Time and time again activists are killed merely because they are standing up for heir rights. I was not familiar with Caceres's story, but Lakhani did a commendable job by bringing her story to life.

This isn’t exactly a climate book, but it’s a must-read and close enough in topic to belong on this month’s list. Subtitled “Dams, Death Squads, and an Indigenous Defender’s Battle for the Planet,” this powerful investigation digs into the brutal murder of an activist who led the fight against a hydroelectric dam being built on her peoples’ sacred river in Honduras. In an age when hydropower is being embraced in some corners as a low-carbon alternative to fossil fuels, we need to remember that dams are often built on blood and stolen land.

This is a look at an event few people may have ever heard. I certainly knew almost nothing about Berta Cacerés and the environmentalists in Honduras. This is all nonfiction and collected from personal experiences, including events experienced by the author herself. This is what happens when the cameras turn off, when doors are closed, and when money and power are the only forms of currency. This isn't history. It's modern international relations with powerful enemies publicly denouncing the voices of those who protect locals and their homes.

Thank you to Verso Books & NetGalley for the Advanced Reader's Copy!

Often when I read about incredible activists, the journey almost seems surreal, their bravery and willingness to risk life and limb for what is right. Nina Lakhani's expose "Who Killed Berta Caceres?" is no different.

Through detailed interviews, police reports, transcriptions, and eyewitness reports, Lakhani meticulously details the rise and ultimate demise of the great environmentalist. Starting in 1993, when she founded the Consejo Cívico de Organizaciones Indígenas Populares (COPINH) to 2016 when she was ultimately murdered by the state, Berta Caceres has been a relentless voice for the Lenca and other indigenous groups in Honduras.

What is remarkable about Lakhani's book is the way Caceras is humanized. She is a woman who had difficulty communicating with her family, a woman who was determined to defend her people's land, a woman who was quick witted and humorous. She was another powerful woman silenced by the state.

This is a well-written and detailed account of the killing of Berta Caceres, an award-winning environmentalist and crusader of indigenous rights. Berta worked tirelessly for the Lenca people of Honduras. She was a true hero that did whatever it took to protect their lifestyle and their homes. In this account, the author portrays just how far her opposition went to get rid of her and proceed with building their dam.

Lakhani doesn't hold back as she names prominent names, places and dates surrounding Berta's death, names I recognize, even that of the current president of Honduras. She writes in nitty-gritty detail of the history, the lead-up to the murder, the trial and the convictions. The corruption, lawlessness and greed play heavily in the author's account playing into Honduras' reputation as being one of the most dangerous countries of the world.

As an expat living in Honduras, I can vividly recall the sadness and shock surrounding Berta's murder. After her death and during the one-year anniversary, demonstrators shouted Berta's name as they paraded along Tegucigalpa's streets holding up her over-sized photos.. Graffiti on buildings in the city still bear her name and that of COPINH, the organization she belonged to that honored the rights of the indigenous.

One of the things that makes this book so exceptional is that despite her notoriety in Honduras and around the world, Berta was still not protected from basic thugs. A brave and profound portrayal of a woman and country at odds with basic human rights, all in the name of money and development. Lakhani's vivid accounts of Berta's life's work will forever resonate with me now that I have had the opportunity to read about her life and her mission.. I highly recommend this book..