Scent of Water

A meaningless dream turned a worrisome burden that timid, quiet and solitary paediatric surgeon, Esam Bassey, found disturbing. She had thought her life was complete with a house of her own, a good job and a children's ministry. But her seeming serene life rudely jolted to awakening when Mike Dabi showed up in her dream. It looked like a fairy tale except the prince was actually a prisoner. In a compelling twist of events, Esam's once quiet life becomes a tale of love, hate and exposed conspiracies. Can God's intervention intertwine the fate of the two wounded hearts? After chilling autocracy gave way to the Fourth Republic, Nigeria's literary community resumed publishing quality fiction and freer commentary. Recent standouts include the 2007 Orange Prize winner Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Caine Prize winner Helon Habila. Scent of Water should earn Ogúnyinka an invite to the round table of national literature, with its thought-provoking criticism of legal injustice and a refreshingly unconventional love story between deeply traumatized people. Todd Mercer, Authorhouse Inc., USA.