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Ben Canaan #1
Murder in Constantinople
A gripping, immersive historical murder mystery in which a wayward boy from London's East End is pulled into the hunt for a serial killer on the eve of the Crimean War.
London, 1854. Twenty-one-year-old Ben Canaan attracts trouble wherever he goes. His father wants him to be a good Jewish son, working for the family business on Whitechapel Road, but Ben and his friends, the 'Good-for-Nothings', just want adventure.
Then the discovery of an enigmatic letter and a photograph of a beautiful woman offer an escapade more dangerous than anything he'd imagined. Suddenly Ben is thrown into a mystery that takes him all the way to Constantinople, the jewel of an empire and the centre of a world on the brink of war.
His only clue is three 'The White Death'. Now he must find what links a string of grisly murders, following a trail through kingmaking and conspiracy, poison and high politics, bloodshed and betrayal. In a city of deadly secrets, no one is safe - and one wrong step could cost Ben his life.
London, 1854. Twenty-one-year-old Ben Canaan attracts trouble wherever he goes. His father wants him to be a good Jewish son, working for the family business on Whitechapel Road, but Ben and his friends, the 'Good-for-Nothings', just want adventure.
Then the discovery of an enigmatic letter and a photograph of a beautiful woman offer an escapade more dangerous than anything he'd imagined. Suddenly Ben is thrown into a mystery that takes him all the way to Constantinople, the jewel of an empire and the centre of a world on the brink of war.
His only clue is three 'The White Death'. Now he must find what links a string of grisly murders, following a trail through kingmaking and conspiracy, poison and high politics, bloodshed and betrayal. In a city of deadly secrets, no one is safe - and one wrong step could cost Ben his life.
331 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 5, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews
November 1, 2024
I gave up. The insane anachronisms (electric bulbs! discovery of novel viruses! a kerfuffle over an unlicensed gun!) in 1854 Constantinople almost killed me, but there were hosts of other clunkers, including Turkish street urchins quoting “the Bard” in English- the apparent lingua franca in Constantinople(eye roll). Then, beyond that, the leaden expository dialogue and improbable plotting drove me batty. Maybe if I read to the end I’d discover some time travel twist that explains this mess but it comes off as lazy sloppiness. Don’t!
October 9, 2026
Rating: squeaks to 4* of five
The Publisher Says: Alfred Hitchcock meets Indiana Jones in this acclaimed, globe-trotting historical mystery about a wayward Jewish kid drawn into a sinister plot
This entertaining historical mystery is the exciting debut novel from London-based musician and screenwriter A.E. Goldin. Thrillingly paced and with an enchanting historical setting, it launches an unforgettable new hero in a series that provides all the nostalgic reading pleasure of classic Sherlock Holmes.
London, 1854. 21-year-old Ben Canaan attracts trouble wherever he goes. His father wants him to be a good Jewish son, working for the family business on Whitechapel Road, but Ben and his friends, the 'Good-for-Nothings', just want adventure.
Then the chance discovery of an enigmatic letter and a photograph of a beautiful woman bring Ben an adventure more dangerous than anything he’d imagined. Suddenly he is thrown into the heart of a mystery that takes him away from everything he has known and all the way to Constantinople, the jewel of an empire and the centre of a world on the brink of war.
Ben’s only clue is 3 words: ‘The White Death’. Now he must find what links a string of grisly murders, following a trail through kingmaking and conspiracy, poison and high politics, bloodshed and betrayal. In a city of deadly secrets, no one is safe – and one wrong step could cost Ben his life.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.
My Review: Like the TV version of The Wild Wild West that ran from 1965 to 1969 (I'm still salty it got canceled by sustained pressure from lamebrained Congressmen), the book has trouble picking a tone. It does not feel entirely intentional, so gives an impression of lurching from sweet to sour to violent to off-the-wall daffy. Had the author, a screenwriter, recalled the true statement "every reader is the director of their brain's movie" there might have been smoother transitions among fewer tonal shifts.
How did a small-time chancer whose petty crimes were the impetus for him to stow away on a Royal Navy ship heading for the Crimean War; then after jumping ship in Constantinople, how'd he end up in the iddle of international intrigues well above his social station? How did he blend in well enough not to be rumbled minunte one? Let alone how did he get the information he's needed for the solutions to immensely consequential international intrigues?
Don't look for logic is how. Either buy in or leave the table, because this game is mad, it's incredible, and it's either going to charm you or piss you right off.
Me, I'm more charmed than any other response. I like Ben's verve and bravado. It makes him exciting to follow around. I don't think a sleuth should be reckless with impunity because life ain't like that. I do enjoy someone screwing up and learning from the screwing up, as failing upwards is relatable to anyone who's ever done anything that semi-succeded knows. Ben has that infuriating knack that real people I hate have of knowing just the right person to accomplish the thing that most needs doing so he can figure a puzzle out.
There is no slowing down either. Infodumps are quite rare and mostly very short indeed. It helps that I needed the ones I got. Plenty of female badassery on display, and integral to the plot...a certain portrait subject in particular. I enjoyed Ben's encounter with a marvelous Florence Nightingale, who factually was where she's met by our (anti)hero at a most amusingly delicate juncture.
Think of this as an 1854 European version of The Wild Wild West featuring a Jewish young man with a love for gadgets and a penchant for picking the wrong woman, and there you go. Again, id any of that is not causing you to break out in purrs, stay or go away soonest, it won't suddenly become your cuppa.
The Publisher Says: Alfred Hitchcock meets Indiana Jones in this acclaimed, globe-trotting historical mystery about a wayward Jewish kid drawn into a sinister plot
This entertaining historical mystery is the exciting debut novel from London-based musician and screenwriter A.E. Goldin. Thrillingly paced and with an enchanting historical setting, it launches an unforgettable new hero in a series that provides all the nostalgic reading pleasure of classic Sherlock Holmes.
London, 1854. 21-year-old Ben Canaan attracts trouble wherever he goes. His father wants him to be a good Jewish son, working for the family business on Whitechapel Road, but Ben and his friends, the 'Good-for-Nothings', just want adventure.
