BELSHAZZAR’S DAUGHTER by Barbara Nadel

BELSHAZZAR’S DAUGHTER

by

Barbara Nadel

            Leonid Meyer, an elderly Jewish Russian refugee, had been tortured and murdered in his home in the Balat area of Istanbul. A swastika, drawn using Meyer’s blood, was left on the wall above his body. Officials are concerned that the murder is evidence of rampant racism in Istanbul, but Inspector Cetin Ikmen is not so sure. As he and his sergeant, Suleyman, investigate, they uncover a complex history of Russian immigrants, German Nazis, and secrets worthy of murder.

            Belshazzar’s Daughter is the first book in Nadel’s Inspector Ikmen mystery series. This is an interesting series, detailing life in Istanbul. The plot in this book is complex, and the writing is fine (other than a handful of times when the addition of commas would have been helpful). In addition, Nadel’s characters are interesting and richly developed.