Deep Waters

Inspector Ikmen #4

by Barbara Nadel

A man's body, virtually decapitated, is found by the Bosphorus. His identity card names him as Rifat Berisha, an Albanian. The family is impenetrable but when Inspector Cetin Ikmen, whose mother was Albanian, consults his cousin, Samsun, he's left in little doubt that Berisha's death is likely to be the result of a fis , an implacable blood feud between rival Albanian families. Which means the blood already shed will have to be avenged. And if the Berishas or their enemies discover Ikmen is from a noted Albanian clan, some of the spilt blood might be his...

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Fiction

448 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Barbara Nadel is an English crime-writer. Many of her books are set in Turkey. Born in the East End of London, Barbara Nadel trained as an actress before becoming a writer. Now writing full-time, she has previously worked as a public relations officer for the National Schizophrenia Fellowship's Good Companion Service and as a mental health advocate for the mentally disordered in a psychiatric hospital. She has also worked with sexually abused teenagers and taught psychology in schools and colleges, and is currently the patron of a charity that cares for those in emotional and mental distress. She has been a regular visitor to Turkey for more than twenty-five years.

Reviews

[Baba · Rating 3 out of 5]

Çetin İkmen #4: The fourth book in the Istanbul set Çetin İkmen franchise series opens with what appears to be a family honour killing amongst the immigrant Albanian community. This leads İkmen, Suleyman etc. into investigating the murder that opens up issues in both of their personal lives. Another solid entry in this enjoyable series by Nadel. 6 out of 12.

2012 read

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did enjoy this book, and I whipped through it very quickly (as I have done with all of the Cetin Ikmen books), but I didn't like this one as much as some of the others. The plot seemed kind of all over the place with this one, and there was just so much *weirdness* and family dysfunction going on. Also, I'm beginning to get a little bit weary of all the dysfunctional sex that seems to go on in these books. If Nadel wrote Ikmen to belive that murder is either motivated by sex, fear, or envy, then it would be a nice change of pace to have a murder motivated by either one of the latter two emotions for once.

Given all that was going on in this book, I found that I really relished the parts of the story that involved Fatma. Even when she's off kilter she's the most grounded, functional person in the book. This is the first Ikmen book in which I have really come to appreciate the anchor that Fatma provides to Cetin's life, and the safe harbor that she allows him and the reader to come home to.

[Rob Kitchin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deep Waters is the fourth book in the Inspector Cetin Ikmen series set in Istanbul, Turkey. This outing has a strong Albanian focus with Ikmen and his team investigating the blood feud between two Albanian families and its latest victim, while also exploring his own Albanian roots and the death of his mother. In addition, one strand of the story focuses on a rich, troubled family that have links to the young victim, and on the relationship between one of Ikmen’s aristocratic colleagues and an Irish/Turkish psychoanalyst. Indeed, as well as charting the murder investigation, the story focuses equally on the domestic lives of Ikmen and his team and the social and cultural aspects of Turkish life. The result is interesting and engaging tale, with a strong sense of cultural context and place. In my view, the storyline relies on too many of convenient relationships between police and non-police characters and there’s no great surprise in the resolution, but nonetheless it’s a captivating read. I’m looking forward to reading some of the other books to follow the characters evolving lives and learn more about the city and its people.

[Charles Kerns · Rating 4 out of 5]

Complications upon complications. All in Istanbul--A psychiatrist calls long distance to confer with her Irish priest relative about marriage proposal from a younger, somewhat-aristocratic Turkish detective teamed with a half-Albanian, honest, hardworking to the point of not seeing his wife and 9 kids often, but meeting (work-related) his cousin, a trans-sexual middle-aged fortune teller who is planning to marry the younger, well-muscled man downstairs, to find out about old-country blood feuds. A rich half-English woman with a rogue kidney and a gold Rolls-Royce, and a cast of thousands (it seems) all appear in the first hundred pages.

Not a page turner, but it holds you, not too tightly ,as it wanders thru the results of two thousand years+ of metro living and genetically mingling.

I did not mention the one paltry (but nasty) murder that I have found so far.

I am plunging on past page 100, but this is it for the review.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a young Albanian man is found dead in Istanbul, his family assumes that his death is one more tragic, but inevitable, step in a blood feud they are having with another group of Albanians. But the police need more: They need proof. As Inspector Ikmen investigates, he realizes that his own Albanian blood may be a handicap. The memory of his Albanian mother, who died of a heart attack when he was a young boy, still resonates. Now someone tells him that she was murdered in a blood feud. His cousin, who gave him valuable information on the ins and outs of the Albanian community, is attacked. Meanwhile, his colleague Mehmet, the scion of impoverished aristocrats, is ready to propose to half-Irish psychiatrist Zelfa, one of whose patients has a strange connection to the dead man. If you haven't found this series yet, look for it!

