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Kamil Pasha #1
The Sultan's Seal
Istanbul of the late 19th century.
A city where splendor coexists with poverty, and European traditions with Asian traditions.
This city is accustomed to cruel and mysterious crimes.
But this time, something incredible happened.
The waves of the Bosphorus brought the body of a young Englishwoman to the shore. Who killed her? And why was everything torn off the body of the deceased except for the pendant with the seal of the deposed sultan?
The famous "kadi" - judge and investigator Kamil Pasha - is required to find the criminals as soon as possible. But so far his only clue is the highly dubious testimony of the daughter of the British ambassador, who claims that the dead girl is already the second victim of the mysterious killer...
A city where splendor coexists with poverty, and European traditions with Asian traditions.
This city is accustomed to cruel and mysterious crimes.
But this time, something incredible happened.
The waves of the Bosphorus brought the body of a young Englishwoman to the shore. Who killed her? And why was everything torn off the body of the deceased except for the pendant with the seal of the deposed sultan?
The famous "kadi" - judge and investigator Kamil Pasha - is required to find the criminals as soon as possible. But so far his only clue is the highly dubious testimony of the daughter of the British ambassador, who claims that the dead girl is already the second victim of the mysterious killer...
366 pages, Paperback
First published February 13, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 194 reviews
April 11, 2009
Interesting read. She's a local author for me--Boston University professor of anthropology. Enough sex of all kinds in there...reminded me of the kind of thing that thrilled me as a young maiden just glimpsing the possibilities. I do like her central character--a Turkish magistrate of strong character. I imagine swarthy skin and white flowing robes...and perhaps a blood-red fez...this is a murder mystery after all. The female character of Turkish descent is also interesting (and is the one getting all the sex, amazingly), but not so much the pudgy British woman who giggles inappropriately and blithely prattles on about murder clues to ones who have to then try to silence her--permanently. The thread was nearly lost about halfway through, but the author pulls it off in the end. Would like to have a look at the new one the author has out now--she could definitely have made a series with that swarthy magistrate. I really liked him...
January 31, 2014
I found some of the story arcs in this book confusing at times as I wasn't sure if we were in the present in the past. But I still enjoyed the story very much. I liked the era the story was told in, the late 1800's in Ottoman Turkey, the characters, especially Kamil Pasha, who is called upon to solve the murder of an English woman, and Sybil, the English ambassador's daughter, who helps Kamil with his investigation. I also liked the potential relationship, the physical tension that seemed to be developing between the two. There is so much going on, the intricacies of the Ottoman culture, the Young Turks trying to instil a European style parliament, and the mystery itself and its possible tie-in with a previous murder. Very enjoyable first book by Jenny White. I'll be looking for the other books in the series.
January 31, 2019
A historical fiction set in Turkey during the Ottoman Empire. An inticing mystery that keeps you interested to the very end
August 28, 2017
loved the tone and the feel of the story, and the plot was interesting, though at times it was a bit, maybe soap opera-ish.
April 13, 2012
For the first 3/4s of the book this was an elegant mystery, rich in cultural and historical detail. At the end, however, the author chose to pile on the action and everything seemed to be happening at once, not always in a coherent fashion. If it wasn't for that I would have liked to rate this book higher. Jenny White has written numerous non-fiction works on Turkish politics and society, so I expected a lot of cultural and historical detail, and I certainly wasn't disappointed on that score. I did enjoy the description of the customs and mores of 19th century Turkey, the characters were interesting and believable, with the main character, Kalim Pasha, cutting a particularily dashing figure. The book is told from 3 different perspectives, which worked extremely well for me. I was disappointed to find that there was no glossary, which would have been helpful, given the amount of Turkish words used, although of course one could guess most of them. I'll be reading the next book in the series.
