Visiting CNN anchor Zain Verjee is in the country to visit family during this festive season. She is also researching on material for her first novel which she has been working on for the last three years.

The Kenyan born journalist told Word Is she is writing two books, a children's book and mystery-crime thriller whose working title is Hell's Gate.

"It is about detective Lucy Onyango who is the DCIO of Langata Police Station and she is trying to solve a murder that happened on Ngong Race Course," Zain said, "I like horses and that is why I chose the location for it's vibrant history to add to the colourful plot."

Lucy who is the main character "discovers there is a bigger plot to the murder that eventually links to Somali pirates," she added.

During her stay in Nairobi she will be researching Lucy's role further by visiting the CID headquarters to understand "the process of crime".

Zain also reveals that there is a journalist of Indian origin in the novel, Chinese and English expatriates and Kenyans characters of various ethnicities.

The draft novel will also be set in various Kenyan locations like Fort Jesus, Homa bay and South C. Asked which actress she would love to have to play the role of her lead character, Lucy, if the novel was to be made into a movie, Zain said, "I have thought about that a lot. I would love Lucy to be played by someone in the continent."