Then the chance discovery of an enigmatic letter and a photograph of a beautiful woman bring Ben an adventure more dangerous than anything he’d imagined. Suddenly he is thrown into the heart of a mystery that takes him away from everything he has known and all the way to Constantinople, the jewel of an empire and the centre of a world on the brink of war.
Ben’s only clue is 3 words: ‘The White Death’. Now he must find what links a string of grisly murders, following a trail through kingmaking and conspiracy, poison and high politics, bloodshed and betrayal. In a city of deadly secrets, no one is safe – and one wrong step could cost Ben his life.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.
My Review: Like the TV version of The Wild Wild West that ran from 1965 to 1969 (I'm still salty it got canceled by sustained pressure from lamebrained Congressmen), the book has trouble picking a tone. It does not feel entirely intentional, so gives an impression of lurching from sweet to sour to violent to off-the-wall daffy. Had the author, a screenwriter, recalled the true statement "every reader is the director of their brain's movie" there might have been smoother transitions among fewer tonal shifts.
How did a small-time chancer whose petty crimes were the impetus for him to stow away on a Royal Navy ship heading for the Crimean War; then after jumping ship in Constantinople, how'd he end up in the iddle of international intrigues well above his social station? How did he blend in well enough not to be rumbled minunte one? Let alone how did he get the information he's needed for the solutions to immensely consequential international intrigues?
Don't look for logic is how. Either buy in or leave the table, because this game is mad, it's incredible, and it's either going to charm you or piss you right off.
Me, I'm more charmed than any other response. I like Ben's verve and bravado. It makes him exciting to follow around. I don't think a sleuth should be reckless with impunity because life ain't like that. I do enjoy someone screwing up and learning from the screwing up, as failing upwards is relatable to anyone who's ever done anything that semi-succeded knows. Ben has that infuriating knack that real people I hate have of knowing just the right person to accomplish the thing that most needs doing so he can figure a puzzle out.
There is no slowing down either. Infodumps are quite rare and mostly very short indeed. It helps that I needed the ones I got. Plenty of female badassery on display, and integral to the plot...a certain portrait subject in particular. I enjoyed Ben's encounter with a marvelous Florence Nightingale, who factually was where she's met by our (anti)hero at a most amusingly delicate juncture.
Think of this as an 1854 European version of The Wild Wild West featuring a Jewish young man with a love for gadgets and a penchant for picking the wrong woman, and there you go. Again, id any of that is not causing you to break out in purrs, stay or go away soonest, it won't suddenly become your cuppa.
October 28, 2025
Somehow, I missed Murder in Constantinople when it first showed up on Edelweiss, but I saw a friend had reviewed it and thought—that sounds like a book for me! So I requested it and received it and—behold!—it was a book for me.
I love historical mysteries, particularly with maginalized people at the center of the plot. I also loved reading biographies of Florence Nightingale when I was a kid. Aaaaand...
Murder in Constantinople features a central character who's a young Jewish man, growing up in London, bitter because his father, a tailor, pulled him out of school so he could work for the family business.
But wait! There's more: our young man travels to Constantinople looking for a woman he loved and thought was dead, but whose portrait has shown up.... Well, I'm not going to tell you that bit because that would be a spoiler.
What about Florence Nightingale? Well, Crimean War, British troops launching from Constantinople to the field of battle and all that. Nightingale only has a cameo role, but that doesn't keep me from loving the fact that she and our central character are crossing paths. She's also a real-world version of the strong women characters who play key roles in this novel.
In Constantinople, as in London, there's plenty of anti-Semitism—and also Jewish communities that are tightly bound and protective of one another. So, when our central character lands arrives he seeks out the local synagogue where he's welcomed by a Turkish rabbi with Spanish ancestry.
so—
• Jewish identity in both London and Constantinople
• A young man deprived of an education that he hoped might help him up the social ladder
• The Crimean War, with side notes about British soldiers fighting there
• An interesting assortment of bad-ass women
• A brief appearance by Florence Nightingale
What else could a reader of historical mysteries want? I'm strongly recommending this title for any readers of historical mysteries who share share even one of my interests in historical context, marginalization, or bad-ass women. Seriously, you *will* enjoy it.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via Edelweiss; the opinions are my own.
I love historical mysteries, particularly with maginalized people at the center of the plot. I also loved reading biographies of Florence Nightingale when I was a kid. Aaaaand...
Murder in Constantinople features a central character who's a young Jewish man, growing up in London, bitter because his father, a tailor, pulled him out of school so he could work for the family business.
But wait! There's more: our young man travels to Constantinople looking for a woman he loved and thought was dead, but whose portrait has shown up.... Well, I'm not going to tell you that bit because that would be a spoiler.
What about Florence Nightingale? Well, Crimean War, British troops launching from Constantinople to the field of battle and all that. Nightingale only has a cameo role, but that doesn't keep me from loving the fact that she and our central character are crossing paths. She's also a real-world version of the strong women characters who play key roles in this novel.
In Constantinople, as in London, there's plenty of anti-Semitism—and also Jewish communities that are tightly bound and protective of one another. So, when our central character lands arrives he seeks out the local synagogue where he's welcomed by a Turkish rabbi with Spanish ancestry.
so—
• Jewish identity in both London and Constantinople
• A young man deprived of an education that he hoped might help him up the social ladder
• The Crimean War, with side notes about British soldiers fighting there
• An interesting assortment of bad-ass women
• A brief appearance by Florence Nightingale
What else could a reader of historical mysteries want? I'm strongly recommending this title for any readers of historical mysteries who share share even one of my interests in historical context, marginalization, or bad-ass women. Seriously, you *will* enjoy it.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via Edelweiss; the opinions are my own.
March 8, 2026
I didn't like this book at all.
The hero is a 'chancer' who has to leave London in order to avoid arrest for a series of misdemeanours. He goes to Constantinople on board a naval ship on its way to the Crimean War. The ship takes a very circuitous route through the Mediterranean but eventually it arrives on The Bosphorus and our hero jumps ship, right into the middle of a murder puzzle that he helps solve.
Our hero jumps off structures and injures himself, but the injuries clear up and are never mentioned again. He jumps onto a ship and the roof is open so he lands on bags of cinnamon and shares a cup of tea with the crew who don't seem surprised that he's dropped in to see them. All the women he sees are beautiful of course and fall for him. The book is written like a screenplay for a TV show.
