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Inspector Ikmen #21
A Knife to the Heart
A derelict villa near Istanbul holds dark spirits, secrets and murder...
Retired inspector Çetin Ikmen must confront his demons to reveal the shocking truth behind a young girl's death...
When historian Suzan Tan is asked to examine the contents of a derelict villa on the Bosphorus, she is intrigued to discover a Ouija board among the artefacts. Forty years ago, a young girl was found with a knife in her heart in this villa. It is said that before her death this very Ouija board spelled out her name. The verdict was suicide - but what if it was a brutal act of murder and her killer was still walking free?
Suzan asks Ikmen to solve the case, and despite his reluctance to get involved, he soon finds himself drawn into the mystery. With the help of his friend Inspector Süleyman, Ikmen delves into Istanbul's dark underbelly to uncover a terrifying tale of secrets, lies and murder.
Retired inspector Çetin Ikmen must confront his demons to reveal the shocking truth behind a young girl's death...
When historian Suzan Tan is asked to examine the contents of a derelict villa on the Bosphorus, she is intrigued to discover a Ouija board among the artefacts. Forty years ago, a young girl was found with a knife in her heart in this villa. It is said that before her death this very Ouija board spelled out her name. The verdict was suicide - but what if it was a brutal act of murder and her killer was still walking free?
Suzan asks Ikmen to solve the case, and despite his reluctance to get involved, he soon finds himself drawn into the mystery. With the help of his friend Inspector Süleyman, Ikmen delves into Istanbul's dark underbelly to uncover a terrifying tale of secrets, lies and murder.
320 pages, Paperback
Published April 21, 2020
48 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Nadel
60 books212 followersBarbara 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.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
July 3, 2023
This wasn’t my favourite in the series by a long way. For the first time ever 21 odd books in to the incredible Inspector Ikmen series, it felt like it is starting to get a bit stale.
The why for this was a bit curious. Yes the mystery is really not that interesting but upon reflection… that’s kind of been the case with Nadel books for a while. There’s a murder and one in the past, after a prolonged investigation the murderer will usually either confess, get caught in the act or a witness will come forward with the crucial info and both story arcs will link up together.
That’s the case here (and for 15 odd stories now) and I’m not bagging it as it’s a tried and true formula.
But this story was so bland.
To a degree, it kind of reflects the current landscape in Turkey as detailed in the book where the government appears to have such influence or control over the people’s daily lives… hence colour is missing with the overture for caution evidenced no less by Ikmen’s forced retirement from the police (which lets face it, is where the story needs him. But it’s more than that.
The characters are missing. That’s the smoking gun.
What has always elevated Barbara Nadel stories is the rich tapestry of support characters littered throughout multiple novels. And they’re all gone.
Ikmen has retired and is off the force and boy do they need him because even with Suleyman there, everyone else is completely nondescript. 2-3 novels in I can’t remember the names of any of these deputies or a single defining thing about them. Was one of them trans or something? It’s a far step back for Ayse Farsakoygu and her former fiancé (whose name escapes me) that was conservative, very loyal and ugly. Then there was Cotkin who was the intimidating interviewer and Mehmet had that one other Inspector friend that like him, was a bit of a snob. All of them are gone.
Then you had Commissioner Ardic who tried to be progressive but was old school and a bit authoritarian (not afraid to tear strips off his inspectors) and the female successor who had to fight to protect the integrity of the squad with from the growing governmental influence before being forced out. Their replacement, a conservative and corrupt tool of the new regimen doesn’t even make an appear in this tale one whole novel after his debut.
But moving on…
Suleyman’s gypsy lover (Goncu), his ex-wife the psychiatrist, Ikmen’s daughter’s husband and his whacky family… all distant memories.
And then of course you have the Ikmen crew. His son Kemal and other son are referenced in the book but don’t really feature. His older daughter Cicek gets some much needed emphasis and development with her subplot of political trouble and dalliance with Suleyman being the huge and interesting dramatic plot point that drives us into the future…
But of course the shocking, shocking news was the off-screen death of Ikmen’s wife Fatma who was accidentally killed during the attempted coup and presents in the story as a speechless Djin until the end.
I enjoyed (in a sad way) the peculiar relationship Ikmen had with his wife’s spirit where he would talk to her and not want to leave the house bring something of a grieving shadow of himself. That is of course until he gets back to doing what he loves and then he once again becomes the personality that we love. It was both touching and sad when Fatima moved on. But most of all, like the mystery of the Ferry of the Dead, it was odd but strangely felt appropriate.
This novel felt very transitional… kind of like a place setting episode of a TV show before a big battle. All the characters need to get to a particular place ahead of their dramatic moments.
