Cheryl R. (Spuddie) - , reviewed on 8/3/2009 + 412 more book reviews

This review refers to the audio version of the book, but aside from the comments about the reader are valid for the print version as well.

#3 Yashim the Eunuch historical mystery taking place in the 1830's. This one is set partly in Istanbul and partly in Venice, Italy. The new Sultan, young Abdulmecid asks Yashim to locate a painting by Gentile Bellini--a portrait of Mehmet the Conqueror--that is believed to be in Venice. Yashim's friend Stanislaw Palewski, the Polish ambassador to Turkey, undertakes an undercover role as a rich American out to purchase Venetian art, and Yashim actually takes a back seat role in the book until the last third or so, when all of his complex behind-the-scenes manipulations begin to come to the fore. A richly-woven tale involving the Venetian aristocracy (and its underbelly as well!) including a beautiful Contessa, as well as political intrigue and secrets from the past and present.

I love Jason Goodwin's Istanbul, but I must admit that I found all the different twists and turns in this book a bit overwhelming. Perhaps that was in part due to the fact that I listened to this one and couldn't go back to check on something he'd referred to before as I could with the print version of previous books in the series. The multitude of names and titles confused me somewhat, and I have to admit that I wasn't totally enamored of the reader. He did a skillful enough job at the voices, but there was an annoying hint of a whine in his tone that kept distracting me. I think this is one series I will go back to reading in print--but carry on I will! Once again, there were some wonderful evocative descriptions of Yashim's cooking, too. Mouth-watering!

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