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419 is a book that finishes strong, however several stylistic choices prevent it from getting a 5-star review for me. One of the biggest problems the book has is Will Ferguson's desire to split it up into 120+ chapters. While by the end, the occasional half-page chapters really work for the story, for the first half of the book they do nothing but throw off the pacing. After forcing myself through the first half, the story hit a fantastic rhythm and I couldn't put the rest of it down.

419 is a powerful story that made me think more than once about how my actions may have unintended consequences. It challenges ideas of social structures and justice. In the end, largely through Will Ferguson's deft hand at bringing many disparate threads together, the story culminates in true questioning in the motives of the 419. It isn't afraid to ask big questions and doesn't shy away from the reality of the world we live in.

Another aspect that should be noted is that Will's experience as a travel writer really pays off; while I can't vouch for the authenticity, by the end of the book I felt like I had gone to Nigeria.

Recommended.