‘The East Ham Golem’ by Barbara Nadel

Published by Allison & Busby,
20 February 2025.
ISBN: 978-0-74903135-0 (HB)

Another wonderful addition to the Hakim and Arnold mysteries. 

The plot starts with the desecration of a grave in an East London cemetery.  Instead of revealing a body there appears a clay sculpture of a man - a golem - which is a term from Jewish mysticism for a supernatural being.  Arnold and Hakim are given the task of tracing the missing body which involves issues in War Time Czechoslovakia, Jewellery theft, Jewish mysticism, Far Right politics and East End villains.

The tone is bleak and brutal but has the ring of truth.  The detectives secure the help of two characters from previous novels - Detective Tony Bracci and retired detective Vi Collins.  

The plot is both intricate and engrossing and before the ends are finally tied up the reader has gained fascinating information on the history of this part of East London.

Barbara Nadel is a fine and compelling writer and along with the carefully plotted crime scenes we have the continuing saga of the romance between the two detectives.  What a series!  Can't wait for the next episode!
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Reviewer: Toni Russell

Barbara Nadel was born and brought up in the East End of London. She has a degree in psychology and, prior to becoming a full-time author, she worked in psychiatric institutions and in the community with people experiencing mental health problems. She is also the author of the award-winning Inspector Ikmen series and received the Crime Writers' Association Silver Dagger for the seventh novel in the series Deadly Web. There are now 24 books in the series. She is also the author of the award-winning Inspector Ikem series now adapted by the BBC as The Turkish Detective. Barbara now lives in Essex.

Toni Russell is a retired teacher who has lived in London all her life and loves the city.  She says, ‘I enjoy museums, galleries and the theatre but probably my favourite pastime is reading.  I found myself reading detective fiction almost for the first time during lockdown and have particularly enjoyed old fashioned detective fiction rather than the nordic noir variety.  I am a member of a book club at the local library and have previously attended literature classes at our local Adult Education Centre.