Where The False Gods Dwell

Where the False Gods Dwell takes the reader on a voyage of discovery (physical and personal) from Chicago to Jamaica, as experienced by three women. The story follows a young con artist who can’t seem to avoid trouble, a well-to-do wife and anthropologist, and the labor union activist they meet on the island. 

All three have a variety of issues and are brought together by Katherine Dunham, whose expedition is focused on studying the dance and customs of the people in the Cockpit Country. Accompong, specifically. 

Each woman faces unique issues. Othella can’t shake the seedy characters who follow her from Chicago. Vivian Jean has marital issues and believes all will be well if she can reach the sacred silk cotton tree and pour out her heart. Zinzi believes in the trade union movement and faces danger when she falls in love with the son of a devious plantation owner. 

As they work together, the women’s lives are intertwined, and they come to depend on each other. Their destinies intertwine during a hurricane as they lean on each other for survival. 

The characters in this story made me chuckle, fume, and yes, shed a few tears. I read one chapter several times in disbelief about that character’s outcome. 

In Where The False Gods Dwell, the writer brought 1935 society to life with great descriptions and colorful characters. I was particularly interested in the history, settings, and the culture of the Maroons, and was not disappointed. 

The story flowed well, and every time I thought my favorite character, Othella, was safe, something happened to keep me turning the pages. The end was poignant, and I wished for another ending for Othella, but understood how and why her story ended as it did. For the other characters, the novel came to a satisfying close.

If you enjoy historical fiction with complex characters, this book is for you.