Book Title: Blood
Author: Charles Mwewa
Reviewer: Stephen Misori
Set against the backdrop of Canada’s criminal justice system, the novel unravels a story of betrayal and intrigue as set by Prof. Charles Mwewa.
The narrative explodes with the shocking arrest, prosecution, and swift sentencing of Midrah Devine as the public is sent reeling, desperate for answers.
Mwewa, with a keen eye for detail, meticulously dissects the complexities of this case, delving into the tangled web of relationships and the chilling hand of fate.
A bloodstain, discovered on a simple bedsheet, ignites a firestorm. Secrets long buried begin to writhe, truths refusing to stay hidden any longer.
Mwewa’s characters, from the flamboyant Midrah to the introverted Amushi, are brought to life with stunning vibrancy, propelling the reader through a captivating journey. Blood is a masterpiece of suspense, a must-read for those who crave a thrilling exploration of justice and its complexities.
In the novel, Blood, the author exposes the glaring judicial gaps made by state actors and investigation agencies normally necessitated by ignorance, arrogance, and incompetence.
In the action-packed novel, Midrah left for the gym, immediately after having dinner with Amushi, her husband, at around 7:00 pm. As she left, Amushi retired to bed at 8:00 pm, as he usually did.
Upon return from the gym, she checked on Amushi who was fast asleep. Amushi was a Canadian-Japanese who worked at WorkRight as a fitness director.
Mwewa writes, “She went to her room, which was adjacent to his, and after taking a late shower, she tucked herself in the blanket and snored herself into a deep sleep.”
Early the next morning, Midrah went to Amushi’s bedroom to retrieve a weight scale. Both couples were always passionate about their weight. It was at this point that she noticed a drop of fresh blood on his bedsheet.
In shock, Midrah searches for her husband all over the room to no avail. Mwewa pens, “After calling out at least seven times, she decided to check in the washroom. He was not there. She ran to the kitchen, which was part of an open-concept studio with the living room and dining room. Amushi was not there.”
The General Investigator, Makvandi, would later take up the search and investigations on the mysterious disappearance of Amushi. Williamsburg Police commenced an official search upon the expiry of 48 hours, following Midrah’s report of a missing husband.
After a coordinated stream of investigation and interrogations led by Corporal Jandal, darkness still reigned, as there was no foul play detected.
The lukewarm approach by investigation agencies to connect the dot in the disappearance of Amushi drew rage from the public who felt the commissioner was not competent enough.
When Commissioner Sansom finally confirms the presence of piling pressure from the public, Makvandi and Corporal Jandal admit something had to be done fast, to prove to the public that they were up to the task.
The author writes, “So, what you are telling me is that we charge Ms. Midrah DeVine just for publicity and calming reasons?”
Commissioner Sansom wonders what Midrah will be charged with since the DNA test results are not out yet and Amushi’s body is not recovered.
But as the commissioner struggled to convince the public about the arrest of Midrah, the people wanted to know if, indeed, she had committed the crime. The commissioner had based his action on the presence of blood on Amushi’s bedsheet.
Following her arrest, questions emerge including the possibility of the blood failing to be Amushi’s, what if the blood belongs to Midrah, and the blood not belonging to either. During the debriefing session, the visibly frustrated and enraged Commissioner Sansom was routed, and he decided to leave.
Mwewa writes, “As he was being whisked away, a small boy found his way within the fracas and came closer to the commissioner and pleaded, that Midrah was innocent.”
Even though the commissioner turned a deaf ear to the boy’s prayer, in his car, he admitted, the boy was right.
A shock hit Commissioner Sansom as Investigator Makvandi disclosed the DNA report analysis, which was neither linked to Amushi nor Midrah. The recent turn of events reminded them of the Gatefold Scandal, which had caused John Rivers, the immediate past commissioner, his job, and forced the previous commissioner’s assistant to early retirement.