January 19, 2023
I wanted to read this book because it takes place in turkey in Istanbul and we were going to vacuum there. Well this book had little to do with the atmosphere of the city but a lot to do with customs in the late 1800’s very difficult to follow for a long while into the book. The names of people, customs and titles were not clearly defined and I found myself frustrated as to who was where why and how! And I’m still not sure why at the end of the whole thing. Skip it! I’ll try another writer!
January 31, 2009
An ok murder-mystery, set in 19th century Turkey. The author's use of present tense writing and jumping between characters while you try to figure out who is doing the talking now is a little disconcerting. The ending seemed a little chopped-off and didn't quite mesh everything together the way I would have liked.
January 17, 2018
"Murder is always about property, thinks Kamil, not passion in the way poets define it. Passion about something or someone simply means demanding ownership or at least control. Parents want to own their children, husbands their wives, employers their apprentices, supplicants their God. The most passionate of all destroy what they own, thereby making it forever theirs. Much of the world, from politics to commerce, is driven by fear of losing control over people, land, things. Fear that fate is stronger than will."
Jenny White has drawn us into the lush, romantic, and mysterious land of the Ottoman Empire, in the year 1886. Europe is showing a definite interest in their political climate, but Sultans still rule...despite a strong, young opposition dedicated to creating a democratic parliament. In the midst of the political tension, the body of a young English governess to the Sultan's harem is found washed up on shore...naked and very much dead.
Enter Kamil Pasha, magistrate for Istanbul's lower court. He is called on to solve this mystery in a timely manner, thereby avoiding a political debacle. He's aided in his investigations by a surgeon, Michael, as well as Sybil--the daughter of the British Ambassador. It quickly becomes apparent that there is more to this death than what at first meets the eye. Kamil also wonders if this murder is connected to the unnatural death of another British governess 8 years prior. The magistrate at the time of that murder never solved the case, and was subsequently "encouraged" to resign. Kamil wonders whether this was due to his failure to solve the mystery, or, perhaps, he was too clever and uncovered links to the Sultan himself.
Bottom line: White is clearly skilled at writing prose. This book came as a welcome relief after my previous "Fluff" novel. Unfortunately, she is not quite as skilled at dialogue. I agree with other readers that the dialogue feels clunkier due to her decision to write in the present tense. This is tough to master. Another detractor is White's decision to weave in letters from Sybil to her sister, as well as chapters with yet a 3rd point of view. Not only did she add a 3rd narrator...that story line happens at an entirely different time period than the main story line. Stephen White tried something similar in The Siege. It was confusing there, and it's confusing here. Finally, the ending was not satisfying...although this is the first book in a trilogy, and was not intended to stand alone. Despite the points against her, White masterfully created the setting, and taught me much about a time and place (as well as many new words). That at least earns her 3 stars. Given a rating of "good". Definitely worth a library check out! Here are a few other quotes to show off White's skill at prose.
"Sybil's vivid account of her grandmother's house has pulled him into a conspiracy of memories from which he doesn't have the will or the desire to disentangle himself."
"Kamil has known both kinds of men and the immovable anchors of faith that give them the illusion of a steady harbor. They do not understand that they are still at sea and that the danger has not passed. Faith is an anchor in a bottomless sea."
"Oriental inscrutability. It's what has kept us independent for so long. No one understands what we're saying, so they can't conquer us!"
Jenny White has drawn us into the lush, romantic, and mysterious land of the Ottoman Empire, in the year 1886. Europe is showing a definite interest in their political climate, but Sultans still rule...despite a strong, young opposition dedicated to creating a democratic parliament. In the midst of the political tension, the body of a young English governess to the Sultan's harem is found washed up on shore...naked and very much dead.
Enter Kamil Pasha, magistrate for Istanbul's lower court. He is called on to solve this mystery in a timely manner, thereby avoiding a political debacle. He's aided in his investigations by a surgeon, Michael, as well as Sybil--the daughter of the British Ambassador. It quickly becomes apparent that there is more to this death than what at first meets the eye. Kamil also wonders if this murder is connected to the unnatural death of another British governess 8 years prior. The magistrate at the time of that murder never solved the case, and was subsequently "encouraged" to resign. Kamil wonders whether this was due to his failure to solve the mystery, or, perhaps, he was too clever and uncovered links to the Sultan himself.
