Soulful Return by Fidelis O. Mkparu is the story of Dr. Afamefuna Onochie Nwaku, an African immigrant educated in the U.S. who worked his way up through the ranks in a major hospital. After decades with little contact from home, Afam received a troubling phone call. His sister Adaku was panic-struck. She feared for her life and pleaded with her brother to return to Africa to claim his place as the family heir and settle a dangerous land dispute that was escalating out of control. Afam’s marriage was troubled, and the hospital depended on his expertise. Afam must choose whether to risk everything he has worked for, including his marriage, and rush to his sister's aid, or remain in the security of the life he has grown to love.

Fidelis O. Mkparu’s writing style captures the emotions of an immigrant torn between two worlds through thought-provoking and heartfelt descriptions of the hardships he faced and his relentless longing for loved ones left behind. His internal struggle comes to life vividly in this mesmerizing tale. I could almost feel the anxiety Dr. Nwaku experienced once his airplane landed in a volatile and corrupt country. Being a foreigner in his birthplace was heart-wrenchingly described as Afam faced rejection and ridicule from the locals. Soulful Return describes historical and cultural differences, along with the immorality of lawless third-world politics in an eye-opening manner that will shock the reader. I was appalled by the indignities Afam suffered at the hands of local law enforcement and their attempts at bribery. This is an incredible journey into the mind of a man struggling with family duty in the dangerous world he had left behind.

Soulful Return by Fidelis O. Mkparu is a story of resilience and determination. The story follows Afamefuna Onochie Nwaku who has the best of everything. He has a great life, a family, a satisfying career, and a loving wife. Nothing is missing in his life until one day he gets a call from his sister in Nigeria. She claims her life is in danger and Afamefuna, known as Afam, packs his bags to help her out. Whatever he is expecting to find back home, it isn’t what greets him. His home, his people, and the land he once called home are not the same anymore. The best course of action would be to stay in Nigeria and help his family and people but what about his family and wife back in New York? What will Afam do?

The parallels in Soulful Return give the story life and an elevated reading experience and author Fidelis O. Mkparu has done a fantastic job with the character development. I loved how Afam is satisfied with his life, but his wife Elisha isn’t. She feels a distance between them that has evaded Afam. While Elisha wants him to take the big boss job, Afam wants to go to Nigeria. The situation in Nigeria is very different from what he expects and it is the wake-up call he needs. I hated Ejike; he is deceitful, conceited, and power-hungry. The one thing that stood out to me was the description of the country and situation in Nigeria, of Afam's life in New York, and the way each piece of dialogue has an immense effect on the character development, which played a magical role in the story. The pace was perfect, the narrative was character driven, and the overall feel of the story was intense. I loved it!

At a first glance, it is easy to believe that Afamefuna Onochie Nwaku has it all. He is a medical practitioner in one of the top hospitals in Boston as well as married to a beautiful and supportive wife with two lovely children who are now leaders in their chosen professions. Despite all these positives, Afamefuna still feels a tinge of emptiness. He is homesick and longs for his ancestral land in Nigeria. Not long after he is offered a coveted position at his place of work he receives a distress call from his sister, begging him to come home to take possession of his birthright. Soulful Return by Fidelis O. Mkparu describes how he must choose between the comforts of America and the demands of his ancestral duties.

Fidelis O. Mkparu takes on a topic that is sensitive to many African men living abroad. It is evident from the discussions that take place between Afamefuna and Elisha that there is a disconnect between their concepts of duty to family. The author does not shy away from incorporating uncomfortable subjects into his storyline, such as the subtle racism Afamefuna is exposed to at his workplace. For me, the icing on the cake is the way he captures the essence of his principal character's longing for home using unique parlance such as the references to the buried umbilical cord which has significant importance in Igbo culture. The description of shady government officials and underhanded dealings gave the novel the stamp of authenticity of a well-researched book and the spiritual conversations with the ancestors complemented by the local proverbs added unique color to this enchanting work. Soulful Return could not have been crafted better.