Bound to Secrecy By Vamba Sherif

B O O K-R E V I E W

William Mawolo arrives in a small Liberian town with a secret mission: to investigate the mysterious disappearance of the police chief.

The locals, however – police force and citizens alike – are far from happy about his presence, and their hostility is increasing daily, threatening to boil over. At the same time, Mawolo is drawn to the departed chief’s daughter, Makemeh, who for some reason doesn’t seem to be too concerned about her missing father.

Intrigued, Mawolo decides to stay longer than required – and even attempts to take charge of the town. Little by little, he has started to behave like the despotic man whose disappearance he came to investigate. His desire to uncover the town’s dark secrets puts him in danger . . . but will his heart rule his head?

Bound To Secrecy is an exploration of power and the fear it generates; and of love in all its magical, addictive forms.

A rich mix of African tradition, classic crime fiction and the supernatural, Bound to Secrecy is a captivating account of the complexities of Liberian society and the inevitable clash between modern life and ancient cultures. Acclaimed author Vamba Sherif brilliantly guides us through – but some mysteries remain . . .Bound to Secrecy is published by HopeRoad, which was first set up in 2012. The publishing house specialises in multicultural fiction. HopeRoad give voices to writers and stories that might otherwise be missed by the mainstream booktrade.  Initially it published e-books only, but have now moved into print.
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About the author
Vamba Sherif was born in Kolahun, Liberia in 1973. In his early teens he moved to Kuwait, where he completed his secondary school. The First Gulf War compelled him to leave Kuwait and settle first in Damascus, Syria, and then in The Netherlands, where he read Law. Vamba is also a journalist and film critic. His passions include music of every kind, film, and the collection of rare books on Africa. His books include: The Land of The Fathers, The Kingdom of Sebah, The Witness and The Black Napoleon.
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Praise for Bound to Secrecy

‘Sherif’s novel is written in a concise, accurate and relentless language…. The writer plays confidently with the classics of world literature.’
Manfred Loimeir, Mannheimer Morgen

‘He succeeds in letting an African detective fail in an African way. And both the story and the failure are grandiose‘
Dirk Bade, Deutsche Welle

The irritation and frustrations of the main character create vortices of Shakespearean intensity’ 
Vogel Sabine, Berliner Zeitung

I choose to call Bound to Secrecy a ‘great literature’, because Vamba Sherif writes in a concise, impressive style; and like all good novelists, he lets his story, his “heroes” live through their actions’
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