Well, Fatima is gone and Ikmen is alone but is confronted with the reality that all he has in his life is his work. The 2 most important people in his life in Cicek and Mehmet started their much teased at relationship which threatens and was previously hinted at) to tear all connections apart.
The pieces are in place… and I can’t wait to see where it goes
The why for this was a bit curious. Yes the mystery is really not that interesting but upon reflection… that’s kind of been the case with Nadel books for a while. There’s a murder and one in the past, after a prolonged investigation the murderer will usually either confess, get caught in the act or a witness will come forward with the crucial info and both story arcs will link up together.
That’s the case here (and for 15 odd stories now) and I’m not bagging it as it’s a tried and true formula.
But this story was so bland.
To a degree, it kind of reflects the current landscape in Turkey as detailed in the book where the government appears to have such influence or control over the people’s daily lives… hence colour is missing with the overture for caution evidenced no less by Ikmen’s forced retirement from the police (which lets face it, is where the story needs him. But it’s more than that.
The characters are missing. That’s the smoking gun.
What has always elevated Barbara Nadel stories is the rich tapestry of support characters littered throughout multiple novels. And they’re all gone.
Ikmen has retired and is off the force and boy do they need him because even with Suleyman there, everyone else is completely nondescript. 2-3 novels in I can’t remember the names of any of these deputies or a single defining thing about them. Was one of them trans or something? It’s a far step back for Ayse Farsakoygu and her former fiancé (whose name escapes me) that was conservative, very loyal and ugly. Then there was Cotkin who was the intimidating interviewer and Mehmet had that one other Inspector friend that like him, was a bit of a snob. All of them are gone.
Then you had Commissioner Ardic who tried to be progressive but was old school and a bit authoritarian (not afraid to tear strips off his inspectors) and the female successor who had to fight to protect the integrity of the squad with from the growing governmental influence before being forced out. Their replacement, a conservative and corrupt tool of the new regimen doesn’t even make an appear in this tale one whole novel after his debut.
But moving on…
Suleyman’s gypsy lover (Goncu), his ex-wife the psychiatrist, Ikmen’s daughter’s husband and his whacky family… all distant memories.
And then of course you have the Ikmen crew. His son Kemal and other son are referenced in the book but don’t really feature. His older daughter Cicek gets some much needed emphasis and development with her subplot of political trouble and dalliance with Suleyman being the huge and interesting dramatic plot point that drives us into the future…
But of course the shocking, shocking news was the off-screen death of Ikmen’s wife Fatma who was accidentally killed during the attempted coup and presents in the story as a speechless Djin until the end.
I enjoyed (in a sad way) the peculiar relationship Ikmen had with his wife’s spirit where he would talk to her and not want to leave the house bring something of a grieving shadow of himself. That is of course until he gets back to doing what he loves and then he once again becomes the personality that we love. It was both touching and sad when Fatima moved on. But most of all, like the mystery of the Ferry of the Dead, it was odd but strangely felt appropriate.
This novel felt very transitional… kind of like a place setting episode of a TV show before a big battle. All the characters need to get to a particular place ahead of their dramatic moments.
Well, Fatima is gone and Ikmen is alone but is confronted with the reality that all he has in his life is his work. The 2 most important people in his life in Cicek and Mehmet started their much teased at relationship which threatens and was previously hinted at) to tear all connections apart.
The pieces are in place… and I can’t wait to see where it goes
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 17, 2022
This is my second Cetin Ikmen book - reading them totally out of order - but it’s absolutely not a problem. I enjoyed this one even more than #2 - The Ottoman Cage. Inspector Ikmen has retired but is called upon to help solve a 40-year-old killing, which at the time was ruled a suicide, or was it? Other murders take place too… Set in the many worlds of Istanbul, ranging from the affluent to the down and gritty and crisscrossing the multicultural melting pot that it is, Barbara Nadel does a lovely job reflecting this complex, yet beloved city. I love that the author peppers words and references throughout the book without English translations - if you want to know what they mean, exert yourself a bit and browse. History, culture, religion, politics and social issues are blended together as the mystery progress to give us a glimpse into what it’s like living in Istanbul and Turkiye. With the assistance of his former police colleagues, equally likable characters, Cetin Ikmen begins to get to the bottom of this 40-year-old killing to the shocking dismay of those who want to keep it under wraps. In the beginning I had to get used to the transitions within the chapters - I found them a bit abrupt, but I got used to them as the book progressed. Overall I enjoyed this mystery and I have more books in the series lined up for future reading. Nicely done, Barbara Nadel!
December 28, 2020
When I was bedridden about 3 years ago, Kindle ebooks put Barbara Nadel’s Inspector Ikmen series on sale, all 19 available at that time, and I purchased them all. They were the perfect reading material for my condition — not too complex but providing me with a view of a country that I knew nothing about — Turkey. Some of the books were better than others, some were too repetitive, but I read them all, enjoying the visit to a strange land.
