THE MAN WHO STOLE THE GODS
A True Story of War, Obsession and a Global Art Conspiracy
On Sale (UK) 4/06/2026
Amidst the chaos of Cambodia's brutal genocide, a new crime wave emerged—one that would sweep across borders and entangle the world's most prestigious art institutions. Priceless treasures of the ancient Khmer Empire, the civilization that produced Angkor Wat, vanished from sacred temples, looted by smugglers and trafficked into the hands of elite collectors. At the centre of it all was Douglas Latchford.
Known later in life as "Dynamite Doug" for the ruthless methods used to extract statues from temple ruins, Latchford orchestrated one of history's most audacious cultural heists. From dusty Cambodian villages to the glittering auction houses of London and New York and institutions like the Met, he played a double game—posing as an expert on Khmer art while secretly flooding the market with stolen antiquities…read more
AN ECONOMIST, FINANCIAL TIMES, AND SUNDAY TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR
“A masterpiece.”
—MARK BOWDEN, The New York Times
“Truly one of the most nail-biting, page-turning, terrifying true-crime books I’ve ever read.”
—Nick Bilton, New York Times bestselling author of American Kingpin
Matthew Campbell is an award-winning reporter and editor for Bloomberg Businessweek and the co-author, with Kit Chellel, of Dead in the Water: A True Story of Hijacking, Murder, and a Global Maritime Conspiracy…read more