The Abyssinian Proof

Kamil Pasha #2

by Jenny White

The Ottoman Empire is plagued by thefts of antiquities from mosques and churches that, within days, appear for sale in Europe. Among them is a reliquary, presumed lost for four hundred years and around which an elaborate and mysterious sect has grown.

In Istanbul, magistrate Kamil Pasha is under pressure to break the smuggling ring amid rising tensions between Christians and Muslims. He confronts a mysterious adversary who will stop at nothing to get the reliquary first. With the Balkans aflame and Kamil’s personal life in upheaval, the search into the old neighborhoods where Istanbul’s crime rings reside may cost Kamil not only his position but also his life.

Jenny White enters this time of distrust and turmoil, re-creating the gritty underworld of a dying empire.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Historical, Historical Mystery, Audiobook, Crime

400 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

For her scholarly works, see also Jenny B. White

Reviews

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been a few years since I read the first book in Jenny White's Kamil Pasha historical mystery series; that being The Sultan's Seal. My standard excuse, too many books, not enough time... Also, I have to say, I've only seen her books online, not at my locals, anyway.
OK, enough of that... The Abyssinian Proof, the 2nd book, was also an excellent story. It's set in an exotic locale, Istanbul during the dying days of the mighty Ottoman Empire. The story starts in 1453 to introduce the holy item, called The Proof of God, that becomes the prime mover of the current story.
Kamil Pasha is a police inspector in Istanbul and he is tasked to solve a spate of thefts of historical, religious artifacts. His superior leads him to believe that his failure to do this might result in a negative impact to Pasha's career. Thrown into the mix of this story are a number of wonderful characters; the homeless boy, Avi, who becomes a useful assistant to Pasha, Elif, the troubled artist, who escaped Macedonia after the murders of her husband and son, and Omar, a police captain who provides humour and a crusty pragmatism as he assists Pasha in his investigations. There are other interesting developments that also make the story rich and fascinating (the community who live in the Sunken Village, and who the stolen Proof is so important to their religious life).
The story is almost to rich to describe in a few words. Istanbul is such an interesting city, peopled with a diverse culture, and with such a great history. The characters are all well-written and sympathetic and the mystery, itself, is unique and interesting. The story moves along at a nice pace and holds your interest. I developed strong feelings for many of the characters and felt happy and sad and angry as they did. It's an excellent story with neat religious aspects to it; such as those explored in other books, like Dan Brown's recent series. You can enjoy this without reading the first book, but you should work your way through the stories as each are excellent. Unfortunately only one more book in this series (so far anyway) and I'll have to get a copy of The Winter Thief. (4 stars)

[Tory Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Abyssinian Proof by Jenny White was a delight to read. You are transported to what seems like a mysterious ancient culture although it is actually the 1880's in Istanbul. The main character, Kamil Pasha, is a local magistrate who must follow the trail of ancient artifacts being smuggled out of the city in diplomatic pouches. The interaction between Muslims, Christians, and Jews makes for a interesting mystery.

[Έλσα · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ενω στην αρχη λιγο το φοβηθηκα και πιστευα θα ειναι βαρετο, μετα απο ελαχιστες σελιδες αρχισε να με προκαλει ευχαριστα. Μια ιστορια με θρησκευτικο, αρχαιολογικο και μυστηριακο περιεχομενο. Η αφηγηση κυλουσε γρηγορα χωρις να κανει καμια κοιλια. Μετα το τελος του βιβλιου νιωθω για ακομα μια μερα αγαλλιαση! Καλη μου βιβλιοθηκη, σε ευχαριστω πολυ για τα διαμαντακια που μου προσφερεις!!

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love everything about this series set in Turkey. The characters are robust, and remind me that the most interesting people, no matter when they lived, never seem dated but could be contemporaries. Jenny White has a writer's biography but without the self-abuse. She's done everything and lived everywhere, and in her latest incarnation is teaching history in Boston. It is a great thrill to read such a beautifully-written (and in my case, beautifully-read by Nadia May) mystery set in a place I wish I knew better, peopled with bright characters we wish we could meet, and buttressed by historical fact.