The hero is a 'chancer' who has to leave London in order to avoid arrest for a series of misdemeanours. He goes to Constantinople on board a naval ship on its way to the Crimean War. The ship takes a very circuitous route through the Mediterranean but eventually it arrives on The Bosphorus and our hero jumps ship, right into the middle of a murder puzzle that he helps solve.
Our hero jumps off structures and injures himself, but the injuries clear up and are never mentioned again. He jumps onto a ship and the roof is open so he lands on bags of cinnamon and shares a cup of tea with the crew who don't seem surprised that he's dropped in to see them. All the women he sees are beautiful of course and fall for him. The book is written like a screenplay for a TV show.
October 19, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and RBMedia for providing me with an ALC.
This book was trying too hard to be everything. Initially it gives you a cozy mystery vibe, with the amateur detectives and all but then goes to 1854 Constantinople and is all into spies and princes and conspiracies??? I did not feel the historical setting at all for one, it was filled to the brim with anachronisms. The plot itself felt meh, I wasn't really invested in it after the first few chapters maybe. It also focused too much on the interactions and too little on the actual investigation. The subsequent books might be better but I don't think this book/series is for me because it felt all over the place.
The narrator did a decent job with the book but I personally didn't find anything exceptional. That could also be because I wasn't really invested in the book itself.
This book was trying too hard to be everything. Initially it gives you a cozy mystery vibe, with the amateur detectives and all but then goes to 1854 Constantinople and is all into spies and princes and conspiracies??? I did not feel the historical setting at all for one, it was filled to the brim with anachronisms. The plot itself felt meh, I wasn't really invested in it after the first few chapters maybe. It also focused too much on the interactions and too little on the actual investigation. The subsequent books might be better but I don't think this book/series is for me because it felt all over the place.
The narrator did a decent job with the book but I personally didn't find anything exceptional. That could also be because I wasn't really invested in the book itself.
October 19, 2025
[NetGalley Read #50]
3.5 ⭐️
"Heartbreak is not cured by flights of fancy."
Good.
Went in expecting something along the lines of a murder mystery of the Golden Age (Agatha Christie, Sayers, Chesterton, etc.) and was slightly dismayed by the espionage nature of the story (though that's more because of my own experience with the genre). Nevertheless, it's a good story, mixing a lot of things and managing to keep it entertaining.
The scope of this story is massive. From London's East End to Constantinople, throwing in a bunch of characters, politics, countries, and nationalities. The Turks, English, Russians, the Polish, Greeks, and an American couple. There are themes of identity, politics, war, espionage, power and the consequences of all these things and the people they affect.
Characters are good. Some of them are better written than the others. Some are there to serve the larger part of the story and nothing more. The central character, Benjy, is very good. With his background established, his troubles explored, his adventures, brushes with death, and unflappability in the face of danger makes him the most fleshed out character of the story.
It's a relatively easy book to read. There are a lot of words, some Jewish (or Hebrew, I guess), some Arabic, some in other languages, that you may or may not need to Google. It borders on jarring just so but never crosses that line. So that's good. It is, I would say, a medium-length book (340+ pages). It feels very long, though. There are A LOT of things happening in just this one book. And it is told from the perspectives of multiple people, often the perspective changing within one chapter.
All that being said, I liked it a lot. The scope of the story, the thriller/espionage elements which originate from a small mystery related to the main character, and the main character himself, along with many, many secondary characters make for a fun read. Waiting for the next one.
Recommended. 👍
3.5 ⭐️
"Heartbreak is not cured by flights of fancy."
Good.
Went in expecting something along the lines of a murder mystery of the Golden Age (Agatha Christie, Sayers, Chesterton, etc.) and was slightly dismayed by the espionage nature of the story (though that's more because of my own experience with the genre). Nevertheless, it's a good story, mixing a lot of things and managing to keep it entertaining.
The scope of this story is massive. From London's East End to Constantinople, throwing in a bunch of characters, politics, countries, and nationalities. The Turks, English, Russians, the Polish, Greeks, and an American couple. There are themes of identity, politics, war, espionage, power and the consequences of all these things and the people they affect.
Characters are good. Some of them are better written than the others. Some are there to serve the larger part of the story and nothing more. The central character, Benjy, is very good. With his background established, his troubles explored, his adventures, brushes with death, and unflappability in the face of danger makes him the most fleshed out character of the story.
It's a relatively easy book to read. There are a lot of words, some Jewish (or Hebrew, I guess), some Arabic, some in other languages, that you may or may not need to Google. It borders on jarring just so but never crosses that line. So that's good. It is, I would say, a medium-length book (340+ pages). It feels very long, though. There are A LOT of things happening in just this one book. And it is told from the perspectives of multiple people, often the perspective changing within one chapter.
All that being said, I liked it a lot. The scope of the story, the thriller/espionage elements which originate from a small mystery related to the main character, and the main character himself, along with many, many secondary characters make for a fun read. Waiting for the next one.
Recommended. 👍
March 9, 2025
As someone born and raised in Istanbul, my expectations for this book were high—and I’m happy to say it did not disappoint. It is a fast-paced, gripping murder mystery set against the backdrop of 1850s Istanbul, skillfully weaving historical events and political intrigue into its narrative.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is how it immerses the reader in the city’s rich and tumultuous past, particularly the wars and shifting alliances of the era. The pacing is excellent, keeping me engaged from start to finish. The mystery itself was well-crafted, with enough twists to keep me on my toes.
That said, I couldn’t help but notice some anachronisms—most notably, the way nearly every character seemed to speak perfect English. Given that even in today’s Istanbul this wouldn’t be the case, it did pull me out of the story at times. Aside from this, the book delivered a compelling plot, atmospheric storytelling, and a fascinating glimpse into a crucial period of Istanbul’s history.
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC, this was my honest opinion
One of the book’s greatest strengths is how it immerses the reader in the city’s rich and tumultuous past, particularly the wars and shifting alliances of the era. The pacing is excellent, keeping me engaged from start to finish. The mystery itself was well-crafted, with enough twists to keep me on my toes.
