The Helpers: An international tale of Espionage and Corruption by S.E. NelsonMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
At 451 pages, this is not a one afternoon beach read. The Helpers: An international tale of Espionage and Corruption by S.E. Nelson is a meaty novel featuring murder, intrigue, corruption, romance, and suspense. Set in Congo, a notorious place of nearly constant unrest and violence, The Helpers are a powerful underground group trying to maintain control of the natural resources of the country. An American journalist arrives to document the resistance and finds herself in immeasurable danger when she uncovers multiple levels of corruption including a brutal murder.
Nelson has a writing style that is direct, which is perfect for this kind of story. The suspense and underlying danger of the plot demands that but beyond the assertiveness of the work, there is a tenderness underlying everything. That softness is where the reader finds the room to care about these characters and what happens to them. Some may call this dark subject matter but I found a hopefulness about it.
View all my reviews