[Sandi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Istanbul police inspector Ikmen investigates the murder of a young ethnic Albanian in the fourth book of this series. Though a bit too long with a plot that was overly stuffed with various side stories, I always find the Turkish setting fascinating and found this to be an enjoyable read.

[Sandra Stoye · Rating 3 out of 5]

Am Anfang war es ziemlich schwer in das Buch hinein zu finden, was wahrscheinlich auch an den ausländischen Namen lag, an die man sich erst gewöhnen muss. Ungefähr zur Mitte hin baut das Buch tatsächlich Spannung auf und man findet dann auch Gefallen am Lesen. Die Elemente der Fantasie sind gut eingebaut und lassen einem nicht zu sehr über die Morde und Entwicklungen nachdenken. Alles in allem ist das Buch durchaus lesenswert und bringt einen gedanklich in eine andere Welt, in eine andere Stadt: Istanbul. Istanbul ist sehr gut beschrieben und man kann sich auch sehr gut in die Stadt hinein finden. Auch die verschiedenen Charaktereigenschaften der verschiedenen Nationen, die in dem Buch eine Rolle spielen sind gut gezeigt. Eindrucksvoll ist auch beschrieben wie verschiedene Glaubensgemeinschaften sich untereinander bekriegen, nur weil sie an unterschiedliche Götter, an unterschiedliche Symbole und an unterschiedliche Praktiken glauben. Ich denke, dass diese unterschiedlichen Praktiken, Religionen und die unterschiedlichen Gedankenwelten heute präsenter sind als zu irgendeiner anderen Zeit, auch hier in Deutschland, in denen ja verschiedene Flüchtlinge aus verschiedenen Ländern und verschiedenen Glaubensteilen und Religionen zu uns kommen und ihre Abneigungen untereinander mit in unser Land bringen und damit auch Gewalt.

[Sally Edsall · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love Istanbul, then you will enjoy Nadel's crime series, featuring experienced, perhaps somewhat jaded, police officer Cetin Ikmen. This story is well-paced and plotted, and muses on some interesting aspects of Turkish culture and history and contemporary mores.

You don't have to be a Turkophile to love the setting, but those who are will be especially delighted.
Sometimes Nadel is compared to Donna Leon. The settings for their crime stories are as much stars as the people. In that sense, both are equally successful. Both detectives also have family relationships with their wives and children which are brought to life and have a bearing on the stories. Both detectives also have internal conversations which are thoughtful and humane.

I believe if you enjoy Leon, you will also enjoy Nadel, though both are distinctive writers able to bring their characters and places to life.

[Rog Harrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am trying to read the early books in this police procedural series set in Istanbul. Unfortunately so far I have not been able to find the second and third book so was pleased to get a copy of the fourth book. Clearly quite a lot must have happened in the previous two books as by now Suleyman has been promoted to Inspector and there have been some changes in the cast of police officers. The story starts with the murder of a young Albanian and as Inspector Ikmen, whose long dead mother was an Albanian, investigates he discovers things which affect his own family. There are various sub-plots which the author brings nicely together. It is far-fetched but just go with the flow and this is a good read.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Barbara Nadel always writes a good book, and I enjoy all of them, all read out of sequence, but one can figure out what is going on.

Stories are all in Turkey, with an Inspector Ikeman who lives with wife and large family. His father was Turkish and his mother was Armenian. She had died when he was a child. During an investigation he is informed that his mother was killed due to a blood fest between Armenian families he is devastated. There is a blood feud going on between families. He sets out to find what is wrong.

There is also another story here, that fits in with the murder of a victim, and the Armenians, a Anglo Turkish family with two nutty children are a big factor, and Inspector Sullyman is about to get re-married to a Irish doctor.

[Samuel M.C · Rating 5 out of 5]

¡Qué buena novela! En todos los sentidos, amé este libro, diría que es un gran candidato a ser mi mejor lectura del 2025 y eso que apenas voy 3 libros leídos 😅.

Mi historia con este libro es bien particular porque lo encontré en un remate en la librería y me salió por menos de 1 dólar. Este policial turco es muy atrapante, te encariñas con los personajes y con todo. El inspector Ikmen se convirtió en uno de mis personajes favoritos de toda la vida, sin duda voy a leer más libros de él, no sé si la vida me dé para leer los 26 libros y conseguirlos todos 😅, ojalá. El misterio está muy bien desarrollado y el enfoque de la historia hace que en ningún momento se caiga el hilo narrativo.

¡A leerlo! Gran inicio con Barbara Nadel.

[Tracey S Choat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspector Ikmen Book 4

I recently discovered this series and I am enjoying them so much. These crime mystery novels are clever and unusual. Set in Istanbul, the author gives the atmospheric account of a flawed but intelligent police homicide inspector Ikmen as he and his team solve crimes involving many different religions and cultures that thrive in Turkey. Fascinating! I suggest reading them in order.

