BY THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR

'One of our best and most captivating novelists' PHILIP HENSHER

'[Godden] writes with grace and a cheerfully lilting prose' KIRKUS REVIEWS

'Her craftsmanship is always sure' NEW YORK TIMES

A revered effigy of the God, Shiva, is missing from the Patna Hall Hotel on south India's exquisite Coromandel coast. Was it stolen, and to whom does it belong? Young lawyer Michael Dean, sent from London to argue the case for the defence, falls under the spell of Artemis, a graceful archaeologist who is staying at the hotel; but she proves as elusive as the mystery of the theft he is working on.

Her final novel, Cromartie vs The God Shiva is a magical, evocative exploration of art, love, class and greed set in Godden's beloved southern India.

Her craftsmanship is always sure; her understanding of character is compassionate and profound; her prose is pure, delicate, and gently witty * New York Times *
[Godden] writes with grace and a cheerfully lilting prose. . . . A tale of quiet sleuthing, romance, and grand tragedy . . . A delight for Godden's many followers * Kirkus Reviews *
Liberally dabbed with local color, the book is fast-paced * Publishers Weekly *
One of our best and most captivating novelists -- Philip Hensher
A complex tale, fraught with mystery . . . Readers who enjoy far-away cultures will find this tale a treat * Library Journal *

Rumer Godden (1907-1998) was the acclaimed author of over sixty works of fiction and non-fiction for adults and children. Born in England, she and her siblings grew up in Narayanganj, India, and she later spent many years living in Kolkata and Kashmir. Several of her novels were made into films, including Black Narcissus, The Greengage Summer and The River, which was filmed by Jean Renoir. She was appointed OBE in 1993.