Reviews

Wife of the Gods by Kwei Quartey

bluedijon's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

I really loved this book! Was so excited that the Read Around the World reading challenge put me in this book's and author's paths - have added the other novels he's written that are available in the US to my libby tags. 

This was a great mystery novel, with really vivid descriptions, and a very deft hand at addressing complex cultural topics with respect to those involved. And, does a fantastic job at problemifying the lead character as a police officer who does some not so great things, while also placing him in his cultural context and having characters call him out on those not so great things. Very excited to read more from Kwei Quartey!
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maraudergrl90's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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rion_gale's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

catsncoffee's review against another edition

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dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

mg_in_md_'s review against another edition

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4.0

This book has been on my "to read" list for awhile, so when I saw it recommended by several readers on the 2016 Book Riot Read Harder challenge thread for the "Read the first book in a series by a person of color" category, I decided to make it my pick. This is the first book in a mystery series set in Ghana featuring Detective Darko Dawson. I often gravitate to international mystery series and plan to add this one to my "to read" list based on the excellent first offering. In the initial installment, readers are introduced to Dawson, who is an Accra-based married police detective with a young son. While Dawson is a skilled detective, he sometimes lets his emotions get the better of him, making him more human and relatable. I liked the details of life in the capital and more rural areas that factored into the story, as well as the likable characters who I look forward to getting to know better. I found the story's pacing to be very well-done and felt that the murder mystery bore the hallmarks of a fair-play, traditional mystery. Dawson's personal life enriched the story and made me want to read more about him and his family, as well as join him on future cases. While I had originally picked another book for this Read Harder category and will likely still read it, I'm glad that I went with the recommendations I read and now see why it kept showing up on my personalized Goodreads Recommendations list.

wellredphd's review against another edition

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Want to read it, not listen

thukpa's review against another edition

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4.0

My run of coincidental book linking continues. Recently read a book I disliked, non-fiction, that took place in Accra, Ghana, and the US. I pick up this mystery, which takes place in Accra, Ghana and the Volta region of Ghana. I've now skipped over another book about Africa (non-fiction, Burundi,) to give some space, and am looking forward to the parallels that will make themselves apparent in my new book. But back to Wife of the Gods. I've heard it compared to the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, but I suppose only because it is a mystery set in Africa. Everything else is different, except that in reading the mystery you get a good taste of the culture. As a person who doesn't especially like mysteries, this was an enjoyable one and I look forward to the next Darko Dawson mystery, as I assume there will be more. Good writing, good mystery.

starfish912's review against another edition

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dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

thewilyfilipino's review against another edition

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dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

flowerwineandbooks's review against another edition

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4.0

This book was really intriguing. I enjoyed learning a bit about Ghana, and the dual mysteries were very well written and logically solved.
My favorite things about this book is that you can see everything for what it is:
There is a theme of city v. rural life, and neither is specifically "good" or "bad" they are just different, and both containing good and bad characteristics.
The main protagonist has flaws, pretty serious ones, and yet you can still root for him and all his humanity.
The humanity of Effia, Samuel, and Osewa are all so beautifully tragic, and will make you think.
I am excited to continue reading Darko Dawson's mysteries!!