Review of The Case of the Stolen Goddess

[ElizabethMW]

[Following is a volunteer review of "The Case of the Stolen Goddess" by john amos.]

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3 out of 5 stars

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The Case of the Stolen Goddess by John Amos is a classic detective story. I rated this book 4 out of 5 stars and 3 out of 4 stars. Throughout the story, the author poetically weaves themes of grief, love, historical mystery, and evil into a melancholy cross-cultural action tale. The story begins with the simple case of a missing statue that quickly becomes more dangerous and sinister. The novel briefly contains themes of abuse and torture that some audiences may find disturbing.
The main characters, Flinders and Pettigrew, work together as detective partners. The book’s structure centers around their thoughts and actions. Their banter is reminiscent of old friends, with the quick wit expected of intelligent detectives. However, the most interesting characters are the villains. These characters are incredibly complex and receive significantly less attention than they deserve. The author left me wanting to know more about the villains’ characters.
The story spans countries and cultures in the early 20th century. The detectives, Flinders and Pettigrew, travel to Istanbul, London, and Syria. The contrast between Western culture to the vibrant Eastern culture aids in the story’s intrigue and pacing. The story takes place against the backdrop of the declining Ottoman Empire. The novel’s exploration of historical and cultural themes adds another layer of allure to the story.
I detracted stars because of the constant references to other fictional detectives, such as Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie’s Poirot. These references are likely intended to honor the classic detectives. However, it feels forced and diminishes the authenticity of the novel. The author does not need to convince the audience of the characters’ merits with comparisons to other famous fictional detectives. Flinders and Pettigrew can stand on their own two feet as excellent detectives.

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The Case of the Stolen Goddess
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