CITY OF SAINTS & THIEVES by Natalie C. Anderson.  New York:  G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2017  401p.  ISBN: 978-039954758-4 hc. $18.99    Gr. 9-12    YA FIC

Rolling several stories in one, Anderson takes readers on an underworld adventure in Sangui, Kenya, where a gang of thieves, called Goondas, live in a society of secrets and criminal activity.  Tina has been part of the Goondas for the past five years, ever since her mother was murdered in the house where she worked as a maid.  Known as "Tiny Girl" to her associates, she excels as a thief and keeps her personal life to herself - to protect her younger sister, Kiki, who lives as a convent school nearby.  The suspense begins when Tina is caught stealing from the family her mother used to work for - in the very room where her mother was murdered.  To further complicate things, her captor is Michael Greyhill, the family heir and her childhood friend, who has grown into a very handsome young man.  He's not falling for her scams, but can be convinced to help Tina solve the mystery of her mother's death.  The pair find out more than they want to know, as readers turn page after page to keep up with them.  There's a guide to Swahili vocabulary in the back, so you won't miss a beat!
Lynette Suckow, Superiorland Preview Center, Marquette, MI