Recent Events

Saturday 19 February 2022

‘Pretty Dead Things’ by Barbara Nadel

Published by Headline,
7 August 2008.
ISBN: 978-0-7553-3563-3 (PB)

When Emine Aksu, the wife of an Istanbul Guru, goes missing, Inspector Cetine Ikman is called in to investigate. We find out that Emine was part of the free-love era of the happy, hippy sixties. She is now middle-aged but has never fully let go of those carefree times. So, is she perhaps missing because she has rekindled a relationship from her past? Her husband thinks not.

Inspector Mehmet Suleyman, meanwhile, is investigating another case; a female skeleton has been found by the art deco kamondo stairs in Karakey. As the story moves from one case to the other and both detectives find themselves delving into the city’s past, we the reader find ourselves wondering if these two incidents are linked?

The reminiscing back in time to the days of free-love and beatniks and hippies and flower power in the late sixties adds enormously to the interest of this story. It was a period in history that Nadel draws you to, and makes you wish you had been there. Her knowledge of the journey through Turkey to the kabuts of Istanbul is also fascinating and made me want to go and discover it for myself. Nadel’s characters are, as always, colourful and clearly drawn, and her knack of weaving strong and believable plots is enviable. I personally love all her books, and I would certainly recommend this one. 
-----

Reviewer: Linda Regan

Barbara Nadel was born in the East End of London. She rained as an actress, and used to work in mental health services. She now writes full time and has been a visitor to Turkey for over twenty years. She received the Crime Writers' Association Silver Dagger for her novel Deadly Web.

Linda Regan is the author of six police procedural crime novels. She is also an actress. She holds a Masters degree in critical writing and journalism, and writes a regular column, including book reviews, for three magazines. She also presents the book-club spot on BBC Radio Kent. She is an avid reader and welcomes the chance to read new writers. 

  To read a review of Linda's most recent book
The Terror Within
click on the title. 

www.lindareganonline.co.uk

 

No comments:

Post a Comment