A Knife to the Heart is more complex than those earlier books but also more difficult to read. I would rate it as somewhere between 3 and 3.5 stars because I am familiar with the main characters. I think that someone new to this series would give it a lower rating because the various intersecting stories are extremely difficult to follow, given the writing structure Nadel uses and the difficult (to an English reader) names and forms of address. This book may please her regular readers, given that Nadel has produced a story that appears to be more relevant to current Turkey politics and society than her earlier ones, but she is not going to win any new readers with her difficult-to-follow writing style.
A Knife to the Heart is more complex than those earlier books but also more difficult to read. I would rate it as somewhere between 3 and 3.5 stars because I am familiar with the main characters. I think that someone new to this series would give it a lower rating because the various intersecting stories are extremely difficult to follow, given the writing structure Nadel uses and the difficult (to an English reader) names and forms of address. This book may please her regular readers, given that Nadel has produced a story that appears to be more relevant to current Turkey politics and society than her earlier ones, but she is not going to win any new readers with her difficult-to-follow writing style.
June 22, 2019
Love Īkmen and his family and colleagues as much as Donna Leon’s Brunetti. The book has a “surprise beginning” rather than ending. So much so I had to re-read the final chapter of the previous book to check I hadn’t forgotten! I found the story engaging, and love the locations - have walked them all , especially when living in Istanbul in the early 1990s. Change was full-tilt then, but even more so now. I lived those ild movie theatres along Istiklal and have fond memories of the Ist International Film Festival. Hey - there’s an idea, Ms Nadel - a volume set amongst that milieu!
I like when Ikemen’s family plays a part in proceedings, and the slightly mystical elements - especially when experienced through a non-religious sceptic’s eyes - are great too.
I like when Ikemen’s family plays a part in proceedings, and the slightly mystical elements - especially when experienced through a non-religious sceptic’s eyes - are great too.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 22, 2019
I rarely give 5 stars to murder mysteries, saving the ultimate accolade up for great literature but this time I thought, why not. Baraba Nadel's Ikmen series has provided me with great entertainment over many years and this particular novel, touching on Turkey's current and past political challenges, as well as its multitude of ethnic and religious differences was utterly engaging.
June 25, 2022
Barbara Nadel at her best. Concentrate and keep up, it is worth it. Set in Instanbul one of the great historical Cities of the old world. Love Turkey, the people and history then weave in murder mystery
January 9, 2020
Classic of light and nicely built narrative, that never disappoints to shed a light on amazing diversity and chaos that Istanbul is
January 2, 2022
Some startling developments in the life of the recently retired Istanbul detective. Ikmen’s wife has died. He’s talking to his deceased wife and there’s a djinn in his kitchen. He rarely leaves his apartment.
His daughter comes up with a plan to reengage her father. A friend of hers is a historian doing work on an old Ottoman property where a notorious death occurred in 1976. The property belonged to a disgraced admiral currently in prison for his role in the recent coup. His 19 year old daughter committed suicide. Ikmen consents to consult with the historian on the cold case and the property. He uncovers very sloppy police work and the obvious hand of interference from on high. A deeper dive finds a sordid dysfunctional family.
Meanwhile Suleiman is working the murder of a Syrian refugee woman who basically lived in a junkie hostel. It leads to the discovery of a serial killer.
An interesting episode in which reality and the beyond fade in and out of Ikmen’s daily activities. Also some exciting chase scenes and a hostage standoff. It will be interesting to see where the next book goes as now Suleiman and Ikmen’s daughter are more than friends.
His daughter comes up with a plan to reengage her father. A friend of hers is a historian doing work on an old Ottoman property where a notorious death occurred in 1976. The property belonged to a disgraced admiral currently in prison for his role in the recent coup. His 19 year old daughter committed suicide. Ikmen consents to consult with the historian on the cold case and the property. He uncovers very sloppy police work and the obvious hand of interference from on high. A deeper dive finds a sordid dysfunctional family.
Meanwhile Suleiman is working the murder of a Syrian refugee woman who basically lived in a junkie hostel. It leads to the discovery of a serial killer.
An interesting episode in which reality and the beyond fade in and out of Ikmen’s daily activities. Also some exciting chase scenes and a hostage standoff. It will be interesting to see where the next book goes as now Suleiman and Ikmen’s daughter are more than friends.
January 3, 2021
Interesting book, with lots of wading through to finally get to the denouement. Lots of sorrow & grief over both personal & family matters, and the political and social changes in Turkey over the past 20 years, let alone the previous 100. I have read most of the books in the series over the years, and grown to appreciate the main detectives. If it weren't for Ikmen, I likely wouldn't have persisted in what was at times a rambling, frustrating book.
