The Garden of Burning Sand

February 3, 2014
Addison’s follow-up to A Walk Across the Sun stars lawyer Zoe Fleming—an idealist at odds with her seemingly cutthroat father, Senator Jack Fleming, a presidential candidate—as she works on a child’s rape case in Lusaka, Zambia, her adopted home. Having been assaulted herself as an adult, Zoe feels a particular connection to the Down syndrome–afflicted victim, Kuyeya Mizinga, a prostitute’s daughter. Alongside taciturn policeman Joseph Kabuta, Zoe searches for witnesses in slum neighborhoods, eventually connecting the crime to a politically influential HIV-positive television producer. Zoe and Joseph are unwavering in their search for the truth, even as witnesses are murdered and evidence vanishes. Through their discoveries, Addison brings to light persistent myths about AIDS in Zambia: the families of the HIV-positive are considered cursed, AIDS drugs are avoided, and sex with virgins is prescribed as a panacea. By setting this story against the backdrop of Zambia’s rocky presidential election, Addison ratchets up the tension and makes the already-palpable threat of violence against Zoe and her cohorts more real. Meanwhile, the developing romance between Joseph and Zoe comes off as surprisingly credible, despite the crowded storyline. Though certain plot points would have benefited from some restraint, the result is satisfying. Agent: Dan Raines, Creative Trust Inc.