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Gaslight

The second Philip Taiwo investigation

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Gaslight

By: Femi Kayode
Narrated by: Cary Hite, Yinka Ladeinde
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Bloomsbury presents Gaslight by Femi Kayode, read by Cary Hite and Yinka Ladeinde.

SHORTLISTED FOR THE IAN FLEMING STEEL DAGGER 2024

AS FEATURED ON THE ZOE BALL RADIO 2 BOOK CLUB
SUNDAY TIMES CRIME BOOK OF THE MONTH

'Wonderful' Lee Child
'Outstanding' Nadine Matheson
'Riveting' Harriet Tyce
'Brilliant' Janice Hallett

'We know you know. Talk and you’re next.'

Bishop Jeremiah Dawodu, pastor of a Nigerian megachurch, has been arrested and charged with the murder of his wife, Folasade, the 'First Lady' of the church. The arrest was public, humiliating and sensational – sending shockwaves through Lagos – but throughout it all, Bishop Dawodu maintains his innocence.

Philip Taiwo, an acclaimed investigative psychologist, is asked by his sister, a member of the church's congregation, to clear the pastor’s name. With no actual body, it looks to be a simple case and despite Philip’s dislike of organised religion, he agrees to take it on as a favour to his sister. Then the First Lady's body is found in a nearby lake just as Philip’s beloved family come under attack from someone warning him off the case, and he realises that nothing to do with this investigation will be straightforward.

Was it murder or suicide? Is someone framing the Bishop or the First Lady?

Gaslight is the sensational follow up to Femi Kayode's acclaimed debut, Lightseekers, picked as a Book of the Month by the Times, Sunday Times, Independent, Guardian, Observer, Financial Times and Irish Times


'Femi Kayode is an unparalleled wordsmith' S. A. Cosby
'Deftly plotted, with strong characterisation and a great sense of place' Guardian©2023 Hachette Audio International Mystery & Crime Mystery Crime Fiction Suspense Murder
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Critic reviews

Wonderful. Full of narrative charm (appropriately leavened by a little cynicism), full of characters that, while specific to the theme and setting, were also universally recognizable and translatable (Lee Child)
Outstanding … This is Kayode’s second novel in the Taiwo series and it brings a refreshing new perspective to contemporary crime fiction
Gaslight deserves all the stars. It’s an outstanding, clever and emotional thriller. The best thrillers take you on a journey. Definitely a recommended read (Nadine Matheson)
Gaslight is a dizzying poetic crime novel. Femi Kayode is an unparalleled wordsmith (S. A. Cosby bestselling author of ALL THE SINNERS BLEED)
Deftly plotted, with strong characterisation and a great sense of place, Gaslight more than lives up to the promise of its excellent predecessor
Gaslight ’s particular appeal is the sharp glimpses it provides of local ways of getting things done
Gaslight nicely showcases both [Kayode's] understanding of human complexity and his maturing skills as a novelist
Philip Taiwo is such an engaging protagonist - so good to see a detective character who is committed to his family and properly functional! The relationship with Lara and Folake’s solution was also particularly satisfying. Femi has nailed the difficult second novel and set in concrete the foundations for what I hope will be a very long series featuring Philip and Chika. Powerful and shocking, it’s a riveting read (Harriet Tyce)
I loved it. The atmosphere and characters were authentic to the point I felt I could recognise them, and I was captivated to find out who was responsible and why (Amen Alonge)
In the depths of faith, dark secrets lie buried. Welcome to the heart-pounding world of Femi Kayode’s Gaslight, where shadows dance to the rhythm of danger (Leye Adenle)
The charismatic pastor of a wealthy Nigerian mega-church is accused of killing his missing wife. But is the case as cut and dried as so many want it to be? Investigative psychologist Dr Philip Taiwo is back and what a triumph Gaslight is! Femi Kayode delivers a brilliant, uncompromising story rich with humanity and intrigue. His characters burst from the page and the atmosphere he creates whisks you across the world in the blink of an eye. A wild, exhilarating ride from cover to cover (Janice Hallett)
I’m crossing my fingers that one of my loved ones has picked up on the fact that I’ve yet to read the second Femi Kayode novel, Gaslight. I loved his first, Lightseekers … and I can’t wait to curl up with Philip’s latest investigation (Alison Flood, Observer)
[A] vivid and immersive novel. Kayode blends the murder case with a subplot around Taiwo’s personal life expertly, layering meaning and resonances into both stories to create a very satisfying whole. Fine stuff
All stars
Most relevant
Fantastic story and brilliantly crafted characters. Femi did not disappoint. I still think the male narrator should be Nigerian - that would be my only critical comment

Another excellent story from Kayode

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I loved the author’s previous book, but this one never managed a lift-off somehow.

Wonderful narration, less impressive story

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I so loved the first Philip Taiwo story, and the second in the series is just as good if not better. I got lost in the evocative world that the author creates. I love Philip Taiwo as a detective, his family and their relationships, the larger than life villains, and the detective’s many allies and familiar characters from the first book. I’m already looking forward to his next story. I highly recommend this, and the narrator is brilliant too!!!

Absolutely wonderful

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I could not see that the role of the hero reflects the title of psychologist given to him , or see any difference to the traditional gumshoe and side kick.
I liked the exploration of Nigerian society.
The impossibly perfect wife irritated me, and longed for the hero to stand up for himself her solution to the daughter’s school problems seemed unlikely to succeed.
The acknowledgment of racism in non-white societies is refreshing.

Race and religion in Nigeria

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