Bottom line: White is clearly skilled at writing prose. This book came as a welcome relief after my previous "Fluff" novel. Unfortunately, she is not quite as skilled at dialogue. I agree with other readers that the dialogue feels clunkier due to her decision to write in the present tense. This is tough to master. Another detractor is White's decision to weave in letters from Sybil to her sister, as well as chapters with yet a 3rd point of view. Not only did she add a 3rd narrator...that story line happens at an entirely different time period than the main story line. Stephen White tried something similar in The Siege. It was confusing there, and it's confusing here. Finally, the ending was not satisfying...although this is the first book in a trilogy, and was not intended to stand alone. Despite the points against her, White masterfully created the setting, and taught me much about a time and place (as well as many new words). That at least earns her 3 stars. Given a rating of "good". Definitely worth a library check out! Here are a few other quotes to show off White's skill at prose.
"Sybil's vivid account of her grandmother's house has pulled him into a conspiracy of memories from which he doesn't have the will or the desire to disentangle himself."
"Kamil has known both kinds of men and the immovable anchors of faith that give them the illusion of a steady harbor. They do not understand that they are still at sea and that the danger has not passed. Faith is an anchor in a bottomless sea."
"Oriental inscrutability. It's what has kept us independent for so long. No one understands what we're saying, so they can't conquer us!"
December 6, 2020
For me it got off to a great start, with rich, powerful prose, evocative descriptions of Istanbul in the twilight of the Empire, and a third person Pov limited to an investigator. Later we get first person pov narration from another character and letter narration from a third. For me the shifts sapped energy from the book. Still glad I read it for the cultural and historical texture it provides--White is an anthropologist turned novelist. The perspective on Turkish and European women's lives in late 19th century Istanbul is especially good.
January 10, 2021
There was a LOT going on here. Three POVs, descriptions of local and international politics in Istanbul/ the Ottoman empire, and -- oh yes -- a mystery. It was just too crowded.
I think what it actually comes down to is that I couldn't really like any of the characters, even those whom I felt sympathy for now and again. There was an awful lot of telling because there wasn't much room for showing in such a crowded narrative. And the showing tended to be reserved for loving portraits of life in Istanbul. Since that is what I was here for, that was ok.
Lastly, I think I was supposed to identify with Sybil. But she really never seemed real to me and honestly had to be TSTL sometimes in order for the plot to continue. "It seemed odd, but she decided it was probably fine..." The description of her life as the daughter of the British ambassador didn't ring true. I didn't get how she would be friends, or even really acquainted with, a lowly palace governess just because they were both English. I liked that she spoke Turkish, but she (and the book in general) seemed quite comfortable bandying about words like "heathen" "oriental inscrutability" and other perjorative words that may well have been common at the time... but not for the modern reader.
I DID like being in Istanbul, so I may read the others, which puts this at a rare 3.5 stars I guess. There are only three, so... I dunno. I might try one of the other mystery series set in Istanbul though and see if I like them better.
Oh, and I also did really enjoy the bits of poetry the author sprinkled through -- all of them were really excellent. "Like the moon and the tides, the human heart has many phases. Wait for them. They will not be rushed."
I think what it actually comes down to is that I couldn't really like any of the characters, even those whom I felt sympathy for now and again. There was an awful lot of telling because there wasn't much room for showing in such a crowded narrative. And the showing tended to be reserved for loving portraits of life in Istanbul. Since that is what I was here for, that was ok.
