After reading the first book in this series, I was anticipating this sequel. This did not disappoint with the twists and psychological commentary. It did get very dark at times, with on page scenes of violence and crime. I will say the mixture of the family drama and Philip's work with the church and reluctant police officers was well-balanced. I hope we get more sequels, especially featuring his wife and her legal work. I recommend this literary thriller for readers who appreciate a lot of character analysis and discussions of modern injustices.

4.0 for plot
5.0 for narration

Spoilers ahead:



*Some readers may want to look up content warnings which include:

murder, SA against one person with multiple perpetrators, gaslighting, infidelity, abortion, gun violence, colorism, bullying

The book had a really strong start. You cannot but get curious about what has happened and what is to happen next.
It was amazing to read a different setting for a change. This is my first book, which is set in Nigeria and I loved everything about the details over there regarding the country and its people.
The story itself had the right dose of suspense, revelation, action, abuse and family drama. I can say that it kept me reading.

I enjoyed listening to the audiobook for Gaslight by Femi Kayode which is narrated by Cary Hite & Yinka Ladeinde. The story follows Philip Taiwo investigating the disappearance of the First Lady Sade Dawodu. Philip trying to decipher what happened cause the evidence isn’t matching up the death that was ruled a suicide. Follow Philip as he uncovers lies, fraud, deception, within a megachurch and police corruption as he searches for the truth. If its a story that interest you, please check out.

To be honest, I didn’t realize this wasn’t a first in series so I didn’t love it. That’s my bad though

I really wanted to love this audiobook because I was really excited to get approved, but it was just extremely slow and I couldn’t get into it

This was fast paced thriller about the death of the First Lady of a popular church in Nigeria. First of all, I loved the setting. I feel like a lot of the popular thrillers are set in the UK or USA, so it was very refreshing to see a thriller set elsewhere. I also loved that while this was twisty, it was also plausible. I felt really engaged in all of the characters and what they were going through. In particular, I really appreciated that there were also some important themes like colorism, bullying, and corruption In this book. It added a rich, real life feel to the reading. I would definitely recommend this book for anyone that loves thrillers.

While i enjoyed this, i picked it up since I had read MSTSK, and while I did enjoy it, I wish i had known it was book two in a series.

The same narrative voice as MSTSK, but a bit harder to follow for me which I think was strictly since I didnt read the first.

The narration was fabulous though.

First of all 10/10 for the audiobook, the narration is so good that it made me stick to my earpod whenever I could. I listened to it when I cooked , when I ran, whenever I could grab the audiobook I did.

That's why I was able to finish it faster than I thought I could. I would really like to thank Netgalley, Hachette Audio and mulholland books, author - Fami Kayode and narrators — Cary Hite, Yinka Ladeinde for making a book memorable and quite enjoyable.

After starting Gaslight, I came to know that this is actually second book in the series first being lightseekers. If I knew before I would have read it just to get better idea but without reading the first, you can read Gaslight as stand-alone.

Now there are many things that can be triggering to some people, like a Corrupt Church and corrupt bishop storyline. We have so many times read about such stories in news. It is surprising that how religion can make so many people blind and devout followers of disturbing practices. Kayode's views about abortion even though very brief , if one does not agree with his virtues one might dislike this book. But for me it resonated with my ideology so it wasn't an issue.

Dr Philip Taiwo, an investigation psychologist after the success of his first case is hired by a megachurch in Nigeria to unfold the mystery of disappearance of head Bishop's wife. There's a general negativity in the air for the wife -Sade Dawudo as her behaviour is not suitable for the first lady's demeanour.

As the mystery slowly unfolds, we come to know that waters are not as shallow as they appear. Perhaps there is depth not visible to the naked eyes even. I was totally immersed in the story till the wife is found but later as the plot thickened, it bacame slow at some points, and even not so exciting.

On the sidelines, there's story of Taiwo and his family's struggle as to settling into Nigeria after leaving states. I loved Taiwo, and Chika's character and also Taiwo's wife.

Overall a good read and totally recommended.