[Tsk Calder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Including Istanbul and a passionate detective is a sure fire thing for my light reading.

Deep Waters (Inspector İkmen Mystery 4) - by Barbara Nadel. Things that moved me:

Çetin İkmen to his wife Fatma: “Like my father always said, education is the only light that exists in our human darkness, without it we are just animals.” Pg384

Traits of Maigret, when İkmen says, “Still, that is for a judge to decide and not us.” Pg411

[Stephen the Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 4- I’m late to the series but enjoying the development of the characters and the cultural and social interactions between different communities. A fascinating plot with various sub stories interwoven but ultimately it is the wisdom of Inspector Ikmen and his colleague Suleyman that make this a winning series.

[Elis Morais de sá · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the begginig all the caracters were mixed to me, so many histories inside and i was confused. When i was reading more, i started to love page by page. Also i learned a bit about albanian culture. Very good book!

[Merrilie Rowley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another absorbing read by Barbara Nadal. I have never been to Turkey so am really enjoying reading about the Turkish culture particuarly all about the cultural difficulties faced by the minority groups in Istanbul.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting historical and sociological setting

Plot is interesting with twists and turns that sometimes surprise.
Blood feuds between Albanian families give and interesting historical context.
I enjoyed the plot and learning about the cultural aspects surrounding it.

[E B Halton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful story

An insight into Albanian culture and the impact of its feudal past on a modern society. A great mixture of cultures and social classes entwined in a fascinating story that gives right up to the last page. A very good read.

[Viola80 · Rating 1 out of 5]

Niente non mi ha acchiappato il tema della storia e ho mollato quasi subito. Non che sia illeggibile ma avendo un sacco di libri da leggere non posso perdere tempo. Avanti il prossimo.

[Christine Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent series. Full of arcane practices of the eastern world these stories are completely different from run of the mill crime novels

[Mia · Rating 4 out of 5]

.

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

the characters are the beauty of these mysteries.

[Wendy Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another absorbing, atmospheric and darkly psychological instalment in the series.

[Jack Laschenski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Barbara Nadel does it again.

Instanbul today!

Peasant Turks, Descendant Turks from the Sultans, and Albanians all distrust and even hate each other.

Inspector Ikmen has to deal with: a decapitated body, a death obsessed adolescent with the world's ugliest (physical) sister, Albanian tribes "in blood" with one another, discovering that his mother was murdered by a rival tribe (he is half Albanian), a wife in middle age crisis, his 9 children, a police psychiatrist in love with his sergeant, and a permanent obsession with cigarettes.

And the city itself is a major character.

Read with pleasure!!

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy this series but this book was too long and too busy. Ikmen is involved in a case involving an Albanian blood feud which quickly takes on a very personal dimension. Suleyman, his former assistant, is besotted with his Irish/Turkish psychiatrist friend, who just so happens to be treating a person of interest involved with an Albanian. You don't know this initially but you can see it coming. The excitement in the book ends around 50 pages before the final end and the last 50 pages are all about personal closure. Just too much in this caper. Should have been 100 pages shorter.

[Rita · Rating 2 out of 5]

2002
Very nice to read a mystery set in modern-day Istanbul.
Reading this, you get the impression half of Istanbul originates from another country or is born of an international marriage, but OK, as a British writer it is probably wise to have characters of mixed/hybrid backgrounds.

The Albanian immigrant families are quite amazing.

I would not be tempted to read the book a second time, but am not sorry to have read it...

[Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The interesting thing in Turkey is the mixture of civilizations in this crossroads area. The latest mix stems from the 1923 population exchange. The social issue explored in this mystery centers on the different cultural issues inserted from the population exchange that included Muslims not just from Greece but also from Bulgaria and others countries of that area. Nadel also does a good job of developing her characters and their personal stories.

[Spuddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fourth in this series set in modern-day Istanbul, Turkey and featuring Inspector Cetin Ikmen and his team. This book deals with an Albanian blood feud that reaches right into Ikmen's own family history and shakes up the family tree. The more I read in this series, the more I enjoy the books and I'm very much looking forward to the next one.

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had this book for years before I finally picked it up and am really glad I did! Liked the main character a lot, the setting of the story in Istanbul is very interesting and a great diversion to the meanwhile so well-known London, Venice or Scandinavian cities.
Will definitely read more of the series!

[Ronkeli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lähes kaikki kirjan hahmot esiteltiin heti alussa. Turkkilaiset ja albanialaiset nimet kuitenkin hämäsivät siinä määrin että jouduin palaamaan alkuun 60 ensimmäisen sivun jälkeen ja kertaamaan, kuka oli kuka. Tämän jälkeen sain paremmin keskityttyä tarinaan albaanisukujen verikostosta. Arvosanaksi tulee "ihan ok".