Belly Woman by Benjamin Black

For my first review (I know, it's been a slow start!) I'm going for a non-fiction book for a change, so welcome to my stop on the tour for Belly Woman: Birth, Blood and Ebola, The Untold Story by Dr Benjamin Black. Huge thanks to Kelly Lacey at Love Books Tours for my invitation and to the publisher for my review copy.

The Blurb

‘This book will stay with me for years.’ –ADAM KAY, author of This Is Going to Hurt

What happens to pregnant women when a humanitarian catastrophe strikes?

Belly Woman shines a light on a story often left untold.

May, 2014. Sierra Leone is ranked the country with the highest death rate of pregnant women in the world. The same month, Ebola crosses in from neighbouring Guinea. Arriving a few weeks later, Dr Benjamin Black finds himself at the centre of an exponential Ebola outbreak. From impossible decisions on the maternity ward to moral dilemmas at the Ebola Treatment Centres. One mistake, one error of judgment, could spell disaster.

An eye-opening work of reportage and advocacy, Belly Woman chronicles the inside journey through an unfolding global health crisis and the struggle to save the lives of young mothers. As Black reckons with the demons of the past, he must try to learn the lessons for a different, more resilient, future.

‘A must-read for our times – riveting, illuminating and humbling.’ — Aminatta Forna, author of The Memory of Love and The Devil That Danced on the Water

‘An inspirational story of compassion and dedication in the face of a brutal epidemic.’ Leah Hazard, author of Hard Pushed: A Midwife's Story

‘Brave, moving, and vital. . . Read it.’ — Damien Brown, author of Band-Aid for A Broken Leg


Buy Links

Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1911107577
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62565364-belly-woman

My Review

Belly Woman, pronounced 'be'leh 'uman', is Krio (one of the main languages in Sierra Leone) for a pregnant woman. 

Early summer 2014 the Ebola virus passed into Sierra Leone from Guinea. Obstetrician Dr Black was on his way from London to Sierra Leone, travelling with NGO Médicins Sans Frontières (MSF). But he wasn't going to fight Ebola, nobody expected it to reach Gondama, where he was to be based. Rather he was going to help with the care of pregnant women as Sierra Leone which already had one of the highest mortality rate for this societal group. He could not have imagined how these two issues would come together. This is his personal account of two very tough years. 

Through this book we get to witness the horror of the Ebola virus, the sad personal stories, the inadequacies of the medical facilities, the difficulties encountered by pregnant women, the risk of disease, complications and death. But also the unwavering commitment of medical professionals, their unwillingness to give up, their determination to do their best and, where possible, improve things through sexual education and birth control. 

This is the account of someone on the ground, right in the middle of the storm. It's told in a very matter of fact way but you can feel the author's frustrations, and his anguish, sometimes guilt, at some of the difficult decisions he had to make, the pride in, and admiration for, those working along side him. The local staff who worked ceaselessly and provided continuity when the international staff took breaks and moved around deserve so much credit. Dr Black too, for helping establish a way forward for treating pregnant women and educating communities. 

This was a really worthwhile read, but a tough, hard hitting one too. It's raw, it's real and it's bloody.  I needed to harden my heart to read it, otherwise I would've been in floods of tears at so many of the stories told here. And there are many we didn't hear, out in the wider communities. The author says at one point 'Every admission was a tragedy not being told.'  But it's also a story of dedication, humanity, hope and determination, and that's the takeaway  for me. 

The Author

Dr Benjamin Oren Black is a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist in London and a specialist advisor to international aid organisations. His focus on sexual, reproductive and maternal healthcare for populations in times of crisis has taken him to many countries. Benjamin has supported the response to various infectious disease outbreaks since the West African Ebola epidemic. Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic he provided frontline healthcare to pregnant women and helped develop international guidelines. Benjamin also teaches medical teams around the world on improving sexual and reproductive healthcare to the most vulnerable people in the most challenging of environments.

Goodbye 2022, Hello 2023

So, in typical Suze fashion, I'm late (although earlier than last year - just) in saying goodbye to the old year and hello to the new one. Happy New Year, lovely people! I hope you all had an enjoyable, stress free festive break.