That said, I couldn’t help but notice some anachronisms—most notably, the way nearly every character seemed to speak perfect English. Given that even in today’s Istanbul this wouldn’t be the case, it did pull me out of the story at times. Aside from this, the book delivered a compelling plot, atmospheric storytelling, and a fascinating glimpse into a crucial period of Istanbul’s history.
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC, this was my honest opinion
October 6, 2025
"Murder in Constantinople" reads like a boys-own-adventure. There are political machinations, espionage, murder, secret societies, travel, war, criminal detection, and a naive hero blundering into situations beyond his abilities.
And if you suspend belief and accept it as such, you will find an enjoyable romp through 19th century Constantinople at the time of the Crimean War - where politics and high society meld, where "everyone from high to low has secrets, all tied together in an invisible web", where conspiracies abound, and a serial killer is on the loose. Can our young runaway find his feet whilst avoid being the target of a secret group of assassins .... only time will tell.!
The first in a new series, the scene setting begins here and once it gets going, the action follows.
And if you suspend belief and accept it as such, you will find an enjoyable romp through 19th century Constantinople at the time of the Crimean War - where politics and high society meld, where "everyone from high to low has secrets, all tied together in an invisible web", where conspiracies abound, and a serial killer is on the loose. Can our young runaway find his feet whilst avoid being the target of a secret group of assassins .... only time will tell.!
The first in a new series, the scene setting begins here and once it gets going, the action follows.
June 20, 2024
It's 1854 and the Crimean War rages. Ben Canaan, the son of a respectable Jewish tailor, is a bit of a wild lad who falls foul of police and local crime baron, finds himself on his way to Constantinople where the Russians plan to murder the Sultan using a man made plague known as the White Death...er, or something.
Almost completely implausible, full of anachronism and historical error, its plot hackneyed and predictable, this novel nonetheless has a sort of simple charm which does carry the reader along without causing complete offense to intelligence and well being.
Almost completely implausible, full of anachronism and historical error, its plot hackneyed and predictable, this novel nonetheless has a sort of simple charm which does carry the reader along without causing complete offense to intelligence and well being.
Read
July 20, 2026My revisit someday. All I can get right now is the audiobook and just don't do well with audiobooks.
February 11, 2026
I loved this book – energy sparkles from every page; the writing is crisp, the location beguiling, the hero charming, the women beautiful and the villains villainous!
Ben Canaan is the son of a poor Jewish tailor in the east end of London. His father wants him to work in the family business, but Ben has restless energy and a desire for more. An unfortunate encounter with a loaded gun means he has to leave London quickly and he manages to get passage to Constantinople to try and find a young woman with whom he had a brief affair one summer. Constantinople, however, is beset with danger and a murderer is on the loose – there is plenty to keep Ben busy!
Highly recommended.
Ben Canaan is the son of a poor Jewish tailor in the east end of London. His father wants him to work in the family business, but Ben has restless energy and a desire for more. An unfortunate encounter with a loaded gun means he has to leave London quickly and he manages to get passage to Constantinople to try and find a young woman with whom he had a brief affair one summer. Constantinople, however, is beset with danger and a murderer is on the loose – there is plenty to keep Ben busy!
Highly recommended.
November 28, 2024
I've read 160 pages (about 47%) and gave up. Don't get me wrong- it can be an entertaining read. I enjoyed the pace, the travelling to the other side of the world, the action and the aspect of being from a Jewish minority- so well depicted. It became more and more tiring as I went though reaching a point where I can't stand it anymore.
First offence- the main character moves to Constantinople in XIX century, yet nearly everyone can speak English. Hard to believe to say the least.
Then, there is the fact that he went all the way there to find out what happened to the love of his life- but the minute he finds out she is no longer 'available', he just moves on. Not a single page dedicated to what he felt, he simply keeps getting his eye on the next pretty girl and trust me- there are plenty of them, every 20 pages or so and they all love to hang out with him in one way or another. In my eyes, it seems more like a dream of the author to be surrounded by beautiful women than a good story-telling.
To finish, I enjoyed the style of writing- it has a potential so given that it's a debut novel, I don't cross the author entirely, I am confident he is capable of producing something worth reading in near future.
First offence- the main character moves to Constantinople in XIX century, yet nearly everyone can speak English. Hard to believe to say the least.
Then, there is the fact that he went all the way there to find out what happened to the love of his life- but the minute he finds out she is no longer 'available', he just moves on. Not a single page dedicated to what he felt, he simply keeps getting his eye on the next pretty girl and trust me- there are plenty of them, every 20 pages or so and they all love to hang out with him in one way or another. In my eyes, it seems more like a dream of the author to be surrounded by beautiful women than a good story-telling.
To finish, I enjoyed the style of writing- it has a potential so given that it's a debut novel, I don't cross the author entirely, I am confident he is capable of producing something worth reading in near future.
August 19, 2025
A mystery tied to identity, spies and a layered mystery.
It's a bit of a slow burn story to start. There is a lot of struggling with identity and what it means to be Jewish in England and what comes next. I felt sad for the family but shocked by our main character. He was a bit wild to start. Once we're finally wrapped into a bit of the mystery, I liked that there were a few threads going so we had a few mysteries to keep wondering about. It felt a bit over the top, a little bumbling spies but I did like the adventure of the story. Not everything felt realistic but by the time I'd gotten to the points, I was rolling with the story and just being entertained.
I did an audiobook copy and the narrator really did help bring adventure and pacing to the story. I enjoyed it!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
It's a bit of a slow burn story to start. There is a lot of struggling with identity and what it means to be Jewish in England and what comes next. I felt sad for the family but shocked by our main character. He was a bit wild to start. Once we're finally wrapped into a bit of the mystery, I liked that there were a few threads going so we had a few mysteries to keep wondering about. It felt a bit over the top, a little bumbling spies but I did like the adventure of the story. Not everything felt realistic but by the time I'd gotten to the points, I was rolling with the story and just being entertained.
I did an audiobook copy and the narrator really did help bring adventure and pacing to the story. I enjoyed it!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
October 12, 2025
Finished reading: October 12th 2025
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Tantor Audio in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
REVIEW
WARNING: it's another unpopular opinion!!
December 27, 2025
Bought at NYC's Mysterious Bookshop.