Philip Taiwo, a forensic phsycologist, is hired by the leadership of a megachurch in Nigeria to investigate the disappearance of the head bishop's wife. Well, the church is actually thinking more along the lines of trying to exonerate the bishop for the suspicious nature of his wife's disappearance. Of course, nothing is as it seems, hence the title. As Dr. Taiwo gets deeper into the mystery he becomes emotionally involved in discovering what happened to the vibrant, dynamic First Lady of Grace Church.
 
If you are already sick of the holidays, raise your hand. 🤚 This book is an excellent anti-holiday read. It's fast-paced, socially conscious, and set in Nigeria (which I find to be endlessly interesting). Also, the narration is great.
 
This is actually a follow-up to Kayode's Lightseekers. However, it is fine to start here. There's enough backstory provided to get the reader up to speed. I can't wait to listen to the first one. I just have to wait for my local library to get a copy. Boo.

I read book 1 to prepare for this ARC and I am glad I did, as I loved getting to know the players in the series. This was my 1st time reading any books by Femi Kayode but will definitely not be my last! I can't wait for the next book in the series to come out. And i am adding all their books to my TBR!

#Gaslight
#NetGalley

This book was fantastic! It was a true thriller, and without having read the first book, I had a complete experience without missing any of the character development. The story was intriguing and steady, with almost no downtime between story beats. It was quick and immensely enjoyable to read! An amazing book from an amazing author

The story flowed well and the characters were well developed. I recommend this book and look forward to more from this author.


****Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review****

I requested this one because it might be an upcoming title I would like to review on my Youtube Channel. However, after reading the first several chapters I have determined that this book does not suit my tastes. So I decided to DNF this one.

I loved the narrators and how they kept the authentic accents still accessible to a wide swatch of English speaking listeners. I also loved the protagonist's family story. His daughter's plight brought tears to my eyes multiple times. The mystery was suspenseful and hard to completely work out. My quibble is that the book was at times hard to follow, broken into multiple books, which felt jarring. There was so much to enjoy though that it won't keep me from coming back for more by Femi Kayode.

3.5 stars rounded up.

Set in Lagos, Nigeria, Gaslight is a murder mystery that shines light on a region of the world not seen often in popular literature.

Premise - when the wife of a megachurch’s bishop goes missing, it’s up to Philip to crack the case.

This was a slow burn to start, but the theme of megachurch corruption/hypocrisy was engaging and I love that it was set in Lagos.

Philip was a great character and I love that the book didn’t shy away from hot button issues, but the pacing lagged at times and the plot struggled to hold my interest.

That said, it’s a great sophomore effort and can be read without reading the first book in the series. I look forward to reading more from the region.

Thanks, NetGalley and Mulholland, for the gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and Femi Kayode for the ARC audiobook of Gaslight.

This was a good paced book read by Cary Hite and Yinka Ladeinde. I loved their voices and very well matched to the characters they narrated. Gaslight is the second book in which an investigative psychologist Philip Tiawo investigates a brutal murder which leads to investigating the Pastor of a Nigerian church.

When I listened to this book, Id forgotten that it is was the second book in a series but managed to pick up the background of Philip very easily and managed to listen to this as a stand alone ( I will be reading Light seekers )
The narrative was well paced and I loved the cultural aspect of what Femi brought into the storyline. There was enough intrigue to keep me going with some nice twisty turns and the payoff was great. I'd definitely like to read more of Femi Kayode's work in the future

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Femi Kayode, Hachette Audio, and Mulholland Books for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

I have long enjoyed unique perspectives when it comes to my reading materials. Femi Kayode does so, both by presenting new cultural perspectives, as well as unique angles to criminal forensics. Once more using Nigeria as its backdrop, the story follows Philip Taiwo, an investigative psychologist. His reputation precedes him and his is asked through a family member to explore the case of a missing woman whose husband is of some repute. What begins as a missing person investigation turns into potential murder and Dr. Taiwo is there to offer some keen observations. Another great piece by Femi Kayode that had me hooked until the final reveal.

While the megachurch is known for its ability to bring many into the light, a sombreness has fallen upon it now. Nestled in Ogun State, Nigeria, the church is forced to handle the scandal of its leader, Bishop Dawodu, who has been accused of murdering his wife. While he proclaims his innocence, Sade Dawodu is nowhere to be found and the authorities are sniffing around for answers, with a handful of forensic clues that point to the bishop.

