SOLVED. Golden sentinels or statues around the place where the main character goes. Spoiler ahead...[s]

[Brenda]

A mystery/thriller/horror read in the late 70's or 80's about a place where someone had very realistic gold statues or sentinels on the walls. Horrible source for them. I think there might have been the scent of sandalwood mentioned.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Brenda, are you still looking for this? If yes, what does "horrible source for them" mean?

[Brenda]

Spoiler the sentinels were made by pouring liqid gold over the humans or animals

[laurenpie]

Aztec by Gary Jennings has that. Published 1980.

[Brenda]

Sorry no more modern. like 1970's

[laurenpie]

Possibly a miscommunication--Aztec was originally published in 1980. You're saying your book is older--yes?

[Brenda]

I think so but I know it was set around the 60's or 70's. Remote location but in US or England

[laurenpie]

Ah, I understand. :)

[Ann aka Iftcan]

Brenda--for future reference (and if you remember any more) there is a way to put a spoiler into a message and have it "hidden" so that anyone who hasn't read the book and wants to can avoid having the book spoilers. To do this, type < $ poiler> the spoiler < / $ poiler>. Take out the extra spaces and change the $ to an S. (view spoiler)[ When you do that, this is what happens. (hide spoiler)]

Now, are you sure that this is a novel? There is a Dorothy L. Sayers collection of Lord Peter short stories that has a story similar to this. Only it's copper, not gold. Lord Peter is the quickest link to the story. Even if there isn't any description. The title of the story is Abominable History of the Man with Copper Fingers

[Brenda]

Definitely a novel and definitely gold. Thank you for the spoiler trip. I have been wanting to learn that for a while

[Brenda]

I believe it was a young man visiting this place. I think because the were relatives he didn't know. This is one of those books that haunts you. And I think this is where I learned to associate the scent of sandalwood with negative feelings

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Brenda, are you still looking for this?

[Brenda]

Yes, I am still looking for this book. Some just kind of haunt youm

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Still looking?

[Brenda]

yes. any ideas

[Kris]

Spoiler alert added to the topic header.

[Kris]

A search on www.worldcat.org turned up "The Golden Sentinels" (1974, 192 pages) by Ruth McCarthy Sears, but there is no description on that site. Here are two cover images from other sites:
- http://thumbs.ebaystatic.com/images/g...
- https://img.fantasticfiction.com/imag...

Who is the bad guy -- a single insane person with helpers, a crazy scientist, an ancient cult of worshippers, etc.?

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Still looking now?

[Brenda]

the one above is correct. so I guess I am done thank you. just no way to add it to my read list

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

I added "Golden Sentinels" to the database but it's not coming up yet. When it comes up we can shelve it and you can add it to your read list.