Silly fun, with some occasional very good parts. He's going for a Jewish James Bond vibe, but in the 1850s. Ben Canaan (surely meant to evoke the hero from Exodus, which is a somewhat politically loaded reference, properly understood) is an edgy genius from the East End with a family replete with cartoon Yiddishisms--honestly the weakest part of the novel, since they're all constantly making with the "oy"s and "shlemiels" and this and that, just in case you forget that they're, you know, a Jewish family in 1850s London's East End. They engage in a decent little debate over Jewish emancipation vs Jewish tradition to show Goldin's done some homework, though that doesn't connect to much else in the novel. The concept is clear, and more or less pulpy: Fleming-type intrigue and global drama, corrected for racism and xenophobia.
This one's got a Crimean War setting (a decent proxy for the kinds of multinational entanglements standard for the Cold-War spy thriller), masked assassins with deadly drugs, basically a version of SMERSH, Fleming's original antagonist for Bond, a decent variety of derring-do, a cameo from a great Russian writer, and I suppose a bit of detection from our hero. (Not that much, though other characters persist in calling him a "detective.") Also, BIG dollops of exposition (hey, genius little brother who reads all the papers, please explain the causes and sides of the Crimean War to me! You will definitely sound like a 10-year-old!), a bunch of goofy interjections from Ben that presumably are meant as clever badinage but that remind me of, I dunno, Tom Swift or something instead.
And that gets to the research Goldin didn't do, which the abundant anachronisms highlight. Among them, a character is "compromised"; someone is called a "serial killer"; someone is left to "bleed out"; someone mentions "equity" in a company; someone doesn't want to contribute to the "narrative," in the modern sense. (Oh, and there are way more!) In a novel that strives for period flavor and diction, those jarred.
Silly fun, with some occasional very good parts. He's going for a Jewish James Bond vibe, but in the 1850s. Ben Canaan (surely meant to evoke the hero from Exodus, which is a somewhat politically loaded reference, properly understood) is an edgy genius from the East End with a family replete with cartoon Yiddishisms--honestly the weakest part of the novel, since they're all constantly making with the "oy"s and "shlemiels" and this and that, just in case you forget that they're, you know, a Jewish family in 1850s London's East End. They engage in a decent little debate over Jewish emancipation vs Jewish tradition to show Goldin's done some homework, though that doesn't connect to much else in the novel. The concept is clear, and more or less pulpy: Fleming-type intrigue and global drama, corrected for racism and xenophobia.
This one's got a Crimean War setting (a decent proxy for the kinds of multinational entanglements standard for the Cold-War spy thriller), masked assassins with deadly drugs, basically a version of SMERSH, Fleming's original antagonist for Bond, a decent variety of derring-do, a cameo from a great Russian writer, and I suppose a bit of detection from our hero. (Not that much, though other characters persist in calling him a "detective.") Also, BIG dollops of exposition (hey, genius little brother who reads all the papers, please explain the causes and sides of the Crimean War to me! You will definitely sound like a 10-year-old!), a bunch of goofy interjections from Ben that presumably are meant as clever badinage but that remind me of, I dunno, Tom Swift or something instead.
And that gets to the research Goldin didn't do, which the abundant anachronisms highlight. Among them, a character is "compromised"; someone is called a "serial killer"; someone is left to "bleed out"; someone mentions "equity" in a company; someone doesn't want to contribute to the "narrative," in the modern sense. (Oh, and there are way more!) In a novel that strives for period flavor and diction, those jarred.
August 21, 2025
This historical fiction novel is a detective story that takes place in Constantinople during the Crimean War. The protagonist Ben is a young Jewish man who is the black sheep of his family. Due to circumstances that arise he is forced to flee his family home in London for the Continent.
I am not very familiar with Jewish or Turkish Culture or the Crimean War so I can't say whether the details are accurate. There weren't any mistakes egregious enough to take me out of the story. The language is modern and not what would have been used in the mid 1800s but that doesn't bother me as it is very difficult to mimic archaic speech and attempts to do so are usually really jarring.
The novel was nicely paced with plenty of action and likeable characters. I would classify this as a cozy mystery although there are one or two disturbing scenes. The stakes just never felt that high and things were wrapped up with an ease that is typical for cozy mysteries.
I liked the setting as it is unfamiliar to me but described well enough for me to conjure up an image that gave life to the scenes.
The story got a bit melodramatic at points and I rolled my eyes a couple times when Ben was making a speech but overall, the writing was clean and direct.
It seems to me that the author has set the character up to be recurring in a series, and if this is the case, I am on board to read the next adventure.
My thanks to Netgalley and Steerforth & Pushkin for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I am not very familiar with Jewish or Turkish Culture or the Crimean War so I can't say whether the details are accurate. There weren't any mistakes egregious enough to take me out of the story. The language is modern and not what would have been used in the mid 1800s but that doesn't bother me as it is very difficult to mimic archaic speech and attempts to do so are usually really jarring.
The novel was nicely paced with plenty of action and likeable characters. I would classify this as a cozy mystery although there are one or two disturbing scenes. The stakes just never felt that high and things were wrapped up with an ease that is typical for cozy mysteries.
I liked the setting as it is unfamiliar to me but described well enough for me to conjure up an image that gave life to the scenes.
The story got a bit melodramatic at points and I rolled my eyes a couple times when Ben was making a speech but overall, the writing was clean and direct.
It seems to me that the author has set the character up to be recurring in a series, and if this is the case, I am on board to read the next adventure.
My thanks to Netgalley and Steerforth & Pushkin for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 23, 2026
This started out as a pretty good book. I was liking the different characters and the story was interesting and set in a part of the world that was unfamiliar to me. Unfortunately things started to go bad relatively quickly. Set in 1854, there quickly became so many historical inaccuracies, anachronisms, and just unbelievable situations that it was distracting to the overall plot. Where was the editor? Most of these amateur errors should have been fixed in the first read though. Disappointing.
November 12, 2025
Mixed feelings on this.
The first half took me forever to get into - it almost seemed like I was getting a lesson on the Jewish Identity.
Many things were highly improbable, but this book was compared to Indiana Jones, so 10/10 accuracy for that comparison.
The second half picked up the pace, but it could have used some editing. Ending was appropriate, epilogue set up next book in the series.
