In Blaise Ndala’s magnificent second novel, originally published as Sans Capote Ni Kalachnikov in 2017, the paths of a Canadian documentary filmmaker and two former rebel soldiers from the Congo collide in this searing revenge tale about those who profit from the misery of others.

Los Angeles, 2002. Véronique Quesnel accepts the Best Documentary Oscar for “Sona: Rape and Terror in the Heart of Darkness”, basking in the praise of her privileged audience. She has drawn attention to “the center of gravity that is Black tragedy”, which attracted her away from her life in Montreal, and to the harrowing story of Sona, a young woman who escaped sex slavery. But this lauded film has also shone a dangerous spotlight on Véronique herself. In the Great Lakes region of Africa, Master Corporal Red Ant and his cousin Baby Che are stalking the remnants of the Second Congo War – the deadliest conflict since World War II. In search of truth and vengeance, their obsession now has a name.

The original French novel was awarded many honours, such as:

Winner – 2019 Radio-Canada Combats des livres

Winner – 2018 Prix Émergence de l’Association des auteurs et auteures de l’Ontario français

Finalist – 2018 Grand prix littéraire d’Afrique noire

Special Mention – 2018 Prix Ivoire pour la littérature africaine d’expression francophone

Finalist – 2017 Trillium Book Award