, and explosive commentary on urban inequality, human resilience, and the absurdities of hope in a broken system. Bold, brutal, and uncompromising, Truth Is a Flightless Bird announces Akbar Hussain as a powerful voice in global fiction.
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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…