Overall this will be entertaining to those that like capers / high adventure genre, but it was a bit challenging for me.
The first half took me forever to get into - it almost seemed like I was getting a lesson on the Jewish Identity.
Many things were highly improbable, but this book was compared to Indiana Jones, so 10/10 accuracy for that comparison.
The second half picked up the pace, but it could have used some editing. Ending was appropriate, epilogue set up next book in the series.
Overall this will be entertaining to those that like capers / high adventure genre, but it was a bit challenging for me.
January 19, 2026
more like a 2.75. this was the author’s debut novel and i feel like you could definitely tell. i found it very confusing to follow and i kept having to flip back to earlier in the book to remind myself of characters and plot points that would show up again randomly with no reintroduction. i love a murder mystery so i stuck this one out, and i’d say it improved somewhat by the end. not sure if i’d read his next book, maybe just to see if it was more cohesive/followable.
November 25, 2025
Thank goodness for the maps! Nice book.
January 23, 2026
Fun and entertaining, nice characters and an intriguing plot/narrative. I'm excited for the sequel!
September 29, 2026
Set in Constantinople at the time of the Crimean War, a young Jewish man, Ben Canaan, helps find the White Death killer to save the Sultan.
I didn’t learn much about the Crimean War through the content of this book. I did my own research to understand more of what was taking place. Goldin focuses less on history and more on a specific case involving several murders taking place in Constantinople.
Parts are interesting, but overall, Goldin writes using modern day cliches and phrases to describe events happening in the 1850’s. He has a lot of awkward telling rather than showing.
Boring interspersed with entertaining.
I didn’t learn much about the Crimean War through the content of this book. I did my own research to understand more of what was taking place. Goldin focuses less on history and more on a specific case involving several murders taking place in Constantinople.
Parts are interesting, but overall, Goldin writes using modern day cliches and phrases to describe events happening in the 1850’s. He has a lot of awkward telling rather than showing.
Boring interspersed with entertaining.
May 28, 2026
Actual rating 2.5 stars.
A sloppy but still somewhat enjoyable adventure. Very obviously the authors debut with a lot of enthusiasm but all of the pitfalls that come with a new author.
This is like a Jewish James Bond, embodying not challenging the genre its set in. The start in the East End was fun, and having a Jewish protagonist was interesting. However as we traverse over to and around Constantinople, the novel gets increasingly difficult to suspend my disbelief enough to enjoy what was happening.
Some of the absurdity can be explained away by the type of story this is trying to be. The seemingly invulnerable protagonist, everyone being able to speak English and the fantastical plot devices are all very 007 or Indiana Jones. However that, plus the increasing level of anachronism and historical inaccuracies really started to wear on me after a while. I feel like Goldin had a lot of really fun ideas but did minimal research and didn't hire an editor who was able to tell him no. In addition the pacing is odd. It has a slow start, the titular murders aren't even addressed until nearly halfway through the book and then solved pretty quickly. Making this book not the mystery novel its advertised as, but an adventure novel with a mystery side quest. It also has nearly unbelievable levels of orientalism, (the sultans harem? Really??) Which is probably connected to the lack of research, and overuse of tropes.
Its a shame because there are bits of this book I really liked. The exploration of Jewish identity in the beginning was surprisingly deep and touching for a story with a scientifically engineered super-virus. Contempary stories of this era typically potray Jewish people in an unflattering light or are just downright derogatory. Ben Canaan is a bit of a scoundrel its true but he's definitely and anti-hero which was refreshing to see. The prose is fun, particularly the dialogue, Ben himself was particularly quick witted. Parts of the plot are genuinely clever and intriguing. But its all bogged down by clumsy cliché and overused rule-of-cool.
I know that this is meant to be an outrageous romp of a story but even silly books should be given consideration, and it feels like this one wasn't. I hope Goldin knuckles down, does more research and gives more thought to the next book in this series because there were parts I thought were really fun and could be worked into a better overall narrative. Hopefully this is just growing pains and the next one is better.
A sloppy but still somewhat enjoyable adventure. Very obviously the authors debut with a lot of enthusiasm but all of the pitfalls that come with a new author.
This is like a Jewish James Bond, embodying not challenging the genre its set in. The start in the East End was fun, and having a Jewish protagonist was interesting. However as we traverse over to and around Constantinople, the novel gets increasingly difficult to suspend my disbelief enough to enjoy what was happening.
Some of the absurdity can be explained away by the type of story this is trying to be. The seemingly invulnerable protagonist, everyone being able to speak English and the fantastical plot devices are all very 007 or Indiana Jones. However that, plus the increasing level of anachronism and historical inaccuracies really started to wear on me after a while. I feel like Goldin had a lot of really fun ideas but did minimal research and didn't hire an editor who was able to tell him no. In addition the pacing is odd. It has a slow start, the titular murders aren't even addressed until nearly halfway through the book and then solved pretty quickly. Making this book not the mystery novel its advertised as, but an adventure novel with a mystery side quest. It also has nearly unbelievable levels of orientalism, (the sultans harem? Really??) Which is probably connected to the lack of research, and overuse of tropes.
Its a shame because there are bits of this book I really liked. The exploration of Jewish identity in the beginning was surprisingly deep and touching for a story with a scientifically engineered super-virus. Contempary stories of this era typically potray Jewish people in an unflattering light or are just downright derogatory. Ben Canaan is a bit of a scoundrel its true but he's definitely and anti-hero which was refreshing to see. The prose is fun, particularly the dialogue, Ben himself was particularly quick witted. Parts of the plot are genuinely clever and intriguing. But its all bogged down by clumsy cliché and overused rule-of-cool.
I know that this is meant to be an outrageous romp of a story but even silly books should be given consideration, and it feels like this one wasn't. I hope Goldin knuckles down, does more research and gives more thought to the next book in this series because there were parts I thought were really fun and could be worked into a better overall narrative. Hopefully this is just growing pains and the next one is better.