I did find the typescript/characters/conventions used in printing this version off-putting at times, eg among others, no dot over the lower case "i"s, although occasionally over upper case"I" s.
I did find the typescript/characters/conventions used in printing this version off-putting at times, eg among others, no dot over the lower case "i"s, although occasionally over upper case"I" s.
November 22, 2021
Cetin's wife has died and he has now retired from the police force. He hasn't left his apartment for months and his family, friends and ex-colleagues are worried about him but then a relative asks him to look into a cold case where a young girl was found dead after a ouija board spelled out her name. Somewhat reluctantly Cetin gets involved and soon he is out and about and back to his old self again and once more risking his own life to catch a killer. As always Ms Nadel's skill draws you in and I am more than ready for the next book.
January 16, 2023
I am a big fan of this long running (twenty four books so far) police procedural series set in Istanbul and am trying to get hold of the books I have not yet managed to read. This is one of the later books and Ikmen has retired from the police force and spends his time moping round his house mourning his dead wife. However one of his daughters persuades him to get involved in investigating an old death which had been called a suicide at the time. Meanwhile Ikmen's former police colleagues have their own cases to investigate. This is a worthy addition to this seeries.
February 7, 2023
Jumped in rather late to this series - the detective, Ikmen is already retired. But I'd like to visit Istanbul this year and I thought: 'what better way to explore the city remotely than to read a book that's set there?'
Well I now know where all the drug dealers and sex workers hang out. I also know that there is a mysterious 'ferry of death' and that Djinns hide in the kitchens.
Still, good to know where to avoid.
Well I now know where all the drug dealers and sex workers hang out. I also know that there is a mysterious 'ferry of death' and that Djinns hide in the kitchens.
Still, good to know where to avoid.
April 4, 2020
Having read all the other Cetin Ikmen mysteries, this one was a bit different. Cetin was retire, his wife had died, and he was still grieving and morose when someone asks him to investigate the history of an old yali, where a murder had occurred in the 70's. Great story, lots of pieces coming together. Good read, and the same great Istanbul atmosphere. I love these Barbara Nadel books.
July 27, 2020
Author Barbara Nadel tosses the reader right nto that exotic mix of cultures, tradition, religion, politics that is Istanbul as it lurches toward a more modern remodeling. The past and the future intersect as we find Ikman in a new role uncovering the secrets of a wealthy , dysfunctional family and Suleyman unearthing the secrets of a
Tarlebasi flophouse.
Tarlebasi flophouse.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 23, 2020
I will have to read more ! Very enjoyable and I really appreciated Istanbul. Initially I found the Turkish names difficult to remember and I had to keep referring to the cast of characters and wished I also had a street map but I am hoping that another in the series will help me with the unfamiliar names.
August 31, 2020
Another in the series with Istanbul police Inspector Mehmet Suleyman and his former colleague Cetin Ikmen, now retired. A complicated story, much of it from 40 years ago and reverberating today. As always, many other side characters.
December 4, 2022
Another wonderful novel from Barbara Nadel. Lots of local colour, interesting characters and a fascinating plot. A bit confusing at times with the various victims and it's important to keep them straight.
August 21, 2024
Thoughts producing
Barbara excelled as usual. This book is intriguing, and makes you want to carry on reading. The Inspector Ikmen mysteries are brilliant. A must read for Ikmen lovers
Barbara excelled as usual. This book is intriguing, and makes you want to carry on reading. The Inspector Ikmen mysteries are brilliant. A must read for Ikmen lovers
October 7, 2025
Slightly Stodgy
A very slow moving story with so many characters it was quite bewildering. The story crept along even in the last few pages.
With Ikmen no longer a policemen the book lacked purpose and flow. Disappointing.
A very slow moving story with so many characters it was quite bewildering. The story crept along even in the last few pages.
With Ikmen no longer a policemen the book lacked purpose and flow. Disappointing.
October 15, 2019
I have read all of Barbara Nadel's books - very sad that Ikmen's wife has died. This particular book was very intuned to current events.
July 12, 2021
Totally confusing! Too much info on Ankara & Turkey past and present!!!! Somewhere in there well hidden was a mystery!
August 5, 2023
I thought maybe I’d had enough Ikmen but after that story and that ending I’ve changed my mind
September 6, 2023
Another winner - a series that never disappoints
July 15, 2020
I get so excited when another book comes out from Barbara Nadel. Inspector Ikmen is one of my favourite series characters. This book was really good and so much going on in it. Ikmen is now retired and trying to find his way in the world that doesn’t involve being a police officer. All the same great characters are in this book including Istanbul - the city is a character in itself and it is beautiful! I can’t wait to get the next one (which was just published!)
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews