Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

"Believers and Hustlers" by Sylva Nze Ifedigbo is a compelling narrative that delves into the intricate web of faith, ambition, and the media's influence in contemporary Nigeria. The novel opens with Ifenna Obumselu, an ambitious journalist, who finds himself at the grand opening of Heaven’s Gate Cathedral, a megachurch that epitomizes the grandeur and excesses of religious institutions in Lagos.

The story takes a dramatic turn when Ifenna, straying from the scripted questions at a press conference, probes into the mysterious death of a pastor. This act of defiance sets him on a collision course with powerful forces and leads to his dismissal. Undeterred, Ifenna embarks on a quest to uncover the truth, starting a blog that peels back the layers of religious corruption.

Ifedigbo's prose is both elegant and accessible, weaving a tale that is as much a commentary on Nigerian society as it is a gripping story of individual struggle. The characters are richly drawn, with backstories that add depth and context to their actions and motivations. The author explores themes of family, sacrifice, religion, and spirituality with a deft hand, allowing readers to draw their own conclusions.

The novel's pacing is masterful, balancing humor, mystery, and cultural insights. It offers a window into the lives of those who are caught between the promises of prosperity preached by charismatic leaders and the harsh realities of life in a society riddled with corruption.

In "Believers and Hustlers" , Ifedigbo has crafted a milestone of a book that not only entertains but also invites reflection on the dynamics of belief and power. It is a must-read for those interested in contemporary African literature and for anyone who appreciates a story well told.

This story happens in the early 20 teens in Lagos Nigeria. A reporter working for the Nigerian named Ifinia was called to stand in for a sick coworker at the Heaven’s gate opening it was the worlds biggest church and Ifini was happy to stand in because a press conference for such a big church is more a choreographed dance than an actual hardnose reporting in the church not only gave you the question to ask but a packet of money for playing along. This is when Daddy founder Nick and his wife nichie got on his radar. Earlier that day he heard people on the bus arguing about the validity of these money grubbing preachers and one mentioned the mysterious death of Pastor Felix at the heaven’s Gate construction site the year before. The only problem is asking about Pastor Felix would get him in trouble with his editor but because Ifinia got nauseated by pastors like daddy Nick he asked the question anyway and this is why he found his self without a job. It would be while doing his second and now only job driving an illegal taxi that he came up with an idea to do a blog called the Bad Shepherds And Unchaining The Sheep he wanted to take down all the pastors who spoke more of money had fake healings and convinced poor people in the congregation that not tiding would bring bad luck and it would be all their fault for not having enough faith. In another POV we have Nichie she is the wife of Daddy Nick one of the biggest protestant preachers in Nigeria and especially Lagos and throughout the story she slowly but surely starts to see her husband for who he actually is as opposed to the fantasy she has built him up to be. Ifinia’s blog is slow to take off but when he gets a testimonial from a girl who was sexually abused by Pastor Nick it goes viral but eventually the two POV‘s will come together in an explosive way. I feel like I am not doing this awesome story justice it was so good and there is way more to the story then the scant details I put in my review this is a well put together story about greed the ways we dilute our self and how sometimes we lie so much we believe our own untruths but it’s mostly about how much people are willing to pay for hope. There’s also a romance. I love reading stories from countries I’m not familiar with especially when written by someone from the actual place I am reading about and I think the author of this book did a great job there’s local references pop culture and a definite twist at the end of the book. I want to thank the publisher and net galley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.