Hotel Bosphorus by Esmahan Aykol

Turkish author Esmahan Aykol's debut novel, Hotel Bosphorus, is a little like an ultra exotic version of a Miss Marple murder mystery.  It's probably a little more cozy mystery than gritty crime novel, but what it lacks in dark noirish deeds, it more than makes up for in its exoticism of setting.  Aykol excels in portraying Istanbul as seen through the eyes of a foreigner who has come to love the city but recognizes how the various cultures often bump up against each other. 

Kati Hirschel is one of the more intriguing amateur sleuths I've come across recently.  Born in Istanbul of German parents she spent the first seven years of her life there before moving back to Germany, and has since returned and lived there for another thirteen.  Her Turkish friends are convinced she has assimilated to the point of becoming a full fledged Istanbullu, and she'll be the first to defend her adopted city's customs and eccentricities while accepting (or at least being aware of) its blemishes.  Kati is self-assured, fearless, and quite certain in her opinions, which she will happily share with you.  Sometimes directly to the reader as she narrates her story in first-person.  Forty-ish and attractive she owns the sole bookshop in Istanbul, which specializes in crime novels.  She, of course, jumps at the chance to do a little extracurricular sleuthing the first chance she gets. 

It seems Kati isn't so much interested in discovering a murderer and bringing him to justice as she is in seeking out the truth, and more importantly helping out a friend from college.

"I'd been reading crime fiction since my childhood, and selling it for the last three years.  I was no longer just an ordinary reader.  The time had come for me to offer my theoretical knowledge for the benefit of society." 

As part of a German film company Petra Vogel has come to Istanbul to make a movie.  Before filming is set to begin the director is found dead in his bath, the apparent victim of electrocution.  All attention falls on Petra as she is the director's nearest neighbor in the luxurious Hotel Bosphorus and she was in the area at the time of his death.  The two had suites next to each other.  More damning is the fact that the two are said to be romantically involved.  Kati has not seen Petra in years since their paths diverged after university, and before they even have time to catch up she feels called upon to defend her friend.  Petra appears to have changed since their school days, aged and seemingly burdened by secrets.

Bits of Kati's past trickle out over the course of the story.  Her father is dead and her mother lives on her own in Berlin.  The two women aren't particularly close, but neither is a fan of the police.  It's probably for this reason that Kati rebuffs the amorous attentions of the investigating officer on the case, Batuhan Önal, though she's happy to obtain whatever information from him she can get.  She's particularly good at this as a matter of fact.  She manages to question the head of the local mob with a certain panache before he's hauled off to jail on another crime entirely.  All her questions and nosing about reveal little that sheds light on who might be the culprit.  The Turkish police aren't willing to work with their German counterparts and seem to have a decided lack of evidence, so it's likely the case will be closed unsolved.

What's so interesting about Hotel Bosphorus is Aykol is a Turkish writer writing from a German character's perspective.  Aykol splits her time between Istanbul and Berlin, and in the novel she explores the way the two cultures clash and stereotype each other.  Although the mystery relies a tad too much on coincidence to move the plot along and the ending felt a little too rushed, she more than makes up for these shortcomings through her depiction of the two societies and her very adroit evocation of place and Turkish society in general.  I could see the sun setting over the Golden Horn and feel the heat and claustrophobia of the traffic as well understand how badly tourists and visitors behave.  And she does it all with a touch of humor. 

This was a quick and entertaining read.  If you enjoy crime stories with an international flair, this one is definitely off the beaten track.  I've become quite a fan of Bitter Lemon Press and am happy to see them bringing more international crime novels to English speaking readers.  Hotel Bosphorus is Esmahan Aykol's first Kati Hirschel mystery to be translated into English by Ruth Whitehouse.  There are two more, which I hope will get translated as well.  I should note that I jumped the gun on this one a little; it is due out in the US in July 2011.  I'd never read a Turkish mystery/crime novel before and couldn't resist the temptation to start reading it right away.  I hope to get the chance to read more of her work.    

My copy came courtesy of Meryl Zegarek Public Relations.

Comments

[Kay]

How interesting this is, Danielle. I am loving the fact that so many mysteries can take you to countries and places that are unfamiliar and yet, the reader still gets to experience a mystery. Lovely.

I'll be looking for this one for sure. Thanks for putting it on my radar. I got a book in this last week that is set in the Arctic with an Inuit detective. Fun, fun.

[Teresa]

This does sound good.

I have a couple of books from Bitter Lemon on my shelf (Thursday Night Wives and The Lie), and I really look forward to reading those. Almost all the books in their catalog intrigue me.

[Danielle]

Kay--I wonder if I have the same book set in Alaska--I can't recall the name of the author but I think it is a Soho Press book. It does sound good if it's the one I'm thinking of! And I like getting a taste of other cultures via crime novels--as strange as that sounds. I'd love to read more of Aykol's books and see how Kati develops as a character.
Teresa--I really like Bitter Lemon Press and will buy just about whatever I find that they publish. I loved Thursday Night Widows, which was made into a film (though I'm not sure if it ever became available here). I think I saw somewhere that another of her books is going to be published in English, by the way. I have The Lie partially read--I started struggling with it--maybe the translation? I do want to finish though as I want to find out how it ends! I would love to hear what you think of it!

