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I really enjoyed this murder mystery set in 19th century Istanbul. The world’s culture is changing, and the effects of modernization have swept across Europe. The sultan of the Ottoman Empire feels he must go along, but just as he’s about to announce sweeping political change, a grisly murder occurs within the court. So he calls for Yashim – a eunuch and a special detective . Goodwin treats us to an exotic locale - luxurious seraglios, noisy market places, and filthy tanneries. And he populates
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Not bad but I was not terribly drawn to the character of Yashim. Maybe there was a bit too much political content for me. The author asides that popped up now and then within the book were sometimes enlightening but more often interrupted the flow of the story and I had trouble falling back into it. (more like a 2.5 stars)