Lastly, I think I was supposed to identify with Sybil. But she really never seemed real to me and honestly had to be TSTL sometimes in order for the plot to continue. "It seemed odd, but she decided it was probably fine..." The description of her life as the daughter of the British ambassador didn't ring true. I didn't get how she would be friends, or even really acquainted with, a lowly palace governess just because they were both English. I liked that she spoke Turkish, but she (and the book in general) seemed quite comfortable bandying about words like "heathen" "oriental inscrutability" and other perjorative words that may well have been common at the time... but not for the modern reader.
I DID like being in Istanbul, so I may read the others, which puts this at a rare 3.5 stars I guess. There are only three, so... I dunno. I might try one of the other mystery series set in Istanbul though and see if I like them better.
Oh, and I also did really enjoy the bits of poetry the author sprinkled through -- all of them were really excellent. "Like the moon and the tides, the human heart has many phases. Wait for them. They will not be rushed."
November 12, 2012
I read this for my "Global Whodunits" book group at Primary Source. This one immerses the reader into the dangerous final days of the Ottoman Empire (1880's) in Istanbul. This was a period of great court intrigue and multi-ethnic unrest as the ideas and ideals of European nationalism swept into the empire. Kamil Pasha is the detective called upon to investigate the murder of an Englishwoman, and he quickly links this to an earlier, similar, unsolved case. The case gains intrigue and a sense of danger when Kamil discovers that both women wore a pendant created by a court jeweler (who ends up mysteriously dead, too) with a tugha--the Sultan's seal and Chinese calligraphy of an obscure Qing poem. Kamil has to balance his investigation so as not to offend either the British diplomats who are assisting him or the nervous Ottoman officials. While the story and mystery were captivating, as was the feel of the city and all its settings, I found this book to be a bit confusing. Parts were written in present tense, which I found quite off-putting as a reader, and there was one narrative "voice" that I still cannot place. I guess I will have to ask Jenny White when she meets with the group in December!
January 24, 2013
Though the book starts of reasonably promising, it's clear it's no My Name is Red, Snow or even The Bastard of Istanbul or Portrait of a Turkish Family, all set in Turkey, and some, like this one, in Ottoman Turkey, this one near the end of the 19th century.
White tries to emulate the elaborate and flowery story telling of the above mentioned Turkish writers, but only marginally succeeds, instead creating a world where characters feel extremely modern, seemingly more at home at the beginning of the 21st century than at the end of the 19th. The story's finale feels like a rushed, rough and unreasonable anticlimax, very uninspiring and very amateurish, making this crime thriller's story not much more than a mediocre paperback spy thriller.
White tries to emulate the elaborate and flowery story telling of the above mentioned Turkish writers, but only marginally succeeds, instead creating a world where characters feel extremely modern, seemingly more at home at the beginning of the 21st century than at the end of the 19th. The story's finale feels like a rushed, rough and unreasonable anticlimax, very uninspiring and very amateurish, making this crime thriller's story not much more than a mediocre paperback spy thriller.
November 6, 2015
I liked this book quite a lot, although it took me some time to adapt. Used to much faster, even racing modern thrillers, i had to make a conscious effort to slow down and read it. I don't know anything about the author but she seems to have captured the Turkish mindset - everything is done slowly, almost ceremoniously. Appearances and respect are more important than anything, even solving a crime. Family comes first, always.
The main protagonist, Kamil Pasha, is a European educated magistrate, trying to impose modern crime solving methods on a corrupt, superstitious, lazy and religious nation. He is hampered at every step by the long arm of the Palace and secret police.
Mostly, I read the book for the atmosphere. The crime is secondary, solving it takes too long, and frankly, i had forgotten most of the clues by the time the blundering magistrate solved it. But I liked the picture of Turkey at the turn of the 20th century, following the budding romance between the Pasha and the British Ambassador's daughter. I am not sure whether to root for them, or read the next book to see if they are desperately unhappy due to religious, cultural and national differences. Time will tell.
The main protagonist, Kamil Pasha, is a European educated magistrate, trying to impose modern crime solving methods on a corrupt, superstitious, lazy and religious nation. He is hampered at every step by the long arm of the Palace and secret police.