I wanted to recap my year a bit and talk about some of my favourite moments and some of my favourite books, and talk about a couple of the things I'm looking forward to next year.

2022 wasn't a great year for me. In February, I left a job which, for the main part, I loved because of my poor mental health and I haven't worked since then. Anxiety has impacted every area of my life but I've been supported by fantastic people and that's enabled me to continue to do some of the things I love. I am so thankful for these wonderful family members and friends, many from our brilliant bookish community - you know who you are - thank you. ❤

But there were highlights and they were good ones! I managed three book festivals. In May, I went to the Cromarty Crime & Thriller Weekend for the first time, postponed from 2020, and finally met author Matt Johnson, a meeting five years in the making. I was an early reader for his fab new book Crow 27 which I haven't reviewed yet but is well worth checking out. In August I went to Bute Noir with my gorgeous friend Pauline - her first visit to Bute & her first book festival - and we had a brilliant time. And in September, of course, I went to Bloody Scotland - some difficult moments, but great people around me. And I took my brother to his first ever book event - the launch of The Good Husband by Abigail Osborne.

I had the privilege of editing M R (Michael) Mackenzie's most recent standalone Bury Your Secrets. I haven't included it in my list below for fear of bias but do check it out because it's ace. I was again lucky enough to be a reader for the Bloody Scotland McIllvanney Prize and also took part in a couple of editions of the Bloody Scotland Book Club on Facebook. You can catch these and all the other previous sessions on the Bloody Scotland YouTube channel. Well worth taking a look - loads of recommendations of fabulous crime fiction from home and abroad. The sessions are nerve-wracking but fun and I hope I might be asked back to do some more.

Away from the book world I took the holiday of a lifetime, with my ex-husband of all people (I know, right?!) and spent three weeks in Cambodia and Vietnam during October and November. The holiday was a huge deal for me and at points I doubted I'd manage it. But I did, it was absolutely amazing, and I'm proud of how I did. Coming back was hard though when the tiredness hit me and, for various reasons, I wasn't particularly upbeat at the end of the year.

My reading suffered this year. I only read 60 books (was aiming for 100), reviewed less than that and read nothing at all in December, which is incredibly unusual for me. 

But I have read some GREAT books and have compiled a top ten for the year from the ones I have reviewed.

In the order I read them, the first seven are:

Demon by Matt Wesolowski

There is an element of horror, otherworldliness, stuff that simply can't be explained, happening to all sorts of people. Real shiver down the spine stuff. And the crime being discussed is, at least on the surface, truly horrific. But Matt has also delivered thoughtful, passionate and sometimes blistering comment on justice, rehabilitation, vilification by the press, education, social services, politics & the power of social media. Demon is an absolutely cracking, totally absorbing, dark & atmospheric read which shows us that we don't have to look to the spiritual or ghostly to find the horror in the world. Full review here.


Six Wounds by Morgan Cry

Six Wounds is a sun-soaked, action-packed thriller which grabs you at the get go & pulls you along for the ride. The storyline is spot on, the pacing is perfect, the rising tension occasionally lightened by sunshine & humour. Throw in a smart, sassy protagonist & a colourful supporting cast and you have a fabulous romp of a book. Far more fun than it has any right to be! Highly recommended. Full review here.

Quicksand of Memory by Michael Malone

Quicksand of Memory is a study of memory, how it affects us, how we all view & remember things differently. Realising that not everything we believed was true. It's a story of love, friendships - healthy and toxic, heartache, revenge, pain and hope. There are some real shocks in this book, and some uncomfortable moments for the reader, but it is so beautifully written & full of flawed, human characters that you will care about, root for and cry over, written with care & compassion. Just a gorgeous book. Full review here.

Nothing Else by Louise Beech

Nothing Else is a beautiful look at love, loss, pain and longing. About home, belonging, family and bonds that can't be broken. About two little girls sitting together on a piano stool trying to shut out the bad, the music that shaped them and the bond that ties them. It's heartbreaking in places but in others your heart will soar with the music. It's moving and emotional. It hasn't replaced This Is How We Are Human as my favourite Louise Beech novel read so far but I loved it and would happily recommend it. Full review here.

