Title: The Bones of the Apostle
Author: John Amos
Publisher: River Grove Books
ISBN: 978-1-63299-901-
Pages: 210
Genre: Fiction
Reviewer: Arthur Thares
Hollywood Book Reviews
The Bones of the Apostle is a throwback to classic detective novels. It is unapologetically direct and doesn’t rely on gimmicks or misdirection to tell the tale. Still, there is much to enjoy about this novel, where the characters take center stage, and the story follows. John Amos displays talent and experience in a way that seems effortless on the page. So, what exactly do characters Petrie and Pettigrew have in store for readers this time?
There is something incredibly charming about this story and the characters, which are adjacent to another classic literary detective, but they aren’t riding his coattails. As the title suggests, Petrie and Pettigrew are visited by a shaykh who requests they recover the bones of the apostle Thomas. While this is the story’s exposition, it is not close to what this book is truly about. It goes off the rails a few times with certain aspects that don’t feel like they fit in the story, like a foray into magic and some sword fighting. However, there are more significant storylines within the book, like a humanitarian crisis and an exciting revelation towards the end of the story.
It is clear this is not John Amos’s first book because he has a polished and refined voice which exudes trust while you read. You just know that no matter where the story goes, you are in good hands with this author. Something fans of Amos will recognize while reading this book is that while it is part of a series, it is still a stand-alone story. Amos does a fantastic job of threading the needle between offering enough details for new readers to feel as if they know the characters but not so much that fans of the series will get bored by repetition. The Bones of the Apostle is a quick read, partly because of the book’s length but also due in part to Amos’s writing style, which never lets up, so you never want to put the book down. Additionally, the evocative settings and the sense of impending danger keep the reader invested in both the historical and contemporary threads of the story.
This wonderful book is exactly what you get when the author has a relationship with his characters. There is an indescribable intangible experience when an author like Amos touches pen to pad (or keys to keyboard). The characters come to life in a way that most authors can’t – or are maybe afraid to – accomplish. There is an intimacy and a realness to the characters you don’t get in every book. Books like The Bones of the Apostle make you hungry to read every other book in the series – while hoping there are many more to come.
Amos balances historical detail with modern suspense, making this a must-read for lovers of historical thrillers.