Mostly, I read the book for the atmosphere. The crime is secondary, solving it takes too long, and frankly, i had forgotten most of the clues by the time the blundering magistrate solved it. But I liked the picture of Turkey at the turn of the 20th century, following the budding romance between the Pasha and the British Ambassador's daughter. I am not sure whether to root for them, or read the next book to see if they are desperately unhappy due to religious, cultural and national differences. Time will tell.
February 19, 2012
I really wanted to like this book, but alas, the narrative was simply too flawed. There were so many backward and forward changes of time and place that it was nearly impossible to determine the chronology of the tale. Adding to the confusion were constant changes in narration. I was frequently confused as to who was speaking, and whether the time frame was in the present, or eight years in the past.
The setting was late nineteenth century Istambul, an era and place that always fires my imagination. Ms White does a fine job setting scenes, and to a limited degree, explaining the politcal turmoil of that period in Turkish history. Unfortunately, the plot is overly ambitious and way too convoluted. The characters in the story are for the most part cartoonish, speaking in dialog that sounds like it was written for a B-movie script.
The final insult to the reader, after reading all the way through to the last chapter, is a resolution that could have been lifted right out of that melodramatic old TV show, "The Wild, Wild West," complete with mechanical contraptions. Pure hokum!
The setting was late nineteenth century Istambul, an era and place that always fires my imagination. Ms White does a fine job setting scenes, and to a limited degree, explaining the politcal turmoil of that period in Turkish history. Unfortunately, the plot is overly ambitious and way too convoluted. The characters in the story are for the most part cartoonish, speaking in dialog that sounds like it was written for a B-movie script.
The final insult to the reader, after reading all the way through to the last chapter, is a resolution that could have been lifted right out of that melodramatic old TV show, "The Wild, Wild West," complete with mechanical contraptions. Pure hokum!
April 13, 2012
I can't call this another "simple murder-mystery" story/book. It's not, and if you take the time to read it (which you should) you would agree. The story goes beyond just the murder case. With great detail and imagery you truly get to understand the 1800's in India, and how the culture was, and people as well. The characters are colorful and far from bland. The detail given to describing the scenery is just enough for you to be able to imagine it yet, not so much as to it going on and becoming never ending. The murder case itself is a real twist! I really enjoyed reading this from start to finish.
July 24, 2022
For the most part, this was an interesting mystery with rich detail and characters that were likeable. There was enough cultural and historical information related to Turkey that it was easy to immerse oneself in the atmosphere. The pacing and tone of the story telling itself was also to my liking.
However, the last couple of chapters were incredibly rushed. Everything happened at once and it was not altogether coherent. It really took away from an otherwise enjoyable book. The protagonist, Kamil Pasha, won me over enough to keep me interested enough to read the next book in the series though.
However, the last couple of chapters were incredibly rushed. Everything happened at once and it was not altogether coherent. It really took away from an otherwise enjoyable book. The protagonist, Kamil Pasha, won me over enough to keep me interested enough to read the next book in the series though.
December 20, 2008
Doesn't the title of this book sound incredibly trashy? Like a dreadful romance in the sultan's harem. Thankfully it's not about that at all, but instead a mystery set in 19th century Turkey, which begins when the drowned body of an Englishwoman washes up on the shore. Kamil Pasha, a magistrate, sets out to solve the crime.
It's a fascinating setting and written with beautiful details - unfortunately, the murder and the mystery itself didn't enthrall me as much, which is why it only gets 3 stars. I'd definitely check out other books by Jenny White though.
It's a fascinating setting and written with beautiful details - unfortunately, the murder and the mystery itself didn't enthrall me as much, which is why it only gets 3 stars. I'd definitely check out other books by Jenny White though.
May 2, 2008
I loved this book. I think this is a fantastic example of what magic can happen when a historical author discovers she has an aptitude for fiction!
