Review of The Bones of the Apostle

[Bertha Jackson]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Bones of the Apostle" by John Amos.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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The Bones of the Apostle by John Amos is a fictional story about two older men, Flinders Petrie and Thomas Pettigrew (goes by Pettigrew), who run a detective agency. They are bored with their lives and want one more adventure before they get too old. They get their chance when they are asked to find the small casket containing the relics of Apostle Thomas that has been stolen by the Veiled One. If it is not found, the Veiled One could use it to destroy Christianity in the Middle East. With the assistance of a witch named Gazelda Jones, their search for the religious relic brings both men face to face with their pasts as well as a horrific genocide in the Middle East. Will their mission be successful? Who is the Veiled One?

John Amos’s writing style kept the mystery and suspense flowing throughout the storyline. I could vividly imagine what the characters were seeing around them. For example, bronze-helmeted officers, seagulls circling overhead, decomposed bodies, a river of corpses, a mother carrying her dead child, and tears streaming down a face, to name a few. Discussions between Flinders and Pettigrew were humorous as they used their wits against each other in their arguments. One example is when Flinders wants to use a donkey as a part of a disguise. Many of the books that Pettigrew, Flinders, and Gazelda based their thoughts and discussions on were books that I have read. I enjoyed reading about Arabian and Muslim mythology and ancient religious beliefs. My favorite joke that the characters used to relieve tension was about why Watson stood on a street corner holding a knife and a gun. The author did an excellent job showing how our imagination, dreams, actions, and past experiences can affect us.

I disliked nothing about this book because the plot flowed smoothly, and it was well-written, with only one minor error that did not negatively impact my reading enjoyment. The entire book is professionally written, with dialogue appropriate for the WWI era. For these reasons, I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars.

This book is for you if you are a fan of international crime mysteries set during WWI involving Armenian and Assyrian genocide and religious relics. Although not overly descriptive, the gory content may disturb sensitive readers. There is only minor borderline profanity in this book. Christians and Muslims are best suited for this book, as the storyline revolves around these two religions and religious artifacts.

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The Bones of the Apostle
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[Louis Donald]

The use of mystery, historical depth, and religious intrigue sounds captivating. I especially like how the author uses clear imagery to bring the story to life and how the characters' humor adds a nice balance to the tension. The mix of crime, history, and mythology seems like it would make for a compelling read.

[Pearl Flourish]

The mix of mystery, history, and religious intrigue sounds gripping, especially with the unique detective duo at its core. The vivid imagery and humor woven into such a serious storyline make it even more compelling.

[George Bastem]

A mystery with historical depth, humor, and high stakes sounds like a gripping read. The blend of detective work, mythology, and religious intrigue makes it even more compelling.