Little Rot

A Novel

By: Akwaeke Emezi

Narrated by: Adepero Oduye, Chukwudi Iwuji

Length: 9 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

“A masterwork…mesmerizing…We come away troubled, unsettled—and in some subtle way changed.”–The New York Times

"The perfect steamy read for those hot summer nights."–People

A thrilling new novel from the bestselling, award-winning, visionary Akwaeke Emezi

One weekend.

The elite underbelly of a Nigerian city.

A party that goes awry.

A tangled web of sex and lies and corruption that leaves no one unscathed.

Aima and Kalu are a longtime couple who have just split. When Kalu, reeling from the breakup, visits an exclusive sex party hosted by his best friend, Ahmed, he makes a decision that will plunge them all into chaos, brutally and suddenly upending their lives. Ola and Souraya, two Nigerian sex workers visiting from Kuala Lumpur, collide into the scene just as everything goes to hell. Sucked into the city’s corrupt and glittering underworld, they’re all looking for a way out, fueled by a desperate need to escape the dangerous threat that looms over them.

©2024 Akwaeke Emezi (P)2024 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"A gritty yet hypnotic novel about a web of loosely connected friends grappling with hidden desires in Lagos. . . Emezi portrays the African city as a corrupting force—but only because falling from grace is so painfully, exquisitely human."—Minneapolis Star-Tribune

"[H]as the dark twists and pace of a thriller, the ambitious scope of literary fiction, the language of poetry and the yearning of romance…[T]he blend of melodrama, peril and existential angst in Little Rot is shockingly entertaining and beautifully wrought.”—Los Angeles Times

"Step into the dark side of Nigerian high society in this sexy, thrilling novel...the perfect steamy read for those hot summer nights."—People Magazine

Unhinged!

This story is unhinged in the best way possible, keeping us on the edge of our seats the entire time. But that ending... it left us hanging and needing more! We absolutely need a Part 2! Love it!

Intense

This was such an intense, entangled, full of twists kind of story but also very relatable in terms of the rawness of human beings and their desires, vices and twisted fantasies. So many topics in a very "traditional & conservative" African society

Tough Subjects Great Storytelling

All of the ugly things that exist just under the surface of society. The things that you cannot touch without being contaminated by. This book makes you look right at them.

Great read

I was thoroughly entertained with this one. Great story. Lovely performances. I would definitely recommend.

A bold dive into taboo themes for most Africans.

I found the book to be a gripping exploration of the hidden layers of sex, power, and the complex identities of people who outwardly wear the mask of religion, yet harbor deep contradictions beneath. I’m fully here for all the deviance and range of diversity this book dives into. It was an engrossing listen. Emezi’s boldness is both thrilling and unsettling, as they unapologetically tackle themes that are often considered taboo in African culture. The writer’s fearless approach left me intrigued and a little unnerved.

A Dark Psychotic Hellish Weekend!!!!

What stood out the most for me is how descriptive this book was… I literally just took a mini weekend vacay to Nigeria!!!! & it was a f’n crazy weekend!!! Very Dark & Intense…. It had me on the edge of my seat!!
& I also liked how a woman’s voice was used to read about the female characters and a man’s voice was used to read about the male characters….

Trigger warning

This story should have come with a trigger warning. Tw: Child abuse. Sx abuse. Read with caution

Wow! Very dark, a roller coaster!

This book is not for the squeamish. It is fast paced with very dark and explicit sex scenes. I have never read this author before and I don’t know that I would again depending on other themes but her writing is excellent. Her descriptions of Lagos and the underground club scene make you feel you are really there. Therein lies the problem. You may not really want to be there.

Wow, just WOW

This book was slimy, dirty & downright awful but it sheds light on the underbelly of major poverty stricken cities around the globe. I loved the way the author used the pastor’s character to showcase the blatant hypocrisy we see nowadays amongst these so called god fearing Christian’s. At times my mouth was agape due to what I was hearing but if you can get past the shock, horror & despair you feel for the characters… it’s an great book, very exhilarating & worthwhile cliffhangers.

Riveting, haunting story of the dark secrets protected by wealth & power

i really enjoyed the fast-paced, high-stakes plot about a very complex & nuanced world. i loved how all the character plots intersected at various points, and important parts of them were kept from us, to be later revealed in creative ways which add great depth to the various themes being explored in this novel. I'll admit, as a kinky person who can relate in many ways to the protagonists in this book, the stakes of the plot created a thoroughly immersive, emotional rollercoaster experience for me. heh. you'll understand once you start reading it