Dark Objects by Simon Toyne

Dark Objects is a tale of obsession, murder, trauma, confronting the past and maybe a little bit of healing. It's intelligent, twisted, tense and fast moving with some really interesting, diverse characters. I loved it. Full review here.


Where Demons Hide by Douglas Skelton

For all its good humour and light touches, Where Demons Hide is a beautifully written tale of the worst of humanity, of grief, anger, hate, greed and desperation and will send a shiver down your spine more than once. Full review here.


The Moose Paradox by Antti Tuomainen

The Moose Paradox is madcappery and mayhem, with some genuine peril thrown in. Add to that an awkward love story and one of my favourite protagonists ever and it is everything I could ask for. Loved it! Full review here.


My top three for the year:

Tasting Sunlight by Ewald Arenz

Tasting Sunlight was a delight to read. A gorgeous story of friendship, understanding and belonging. And of the importance of slowing down, appreciating nature and finding joy in the small things. Loved it. Full review here.

The Shot by Sarah Sultoon

We see the devastation of war up close, the damage, the pain, the grief. And we see the heartbreaking impact of it all on two souls in the middle of the maelstrom. An action packed, heartstopping, heartbreaking thriller, The Shot is not an easy book. Often uncomfortable reading, it's hard to call it enjoyable. But my goodness, it is incredibly powerful & impactful, & absolutely worth reading. A book that will stay with me for a very long time. Full review here.


And in my top spot for 2022 is An Honourable Thief by Douglas Skelton

It's beautifully written, Skelton has a way with words. The storyline itself has everything you could ask for - part crime story, part spy thriller and part epic adventure. There's politics and plenty of fighting, secrets, lies and betrayal. A public hanging and a visit to the battlefield at Sheriffmuir. And a man coming home, facing family and friends for the first time in years. It's not an easy homecoming and there were moments my heart ached for Jonas and one that brought tears to my eyes. Full review here.

And so to 2023. Since time began, my new year resolution every year has been 'Get my shit together!'. Well, that's worked out well, hasn't it! 😂 As I mentioned earlier, I'm not bouncing into the new year with as much vim and vigour as I'd hoped. So instead of a resolution, I've set some more (hopefully) achievable goals for various aspects of my life. I won't bore you with them but they've been chosen with positivity and progress in mind. And I have a fab wee break to Reykjavik to look forward to at the end of March with my ex and the kids. 

Reading wise, I will be taking part in fewer blog tours (something I need to do for a while) this year and trying to read some of my own collection. Early reads I'm looking forward to are Me and The Monkey: Chronicles of The Monkey God part 2 by Andy Darby, The Bleeding by Johana Gustawsson and Dark Hearts by Doug Johnstone, all of which were planned December reads. The good news is that after that barren month I'm already on my second book of January. There will be re-reads of some fabulous books that I read too quickly last year, and didn't review, starting with Emily Noble's Disgrace by Mary Paulson-Ellis, The Undiscovered Deaths of Grace McGill by CS Roberton (two very different books on the same subject) and The Cursed Girls by Caro Ramsey.

Later on in the year, I'm looking forward to a new book from Tony Kent, catching up with the Connor Fraser series by Neil Broadfoot and another TWO new books from the aforementioned Mr Skelton, who is officially a writing machine! Children of the Mist is the next book in the Rebecca Connolly series and A Thief's Justice will be the new Jonas Flynt book. I missed the blog tour for Sarah Sultoon's new book, Dirt, so will definitely be catching up with that, and I'm eager to read The Space Between Us by Doug Johnstone. And, finally, I hope we'll see something new from Mason Cross/Alex Knight because it's been a while. Oh, and my one bookie resolution is to remember to copy my reviews over to Amazon and Goodreads because not doing that helps no-one.

So that's it. An up and down year behind me but trying to be positive as we move into this new one. Big thanks to all of you for sticking with me, I so appreciate it, and hope you'll stay around a while longer. Much love. xx