I found this fair-condition hardcover at a local Savers thrift shop, and was intrigued by the premise: a palace eunuch in the 19th-century Ottoman Empire is tasked to investigate crimes...

I enjoyed the period detail, especially as the story takes place at a time of tremendous social and political change. This made the existence of the eunuchs feel antiquated, though it was interesting to learn about the different - um, degrees? - of mutilation involved; main character Yashim seems to have gotten off relatively lightly, while other classes of eunuchs suffered a much more extreme form. [Yashim winds up having a very sensual affair with the wife of a diplomat; the author doesn't provide details, but makes it clear that both parties are satisfied by the experience.]

The main plot has two seemingly-separate cases: a theft in the harem, and the disappearance of a handful of soldiers, with the latter case becoming much more serious when the body of one of the men is found in appalling circumstances. [The fates of the soldiers were gruesome indeed, and yet somehow underplayed by the way the story danced around so many other subplots; I felt really bad for those guys!]

The delicacy of conducting investigations when there are rival political factions, serious diplomatic concerns, and issues of class and caste makes Yashim's job difficult - but all these things add to the texture of the story.

I plan to leave this book on a bench on the esplanade at around 12:30 or so on this lovely day; hope the finder enjoys it!

[See other recent releases in MA here.]

*** Released for the 2017 April Showers/May Flowers release challenge. ***