I was less than 100 pages into this book when I bought a copy as a present for a friend (and I intend to buy a copy for myself asap).

This is such an understated novel which tackles some big issues (namely, religion, political corruption and violence and injustices against homosexuality/lgbtqia+ individuals and the AIDS crisis in 1990s Zambia). I read that the author chose the perspective she did as she didn't want to write from a point of view she didn't have personal experience of, and I love both this sentiment and the ways she did approach this from an outside perspective. The whole book felt very authentic, and I learnt a lot about the culture and history of Zambia as well as being sucked into the plot.

I will be recommending this to everything and I hope to read more by this author!

The Lion’s Den by Iris Mwanza is a powerful and thought-provoking novel set in 1990s Zambia, where the complexities of society, politics, and human rights come to life through the story of Grace Zulu. Grace, a young lawyer who has fled from an arranged marriage, is handed her first significant case—a case that will test her resolve and courage in ways she never imagined. Her client, Willbess ‘Bessy’ Mulenga, is a man who simply wants to live his truth, expressing his love for dancing, wearing dresses and makeup, and yearning to love and marry as he wishes. However, Bessy’s desires lead to his arrest on charges of "offences against nature," subjecting him to the harsh realities of imprisonment and abuse for daring to be himself.

Determined to free Bessy, Grace plunges into a legal battle, only to have her efforts thwarted when her client mysteriously disappears. Suspecting a cover-up, Grace assembles an unlikely team of allies to uncover the truth and fight against the deeply ingrained prejudice and corruption surrounding the case. The novel follows her dangerous and relentless pursuit of justice in a world rife with injustice, highlighting the personal and societal challenges of the time.

Mwanza's clear-cut prose and fast-paced narrative drive the story forward, making The Lion’s Den not just a compelling legal thriller, but also a crucial exploration of humanity, prejudice, and the fight for rights in early 90s Zambia. It’s a gripping and essential read that delves into the social issues and personal struggles of a society grappling with its identity.

I loved reading this a lot. The writing was very well done and engaging. I was engrossed from the beginning till the end! Grace is my hero!

This book didn't exactly go the way I thought it was going to go, but it was a nice read.

Grace is a brave and tenacious young woman. She's also rather naive at times, which was a bit frustrating. I really enjoyed the parts of the novel that covered her family background and her journey to becoming a lawyer. In particular I loved the relationship between Grace and Mr Patel.
I also personally liked that there was occasional vocabulary in the local language that wasn't translated. It was immersive and it was still easy to work out from context what was being said.

I feel this book could've benefitted from being longer as there was quite a lot going on. One point of confusion for me was the magical realism regarding Grace's condition or abilities; it doesn't really fit with the tone of the rest of the story, in my opinion. I also think the ending would've been stronger without the epilogue.

The story is set in the early 90s, in the last days of Zambia's dictatorship. Our protagonist Grace is a newly qualified lawyer, who comes from a poor rural background, and trying to make sense of urban life, prejudices, politics, and social norms around her. The driving force behind the story is the arrest of an underage boy in a club for sleeping with another man, a serious crime during that time in Zambia. Grace takes on his case, and unravels the secret life of homosexuals in Zambia, the prejudices that haunt it and put it in danger, and the horrifying social stigma attached to AIDS.

The best thing about the book is its pacing and writing style. It was difficult to put down, and I did find myself lost track of time as I followed Grace's exploits. The story's vibrancy and constant energy make it come alive and stand out among a plethora of other books I read recently. The author is clearly a talented storyteller, and an engaging narrator.

That being said, I struggle to say what else I really liked about the book. The main thing I disliked was the overall style. It felt like a pitch for a movie script, rather than a book narrating the realities in Africa. If I compare this book to a few recent ones I read (e.g,. We Were Girls Once by Aiwanose Odafen, The Road to the Country by Chigozie Obioma, Allow Me to Introduce Myself by Onyi Nwabineli, Avenues by Train by Farai Mudzingwa, No One Dies Yet by Kobby Ben Ben), this book almost reads like it was written by someone with little intimacy with Africa. I am not implying anything about the author's familiarity with the subject matter - all I'm saying is that this book seems to not portray that familiarity.

The second thing I disliked is the need to almost forcefully link the story to the broader political context and upheaval in the country. It felt forced, and seemed to have come at the expense of a more nuanced understanding of Grace's state of mind. Grace's portrayal felt pale and shallow - there was a sort of super-hero vibe in her depiction (see previous paragraph) vs the reality of what such a life can do to a person. This made the book feel emotionally sterile and simplistic.

Finally, the book was almost trying to be too many things - a political thriller, a personal drama, a depiction of homosexuality and AIDS in Africa, the story of contemporary Zambia, and even (!) some magical realism sprinkled around. It's like the author really wanted to write a good book by copying a lot from others, vs trying to just tell a compelling and emotive story.

Frankly - this is a miss for me. It was a good experience, but it could easily have been a film I watched.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an early copy of this book in return for an honest review.

This book really exemplifies the strength and courage of Grace to commit to her job whilst being true to herself and those she supports when doing her job leads her to a dangerous situation.

This powerful book tells the story of Grace, a newly qualified lawyer, and a case that everyone initially wants her to abandon- that of Bessy, a young gay kid who has been arrested for 'homosexuality' and brutally treated by the police. Grace's story, and her journey into her power is gripping and the social structures and nuances of practicing law at this time, in this place are really fascinating.

After Wilbess (Bessie) is arrested, Grace a novice lawyer is assigned to the case has to fight corruption and injustice to uncover the truth.

This book was so good. I haven’t read many books set in Zambia so this was an enlightening read. It was interesting to note how similar African countries are because the same issues plague West African countries. The pacing was perfect and kept me spellbound.

Definitely recommended 💯

Grace Zulu may be a young lawyer without much experience, but she has more than enough moxie to make up for it. Which is why she decides to take on the case of a young sex worker accused of acting against the laws of nature.

Since sexual identity is one of the most taboo subjects in Africa, including Zambia, Grace puts herself in the crosshairs of traditionalists by taking on this case. And when her terrified client goes missing, Grace knows she's in the fight of her life.

This fast-paced legal thriller tackles issues of corruption, prejudice and hypocrisy head on, painting a vivid picture of Zambia in the 1990s. Worth reading. It gets 3.5 stars.