The Book Fairies went out of their way to find docks, legal buildings and more – to really match the location with this astonishing new novel from Nadifa Mohamed.

The Book Fairies found perfect spots at which to leave hardback copies of Nadifa Mohamed’s new novel The Fortune Men. Much of the plot takes place in Cardiff and around the docks, so our fairies headed there to leave a few copies as well as nationwide!

The Fortune Men at Cardiff Docks

• 

• 

Mahmood Mattan is the main character of The Fortune Men by Nadifa Mohamed and his life centres around Tiger Bay in Cardiff, so it only made sense to leave copies of his story around the area.

We hope that those who found a copy will enjoy getting lost in his story and be moved by his troubles, too!

About the book:

Mahmood Mattan is a fixture in Cardiff’s Tiger Bay, 1952, which bustles with Somali and West Indian sailors, Maltese businessmen and Jewish families. He is a father, chancer, some-time petty thief. He is many things, in fact, but he is not a murderer.

So when a shopkeeper is brutally killed and all eyes fall on him, Mahmood isn’t too worried. It is true that he has been getting into trouble more often since his Welsh wife Laura left him. But Mahmood is secure in his innocence in a country where, he thinks, justice is served.

It is only in the run-up to the trial, as the prospect of freedom dwindles, that it will dawn on Mahmood that he is in a terrifying fight for his life – against conspiracy, prejudice and the inhumanity of the state. And, under the shadow of the hangman’s noose, he begins to realise that the truth may not be enough to save him.

• 

• 

• 

Happy book finders!

We always love getting messages and seeing posts from people who have found the books we leave! Thank you to these finders for sharing pics with us. If you’ve found a book, please email us or post using #ibelieveinbookfairies to let us know!

Not lucky enough to find one?

Do not worry! The Fortune Men is available in bookshops, and you can even ask them to order in. Alternatively, you can pick up a copy here from Bookshop.org, which supports independent bookshops all around the UK!

Would you like to be a book fairy?

Anyone can be a book fairy and we would for you to join us! Get started with your first set of official book fairy stickers and hide some books where you live!

• 

• 

•