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The Bones of the Apostle
"Thomas, I'm bored. We need some excitement."
Back from their harrowing mission in the desert to recover a stolen statue of Aphrodite, detectives Flinders Petrie and Thomas Pettigrew have earned a reputation for success against all odds. Just as they are growing restless for another big case, they are tasked with finding a stolen religious artifact, the bones of the apostle Thomas, a quest that brings them face-to-face with the dark horrors of the Armenian and Assyrian genocide during World War I. With the help of Gazelda, a retired witch turned intelligence agent, the duo pursues the relic and its mysterious thief, known only as the Veiled One. But facing their old enemy again is only half the battle. To succeed at their task, both men must confront their own personal histories and the friends, family, and lovers they left behind in Turkey years before.
With The Bones of the Apostle, author John Amos delivers another lively international adventure that is at once charming and sobering, poignant and jarring. The atmospherics will compel you; the story will move you.
These questions were shared and sponsored in partnership with Greenleaf Book Group.
Book club questions for The Bones of the Apostle by John Amos
Use these discussion questions to guide your next book club meeting.
The central mystery of the stolen relics—the bones of the Apostle Thomas—holds immense significance for both the characters and the regions they traverse. How do the protagonists’ deductions about the identity and motives of the Veiled One evolve throughout their journey? What clues drive their investigation, and how do these hints build suspense around the core mystery?
The novel explores East-West cultural exchange through its setting and characters. How are these cultures presented, and what impact does this have on the story’s outcome?
Given the stakes tied to the relics of the Apostle Thomas, what does the novel suggest about the power of religious artifacts in shaping beliefs and conflicts?
How do historical and literary references, from Shakespeare to Arabian Nights, enrich the narrative? What effect do they have on the tone and pacing of the story?
The Bones of the Apostle Book Club Questions PDF
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