I love reading genres that are usually ignored in Africa. When I came across this book I was pleasantly surprised because its a detective series set in Ghana and I can count on one hand similar books, saying that the disappointment hits harder with these because I expect so much.

This story is subpar, it follows Darko, a detective with no talent whatsoever, he was fed clues the entire story and I never felt like he was using his own detective prowess there was a hint of some power of recognizing lies but its lack of exploration left a lot to be desired.
The writing is not impressive either, no variation of sentences and the paragraphs has the same number of lines (yes I counted) which made the flow of the story stilted. The multiple points of view was more of a detriment to this story than helpful, neither did they push the plot forward nor help in the fleshing out of the world. As for the plot average as well, the death being investigated is a strangulation which is as average as it gets, maybe I like some gruesomeness so I can be invested in the chase to catch the killer and also the reason for the murder just plain boooring.

Darko is a police inspector in Ghana who gets called in to remote village where his aunt lives to investigate the murder of an AIDS worker. Deals with interesting customs in Ghana most Westerners aren't aware of.

When I first saw mention of Kwei Quartey’s Wife of the Gods, I knew I had to read it. I can’t resist a crime fiction novel, especially one set in a country other than my own. I get to learn about another country and culture while at the same time settling in with the comfort of the familiar format of a mystery.

Kwei Quartey’s protagonist, Darko Dawson is the kind of detective I would want investigating my murder. He has a dogged determination and a strong sense of right and wrong—at least where others are concerned. Righteous is the word that comes to mind, but not in an arrogant or overbearing way. Darko is anything but perfect though. He has a weakness for marijuana and a bit of a temper which lands him in plenty of trouble.

The novel is set in the beautiful country of Ghana. Quartey paints a portrait of a complex society, one that straddles the old traditions and the new. In a community where witchcraft is feared and superstitions are commonplace, science is still trying to find a foothold. Detective Inspector Darko Dawson is a modern man. He trusts in science and facts to solve his cases. When he is assigned to Ketanu, a small out of the way community, to aid in the murder investigation of a volunteer AIDS worker, he comes face to face with the very superstitions he disdains.

The Chief Inspector of Ketanu has his eyes set on a particular young man as his suspect, but Darko isn’t convinced. He sets out on his own investigation, determined to solve the murder.

Darko’s mother disappeared after a visit to Ketanu over twenty years before while visiting her sister who lived in the town. Perhaps he can look into her disappearance while there as well. It’s a long shot after so many years, but he at least wants to give it a try.

I have seen this book compared to Alexander McCall Smith’s The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, and I have to disagree. Smith’s series is not much of a crime fiction series at all—and if you go into those books expecting a mystery, you may well be disappointed. With Quartey’s book, on the other hand, a mystery is exactly what you get. It’s also a bit darker in some respects, than Smith’s series.

There was so much I liked about this series, including the various interesting characters, the flashbacks into Darko’s past and the unfolding of the mystery of his mother’s disappearance as well as the murder of that young volunteer. There was a moment early on in the book when I thought one story thread might get lost in other, but fortunately that did not happen.

Another aspect that especially caught my attention was the health department and volunteers like the murdered woman who struggle to reach a population of people who are very entrenched in the old ways. The misinformation and superstitions surrounding AIDS is frightening. Add to that the issue of fetish priests and the practice of families marrying off their teenage daughters to them in hopes of turning around bad luck or getting rid of a curse. Quartey offers both sides of these issues to some extent, but it is clear which side Darko falls on.

Wife of the Gods is a promising start for a new series. There are many characters, including Armah, Darko’s inspiration and mentor, that I hope I can visit again. And I do hope I haven’t seen the last of Elizabeth Mensah. She’s an admirable and strong woman. Kwei Quartey is definitely an author to watch.

I am not someone who enjoys crime/thriller related novels but this featured some supernatural element which I loved. I'm really fascinated by that.

I enjoyed the book however I felt that it went on for too long. There were parts of the book where i thought could have been left out as they weren't adding to the story.

I am always looking for a new mystery series to start and recently took the recommendation of Michael Sears, one half of the writing duo Michael Stanley, and tried the Detective Dawson series by Kwei Quartey. Set in Ghana, the series focuses on the local culture, cuisine, customs, and everyday issues facing Ghanians today while also tackling clever and original crimes and mysteries that contain some elements that are universal and other aspects that are uniquely relevant to Ghana. Wife of the Gods is a window into another part of the world about which I know very little, and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. I look forward to starting the next one very soon.

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Easy read. Good characters. I like how Insp Darko pay attention to small details in his investigations as well as his level of professionalism. Just like any good novel, it takes you from one place to another place. With this novel i have travel from Tanzania to Ghana. I learned Ghana is corrupt country, poor social services as well as religious state. But that doesn't mean witchcraft isn't there.

4.5-⭐️: I don’t normally enjoy mysteries with hot-headed detectives, but there’s something about this story which I found so compelling. There’s something about the simplicity of the crime which made it all the more difficult to have an “ahh, ha!” moment.

The characters are so distinct, and they didn’t all fall into clichés. Of course there’s the combative guy, but he wasn’t a suspect for the case. All remaining players were so evenly tempered and helpful, it made weeding out genuine perpetrators difficult. Then the contrast of the cosmopolitan and rural environments made the general setting interesting.

Not that this detail will mean anything to most readers, but we’ve got a side character with a congenital heart defect. I want to read more of the Darko Dawson series to see where this thread leads. Oh my, am I becoming a mystery fan?!

Darko Dawson is a detective living in Accra, the capital city of Ghana. He is sent to the small village of Kentanu to assist in solving the murder of a young female health worker. This is also the place where his mother disappeared many years ago.
The story is full of interesting characters and I enjoyed learning more about Ghana. I look forward to the next book in the series.
This is a good read-alike for the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith.

“but this last time, when I was having dinner with you and you were telling us about it, you made another mistake. It’s always in the lying that a mistake is made.”

Trigger warning: rape, child brides

Inspector Darko Dawson is sent to investigate a murder in the Volta region of Ghana, away from his city life and family, due to his familiarity with the local language and family roots there. During his investigation, he uncovers a lot more than he set out to find, whilst facing his discomfort around the traditional practises of trokosi and fetish priests. The disappearance of his mother over 20 years ago is also brought back to the surface as Darko, now a seasoned investigator, stumbles upon a handful of clues.

In the first of a trilogy of five incredibly well-written, books, Quartey has created the Ghanaian Sherlock Holmes I didn’t know I needed to read. He’s loveable, passionate about the law and battling with anger problems that come out in the pursuit of justice. He’s self-aware but also able to brush off his mistakes with humour - ‘“I think strangle is an exaggeration”. Whilst his superiors are not impressed by his flaws, I found myself laughing often.

Whilst the plot stems from the investigation of a medical students death, it grows into so much more. It covers police brutality, fertility, infidelity, deceit and the true strength of old beliefs and traditions, such as the ability to ‘steal a womb’ and child brides. Every single character is relevant to the development of the story and each other in a skilfully delivered, action packed novel.

Ghanaian culture is packed into the book, from language to traditions. Have Google ready if, like me, you’re not so familiar.

Samuel deserved better, as did Efia and Darko’s mother. Yet Quartey left no stone unturned and delivered the best, most realistic version of justice he could. Chapter 48 made me cry but the two pages were perfect.