Under Cover of Chaos by Liz Wanic with Rebekah Wanic

 WOW! WOMEN ON WRITING TOUR

Under Cover of Chaos

By Liz Wanic with Rebekah Wanic

Book Summary

“… a fast-paced thriller that plunges the reader into the morally complex world of a UN

humanitarian mission in Bangui...a must-read for fans of thrillers with high-stakes political

undertones.”

–Kim McCollum, author of What Happens in Montana and Harriet Hates Lemonade

A serial killer hides behind an untouchable global institution. A broken system fails the victims. One woman vows to uncover the truth.

When young women are found dead in the capital of the Central African Republic, United Nations official Stella Fairmont is reminded of the unsolved disappearance of a friend. As she investigates, she uncovers what may be a chilling pattern: similar deaths in another UN location.

The deeper she digs, the more twisted the view becomes and Stella finds herself up against a system built on compromise, in which accountability is often an illusion. When the truth gets blurred and personal histories can be hidden, the only way to survive is to trust her instincts. But as friendships run thin and time runs out, she must navigate a minefield of lies, moral complexity, and buried secrets — all while trying to stay ahead of someone who would kill to keep the truth hidden.

My Review:

The setting and atmosphere of this novel are unique in that they involve people working for the UN in the Central African Republic. The heroine, Stella, is a complicated character. As an amateur sleuth, she is obsessed with finding the serial killer. She is impulsive and reckless, however, often jumping to conclusions. She frequently blurts out statements that do not help the investigation. There are many suspects and she changes direction frequently to follow the one she is currently concentrating on. Her pursuits lead her into a very suspenseful situation near the end.

There is some interesting information about working for the UN and being in a foreign country like CAR. The plot is not deeply steeped in the culture of the location, however. The overarching villain named the “King” remains a mystery and may lead to additional adventures for Stella. This is a good mystery to learn some about the atmosphere of working for the UN while hunting a serial killer.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Publisher: Black Rose Writing (June 18, 2026)

AISN: B0GSWB8XR7   

ISBN-10: 1685137598 

ISBN-13: 978-1685137595     

Print length:  262 pages

Purchase link: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org.

About the Authors:

Liz Wanic worked for the United Nations for almost a decade in New York and in multiple field missions, including Syria, Mali and the Central African Republic before moving into cybersecurity. Her experiences have given her a sharp eye for detail and a deep understanding of the inner workings of power in complex situations.

Connect at www.lizwanicauthor.com and www.sistersliterature.com.

Rebekah Wanic, Liz's twin sister, is a social psychologist, university professor and mindset coach. She focuses on the intricacies of the human condition and the complications of balancing competing demands.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through WOW.

My comments are an independent review.

(My star ratings: 5-An exceptional book, 4-Better than average, relevant and liked by me, 3-It is average, 2-It is below average and not liked by me, 1-It is practically unreadable.)