Wife of the Gods by Gwei Quartey (Book Review)

Wife of The Gods by Kwei Quartey
Random House, July 2009
336 Pages, Hardcover, $24.00
ISBN: 1400067596
Genre: Mystery

RAW Rating: 4.5 (out of 5)

Darko Dawson, detective inspector with the Accura, Ghana police department, is called to investigate a murder in the remote town of Ketuna.  A young medical school student whose passion was to provide HIV/AIDS awareness and education to the residents of Ketuna and surrounding towns, is found murdered and the powers-that-be believe the truth will prevail by utilizing the investigative skills of the police from the capitol city ,and specifically Darko, because of his ability to speak their native language.

Several obstacles are at play; Darko is married and has a sickly son, who he does not want to leave.  His son, Hosiah, is suffering from a congenital disease; Darko and his wife must save money for the medical procedure, which may save his life, much to the consternation of his mother-in-law.  Ketuna is an isolated village where the villagers believe in and practice trokosi, a custom by which teenage girls are offered by families to local priests.  The priests ward off the family’s demons in exchange for servitude by the girls.  The murder victim was an opponent of this practice and was very passionate in her disbelief.  Darko family, an aunt, uncle and cousin, in Ketuna and this is the place where his mother was last seen twenty-five years earlier.  Darko sees this as an opportunity to investigate her disappearance as well.

WIFE OF THE GODS by Kwei Quartey aptly displays a country and the characterizations of the inhabitants in a detailed fashion. For example, Darko, while skilled in detective work, has some weaknesses, one being a bad temper, which Quartey highlights several times as an Achilles heel.  He constantly displays Darko’s contrast to the man many assume he should be.  Detailed accounting is provided for many of the characters, which provides for a complete picture.  The imagery is also distinct and picturesque.

WIFE OF THE GODS is a captivating and affecting mystery.  The setting is alluring, the story-telling is educational and the murder mystery is convincingly chilling.

Reviewed by Dawn Reeves, RAWSISTAZ.com
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Dawn Reeves is a Program Coordinator for a public school system and is an avid sports fan.  In addition to participating in on-line book clubs, she is the manager of a local book club.

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