The Janissary Tree: A Novel

· Investigator Yashim Book 1 · Sold by Sarah Crichton Books
4.5
15 reviews
Ebook
320
Pages
Eligible

About this ebook

WINNER OF THE EDGAR AWARD FOR BEST NOVEL

This first book in the Investigator Yashim series is a richly entertaining tale, full of exotic history and intrigue, introduces Investigator Yashim: In 1830s Istanbul, an extra-ordinary hero tackles an extraordinary plot that threatens to topple the Ottoman Empire

It is 1836. Europe is modernizing, and the Ottoman Empire must follow suit. But just before the Sultan announces sweeping changes, a wave of murders threatens the fragile balance of power in his court. Who is behind them? Only one intelligence agent can be trusted to find out: Yashim Lastname, a man both brilliant and near-invisible in this world. You see, Yashim is a eunuch.

He leads us into the palace's luxurious seraglios and Istanbul's teeming streets, and leans on the wisdom of a dyspeptic Polish ambassador, a transsexual dancer, and a Creole-born queen mother. And he introduces us to the Janissaries. For 400 years, they were the empire's elite soldiers, but they grew too powerful, and ten years ago, the Sultan had them crushed. Are the Janissaries staging a brutal comeback?

Ratings and reviews

4.5
15 reviews
A Google user
March 24, 2011
In Turkish history the Sultan created the Janissary Corps to provide a body of Police, military and fire fighting men to serve the ottoman empire. The Corps was paid from imperial funds and served locally as police and fire fighters and nationally as a military when needed. During the 400 year history the Janissary Corps was very successful as an organization both at military conquest and internal order and control. Unfortunately the Corps became increasingly corrupt and undisciplined until the sultan Mahmud II disbanded the organization under revolt and replaced it with a modern army modeled upon those in Europe. This history is the backdrop to the novel as it takes place 10 years after the disbandment of the Corps. The Janissary Tree is essentially a mystery novel named after the adopted monument of the Corps. The protagonist is an investigator in 1826 Istanbul reviewing the murders of four Army officers and one of the sultan’s harems. The novel offers a moderate level of history but is a bit light on culture. The author is British and the point of view seems western despite the political, historical and cultural trappings. One of the things that expresses culture in a profound way is relating how those trappings affect the way a character thinks. This is more evident when the method of thought contrasts with the readers own experience. In this case the author has failed to reveal such a contrast. It could be of course that Turkish thought is not so different from western but I doubt that. Lustbader shows this contrast in the Shan when he brings an American military officer in contact with a Chinese government official and they strike a tentative friendship. Sagara shows this contrast during the sun sword series when she contrasts the characters of the dominion vs the empire. The main character is often interacting with a polish diplomat but their points of view show little if any contrast. The method in which Yashim approaches investigative effort seems little or no different than typical mystery novels except that it lacks the trend toward scientific and forensic methods. It is an enjoyable read but not exceptional. Lords of the Horizons: A History of the Ottoman Empire might be a more interesting read. The ending culminates in an attempted coup which fails largely due to the efforts of our hero. Curiously cooking is a thematic element that looms large from the Janissary tradition. It is explained that the Janissaries as part of the sultan’s servant staff are given ranks based upon kitchen functions. A common badge of office for the Janisarries is a wooden spoon. The author deftly weaves this in as a curious motif for a military organization.
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Kym Lindsey
September 3, 2017
Ottoman Istanbul is an outstanding supporting player for Yashim Tolagu and his mission to prevent a counter-revolution and a palace coup. The politics and machinations are reminiscent of recent Turkish unrest, proving, yet again, that history moves in circles, and that fiction can be a better truth-teller than facts.
1 person found this review helpful
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GiGi C
May 12, 2014
Loved all the details about the daily life as well as the characters. Definitely on my "read all" in series list.
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About the author

JASON GOODWIN is the Edgar Award–winning author of the Investigator Yashim series. The first five books—The Janissary Tree, The Snake Stone, The Bellini Card, An Evil Eye, and The Baklava Club—have been published to international acclaim, alongside Yashim Cooks Istanbul, a cookbook of Ottoman Turkish recipes inspired by the series. Goodwin studied Byzantine history at Cambridge and is the author of Lords of the Horizons: A History of the Ottoman Empire, among other award-winning nonfiction. He lives with his wife and children in England.

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