[Caroline]

Sounds like an answer to Arjouni's novels in which he writes about a Turkish sleuth in Frankfurt. It mirrors a reality that is important to know. Berlin is, I think after Ankara or Istanbul, the biggest Turkish city. In some parts of the town everything is written in two languages. There is a huge emerging cultural production of young Turkish/German authors and filmmakers. Some of the movies move from Berlin to Istanbul and back. Anyhow, this sounds like a highly entertaining read, more so even because I'm planning on going to Istanbul. It's high on my travel wish list. I've only been in Turkey once for a day. Thanks for the discovery. I'll order it right away.

[litlove]

Ah so this was what you were reading! Yes, it does sound most intriguing, although it also sounds like the situation was beautifully done and the crime a little less so (so often the case in a first of a series). I will definitely look out for it and I keep meaning to check out Bitter Lemons Press - they do seem to have a really interesting and unusual list.

[catharina]

This is a mystery I would like to read too. Few years ago I read a novel by a Dutch author situated in Istanbul, it must be a beautiful city and until I can go there in person a story will do very well!

[Maxine]

Interesting review, thanks. This book is on my list as I aim to read all those eligible for the International Dagger (translated crime fiction) each year. However, I'd read a review of this novel which had put me off, it sounds much better from your review!

Bitter Lemon is a good press, I agree. Thursday Night Widows (mentioned by Teresa) is very good indeed, set in Argentina it is a funny but telling social satire of the country club set. The Lie I did not enjoy, certainly compared with the author's brilliant The Sinner which was published a year earlier by Bitter Lemon. That was one of the best, and most harrowing, crime novels I've ever read, and I have read more than a few.

[Stefanie]

This sounds pretty good for a crime novel ;)

[Kathy]

That sounds like a wonderful new addition to the crime/cozy mystery genre. I'll have to watch for this when it comes out, as the setting sounds fascinating as well.

[iliana]

Well this is a must for my reading list! I've read a couple of Bitter Lemon Press books and I also have been impressed.

[Danielle]

Caroline--Do you know if Arjouni's novels have been translated into English? I like the sound of them. It would be fun to read this before or right after a trip to Istanbul as she talks a lot about places, which would be much more meaningful if you had some frame of reference to the city. Still, it was nice just imagining the place. It's interesting to think of Berlin as having so many Turkish immigrants, but probably not really considering how many guest workers they have had. The film that was being made in the novel was just as you mention--German actors/production company telling a Turkish story.
Litlove--I really like Bitter Lemon Press--I've enjoyed the books I've read they publish and have a number on my TBR pile. The mystery plot could have been stronger, but still it was an entertaining read--very off the beaten path in terms of my usual mystery choices, so a nice change of pace.
Catharina--I'd love to travel there as well. It seems so exotic to me as I know very little about it culturally. This was a nice taste and I'd be curious to know how much it really reflects Istanbul society.
Maxine--I've not yet read any other reviews of the book. I did enjoy it, but it was very much a first novel and I can see where another reader might be critical of certain aspects of it. I think it's a series that shows promise--perhaps it's the exoticism of the place but she did convey that very well--very quirky main character however. I loved Thursday Night Widows and it seems as though I read somewhere that another book by her (Pineiro) was being translated into English (hopefully am not imagining that). So far The Lie is the only clunker that I've come across with Bitter Lemon Press--I love the premise, but...maybe if it had been shorter? I'll give The Sinners a try.
Stefanie--As crime novels go, it wasn't too bad. It makes me want to go to Istanbul. Though I must say she didn't spend as much time reading as I expected...too busy questioning suspects I guess.
Kathy--I was sort of expecting something dark and noirish--but it was a little humorous--an amateur sleuth getting mixed up in murder sort of situation.
Iliana--I need to decide which book to read next from my Bitter Lemon pile!

[Caroline]

Yes, I checked, they have been translated. The first one would be Happy Birthday, Turk. He is compared to Chandler, btw. It's quite good only I don't think the Turkish part is that strong. Kayanka, the PI, is fairly assimilated.
Arjouni writes much more literary fiction by now and is decidedly one of the most interesting voices of German literature. Maybe I should write a post?

[Caroline]

Sorry, the name of the PI is Kayankaya.

[Dorothy W.]

This sounds really fun. Interesting that Kati is a bookstore owner specializing in crime who works on cases on the side. That's the same set-up as Colin Bateman's Mystery Man, but I'm sure the two books are quite different!

[Danielle]

Caroline--Thanks for the author/title. His books are available over here so I will try the first one. It'll be interesting to compare the two authors. Do write about Arjouni--I would love to hear more about his work. I think only his crime novels are available, but maybe his other work will be translated as well.
Dorothy--It was a fun read and different than my usual mysteries. Kati did not spend much time in her bookshop I must say, but I put it down to her sleuthing and a more laid back way of life I am assuming they might have in Istanbul. I think the two are probably very different, but not a bad thing at all! :) It's a fun set up for a mystery book.

[Eva]

I'm so jealous of your review copy! I hope my library gets this one when it's realised; you had me at the first line. ;)

[Danielle]

Eva--I should clarify--Kati is very much a modern woman (though 'nosy' like Miss Marple). Really, though, Miss Marple is quite forward thinking but I think she is and still would always be very prim and proper! I was very lucky indeed to get an advance copy of this and would like to read more by some Turkish authors now!