Aubrey Nye Hamilton Reviews: So Anyway, I Replied to the Nigerian Prince by Mark Dowling

 

So Anyway, I Replied to the Nigerian Prince (Independently published, 2026) by Irish author Mark Dowling is a light-hearted thriller with a serious streak set in Dublin. I am not sure how it came my way but I am delighted that it did.

Liam O’Sullivan is desperate. He lost his job with an internet supplier and can’t find another one. He’s out of cash and behind on his rent. Even tiny rundown apartments above a kebab shop require a regular cash outlay. Then there’s the debt he owes the local moneylender Fingers, who is losing patience. So when the email from Prince Amokachi of the Royal House of Benin arrives, offering him 10 million pounds for his assistance, Liam responds by saying he only needs 10 thousand pounds and the prince can give the rest to someone else. He resists adding a couple of sarcastic emojis and hits the Send key.

Almost two weeks later an invitation to meet the prince at the best hotel in Dublin arrives. His similarly down-and-out friends Kevin, Spud, Darren, and Gerry insist on accompanying him to serve as protection. Prince Amokachi appears in person and explains that his late father left the bulk of his money in a London account that is being contested by a cousin. His father’s will requires the signature of a third party, completely unbiased, to release the funds to the older son, and the prince is asking Liam to serve as that independent signatory.

The transfer will take place in London, and the transaction has a deadline. If the prince does not meet the deadline, he forfeits the money. The cousin has a vested interest in seeing that the prince does not appear in court at the appointed time and his thugs are actively searching for the prince. Liam and his friends undertake to hide the prince until they can fly to London.

An original and funny premise with some spot-on characterization. The lack of employment and career options for those without the means or interest to attend university comes through clearly. Dowling plainly shows there is no future for these folks without a Nigerian prince or a fairy godmother. Dowling unfortunately did not maximize the suspense potential of the plot but he has a great eye for the ridiculous and knows how these characters think. Possibly the happiest book I have read all year.

 

• ASIN: ‎B0H3KHB7K9
• Publisher: ‎Independently published
• Publication date: ‎May 31, 2026
• Language: ‎English
• Print length: ‎149 pages
• ISBN-13: ‎979-8255367627

 

 

Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://link.amazon/B05xnflJ4

 

 

Aubrey Nye Hamilton ©2026

Aubrey Hamilton is a former librarian who works on Federal It projects by day and reads mysteries at night.