Books Borderlines  by Michela Wrong

"Borderlines" by Michela Wrong is a legal thriller and debut novel centered on British lawyer Paula Shackleton, who is grieving a lost love when she is approached by Winston Peabody, a representative of the African state of North Darrar. North Darrar is embroiled in a border arbitration dispute with its much larger neighbor. Winston needs Paula's legal help for hearings at The Hague, while Paula seeks to escape her painful past.

Paula travels to the capital of North Darrar determined to immerse herself in work but soon realizes that even well-intentioned jobs can demand moral compromises. As she collects testimony in refugee camps and explores the colonial history shaping the conflict, Paula's perspective shifts. Relationships with a former rebel and an idealistic young doctor challenge her detached attitude, leading her to actions that test her professional and personal boundaries.