The Lost Goddess - Tom Knox

• Hardcover: 448 pages
• Publisher: Viking Adult (February 2, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670023183
• ISBN-13: 978-0670023189

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From the internationally bestselling author of The Genesis Secret-a seductive, exotic new thriller

In the silent caves beneath France, young archaeologist Julia Kerrigan unearths an ancient skull-with a hole bored through the forehead. After she reveals her discovery, her mentor is brutally murdered. Deep in the jungles of Southeast Asia, photographer Jake Thurby is offered a mysterious assignment by a beautiful Cambodian lawyer who is investigating finds at the two-thousand-year-old Plain of Jars-finds that shadowy forces want kept secret.

From the temples of Angkor Wat and the wild streets of Bangkok to the prehistoric caves in Western Europe, what links Jake's and Julia's discoveries is a strange, demonic woman whose unquenchable thirst for vengeance-and the horrors she seeks to avenge- are truly shocking.

Readers have become enthralled by Knox's vivid blend of buccaneering modern adventure, gothic horror, and grand intellectual puzzles. The Lost Goddess is his most exciting novel to date.

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This review has really got me stumped.  I just don't know what I want to say...what should I tell you, dear reader, about this rather long tome?  I could tell you how I haven't read a book that actually taught me anything new since I was a rather young girl and yet this novel had me highlighting new words and names of places and googling them like mad.  I could tell you how (quite recently) I have been having an ongoing argument discussion about the evils of communism and this book managed to succinctly encapsulate my views quite nicely (and vindicating my humble opinion, I should add).  I am rather tempted to lift and quote directly for the benefit of winning contributing to our heated friendly debates.  Anyway, philosophical matters aside, Tom Knox has written a fast paced, thriller.  A real gem of a novel that kept me reading long after bed time.  

This book will take you from obscure locales in France to exotic Asian landscapes educating you with facts about the people and their history along the way.  I really can not express how much I learned from this book.  Of course I've heard of the Khmer Rouge but what did I actually know of them?  Their acts, their beliefs?  Nothing, I tell you...until now that is.  What did I know about the rise of communism in Southeast Asia?  Squat, apparently.  Now, I generally warn people about getting their history facts (or any FACTS, for that matter) from a work of fiction.  I mean, hello?  It's a work of fiction...right?  Well, as I began to read The Lost Goddess I realized pretty quick that I would need to keep my trusty laptop handy so I could look up all of the interesting bits of information.  Turns out Mr. Knox has done his research really well and he takes little creative license with it-though I have to say when the truth is this crazy you don't need a lot of embellishment to make it interesting.  Kudos to Mr. Knox for taking the time and using his talent to write a novel that not only entertains but illuminates and informs as well.  He has brought to light some pretty horrifying realities that truly need to be more well known.  I just hope his voice will be heard. 

I so much enjoyed this book and have been telling everyone to put it on their must read list.  I just want to formally thank the author right here and now....Thank you, Mr. Knox!  Love your book!  Going back to the beginning of this post...I just don't know what I want to say, well this pretty much sums it up for me:  A quote from the wonderfully talented Mr. Knox, "I want you to like the books so much you buy several copies in case you lose one."  Yup.  That's all I wanted to say.  I liked this book so much I intend on buying several copies.  Review closed.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tom Knox

Tom Knox is the pseudonym of the author Sean Thomas. Born in England, he has traveled the world writing for many different newspapers and magazines, including The Times, the Guardian, and the Daily Mail. His last book was a memoir, translated into eight languages; he also writes on art, politics, and ancient history. He lives in London.

You can find him and LOADS of information on his novels HERE.

 * I received an advance copy from the publisher for purposes of review. I was in no way obligated to write a review much less a favorable one. The opinions stated herein are all my own.