The details that White weaves into the story- the clothes, the art, the weather, the customs- bring the characters to life and suck you into their world. Some of the chapters are epistolary, and might have been confusing if White hadn't given each one such a distinct voice and independent mind.
Can't wait to read the next in the series!!
The details that White weaves into the story- the clothes, the art, the weather, the customs- bring the characters to life and suck you into their world. Some of the chapters are epistolary, and might have been confusing if White hadn't given each one such a distinct voice and independent mind.
Can't wait to read the next in the series!!
July 10, 2011
I had a hard time following the story. It took me a while to realize that the author was skipping around in time, but even after I caught on to that, I found the plot pretty convoluted. I enjoyed the setting - Turkey in the 19th century - and found the descriptions of life (clothes, homes, entertainment) during that time quite fascinating. For that reason, I will probably read more by this author.
April 8, 2012
I enjoyed this..it's basically a murder mystery,but set against the background of Istanbul in the latter stages of the Ottoman empire.. (Victoria was on the throne of England at the time of this story)
There's everything I like..a little hint of romance, oriental atmosphere, palace intrigue... right up my alley..
There's everything I like..a little hint of romance, oriental atmosphere, palace intrigue... right up my alley..
September 3, 2014
Graceful writing and a vivid historical setting set off Jenny White's intricate tale of political intrigue as she explores culture clash and shifting roles in 1880's Turkey. A nice break from call lights and charting.
March 8, 2017
The story was very interesting, but the ending was unsatisfactory. It felt like it was wrapped up in a hurry, and left some things out.
May 21, 2017
La edición de RBA que tengo es reciente y es de 387 páginas XD. Pero bueno, dejando de lado ese pequeño detalle, vayamos a lo que nos ocupa.
El libro de White, el primero de la trilogía del magistrado Kamil Bajá, refleja el amplio conocimiento que la autora (una antropóloga, por cierto) tiene sobre la cultura turca. Su capacidad descriptiva es capaz de hacerte imaginar que estás en los barrios de la multicultural Estambul, siguiendo las pistas dejadas por un criminal que, a primera vista, pretende meter en aprietos las endebles relaciones entre los británicos y los otomanos. A esto se le suma las intrigas palaciegas, mismas que se pueden percibir desde la perspectiva externa; y la historia "real" en primera persona de los hechos acontecidos antes, durante y después del descubrimiento del cadáver.
Ahora bien, sí hubo momento en los que me daban las ganas de saltar las páginas por la lentitud del relato, pero eso no iba a ser prudente si en medio de esas páginas estaba algún elemento que podría ayudar a comprender mejor la psicología de los personajes.
Al final, he de decir que estoy satisfecha con mi lectura de este libro, especialmente porque el final de la novela no era el que esperaba.
.-.-.-.-.-.-.
Pronto subiré al blog una versión un poco más extendida de esta reseña ;)
El libro de White, el primero de la trilogía del magistrado Kamil Bajá, refleja el amplio conocimiento que la autora (una antropóloga, por cierto) tiene sobre la cultura turca. Su capacidad descriptiva es capaz de hacerte imaginar que estás en los barrios de la multicultural Estambul, siguiendo las pistas dejadas por un criminal que, a primera vista, pretende meter en aprietos las endebles relaciones entre los británicos y los otomanos. A esto se le suma las intrigas palaciegas, mismas que se pueden percibir desde la perspectiva externa; y la historia "real" en primera persona de los hechos acontecidos antes, durante y después del descubrimiento del cadáver.
Ahora bien, sí hubo momento en los que me daban las ganas de saltar las páginas por la lentitud del relato, pero eso no iba a ser prudente si en medio de esas páginas estaba algún elemento que podría ayudar a comprender mejor la psicología de los personajes.
Al final, he de decir que estoy satisfecha con mi lectura de este libro, especialmente porque el final de la novela no era el que esperaba.
