It is the year Rumi year 1302 or 1886 by the Christian calendar. The setting is Istanbul where the naked body of a white woman had been found floating in the Bosphorus. Around her neck is a pendant that contains the tughra, the Sultan's seal - a signature that is only found on special possessions of the imperial household. For Kamil Pasha, the city's magistrate, there are echoes of similar murder - of an English governess - that took place eight years before. There are also links to a woman called Jaanan, a member of Ottoman high society who has fallen into disgrace.The body of the first victim was discovered, drowned, on the estate where she lived with her mother and uncle. Jaanan was a privileged child who grew up amongst the 'veiled ladies' of the court but her life changed when she fell in love with a man who was involved in a plot to overturn the Sultan. Sybil is the daughter of the English Ambassador and as such, has unique access to the most prominent circles in the Court. She uses her connections to help Kamil Pasha infiltate the secrets world of the harem, and gradually falls in love with him. As they work to untangle the threads of both murders they make powerful enemies in a dramatic tale of court intrigue and revenge.

Was a good read - got bogged down occassionally - here is a link to my review:

http://www.reviewers-choice.com/the_sultans_seal.htm

RELEASE NOTES:

For the meetup

Picked up at the meet-up. I love the cover. I had been tempted to buy this book recently. Thanks Sally.

It took until the end for all the threads to come together. At times I found the chapters being different characters story a bit confusing. Overall tho, a very enjoyable read.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Travelling with a bookring. Books shouldn't travel alone.

Thanks amberC.

Confusing at times, but an interesting read.

In the OBCZ.

I hope I can read it without getting too confused.

Scanning the back of the book, the story looked promising enough; there was mystery, murder, romance and intrigue all set within the Ottoman Empire. However, as I slowly got further and further into the novel, I found myself becoming more and more distracted. I suppose it is because I was expecting the story to revolve around the death of the young woman and the investigation around her death. Instead, although this story was there, it felt as though it became more and more lost as the book progressed. So for me the strengths of this book are more about the time, place and location than about the plot. You get a wonderful flavour of the period and the setting of Istanbul during the decline of the Ottoman Empire and the fantastic wealth and opulence of the palaces and the political intrigue during a period of great change

Release #78 for 2017 ...

Wow, this has been on the road for 10 years. It can rest-a-while in Templestowe. Caught at today's meet-up.

It's a fascinating setting, mostly well written but sadly I wasn't particularly engaged by the mystery itself. Having said that I would still read another Jenny White book if I come across one.

On to the shelves.

To the finder of this book -
Please let me know it is in safe hands by journalling that you have caught it, you are under no obligation to read it and Bookcrossing is completely anonymous.