Product Description

A concubine is strangled in the Sultan's palace harem, and a young cadet is found butchered in the streets of Istanbul. Delving deep into the city's crooked alleyways, and deeper still into its tumultuous past, the eunuch Yashim discovers that some people will go to any lengths to preserve the traditions of the Ottoman Empire. Brilliantly evoking Istanbul in the 1830s, "The Janissary Tree" is a bloody, witty and fast-paced literary thriller with a spectacular cast.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #79652 in Books
• Published on: 2007-06-07
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 352 pages

Review
"'Everything you could want from a novel.' Kate Mosse, author of Labyrinth"

The Times, June 2 2007
The richly detailed evocation of the period, which gives The
Janissary Tree such an authentic feel, is combined with a playful humour
and a hero unconventional enough to rival Boris Akunin's Erast Fandorin.

Independent on Sunday
'Goodwin has created a subtle character that deserves to endure.'

Customer Reviews

Assumes you have a great deal of background knowledge
Yashim the Eunuch is called in the help investigate the murder of a young concubine in the Sultan's harem and also the assumed abduction of four young cadets from the New Guard (the Ottoman Armed Forces.) The book starts well enough but it was disconcerting that the author appeared to assume that the reader would come to the novel with prior knowledge. I thought this book would be an interesting murder-mystery and that I would learn something about a period of history I know nothing about. Instead, I became lost in the many references to historical events; the differing roles of the characters; and how the general hierarchy had significance.

The characterisation is also quite poor. The reason why Yashim is approached to investigate is never explained satisfactorily and then one-dimensional characters are introduced and never referred to again. The plot isn't too bad, but between the more interesting chapters there are a number of sections that drag.

I am willing to admit that I might not have enjoyed this book as much as I could have because of my lack of knowledge; but this would have easily been remedied by the inclusion of an author's note or short glossary. After all the hype and the awards, this was a real disappointment.

Somehow doesn't quite hit the mark
Much like some of your other recent reviewers, I was expecting to really enjoy this book but it was just so slow. I see that Jason Goodwin is a historian originally and this reads exactly like a history book of 19th century Istanbul with a bit of a story layered on top. The atmosphere and history are indeed fascinating but I'd had enough by the middle of the book and I think he needs to up his pace a little (or a lot!). An interesting idea for a central character however and definite potential for the future.

Turkish Delight
Let me start by saying this is a jolly good read - and a great book to take on holiday to a Turkish beach, especially if you are off on a trip to Istanbul as part of your visit.

I read it within three days of starting it - I was quickly dragged into the story and the pace builds up to a nice `want to know' ending.

If you are 'into' the Historical detective story, this is almost as good as it gets. Plenty of historically accurate detail - the sort of `everyday detail' needed to spice up the story - food, clothing, buildings.

And the essential characters are there: The not quite accepted by anyone `detective'; the manipulative bad-guy; an exotic beautiful temptress; and a tart-with-a-heart with a difference (one of my favourite characters I have to say).

What this is is firmly `escapist' - but with a slightly educational twist - I did get a sense of what Istanbul must have been like, and a sense of the origins of the modern Turkish dilemma between secularism and tradition. If at times the writing felt too worthy, it only lasted a short time and we were soon back chasing fire-raisers through the seedy streets.

This is not Orhan Pamuk - but it isn't meant to be.