.-.-.-.-.-.-.
Pronto subiré al blog una versión un poco más extendida de esta reseña ;)
March 5, 2019
Set in 19th c. Istanbul/Stamboul during the political and social upheavals of the waning Ottoman Empire, setting contrasting Christian/Muslim/ Jewish religions, the British vs the Ottoman at odds while trying to solve the mystery of the murder of Mary Dixon, an English governess in the Royal Palace of the Harem, seems to be linked to the unsolved mystery of the death of Hannah Simmons, another British Governess hired to work in the Harem a decade before, both of whom wore the same silver pendant carved with a sultan’s tughra. The British Ambassador’s daughter Sybil with contacts in the European community and within the Harem, gets caught up in helping Kamil Pasha, a magistrate in the new British style civil courts, solving the mysteries.
Jenny White is an anthropologist and has many nonfiction works on Turkish society and politics to her credit which allows her to steep us in rich detail and the lush feel of life in Ottoman Turkey from the Embassy, and European society, to the Jewish enclaves, to the fear-ridden, power wielding manipulations in the royal palace from Sultan to occupants of The Harem, from royal wives and concubines, children, and eunuchs, to the enslaved craftsmen and lowest workers in the royal palace.
Jenny White is an anthropologist and has many nonfiction works on Turkish society and politics to her credit which allows her to steep us in rich detail and the lush feel of life in Ottoman Turkey from the Embassy, and European society, to the Jewish enclaves, to the fear-ridden, power wielding manipulations in the royal palace from Sultan to occupants of The Harem, from royal wives and concubines, children, and eunuchs, to the enslaved craftsmen and lowest workers in the royal palace.
August 12, 2021
I bought this back in January for $1.99 -- currently its $9.99. I'm glad I got it on sale.
I liked it well enough, but the problem is that it's fairly confusing. Some chapters are 3rd person and mostly follow Kamil Pasha, a magistrate in Stamboul, Turkey, sometime in the late 1800s. A young woman, obviously a foreigner, has been found dead, naked, in the Bosphorus. He's charged with the investigation, and pretty quickly decides it must somehow be related to a similar death several years ago -- one that was never solved.
Separately there's a first person narrative by Jaanan, a young Turkish woman who's had an unusual upbringing since her mother brought her to live with her uncle when her husband took a second wife. Her mother pays her little attention and her uncle indulges her but she's not taught how a proper young woman should behave.
At one point I thought I had the timelines of the separate narratives figured out, and that they were converging on the same point in time, but then the first person story seemed to jump back in time.
The murders are solved, but there's a lot of confusion along the way. There's a sort of romance that's never resolved. And the solution comes about through no real actions of Kamil Pasha. All in all, it was rather unsatisfying.
I liked it well enough, but the problem is that it's fairly confusing. Some chapters are 3rd person and mostly follow Kamil Pasha, a magistrate in Stamboul, Turkey, sometime in the late 1800s. A young woman, obviously a foreigner, has been found dead, naked, in the Bosphorus. He's charged with the investigation, and pretty quickly decides it must somehow be related to a similar death several years ago -- one that was never solved.
Separately there's a first person narrative by Jaanan, a young Turkish woman who's had an unusual upbringing since her mother brought her to live with her uncle when her husband took a second wife. Her mother pays her little attention and her uncle indulges her but she's not taught how a proper young woman should behave.
At one point I thought I had the timelines of the separate narratives figured out, and that they were converging on the same point in time, but then the first person story seemed to jump back in time.
The murders are solved, but there's a lot of confusion along the way. There's a sort of romance that's never resolved. And the solution comes about through no real actions of Kamil Pasha. All in all, it was rather unsatisfying.