This is closely followed by a controlled free-range description of the environment at Meridian Correctional Facility in the Downtown County of Ontario Province of Lower Canada. Midrah is booked up in this facility, as she awaits interrogation by authorities.
Mwewa writes of Midrah, “To those who knew Midrah, she looked pale and even lifeless. The pressure of the past few months had drained her signature vivaciousness out of her. She was almost like a shell of her old self.”
Midrah’s mother had settled on Charles Danforth to represent her daughter in court. The author notes, “The introductory salutation from one of Williamsburg’s most celebrated lawyers tickled some excitement in her because that was the only friendlier greeting she had received since she was remanded.”
It is during the interrogation that Gerrald is dragged into the disappearance of Amushi. It comes up during this interrogation that both Amushi and Gerrald had had an altercation, and Midrash was aware of this.
Midrah’s lawyer gets irritated and pissed off with the many questions directed to his client regarding Gerrald, whom he believes should never be a point of reference during the interrogations.
The prolific writer pens, “We can’t reverse the charge of manslaughter, otherwise both our careers will be on the line. She admitted to knowing Gerrald and he even supervised the installation of the locks on her garage…”
Since there was a love affair between Catherine, Gerrald’s wife and Amushi, the new development would be linked to Midrah, who worked with Gerrald in the same company.
In the following chapters, a conspiracy is hatched by Commissioner Sansom and General Makvandi to implicate Midrah in the disappearance of Amushi.
Charles, Midrah’s lawyer admits this case has so many dead ends, including the absence of Amushi’s body. His car had been thoroughly brushed for DNA, and nothing came out save for Amushi’s very own.
The CCTV around the house and even the one secured by the WNW; did not show anything suspicious about Amushi’s routines.
Intrigued, Charles ventured to 110 Milton Place, Amushi’s residence. While the house itself yielded no immediate clues, a neighboring couple reported seeing lights flickering from within during the late hours. Despite this potentially crucial detail, Charles dismissed their testimony, attributing it to the unreliability of elderly witnesses. Yet, a flicker of doubt lingered in his eyes.
Mwewa writes, “We share the same wall, and there is a small breakage in the shingles. We always see the light when someone turns on the light in the Amushi’s. So, I saw it around 2:15 am and I even woke Dave up, isn’t it so, Dave?”
The visit of Charles and Mukelabayi at Catherine’s house would have been fruitful had they gained entry. Amushi, believed dead, was relaxing at his lover’s house, having used a tunnel that linked his own house to Catherine’s house.
It beats logic in law how a government had failed to carry out thorough investigations into Amushi’s house, failing to unravel a tunnel from a toilet, and ending up with a disgraceful administration of justice.
The judge had failed to separate facts from fiction, playing into the government’s gallery hence subjecting the innocent Midrah to an uncalled-for torture and persecution.
Revelations further plays out as Amushi and Catherine relive their plans and secrets.
The author writes, “This is a Costa Rican passport. It is you on it. You are Duluth, oh, wow?”
The new found couple was destined for Costa Rica even as investigation agencies believed Amushi was long dead, rotting in isolation.
After the judgment, journalists across the globe descended on Foxdale Plaza, Williamsburg. There was no doubt the prosecution had made grave mistakes. And true, the disturbing questions from journalists haunted Makvandi.
Towards the end of the book, Mwewa narrates, “Yes, Sir. My name is John Gray… why would you say that there was overwhelming evidence without finding Amushi’s body, please answer me?”
Mwewa in the novel Blood gives a clear narration on how judicial officers abuse powers bestowed on them, frustrating the administration of justice with impunity.
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Barely after one and a half hours, after Midrah’s sentencing to three and a half years in prison, a key clue surfaces, exposing the rot in judicial proceedings.
And just as his predecessor, Commissioner Sansom had failed in one of his cardinal duties, and did not deserve mercy from the public.
Blood is a must-read for those craving a suspenseful and thought-provoking literary experience.
