Wife of the Gods

by Kwei Quartey

Book Overview

For fans of Alexander McCall Smith, a debut mystery set in West Africa that introduces a marvelous detective and a culturally rich community Detective Inspector Darko Dawson, a good family man and a... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0812979362
• ISBN13: 9780812979367
• Release Date: August 2010
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.3" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Loved It!

This was an excellent read! The story was smart; the plot was well-developed; and the characters were rich and intriguing. The author writes vividly and paints generous images of people, environments, emotions etc. I found the story very gripping. The relationships between key characters made the story that much more compelling. There were plenty of surprises and misdirects to keep the reader working to solve the mystery on his or her own. This has been my favorite summer read thus far. I must say I gasped a few times while reading which is always a good sign when reading a mystery. I highly recommend it.

Meet Darko Dawson -- A Delicious Debut!

This is an unbelievably polished and gripping debut. The book is so rich in atmosphere, and the characters are so finely nuanced that it is truly difficult to believe this is Kwei Quartey's first time out. He certainly has captured this reader's attention, and it was captured from page one! The dialogue is crisp, as well as fluid, and the plot will keep you up reading well into the night. Meet Darko Dawson. He is a city detective accustomed to Accra's [Ghana's capital] ways. However, since he speaks the language of the locals in a rural village of Ghana, his superior orders him to investigate the murder of a young medical student in the village of Ketanu. In detective inspector Darko Dawson we meet one very compelling character. He seems to have a weakness in situations where women and children are vulnerable - especially the Trokosi . Darko is a `good cop' who does not appear to mind playing `rough.' In Accra, he rides a motorcycle, has an occasional joint and likes non-alcoholic Malta. Darko loves his wife and son, but he is still haunted by his mother's mysterious disappearance. Apparently, she went to visit her sister in Ketanu [approxmately 25 years ago], and she never returned. Therefore, when ordered to the village of Ketanu, in order to apply his finely honed investigative skills, he views this as a dual assignment. In 'Wife of the Gods,' there are parallel stories, and this adds to the richness and vibrancy of this book. The main mystery is to solve the murder of a young medical student. Gladys Mensah also volunteered in an effort towards promoting AIDS/HIV awareness, therefore, angering the High Priests. The secondary mystery is the disappearance of Darko's mother. The reader is immediately transported to Ghana. There is no `getting into this story' aspect of the book. Once you read the first page, you are hooked. You are able to see, taste and smell the varied foods of Ghana, visualize its varied people, its city life and country life and hear Ghana's music. [Oh, those lush mango trees!] If you are seeking a police procedural that also contains some `enhanced interrogation scenes,' `woiko' to `Wife of the Gods.' Whether you are planning a vacation or just relaxing at home, this is an ideal book. In `Wife of the Gods,' you will meet warm or wicked characters whose dialogue never flags. It sparkles with excitement. This is an engaging read in every sense of the word. This was such a pleasant surprise for this reader. I, usually, stay clear of `adventure' reading vehicles. Quartey may have found a `convert' in me! His book's structure and prose style are superb. Bravo to Kwei Quartey! Encore - please!! [5]

I loved this book!

What a wonderful mystery! I think Kwei Quartey will be one of my new favorite authors! Oh please let it be a series! The story takes place in Ghana, in city, town, and village. We meet detective inspector Darko Dawson, a very smart policeman, who is sent to solve the mystery of the murder of a medical student who was volunteering in AIDS education in a village. Possible motives abound! Was it hatred of her modernity? Did a local fetish priest she troubled re his "wives" do it? Did a young man interested in her do it? Was it a witch? Golly, the possible motives were interesting and led in so many directions! And then, also, there was good background on Darko Dawson, his family, the health problems of his son. I really enjoyed this book and will add the author to my list of frequently checked names for new books! I plan to recommend this book to our local mystery book store! This is a wonderful discovery!

well written and moving debut novel

When a brilliant young medical student is murdered in a tiny village in Ghana, a police detective is sent from the capital city of Accra to help with the investigation. The detective, Darko Dawson, has a local tie to the area - his mother vanished years ago from the same village and his aunt and uncle and cousin still live there. Dawson is a flawed character (anger management issues, a taste for illegal pot) but still likable (he is a loving husband and father, and his temper seems to be set off primarily over endangered women and children). He is very much a 21'st century man from a big modern city and a believer in modern high tech medicine and science - and experiences quite a bit of culture shock and clash in the tiny village, where many people still believe in local fetish priests, herbal healers, and witchcraft. Over the course of this well written and often quite moving story, Dawson must try to figure out answers to the current mystery - while facing down demons from his own past and the mystery surrounding his vanished mother. Very well written debut novel with a unique and rich setting.

Great First Novel

Inspector Darko Dawson has been sent to Ketanu, a village several kilometers away from his home base of Accra, the capital of Ghana, to investigate a murder. He has mixed emotions about going, since Ketanu is the site of his mother's disappearance more than 25 years ago. In fact, he still has relatives living there. While in Ketanu, not only must the urbane Dawson contend with a population fixated on witchcraft, but the murder investigation involves him with many local superstitions, faith healers, and priests with several wives. While the publisher compares this book to Alexander McCall Smith's 1st Ladies Detective Agency series, the only similarity is the setting. This is a good police procedural, with well developed and believable characters, an engaging setting, and a cleverly twisting plot that kept me guessing until the end. Dawson is an engaging character-- a dope smoking, firey tempered, independent, 'take no prisoners' detective. He reminds me very much of J.A. Jance's J.P. Beaumont character. While he fights his own demons, sneers at inept superiors and peers, and constantly annoys everyone, he befriends the helpless, listens to his inner senses, and cleverly solves the crime. Dr. Quartey writes eloquently, in spare but beautiful prose. The book proceeds quickly from the opening to the end, in fact, the cliche 'page-turner' is quite apt. I couldn't put it down. I especially enjoyed having a glossary of Ghanian terms available. It made the dialogue (which is masterful) readily accessible to a reader unfamiliar with the area. It was good to see that he is already working on book #2. Both the character of Dawson and the author have the makings of a great series.