November 24, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and RBMedia for providing this eARC in audiobook format in exchange for my review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
This historical murder mystery pulls no punches as it brings the reader along on the journey of self-proclaimed troublemaker Ben Canaan as he is pulled deeper into a world of political intrigue and danger that leads him into Constantinople, where he is way out of his depth. The author is masterful in vividly describing settings, making the reader feel like they are in the mix with Ben and does a great job making Ben a nuanced character, particularly in weaving in commentary about Jewish identity and how poverty can become so suffocating. Perhaps most powerfully, A.E. Goldin discreetly challenges the idea of an ethnostate, instead offering that there is more dignity in community than there is in hoarding power to subjugate other people. However, there are moments where the dialogue feels like stilted exposition that sometimes feels like the story is in a rush to pull the pieces together, which is particularly noticeable in an audiobook format.
The narration reflects this well-crafted world-building and excitement. The sole narrator, Liam Gerrard, injects life into the story with his narration. He seamlessly weaves dialogue and narration and really commits to expressing the personalities of different characters. He is very charismatic in his narration of this book, pulling you into the world of Ben Canaan and making the whole world melt away around you, leaving you to focus on the story alone. The pace of reading is smooth, and this book lends itself well to the audiobook format, with the narrator briefly mentioning the chapter and chapter title before jumping straight into the story, thus avoiding pulling you out of the narrative. Sometimes the aforementioned stilted exposition shows up in the accent work, which is a bit uneven, with some accents being extremely realistic and convincing, as though the narrator has lived in these accents, whilst other accents seem melodramatic, especially in grand speeches.
Overall, it is an enjoyable read, and it would be interesting to see more adventures from this character.
This historical murder mystery pulls no punches as it brings the reader along on the journey of self-proclaimed troublemaker Ben Canaan as he is pulled deeper into a world of political intrigue and danger that leads him into Constantinople, where he is way out of his depth. The author is masterful in vividly describing settings, making the reader feel like they are in the mix with Ben and does a great job making Ben a nuanced character, particularly in weaving in commentary about Jewish identity and how poverty can become so suffocating. Perhaps most powerfully, A.E. Goldin discreetly challenges the idea of an ethnostate, instead offering that there is more dignity in community than there is in hoarding power to subjugate other people. However, there are moments where the dialogue feels like stilted exposition that sometimes feels like the story is in a rush to pull the pieces together, which is particularly noticeable in an audiobook format.
The narration reflects this well-crafted world-building and excitement. The sole narrator, Liam Gerrard, injects life into the story with his narration. He seamlessly weaves dialogue and narration and really commits to expressing the personalities of different characters. He is very charismatic in his narration of this book, pulling you into the world of Ben Canaan and making the whole world melt away around you, leaving you to focus on the story alone. The pace of reading is smooth, and this book lends itself well to the audiobook format, with the narrator briefly mentioning the chapter and chapter title before jumping straight into the story, thus avoiding pulling you out of the narrative. Sometimes the aforementioned stilted exposition shows up in the accent work, which is a bit uneven, with some accents being extremely realistic and convincing, as though the narrator has lived in these accents, whilst other accents seem melodramatic, especially in grand speeches.
Overall, it is an enjoyable read, and it would be interesting to see more adventures from this character.
October 29, 2025
I'm always game for a historical mystery, and this looked like the start of a potentially fun series. Our protagonist Ben is the son of a Jewish tailor in London's East End, but he's more interested in running the streets with his friends and mixing with local gangsters than taking on the drudgery of a respectable but low-paying trade. The first part of the book lays out the home and lives of a typical Jewish family in London of the mid-19th century. However, a chance visit to fit Lord Palmerston for a suit, along with Ben's con artistry at Claridge's leads to his passage on a British troop trip bound for the Crimean War, by way of Constantinople.
It seems (per a clunky flashback) that a woman he fell in love with three years ago may be living in the Ottoman capital. From there the story only gets more and more bonkers, as he becomes immersed in geopolitical plots against the Sultan and succession. He makes allies in the Jewish community, picks up a Tatar sidekick (who can somehow speak English), and generally gets mixed up in all kinds of nonsense. It's all rather over the top, and not helped by anachronisms scattered throughout (Ben's sidekick calls him "Beef Wellington" even through that didn't exist as a recipe name until 50+ years later, Earl Grey tea is drunk even though that name hadn't been coined for another 30 years, there's reference to electric lights, which also weren't around for another 30 years, and so on). Cameos from Leo Tolstoy and Florence Nightingale are shoehorned in for no story reason.
By the final bits of the book, it was all just feeling too "Boys Own" for my taste. Ben starts the book as a complete jerk and of course by the end has matured and there's a treacly scene at the end where he's reunited with his family. All in all, readers who are seeking fluffy fun from their historical mysteries may enjoy this, but those seeking a proper mystery series set in Ottoman Constantinople will be best served by Jason Goodwin's "Yashim the Eunuch" series, which is set about twenty years before this.
It seems (per a clunky flashback) that a woman he fell in love with three years ago may be living in the Ottoman capital. From there the story only gets more and more bonkers, as he becomes immersed in geopolitical plots against the Sultan and succession. He makes allies in the Jewish community, picks up a Tatar sidekick (who can somehow speak English), and generally gets mixed up in all kinds of nonsense. It's all rather over the top, and not helped by anachronisms scattered throughout (Ben's sidekick calls him "Beef Wellington" even through that didn't exist as a recipe name until 50+ years later, Earl Grey tea is drunk even though that name hadn't been coined for another 30 years, there's reference to electric lights, which also weren't around for another 30 years, and so on). Cameos from Leo Tolstoy and Florence Nightingale are shoehorned in for no story reason.
By the final bits of the book, it was all just feeling too "Boys Own" for my taste. Ben starts the book as a complete jerk and of course by the end has matured and there's a treacly scene at the end where he's reunited with his family. All in all, readers who are seeking fluffy fun from their historical mysteries may enjoy this, but those seeking a proper mystery series set in Ottoman Constantinople will be best served by Jason Goodwin's "Yashim the Eunuch" series, which is set about twenty years before this.
October 24, 2025
ARC Review
I really wanted to like *Murder in Constantinople* more than I did. As someone who genuinely enjoys historical mystery novels, I went in expecting intrigue, atmosphere, and a clever storyline—but what I got instead felt oddly cartoonish and stretched beyond believability.
