Lightseekers is loosely based on the tragic Aluu Four killings of 2012. For those unfamiliar with the event, it was the lynching of four University of Port Harcourt students accused of theft by a mob in Aluu, Rivers State.
I still remember the trauma of watching the 25-minute video a classmate sent me. It haunted me for weeks, so when I heard Lightseekers revisited this theme, this time as the story of the Okriki 3, I stayed away. I knew it would dredge up painful memories, and boy, was I right.
Spoiler alert: it did bring back memories, but it also delivered a gripping tale that I couldn't put down.
Kayode writes masterfully, crafting a narrative that explores the darker sides of human nature while keeping you glued to the page.
The story follows Dr. Philip Taiwo, an investigative psychologist hired by the father of one of the victims to uncover the truth behind the killing of his son.
While Lightseekers was well written, some characters needed more depth. Take Tamuno/Johnpaul, for instance, a multi-dimensional character by all standards (yes, I mean that in more ways than one, so pun most definitely intended).
His abusive past, his anger toward the priests, and his relationship with his mother were barely explored. I wanted to know why he was so angry, and honestly, I think Tamuno deserves his own book, so you can take this as my official petition for a spinoff.
My favorite character was Salome Briggs. Honestly, give me a strong female character any day, and I'm sold!
The way she deceived him by withholding that she was the defendant's lawyer? Brilliant! That's the level of wit and strategy I aspire to, and of course, deceiving a son of Adam is an added advantage.
Salome's confidence and sharp mind brought a refreshing dynamic to the story. She's the kind of character that keeps you hooked, wondering what she'll do next, and honestly, who wouldn't want to meet a Salome Briggs in real life?
I was a bit unsatisfied with the ending, as I didn't want Tamuno's story to end the way it did. I hoped he'd be captured, which could have given us more insight into his character and past. It felt like a missed opportunity to have him fully fleshed out, which I found disappointing.
His story had so much potential to explore deeper themes about pain, revenge, and multiple personality disorders. An alternative ending would have made more sense.
The core message in Lightseekers is grief and how we, as humans, deal with it. The book also explored themes like jungle justice and lynching and their impact on individuals, especially parents and loved ones.
The raw emotions and ripple effects of the horrendous deeds were palpable throughout the story, making Lightseekers a thought-provoking read.
On a lighter note, I loved that Dr. Taiwo didn't fall into the cheating trope. With how normalized infidelity is in stories, seeing a marriage survive real challenges without that drama was refreshing.
As a crime thriller junkie, I absolutely recommend Lightseekers. African literature lovers should look into more thrillers like this. Femi Kayode did a fantastic job, and I'd happily place him alongside the likes of John Grisham as a crime thriller specialist.
