Story Summary:
Flinders smiled. “Once more into the breach, my friend.”
Now famous after their previous quest to find Cleopatra’s tomb, detectives Flinders Petrie and Thomas Pettigrew begin their next adventure in search of a stolen statue of Aphrodite. Their pursuit takes them from the bowels of the British Museum to the barren desert of Syria and the glamorous bustle of Istanbul. At every step, they are confronted by two incredibly evil opponents: the Bulbul Pasha, a giant of a man who sings like a nightingale while he kills, and the Veiled One, a horribly disfigured monster who lives only for revenge. On the way, they meet T. E. Lawrence and Gertrude Bell, who are excavating a site in Syria. Lawrence leads them to a crusader castle and into a surreal battle with the Bulbul, but the statue still eludes them. With Gertrude’s help, the detectives enlist the aid of British Intelligence, which uses a ring of male and female belly dancers to track the statue to the Veiled One’s harem. Disguised as dancers, the detectives infiltrate it, setting up a climactic duel in the desert.
Set against the backdrop of an oncoming war, this book is a window into the lush complexity of the Ottoman Empire, the stark life of the desert bedouin, and steadily vanishing societies. Our protagonists enter a world of beauty and barbarity to find an artifact but find the hauntings of memory and perhaps a strange peace as well. The action that drives this unpredictable narrative will leave you eagerly awaiting the next installment in the Petrie and Pettigrew series.
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Review:
“In this novel, Amos delves deeply into the profound themes of truth-seeking and perseverance. The author masterfully draws readers into the intricate quest for a missing artifact by detectives, creating an intensely immersive and engaging experience. This storytelling technique effectively aligns the readers and the main characters, turning the investigation into a collaborative and gripping endeavor. Each character’s unique voice adds remarkable richness to their individuality, and the dialogue provides invaluable insights into their distinctive personalities.”
About the Author:
John Amos holds a PhD and a JD. He has taught at university level for 25 years. His academic publications include several books and multiple articles. His fiction works include The Student (2022), The Cleopatra Caper (2023), and The Case of the Stolen Goddess (2024). He has lived in the Middle East, most notably in Egypt, Lebanon, Libya, and Turkey. He currently practices Law.