This is the 11th book in the series about Turkish policeman, Inspector Cetin Ikman yet Barbara Nadel manages to keep the mix fresh.

This time, the setting for most of the action moves to the mystic and violent East of Turkey. Cetin's colleague, Inspector Mehmet Suleyman is the centre of most of the action. The change of scene allows the introduction of new, powerful characters, the most noteable being Suleyman's counterpart in the local police force.

As usual, the sense of place is strong in this novel. The plot is complex but plausible. The real star of the book is the clan culture of Eastern Turkey and the mysticism associated with it.

This book has an exceptionally high body count for a Cetin Ikmen novel and the book is pervading by a sense of impending violence in the East and corruption and faithlessness back in Istanbul.

This was an enjoyable read but it was marred for me by the thinness of the characterisation of an American woman who is central to the plot and who becomes at one point little more than a plot exposition device.

If you are already a fan then you'll read this with pleasure. If this is your first time give yourself the pleasure of reading the books in sequence and start with "Belshazar's Daughter". ( )

This is the 11th book in the series about Turkish policeman, Inspector Cetin Ikman yet Barbara Nadel manages to keep the mix fresh.

This time, the setting for most of the action moves to the mystic and violent East of Turkey. Cetin's colleague, Inspector Mehmet Suleyman is the centre of most of the action. The change of scene allows the introduction of new, powerful characters, the most noteable being Suleyman's counterpart in the local police force.

As usual, the sense of place is strong in this novel. The plot is complex but plausible. The real star of the book is the clan culture of Eastern Turkey and the mysticism associated with it.

This book has an exceptionally high body count for a Cetin Ikmen novel and the book is pervading by a sense of impending violence in the East and corruption and faithlessness back in Istanbul.

This was an enjoyable read but it was marred for me by the thinness of the characterisation of an American woman who is central to the plot and who becomes at one point little more than a plot exposition device.

If you are already a fan then you'll read this with pleasure. If this is your first time give yourself the pleasure of reading the books in sequence and start with "Belshazar's Daughter". ( )

A complex plot makes this book a little hard to follow. The sub=theme of families, their ties and their secrets, is well done and at times painfully fascinating. The larger -lot is a reminder to the reader that Turkey sits geographically between Asia and Europe and makes the reader mindful of the significant role that position plays in the history and present reality of Turkey and its inhabitants. A wothwhile read.

Yet another solid 'Inspector Ikmen' book from Barbara Nadel. This one is a bit more spreadout around Turkey, rather than just Istanbul.

Long may these keep coming, just a shame they are not more easily available in the USA. ( )