K.E. Karl’s novel Our Man in Mbabane is the fictionalized story of Frank George, an undercover gun-running agent for the African National Congress (ANC). As a cover, Frank works as a senior statistician at the Centralized Statistical Office, compiling data. Most of the novel centers around his work and daily life in Swaziland.

He spends his time hiking, drinking, and seeking social relationships. Because these connections are built on his false identity, he understands he cannot fully commit to any relationship, but still longs for human connection. Frank is complicated since he craves devotion but does not provide it himself. He has female friends during his tenure, never committing to any of them but wanting loyalty in return. He has a circle of friendships acting as mirrors to him since they are interested in surface-level connections.

Unlike other spy thrillers, the main character completes the same sequence of events (hiking, drinking, parties) repeatedly, as demonstrated by another character’s comment, “all you want to do is climb and drink.” Frank says these climbs remind him of his boyhood in Oregon, which is a wonderful touch because he is supposed to be living a distinct, underground life.

There are scary moments when he is crossing the border or burying the armaments. During these sequences, it is unknown if he will be apprehended or if his deeds will be uncovered. Although the sections are suspenseful, he mostly follows a similar pattern for these actions as well.

The author appears to have extensive knowledge in the areas of statistics and economics. The book goes in-depth about Frank’s data collection methods, which are intriguing and intricate at times. There is plentiful background information regarding the group Frank is assisting and apartheid, including the power and corruption it created, for which he is driven to run the ANC’s armaments. These descriptions illustrate the author’s knowledge of this organization.

The author’s writing is descriptive, which makes for an engaging read. He outlines the trails Frank treks, as well as the region’s history and the economic factors for which Frank compiled data. The historical backdrop of apartheid makes this a worthwhile read for anyone unfamiliar with these principles. The descriptions of apartheid may be disturbing to some, though these accurately convey the gravity of the atrocities committed there. The historical context of apartheid detailed make this book a valuable read.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

https://reedsy.com/discovery/book/our-man-in-mbabane-a-novel-based-on-a-true-story-kurt-karl#review