WE RUN THE NIGHT

An ancient curse haunts a Kenyan girl’s return to school in Mbengei’s novel debut.

Sixteen-year-old Shani Bara, a student at Taji Academy, recently lost her father. Ever since, she’s been haunted by the image of Papa’s wrecked Mercedes, which collided with a strangler fig tree. Legends say that strangler figs grow in places “where a life was unjustly taken.” Shani’s return to her exclusive boarding school, which is located on 100 acres with a forest and manicured lawns, is complicated by her dramatically reduced circumstances. Worse, a terrifying night runner repeatedly appears outside her bedroom window, disrupting her sleep and threatening her ability to get good enough grades to study medicine at the University of Cape Town. Night runners are rumored to be those marked by a strangler fig after spilling innocent blood. While the school administration and some students think pranksters are responsible, Shani and housemistress Mrs. Nuru believe otherwise. As the number of sightings increases and mean girl Adila goes missing, Principal Kavia, convinced that Shani is disturbed and acting out, threatens to revoke her scholarship if she doesn’t reveal Adila’s whereabouts. As Shani investigates what happened to her classmate, she learns a chilling truth. The story’s horror elements, including the skillful incorporation of the strangler fig lore, will keep readers on the edges of their seats. Mbengei effectively blends genres, combining the supernatural with a gripping mystery in this strongly paced story with broad appeal.

An atmospheric, mind-bending novel that examines the complexities of grief.