Still basking in his successes with a previous case, Dr. Philip Taiwo is asked by his sister to help the church and locate her close friend, Sade. Dr. Taiwo is brought in to help the investigation and hired by the church to exonerate Bishop Dawodu. While not a police officer or detective, Dr. Taiwo’s abilities as an investigative psychologists are like no other, as he seeks to peel back the truth of the matter and the rationale for what might have happened. Beginning his conversations with others, Dr. Taiwo learns that Sade Dawodu was not popular amongst the congregants, particularly when she disappeared for long stretches and did not live under the same rules that were professed from the pulpit. This could lead to some more suspects, but Dr. Taiwo will have to act swiftly if he wants to ensure the bishop is not tried and convicted.

Sade Dawodu’s body is soon found, an apparent suicide in the water. However, some things do not match up when a pathologist takes a closer look. As Dr. Taiwo’s gut feelings lead him to feel there is more to the case than is being discussed, he must also stay within the lines as an investigator.

Dr. Taiwo discovers secrets that could bring the church to its knees, as he tries to spin in in such a way that the truth is sure to emerge. When he is told by the bishop and senior advisors for the church as to how he ought to proceed, Dr. Taiwo feels that his importance is not to get to the truth, but exonerate Bishop Dawodu at any cost. This does bode well for a man who has always used truth to guide him.

Forced to push through the miasma that is cash and power, Dr. Taiwo must take a moment from his investigation to examine the weaknesses in his own family, as they are sometimes put on the back burner. He strives to forge a new and lasting relationship with his children, who have grown up in America, where they discovered a lifestyle that is vastly different from that in Nigeria. With a great deal of pressure laid at his feet, Dr. Philip Taiwo seeks to get the the heart of the matter and find truth, wherever that will take him. Femi Kayode does a wonderful job instilling many key aspects of a crime thriller and story with deep cultural roots.

Femi Kayode does a great job educating the reader to life in Nigeria, while also presenting a strong crime thriller throughout this second novel of the series. Helping those who may not have a grasp with the difference in this piece, Kayode provides a strong narrative foundation on which the story will grow. What works even better is the dual narrative perspectives, shedding additional light on Sade Dawodu’s thoughts throughout the investigation. Key cultural, political, and social aspects flavour the story from the outset and provide the reader with something stellar to enjoy as they make their way through the larger narrative. Great themes emerge, some vastly different from a Western-set novel, but others show that the struggle is real, no matter where one lives.

Characters emerge and are enriched throughout the book, giving the reader a better understanding of many beliefs and perspectives. Dr. Philip Taiwo remains front and centre in this piece, peppering the story with a few sentiments about his past, but also pulling on some of the struggles of parenting in two vastly different spheres; the rush of America and the culturally-deep Nigeria. While there are many others whose presence makes the novel great, it is the inner struggle the Taiwos face as a family that really resonated for me throughout this piece, I am eager to see if we will learn more about them in the year to come.

Plot development is essential in keeping the story strong. Kayode does so effectively, while layering some of the unique aspects of Nigerian life in this novel. There are key aspects to the case that come out with the inquisitiveness of Dr. Taiwo, but many are seen to be the same as those one might expect to find in any crime thriller with a strong storyline. I hope that others will share in my praise as we try to decipher the realities of a crime that is meant to be covered up and a powerful suspect who will stop at nothing to get the answers he wants. I am eager to see what will come with this series, as Femi Kayode has me hooked and eager to learn more.

Kudos, Mr. Kayode, for another sensational piece.

So…. I did NOT know that this was a sequel or part of a series, and now it all makes sense. We have multiple MCs, but ultimately this is a detective novel where our lead detective is trying to solve the disappearance and murder of a well-known and loved “First Lady” of a church in Lagos, Nigeria. Everyone immediately panics, because no man of GOD could be responsible for such a heinous crime, but as time goes on, the suspect seems to be none other than this church’s head pastor. This one read like a Christian thriller, which is not my go-to or ever anything I’d want to read, because of it being what it is. I am still really thankful to Hachette Audio, the author and Netgalley for granting me advanced audio access to this one before it hits shelves on November 21, 2023.