December 7, 2023
This title is both a historical novel and a mystery, but is more of the former than the latter, by which I think I mean that it was the characters and the setting that kept me turning the pages so avidly, rather than wanting to know just who killed the Englishwoman. Set in Istanbul in the late nineteenth century, during the Ottoman Empire, its main character, Kamil Pasha, is responsible for finding out just what happened, but must steer a careful course to avoid offending anyone at the palace. His investigation takes him to the British embassy where he meets and is drawn to the daughter of the ambassador. Both he and she have grieving fathers whose behaviors have begun to unravel in different ways. We also meet a young Turkish woman who is rebelling against or at any rate sidestepping the constraints put on Turkish girls of her class; her involvement in the mystery is one of the more compelling plot elements, but her character also fascinates and is not the cliche suggested by my summary of it. The novel is obviously intensely researched, and gives a real feeling for the time and place.
February 20, 2022
This is an unusual rating for me in that it is the compromise between 2 stars and 4 stars. As a former teacher, I applaud anything that brings history to life and this story certainly makes this period of time in the Ottoman Empire unforgettable! That is the only reason I would give it 4 stars, but that aspect I thought was very well done. As a person who loves to read & listen to mysteries (and nowadays nearly all my books are audiobooks) I found this very confusing & difficult to stick with. I had a great deal of trouble discerning who each character was at the beginning, and the difficulty when the time/person/location changed persisted all the way through. That is the 2 stars part. One reviewer pointed out that while each of the author's techniques were valid using them all in one book was too much, and I agree with that. In the end I did stick it out, I found the ending satisfactory, but I don't expect to read another one of this series.
February 11, 2021
Istanbul near the end of the 19th century, near the end of the Ottoman Empire. It’s very political, as there are machinations and agitation to move away from the arbitrariness and anachronisms of the sultan lifestyle and rule.
It’s also a mystery: who killed the two English governesses? What is the significance of the necklace that seems to tie these murders despite a gap of years?
And it’s got a bit of romance - the daughter of the British ambassador and a magistrate who is spanning the gap between old world and new world.
But the story is confusing for listening in audiobook format. It takes a while to figure out that some chapters are now, but others are earlier.
I liked the historical context and the romance. Just the mystery was too obscure.
It’s also a mystery: who killed the two English governesses? What is the significance of the necklace that seems to tie these murders despite a gap of years?
And it’s got a bit of romance - the daughter of the British ambassador and a magistrate who is spanning the gap between old world and new world.
But the story is confusing for listening in audiobook format. It takes a while to figure out that some chapters are now, but others are earlier.
I liked the historical context and the romance. Just the mystery was too obscure.
August 17, 2025
I picked this book up at my local bookstore. Loved the cover and the synopsis had me so excited. I will say, regardless of what I feel about the story itself, the setting was AMAZING! The vivid descriptions of Istanbul and the life of people in that time period made this read worth picking up. As a mystery novel, unfortunately it didnt work. There were too many characters with no distinction between them. Too many things happening without any plans or reasoning. By the time the end came, I was ready to be done. It wasnt worth it for that ending. I wish this author would have written a historical fiction and followed one or two characters and their lives. Not this mystery/thriller stuff. It didnt work, but Bravo for the vivid and beautiful descriptions of the city.
February 28, 2018
Unusual book for me to read. Yet, that was part of the appeal. If it is an accurate depiction of life in Istanbul in 1880s, then it opens the reader to a new understanding of relationships between British and other nationalities as well as Islam.
It was a slow read for me, not the result of the author, but my condition. Nevertheless I was interested in the plot. It seemed like all the details of "resolving" the main issues happened in last 20 pages. Almost like "it's late and we have to finish."
In total, a good read for me. Might not appeal to everyone, but glad I finished it. Look forward to her follow-on novel.
It was a slow read for me, not the result of the author, but my condition. Nevertheless I was interested in the plot. It seemed like all the details of "resolving" the main issues happened in last 20 pages. Almost like "it's late and we have to finish."
In total, a good read for me. Might not appeal to everyone, but glad I finished it. Look forward to her follow-on novel.
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