In the first of this series I still remember, even after reading hundreds of other mysteries since, the shock of being introduced to an enlightened sexual encounter in nineteenth-century Turkey. In this, the second of the series, I remember most the exquisite detail of daily life and surroundings, much of which must have been imagined, but which is presented with such confidence and surety that one feels immersed in a period one does not want to leave when the book is over. Jenny White appears to have a lust for life that transmits to the page. We appreciate her erudition, and her cunning and vastly entertaining historical mysteries.

[Constance · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is yet another mystery about ancient religious secrets and conspiracies that can only be revealed in a rushed and complicated eleventh hour decoding of religious symbols in an old and forgotten church (now mosque). Jenny White's tale differs as it comes from a primarily Muslim point of view and she expands her reaches to include the fascinating Ethiopia. In any case, 19th century Ottoman Istanbul is the perfect setting for this type of novel.

Overall, I agree with the poster that faults her for assigning 21st century values to 19th century characters. The author misses several opportunities to flesh out the characters and in the ending is too neat. For those that are interested in Istanbul, and like mysteries, I would suggest Barbara Nadel. Her characters are more angsty and she draws on real places and people in Turkey.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Setting is the Ottoman Empire, specifically Constantinople in 1853. Kamil Pasha is a local Magistrate who has been given the task of shutting down a growing spate of robbing and selling of historical and religious artifacts. The settings are easy to picture as he moves about the town and a local sect of Abyssinian roots that lives I a enclave set in the bottom of an abandoned and dry cistern. This group has an artifact called the "Proof of God, Container of the Uncontainable" which is sought after by various groups and has gone missing. Kamil learns the mystery behind the artifact and the people charged with its protection as he has to contend with murders and unsettling discoveries about his own history. It was not a fast read, but an engrossing one and well worth the time spent.

[emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

This second book in the Kamil Pasha mystery series skews a little Da Vinci Code at times, with ancient religious relics, exotic sects, and knife fights in tunnels taking center stage. A fun read, if a little unbelievable at times.

[Ania · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow - it’s been so long since I read a book which j couldn’t put down.

Ps I used voice rec so it’s long lol

have to say that I am very proud of myself for finding this book at a thrift store in Greece for $.50. As usual, I wasn’t planning on buying a new book because I have enough to read at home. However, when I read the summary on the back cover, I saw this book as a sort of sign funnily enough that I am on the right path in what I do and what I study. The book follows a magistrate in Istanbul, who searches for a treasure of the past. A few weeks ago, I myself was in Istanbul and being able to visualize everything as if on a walk through the city when reading this book was something truly amazing. I could picture the steep streets, the mosques, the early construction of the now archaeological museum… but returning to this book being a sign that I am on the right path and what I do: I took this book from the shelf in the thrift shop, and as I read the summary in the back, I noticed that this book is about a relic which was taken from the Kariye Camii (Chora church) which I am writing my first bachelor thesis on… more specifically the mosaic program inside the mosque. There are a couple of pages where the characters go inside the, now, mosque and there is a brief description, which is very emotive. Even though I only had about 15 minutes to look at the mosaics when I was there, this book made me further appreciate what I saw in that time. I could very well picture the glistening golden mosaics, and how beautifully preserved they are. There is also a passage in the book where one character asks why the Christian imagery has not been covered. And I think that the explanation behind it even though it’s not obvious to us, is very human. Additionally, I learned that you drink tea at least five times a day in Istanbul, if not in the entirety of Turkey - which I myself also did when I was there 😂. Not only is this book in my opinion, a heartfelt introduction to Byzantine art for those who may not be as familiar with it, and who do not want to dive into facts and hard history straight away. Those who have an interest for Byzantine art can surely find a mix of fiction and fact in this book which is a kind of good introduction for anyone and I think that people who are more familiar with the topic to them this book like to myself felt like a warm hug. I love historical fiction and I love these types of books where you really feel like you are one of the characters taken along for the adventure.

I think this book made me love what I do even more and the fact that I could see it for myself in real life that in itself was so breathtaking, but this book really kept my attention throughout the entirety of the storyline I could not stop reading and I will definitely look for the other books from the series. It’s funny how a book for $.50 found in a small thrift store in Crete can have such an affirmative connection to your life.

[Lilisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Kamil Pasha series. Set in Istanbul in 1887 during the Ottoman Empire, this historical mystery did not disappoint. At a time when the Ottoman Empire was beginning to show signs of unravel, political intrigue and community tensions are gaining momentum. Kamil Pasha is called upon to investigate the theft of antique items, and one in particular, that are being stolen from churches and mosques. This book is replete with historical setting of the times, the people, descriptions of the gritty neighborhoods, the Muslim and Christian communities and the a mysterious sect. This is how historical fiction/mystery should be done - I felt I was in Istanbul experiencing life in 1887. The descriptions were so vivid and visual - whether a street scene, a chase in the underground tunnels, an attire. I enjoyed all the characters - bad and good, and of course Kamil Pasha - an endearing character struggling with his personal life. I enjoyed (listening to) this book even better than the first one in the series, and I’m looking forward to reading the third book.

[Piyumi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very very interesting writer. The story was shaped by the late Ottoman atmosphere and the oncoming modernity to Turkey. The main leads were another mix of old and new thinking. The mystery was a times beguiling and at times quite weak, but the pace kept me going even at those weak moments in the story. By the end of it I felt pretty sure that I too have walked down Sunken Village and sat in the shades of the Hagia Sophia, the author's writing was that evocative of a time gone by.
Doing some background research on the writer, I found that she was an academic to begin with and then deftly turned her hand to writing fiction. She has transferred her skills well. Enjoyable read!

[Katya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a fan of the new love interest every book thing, and this was especially handwave-y about the love interest from the previous book in the series.

The queer representation in the previous book was 50/50 — one non-background relationship portrayed positively, one portrayed negatively; this one still has representation, but the prominent gay character is ambiguous at best as far as morality goes, which doesn't make me happy, and the background queer relationship is still just implied.

Content warning: Ritual female circumcision is an ongoing thread in the plot, and it's graphic.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Kamil Pasha sets out to investigate the theft of several religious objects and other stolen items of great value he encounters many unexpected obstacles including a mysterious secret religious group.
Complicating his search is the fact of his ties with some of the people that may be involved in these criminal acts which include not only theft but murder and his concern with keeping his loved ones safe. I found the book to be interesting, especially the Mesaline religious sect and it’s beliefs and practices.

[Hans Ostrom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good, although I'm a pretty easy mark for any book about Istanbul. This one is set in the late 19th century and hinges on a "Proof of God" scroll smuggled out of Istanbul 5 centuries earlier while the Templars and others were ransacking the place. It ends up in Abyssinia (Eritrea) and then turns up in Istanbul as the plot begins. At which time the British and Turkish criminals are ransacking Istanbul. Kamil is easy to like as a detective, perhaps even more so as a person, and as the author is an anthropologist who has written about Turkey, the cultural background is rich and complicated, to say the least. Another feature of the book is subtle eroticism in an era when subtlety in that area is difficult to find. I think this one is a notch up from the first in the series.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dnf. I enjoyed the setting and the historical background, but I was not drawn in by the story.

[Esme · Rating 2 out of 5]

No es un libro para mi me esperaba otra cosa pro los nombres de los personajes son un lío y no e podido terminarlo xk se me acia cuesta arriba

[Christine_v · Rating 2 out of 5]

Βαρετό, ανούσιο και προβλέψιμο.
Ο Καμίλ Πασάς ήταν κάτι μεταξύ Ηρακλή Πουαρό, αλλά πιο τζόβενο για να πέφτουν οι κοπελιές, και Doctor Who, γιατί τις 7 ημέρες που του δόθηκαν διορεία να λύσει το έγκλημα τις έκανε βιβλίο 350 σελίδων και όλα αυτά πίνοντας τσάι εδώ, κουβοντελογόντας εκεί και πηγαίνοντας για δείπνο παραπέρα.
Λίγο η δραματική αποκάλυψη της παραλίγο αιμομιξίας που δεν είχε καμία αξία στην ιστορία, λίγο που ήξερες εξαρχής ποιος έχει κάνει τι, κάνει την ιστορία να τραβάει πολύ.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to be honest and say that initially the idea of another historical crime fiction novel, set within the Islamic and Christian worlds left me somewhat underwhelmed. Fortunately there is a lot more going on in THE ABYSSINIAN PROOF, although I will admit that a large part of the attraction of this book was the central character - Magistrate Kamil Pasha, who is my idea of a detective. A little grumpy, a little shambolic, a man who is able to think through a situation and sees the clues that others may gloss over.

THE ABYSSINIAN PROOF starts out with the rescuing of a precious reliquary - supposedly containing the Proof of God - smuggled out of a city under attack. Centuries later, the reliquary is in the protection of a shadowy sect - the Melisites, who have kept it hidden in the Sunken Village, built below the city, occupied by the Habesh. When the reliquary is reported as stolen, Kamil must deal with the sect priestess, Balki, who is desperately unwell and her daughter Saba, to whom Kamil feels an instant attraction. When the person who originally told Kamil of the theft is brutally murdered, Kamil's investigation becomes all the more urgent.

The story weaves through events around the sect and into Kamil's investigation from there on. Kamil has been placed in a very difficult position, as he is well aware of corruption in his society. He is also increasingly attracted to Saba and to the beautiful refugee artist who his sister has taken into her home.

What we have in THE ABYSSINIAN PROOF is a number of pretty standard crime or mystery fiction elements - a secretive society used to its own counsel, a romantic entanglement with complication and a police investigator who must solve the crime despite his superiors lack of support.

Kamil is also, despite his historical setting, somewhat of a typical police investigator as mentioned. That slightly put upon persona, prepared to do whatever it takes to solve the case, complicated in love figure, grumpy, shambolic, but dedicated and with his own brand of cleverness and vision. He's certainly one of the great attractions of this book as he is a character that it is very easy to understand, sympathise or at least empathise with.

The sense of place in this book is reasonably good, although action outside the sect perhaps isn't particularly "Turkish 1800's". The religious elements set the book firmly in a world that is very different from a standard Western society - historical or not.

There are parts of the story that drag a little, and there is sometimes a little too much wallowing around in the comings and goings of the sect and their priestess which certainly add to the historical aspects, but slows the pace too much to remain enjoyable. Having said that, there is exoticism in the story and the character of Kamil is definitely worth sticking with it for.

THE ABYSSINIAN PROOF is the second novel featuring Kamil - the first was THE SULTAN'S SEAL which was shortlisted for the Ellis Peters Historical Crime Award. You certainly won't be lost if you haven't read the first book, but Kamil is somebody that you might want to get to know a little more. I will be keeping my own eyes open for a copy of the first book.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a bit new to the mystery genre (despite being middle aged). As a young reader, I got turned off by reading books from some popular series that seemed formulaic to me, and short on fully-sketched characters. Also long on violence, which is a natural part of the genre but not always my cup of tea.
Fast forward more years than I care to mention, and I've started reading mysteries again, mainly ones set in colorful foreign locales or interesting historical eras. Some of them have been absolutely great. This one was good. The setting was wonderful, Istanbul in the closing years of the Ottoman Empire. The main character, magistrate Kamil Pasha, is an interesting fellow, though some of the surrounding characters are more fully drawn. The city itself is a pulsing presence throughout the story. The crime at the center of the story is complex enough to be interesting, and is connected to the political context of the time in a way that adds to the interest.
I would have given it four stars except for a couple of things: A subplot that connected the people around the crime directly to Kamil Pasha's personal life seemed strained, tacked on, and left unresolved. And it never seemed to end! It went on quite a long time after I expected it to wrap up, with the additional material not being very compelling. I was listening to this one on audiotape, so didn't have the visual cue of where my marker was in a hard copy book. But based on the arc of the story itself, I expected it to come to a close long before it actually did.
There are two other books thus far featuring Kamil Pasha. I will probably give another one a try one of these days, mainly to enjoy the colorful historic setting.

[Christa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Abysinnian Proof is the second book featuring Istanbul magistrate Kamil Pasha. This book was interesting and fast moving. I enjoyed the character of Kamil in both of the books. He is both intelligent and honorable. I look forward to the next book in the series.

Kamil Pasha is investigating the theft of numerous valuable artifacts from mosques and churches. The crimes do not appear to bear the mark of the normal smugglers of Istanbul. As Kamil tries to solve the crimes, he becomes involved with members of a religious sect whose treasure called "the proof of God" is a target of the thieves. As Kamil works with a local police chief to expose the mastermind, danger surrounds him and those he cares about.

Although I enjoyed the first Kamil Pasha novel, The Sultan's Seal, I like this one better. I enjoyed Kamil's interactions with his friends and people that he cared for. I found the storyline to be intriguing. The glimpse into different religions of Istanbul was also very interesting. I believe that this is a very enjoyable series by Jenny White with an appealing hero.

[Graculus · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the follow-up to The Sultan's Seal and as with the previous book, our protagonist is magistrate Kamil Pasha, who becomes involved in a series of thefts of religious artefacts from various churches, mosques and synagogues in a particular area of Istanbul. There is, of course, more going on here than immediately meets the eye, as becomes apparent when one of the robberies escalates to the murder of a man from an obscure religious sect, working as a caretaker in one of the aforesaid churches.

Alongside the problem of the robberies, which Kamil Pasha must solve if there's to be any hope of peace between the Christians and Muslims in that neighbourhood, he is forced to deal with troubles in his personal life and a revelation about his family that he will find hard to deal with.

I have to say that The Abyssinian Proof is not as easy a read as The Sultan's Seal and the romance subplot seems more than a little forced, but it's still entertaining enough. No news so far on whether or not there will be a further installment in this series...

[Aerospace Girl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having a harder time getting into this one than I did with The Sultan's Seal... dunno what to think yet.

Okay, it took me three tries to get started, which didn't bode well for the book, but really it wound up being pretty good. This is definitely not a book for the faint of heart... with graphic passages about female circumcision, (hetero- and homo-)sexual intercourse, and sexual assault, I found it hard to concentrate on the actual mystery at times.

The story centers about this Abyssinian artifact which is said to be able to prove the existence of God (Allah, Jehovah... all names for the one God). It begins as an interesting premise, but in the end, I find the "proof" to be somewhat lame. I think that somehow actually finding the "proof" somehow diminishes idea of faith, showing the true meaning of which seems to be at least one of the author's goals.

It was a good storyline, at times a bit contrived, but mostly a good read.

[Elizabeth Sulzby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jenny White is an anthropologist and novelist. This is the second book in her "Kamil Pasha" series. It's a great story, set in Istanbul in 1887, with Kamil Pasha as a magistrate in a secular court system. His job is to investigate cases assigned to him, this time to solve who is responsible for smuggling expensive artifacts stolen from Mosques, Christian Churches, etc. The book opens with a chapter set in 1453 Constantinople, with a family escaping with expensive or treasured artifacts. It's clear that "relics" such as bones supposedly from a Saint or other religious leader. After the first chapter, the book moves at a fast pace, the mystery to solve, love interests, class systems, ancient tunnels, murder, how young children are treated by the characters, etc. I want to track down White's historical writings. She's a professor at Boston University.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many of us read historical mysteries for the opportunity to "time travel" a bit. This journey to 19th Century Istambul was interesting for its exploration into religious and political history. Aspects of it were fascinating, while others were confusing to those of us not steeped in the culture of the period.

I really enjoyed the detective, Kamil Pasha. His character was well-written and well-rounded and gave the book some heart. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the book, for me, is that Kamil Pasha came from an upper-class background of privelege and yet wears it very lightly. I don't know how realistic that behaviour would be for 19th century Istambul, but it enables the character to move very gracefully through the book. I will definitely read another book in the series to see how White's character matures.

[astried · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wonder if should hear it again. My attention was coming and going, catching the story now and then before shoving it to white noise. Currently this review will be very subjective and might miss this book's fine points completely.

First, I'll be honest in saying that I have no idea how the Turk lived during this period of time and Jenny White is an anthropologist so she should know better than I do. However, somehow I can't feel relationship dynamic between men and women really believeable. Granted my only experience was gained from living in a Turk neighbourhood in Germany and some insight from my ex's Moroccan family, still it felt off and it just wouldn't let me enjoy the story.

Same goes for the names, Kamil Pasha, Sheeba & Balqis. Somehow flashing these famous moslem names just irritates me. Very subjective and probably would enchant other reader, just not me.

[Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up to read on my recent trip to Turkey. (See The Janissary Tree for the other book I read in Turkey). I enjoyed it very much. There was a little murder, a little religion, a little theft, and even a little public administration. In brief, it tells about a religious artifact that is stolen - after being missing for hundreds of years. A sect is supposed to be the caretakers of the relic and the secret it shares. It had the right amount of historical background to help you understand what was going on even if not familiar with Turkish/Ottoman history. At the same time, being there while I read this added even more to the imagery White portrayed. I would recommend this book for those who like to explore new places.

[Seth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Amusing. Didn't hate it, but it was pretty cheesy. Think of a cross between Dan Brown's over-the-top pseudo-histories and Jason Goodwin's eunich Yashim. One big disappointment: although the author is a social anthropologist specializing in Turkish society, there are remarkably few descriptions of Istanbuli life here other than the obvious references (Hagia Sophia, Fatih mosque, the "hamam experience".) And the attitudes of the characters toward religion (or lack of), sexuality, gender power, class differences, etc are STRAIGHT out of Western Europe of the 2000s and not 19th Century Turkey. Very disappointing in that respect.

Interesting enough storyline, although it moved v-e-r-y slowly at times.

[Kate Atonic · Rating 2 out of 5]

Many people noted that they picked up the first book, Sultan's Seal, because the cover and title suggested a lurid historical romance novel. Ironically, I picked up "Abyssinian Proof" because I studied mathematics in college and wanted something weightier to read.

My chief complaints are that while the characters aren't caricatures of good and evil, they are close. The author attempts to generate story arc from the first book to the second, leaving loose ends to tie up in the next, but the characters aren't developed enough for us to care strongly about them. I think the author relies too heavily on descriptions of the exotic locale and customs to carry a fairly weak and predictable mystery.

[Melody Costa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish I had know this was a sequel before I got so far into it. As it was, I had already listened to at least a third of it before I found out (on Goodreads) that it was the second in a series. This fact didn't hinder my experience listening to The Abyssinian Proof.

A deeply engrossing historical mystery, this audio captured my attention from the start. It took my to secret religious sects, the smuggling trade towards the end of the nineteenth century, and into the life of a magistrate in the city of Constantinople.
I was invested in finding out what happened to Kamil Pasha, his orphaned protege Avi, and a couple of possible love interests.

[Marsha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perhaps I have read too many similar books but I found this story featuring Magistrate Kamil Pasha formulaic and predictable. In 19th Century Istanbul, religious artifacts are being stolen from mosques, synagogues and churches only to show up in Europe months later. Kamil Pasha must find out who and how.

Part of my disappointment is I did not really get a sense of Istanbul in the late 19th Century. Rather, the mystery was the main thing. Okay, but not as good as others in the similar genre.

[Aprillee · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the actual case being solved and the setting of the book with the history but there was a bit too much sexualtiy for me. The author also chose to use modern day swear words (the really strong ones)which sort of confused me because the story is in the late 1800's in Istanbul so its hard to imagine such language being used. I will admit that I am not up to date on my history of the use of bad swear words and where/when it started but it just seemed out of place in this story. So the mystery aspect was good but I would not recommend the book overall.