Peace in the Abyss

 Peace in the Abyss, Tayo Emmanuel, Total Word Publishers, 2021

Set in present-day Lagos, Nigeria, this novel is about a woman named Preye Banigo. Raised by a single parent, Preye has built a successful PR agency. She is also part of a local running club. The only bad part is that she is approaching forty years old, and she is single. Her marriage prospects are rapidly shrinking.

Timi Coker is an only child from a rich family. He wants to marry Preye; what he doesn't want is an independent woman. After they are married, Preye is expected to give up the running club. On a romantic weekend, where she accepts his marriage proposal, Timi gets upset when Preye wants to keep her maiden/professional name, after marriage. He also gets upset when Preye takes out her laptop to do some work. After marriage, Timi also wants to move to a different part of Lagos, which, among things, will mean a longer daily commute for Preye. (The current population of Lagos is over 20 million.)

Do Preye's friends get her to see the truth, that Timi is a controlling narcissist? Does Preye go through with the wedding? Does this turn into a woman-in-peril story that should become a TV movie?

This is a very poignant and heartfelt story that could take place anywhere in the world. If it can get one woman to see the red flags that are all over "Mr. Right," it has done its job. This is very much recommended for all women, married or single.