The Lions’ Den

by Iris Mwanza

1 minute read

These are independent reviews of the products mentioned, but TIME receives a commission when purchases are made through affiliate links at no additional cost to the purchaser.

By Shannon Carlin

November 13, 2024 8:13 AM EST

Iris Mwanza’s debut novel, The Lions’ Den, is a riveting legal thriller set in the corrupt and homophobic political world of Zambia in the early 1990s. Grace, a defiant rookie lawyer, has finally been assigned her first client, Wilbess “Bessy” Mulenga, a 17-year-old queer dancer accused of illegally engaging in homosexual activities. But after a contentious jailhouse visit in which Grace discovers Bessy has been abused by the cops, the teen disappears without a trace. To save him, Grace must take on Zambia’s autocrat president with help from her boss, who is privately fighting his own health battles. Mwanza brings her experience as both a former lawyer and a native of Zambia to this provocative page-turner.

Buy Now: The Lions' Den on Bookshop | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

More Must-Reads from TIME

How Donald Trump Won
The Best Inventions of 2024
Why Sleep Is the Key to Living Longer
How to Break 8 Toxic Communication Habits
Nicola Coughlan Bet on Herself—And Won
What It’s Like to Have Long COVID As a Kid
22 Essential Works of Indigenous Cinema
Meet TIME's Newest Class of Next Generation Leaders