In her captivating debut novel, Amanda Ngudle delves deep into the realms of vulnerability and the transformative potential that lies within us all. With a masterful storytelling technique, Ngudle weaves a tale that is both poignant and thought-provoking, leaving readers spellbound from beginning to end. Her exploration of vulnerability is nothing short of remarkable. Through her vivid and evocative style, she skilfully portrays raw emotions and inner struggles.

By Themba Khumalo

In Plain Sight is a gripping and thrilling book that will have readers hooked from the first page to the last. It tells the tale of a woman who becomes embroiled in a tangled and perilous web of mystery and suspense.

Amanda weaves a captivating tale around Cynthia Bhrukhwe, whose life takes a thrilling twist when she finds herself entangled in a risky predicament in a distant African country.

In Cynthia’s world, the sunrise brought a sense of déjà vu, as if it were just another typical morning.

When her day started, it seemed like just another ordinary morning. But little did she know, it was about to veer off into unexpected territory. Despite being meticulous and thorough, she found herself in a sticky situation, surrounded by some rather unexpected company.

How in the world did she end up in this predicament, with not one, but two sets of curious eyes that made her feel like a deer caught in headlights? She had followed all the rules and done everything by the book, so this unexpected turn of events was a real surprise.

In an unexpected development, Cynthia’s elusive streak comes to an end as her clandestine activities catch up with her. After evading authorities for over twenty years, luck seemed to have run out for her when she is apprehended in a foreign African country with a significant illegal shipment. The once unnoticed figure had now become the centre of attention, facing the consequences of her long-standing illicit endeavours.

The cunning culprit behind putting a halt to Cynthia’s sneaky manoeuvres, her good fortune finally coming to an end, is none other than the eager beaver station commander, Arthur Jackson.

Cynthia, a clever and quick-thinking strategist, is caught in a tricky predicament and devises a clever scheme to stall for time, leaving readers on the edge of their seats as they eagerly await the outcome of her bold plan. She devises a ridiculous delay tactic when left on her own, which entails framing the police who arrested her.

During the internal investigation, she secures bail, and she manages to make a getaway and hightails it out of Mafia, Tanzania, heading back to South Africa where she comes face to face with an old nemesis.

Lazarus, a cop as former as a forgotten relic, has been led to Cynthia like a moth to a flame, for they both have skeletons in the closet as numerous as stars in the night sky.

While back in Tanzania, she takes a leap of faith like a tightrope walker without a safety net, deciding to play a game of Russian Roulette like a gambler rolling the dice.

Ignorant of her covert plan, but concerned about a potentially dangerous development, Jackson extends his second home as a sanctuary, cloaking it in the deceptive guise of a “witness protection plan.”

While under the watchful eye of her biggest foe, a whirlwind of events unfolds, akin to a tempestuous storm, causing both adversaries to dismantle the impenetrable fortresses encasing their hearts, like crumbling castles. In this process, they embark on a journey of discovery, akin to two explorers unearthing hidden treasures, unravelling the enigmatic layers that shroud their true selves.

As the case reaches a point of no return, the characters face the consequences of their actions, leaving no room for redemption or alteration. Cynthia serves her time, even in the face of Jackson’s sudden change of heart, exploring the complexities of loyalty, redemption, and the enduring power of the justice system.

Jackson is confronted with challenging circumstances that test his mettle, leading to a crucial moment where he must summon the courage to take pull the trigger against another human being.