📖 Overview
Barbara Nadel is a British crime fiction author best known for her Inspector İkmen series set in Istanbul, Turkey, and her Francis Hancock World War II-era mystery novels set in London's East End.
The Inspector İkmen series, which began with "Belshazzar's Daughter" in 1999, follows the investigations of a chain-smoking Turkish police inspector working in modern Istanbul. Nadel draws on her extensive knowledge of Turkey and its culture to create atmospheric mysteries that explore social issues and historical themes.
Nadel worked as a public relations officer for the National Schizophrenia Fellowship's Good Companion Service and has incorporated her experience in mental health services into her writing. This background particularly influences her Francis Hancock series, which features an undertaker struggling with PTSD during the London Blitz.
Her works have received recognition in the crime fiction community, with "Deadly Web" winning the Crime Writers' Association Silver Dagger in 2005. Nadel continues to write both series while residing in the UK, regularly traveling to Turkey for research.
👀 Reviews
Readers praise Nadel's detailed portrayal of Istanbul's culture, history, and atmosphere in the İkmen series. Many point to her authentic representation of Turkish society and its complexities. One Amazon reviewer noted: "She captures the essence of Istanbul - you can smell the spices and hear the call to prayer."
The character development of Inspector İkmen receives positive mentions, with readers appreciating his flaws and evolution across the series. The Francis Hancock books earn recognition for their accurate depiction of wartime London.
Common criticisms include plot pacing, with some readers finding the stories slow to develop. A few mention difficulty keeping track of Turkish names and places. Several Goodreads reviews note that the later İkmen books become formulaic.
Ratings across platforms:
- Goodreads: Average 3.8/5 across all books
- Amazon UK: 4.2/5 average
- Amazon US: 4.0/5 average
Most popular titles by reader ratings:
- Belshazzar's Daughter (İkmen #1)
- Last Rights (Hancock #1)
- A Noble Killing (İkmen #13)
📚 Books by Barbara Nadel
Belshazzar's Daughter - Inspector İkmen investigates a murder in Istanbul's Jewish quarter which connects to events in World War II.
A Chemical Prison - A series of apparent suicides among young boys in Istanbul leads İkmen to uncover a dangerous drug operation.
Arabesk - The murder of an Arabic pop star draws İkmen into Istanbul's music industry and its dark undercurrents.
Deep Waters - İkmen investigates deaths connected to an ancient cistern beneath Istanbul while dealing with personal tragedy.
Harem - A murder in a modern Turkish brothel links to historical crimes in the old Ottoman harems.
Death by Design - İkmen pursues a killer targeting Ottoman-style houses and their occupants.
After the Mourning - A London mortuary worker's death connects to İkmen's investigation of ritual killings in Istanbul.
Pretty Dead Things - The discovery of a young woman's body in the Bosphorus reveals connections to Istanbul's transgender community.
A Private Business - PI Lee Arnold and his assistant Mumtaz Hakim investigate a stalking case in East London.
An Act of Kindness - Hakim and Arnold become entangled in a case involving homeless veterans and wealthy property developers.
Poisoned Ground - The detective duo investigates suspicious deaths connected to an East End building development.
Last Rights - An undertaker in WWII London investigates murders during the Blitz.
After the Fire - Francis Hancock deals with deaths connected to the aftermath of a V2 rocket attack.
Ashes to Ashes - A series of murders in wartime London connects to Hancock's own traumatic past.
A Chemical Prison - A series of apparent suicides among young boys in Istanbul leads İkmen to uncover a dangerous drug operation.
Arabesk - The murder of an Arabic pop star draws İkmen into Istanbul's music industry and its dark undercurrents.
Deep Waters - İkmen investigates deaths connected to an ancient cistern beneath Istanbul while dealing with personal tragedy.
Harem - A murder in a modern Turkish brothel links to historical crimes in the old Ottoman harems.
Death by Design - İkmen pursues a killer targeting Ottoman-style houses and their occupants.
After the Mourning - A London mortuary worker's death connects to İkmen's investigation of ritual killings in Istanbul.
Pretty Dead Things - The discovery of a young woman's body in the Bosphorus reveals connections to Istanbul's transgender community.
A Private Business - PI Lee Arnold and his assistant Mumtaz Hakim investigate a stalking case in East London.
An Act of Kindness - Hakim and Arnold become entangled in a case involving homeless veterans and wealthy property developers.
Poisoned Ground - The detective duo investigates suspicious deaths connected to an East End building development.
Last Rights - An undertaker in WWII London investigates murders during the Blitz.
After the Fire - Francis Hancock deals with deaths connected to the aftermath of a V2 rocket attack.
Ashes to Ashes - A series of murders in wartime London connects to Hancock's own traumatic past.
👥 Similar authors
Jason Goodwin writes crime novels set in Ottoman-era Istanbul featuring investigator Yashim. His work shares Nadel's focus on Turkish culture and history while exploring crime in a historical context.
Donna Leon writes detective novels set in Venice with Commissario Brunetti as the protagonist. Her books emphasize local culture, police procedure, and social issues in Mediterranean settings.
Rebecca Cantrell creates mystery novels set in pre-WWII and wartime Berlin featuring detective Hannah Vogel. She combines crime investigation with historical detail and cultural elements of the period.
Michael Pearce writes the Mamur Zapt series about a British police commander in early 1900s colonial Cairo. His books feature similar themes of East-meets-West cultural dynamics and police work in Middle Eastern settings.
Boris Akunin writes the Erast Fandorin detective series set in Tsarist Russia with deep historical context. His work shares Nadel's attention to period detail and exploration of crime in societies undergoing cultural transition.
Donna Leon writes detective novels set in Venice with Commissario Brunetti as the protagonist. Her books emphasize local culture, police procedure, and social issues in Mediterranean settings.
Rebecca Cantrell creates mystery novels set in pre-WWII and wartime Berlin featuring detective Hannah Vogel. She combines crime investigation with historical detail and cultural elements of the period.
Michael Pearce writes the Mamur Zapt series about a British police commander in early 1900s colonial Cairo. His books feature similar themes of East-meets-West cultural dynamics and police work in Middle Eastern settings.
Boris Akunin writes the Erast Fandorin detective series set in Tsarist Russia with deep historical context. His work shares Nadel's attention to period detail and exploration of crime in societies undergoing cultural transition.