The Lions' Den

LONGLISTED FOR THE CENTER FOR FICTION 2024 FIRST NOVEL PRIZE

A remarkable, big-hearted debut from Zambian-American writer Iris Mwanza set in 1990's Lusaka in which a young lawyer must fight for the life of a teenage sex worker who is accused of crimes 'against the order of nature'

Rookie lawyer Grace Zulu does not give up easily. She escaped an arranged marriage to put herself through university. Now she's got her first case.

Her client is young Willbess 'Bessy' Mulenga, who has been arrested for offences 'against nature'. Bessy works in a men-only bar, loves to dance, to wear dresses and live freely. But in 1990s Zambia, following your own identity can get you beaten, jailed or even worse. Grace is determined to get Bessy out of custody. Then her terrified, bruised client goes missing without a trace. She knows something bad has happened and that someone is trying to cover it up. Along with the most unlikely group of allies, Grace must take on powerful enemies at the highest levels - even risk her own safety - to get to the truth. The whole truth.

A debut novel that soars with passion and humanity, The Lions' Den is a moving story of prejudice, corruption, injustice, courage and solidarity. It shows us that no cause is ever a lost one.