In the remote French department of Mayotte, nurse Marie rescues an abandoned infant refugee from the Comoros and names him Moïse. Raised with love but shielded from his origins, thirteen-year-old Moïse faces upheaval when Marie suddenly dies, leaving him alone and desperate.

Driven by panic and unanswered questions, Moïse flees into Gaza, the island’s largest slum, where rival gangs vie for power. Through Moïse’s eyes—and those of gang leader Bruce, police officer Olivier, and aid worker Stéphane—Tropic of Violence reveals the harsh realities of life on the margins.

Nathacha Appanah’s intense, multi-voice narrative shines a light on migration, inequality, and identity. Vividly evoking Mayotte’s tropical landscape, the novel portrays the resilience and vulnerability of its characters as they navigate injustice and belonging.

• Evocative island setting and atmosphere
• Multiple perspectives on violence and hope
• Themes of migration, loss, and identity
• Insight into refugee crises and social struggle

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