"The Ottoman Cage - A Novel of Istanbul"

Barara Nadel's second novel in the Inspector Cetin Ikmen mystery series is "The Ottoman Cage" and is set in Istanbul.

When a young man's body is found in a secret apartment without any identification, Ikmen and his staff have their work cut out for them trying to learn who rented the apartment and who the victim is.  Forensic pathologist, Arto Sarkissian, and his good friend, Ikmen, have worked closely together in the past and this case has them not only mingling socially but spending a lot of time together on the job trying to discover the victim's identity as well as why he appeared to be so well cared for then so callously killed and discarded.

Ikmen has his own personal problems with a wife in pain from fibroids at home who not only has responsibility for their nine children but is caring for his father and the latter is causing her more and more challenges each day.  That seems reason enough for Ikmen to be glad of work to keep him busy and away from home.

His staff have their own challenges on the home front and this novel weaves a tale of their private and professional lives that adds human interest to solving the murder.  As I read the story, I wished I was more knowledgeable about Armenian and Turkish history.  Nadel weaves a fascinating tale involving this culture.  pazt