The story follows Benjamin Canaan, a young man from a Jewish East End family who refuses to follow in his father’s tailoring footsteps. Instead, he joins a group of small-time criminals and ends up, somehow, tangled in espionage work in Constantinople. The setup could’ve been compelling, but Ben’s constant luck-based survival through absurd situations made it hard to take seriously. Nothing ever felt earned.
The pacing also dragged for a while—it took nearly a third of the book for the main plot to even begin. The side characters felt unrealistic too, like the street urchins who conveniently speak English and always seem to have food and shelter ready for strangers.
There are glimmers of an interesting story buried in there, and the idea itself had potential. Unfortunately, between the uneven tone, pacing issues, and improbable events, it just didn’t work for me. A solid concept, but lacking the sharpness and depth I look for in a historical mystery.
I really wanted to like *Murder in Constantinople* more than I did. As someone who genuinely enjoys historical mystery novels, I went in expecting intrigue, atmosphere, and a clever storyline—but what I got instead felt oddly cartoonish and stretched beyond believability.
The story follows Benjamin Canaan, a young man from a Jewish East End family who refuses to follow in his father’s tailoring footsteps. Instead, he joins a group of small-time criminals and ends up, somehow, tangled in espionage work in Constantinople. The setup could’ve been compelling, but Ben’s constant luck-based survival through absurd situations made it hard to take seriously. Nothing ever felt earned.
The pacing also dragged for a while—it took nearly a third of the book for the main plot to even begin. The side characters felt unrealistic too, like the street urchins who conveniently speak English and always seem to have food and shelter ready for strangers.
There are glimmers of an interesting story buried in there, and the idea itself had potential. Unfortunately, between the uneven tone, pacing issues, and improbable events, it just didn’t work for me. A solid concept, but lacking the sharpness and depth I look for in a historical mystery.
August 6, 2025
Murder in Constantinople is an entertaining if mostly boilerplate mystery-adventure featuring the typical roguish hero and plucky, exotic love interest. You'll also find the requisite international espionage and masked ball scenes here, too, plus some bad American accents thrown in for good measure.
I enjoyed the descriptions of Constantinople as this is one of my favorite settings, and the hero's Jewish background was a fresh new take. Still, for a mystery novel, it could have been more mysterious. I can't recall a plot twist that was at all surprising. Unlike what you'd expect from a mystery, everything here is pretty much exactly as it seems. One culprit's identity was never even properly revealed. Meanwhile, the modern, police procedural dialogue felt anachronistic, and I frequently had to remind myself this was taking place in the 1850s. Also, as another reader pointed out, there's a reference to electric light bulbs which needs to be corrected.
The romance was a little understated and the epilogue dragged on, but otherwise, this was a decent read. There's potential here for a great series with some refinements.
Thanks to the publisher and author for the ARC!
I enjoyed the descriptions of Constantinople as this is one of my favorite settings, and the hero's Jewish background was a fresh new take. Still, for a mystery novel, it could have been more mysterious. I can't recall a plot twist that was at all surprising. Unlike what you'd expect from a mystery, everything here is pretty much exactly as it seems. One culprit's identity was never even properly revealed. Meanwhile, the modern, police procedural dialogue felt anachronistic, and I frequently had to remind myself this was taking place in the 1850s. Also, as another reader pointed out, there's a reference to electric light bulbs which needs to be corrected.
The romance was a little understated and the epilogue dragged on, but otherwise, this was a decent read. There's potential here for a great series with some refinements.
Thanks to the publisher and author for the ARC!
October 15, 2025
Wow! I’m afraid that is not a good exclamation. Murder in Constantinople is not a serious book. I personally love historical mystery novels and thought this would be right up my alley, but there were so many things that shouldn’t have happened. Okay, the novel follows Benjamin Canaan, a young man from a Jewish East End family in London. He is rebelling against his family, and does not want to be in their clothing business. Fine. Ben has begun working with a gang of lower class criminals, and he is terrible at it. Seriously. However, people keep giving him chances and money and he ends up in Constantinople doing spy work. It truly felt like a cartoon version of a mystery. Unfortunately, Ben keeps surviving these insane situations (not through his own efforts), and eventually finds some resolution. Even the minor characters are unrealistic. Street urchins who take strangers under their wing and have food, clothing, and can speak English!
Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book.
April 1, 2026
I'm always looking for a new good mystery writer, so when someone left this in our Little Free Library, I gave it a try. Alas, it missed the mark. This is not well crafted; the journalistic writing is pedestrian. There are too many characters. The protagonist escapes or is rescued from near death experiences too many time. This gimmick works only once or at most twice in an engaging mystery.
Advertised as historical fiction, it is set in the 1850s during the Crimean War. Goldin has done some research to establish the broader historical and cultural context. The description of life in mid 19th century Constantinople during the decline of the Ottoman Empire is interesting. However, in his research, he should have learned that Art Nouveau did not arise as an art style until the 1880s. There were several other bothersome anachronisms.
This was the first in a new series that involves a potentially appealing protagonist, the troublesome Jewish son of a London tailer. However this first story falls short of the potential, and I'll pass on the sequel.
Advertised as historical fiction, it is set in the 1850s during the Crimean War. Goldin has done some research to establish the broader historical and cultural context. The description of life in mid 19th century Constantinople during the decline of the Ottoman Empire is interesting. However, in his research, he should have learned that Art Nouveau did not arise as an art style until the 1880s. There were several other bothersome anachronisms.
This was the first in a new series that involves a potentially appealing protagonist, the troublesome Jewish son of a London tailer. However this first story falls short of the potential, and I'll pass on the sequel.
November 5, 2025
I saw this in the New York Times and it sounded fun. But it was a cliched and juvenile adventure. The anachronisms, the fact that a callow and thoughtless young man with no worldly experience could mastermind saving the Ottoman Empire - and perhaps the western world was insulting and stultifying.
Sometimes the author wallows in local details, foods and language. Other times he ignores the fact that all the characters speak many languages and somehow -miracle of miracles - this Whitechapel working class tailor has no problem understanding and speaking wit he everyone.
I made an account here just to say that it’s not worth the time and money
Sometimes the author wallows in local details, foods and language. Other times he ignores the fact that all the characters speak many languages and somehow -miracle of miracles - this Whitechapel working class tailor has no problem understanding and speaking wit he everyone.
I made an account here just to say that it’s not worth the time and money
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