The Janissary Tree

by: Jason Goodwin

Published by: Picador

Reviewed by Kathy Perschmann

This book, the first in a series of Investigator Yashim thrillers, won the Edgar Award.

Goodwin studied Byzantine history at Cambridge, and has written On Foot to the Golden Horn: a Walk to Istanbul and Lords of the Horizons: A History of the Ottoman Empire.

The Janissary Tree is set in Istanbul in 1836—a time when the Sultan is trying to introduce modern ideas. It has been ten years since the Janissaries—the army of guards and firefighters that eventually became corrupt and too powerful, was destroyed. This rich tapestry of a book includes the most incredible details of food, clothing, daily life, the baths, and ordinary workers (tanners and soup makers, the harem—even the harem archivist!). Investigator Yashim has two cases. The first is for the seraskier, the military leader who commands all the troops of the sultan. Four of the best men of the New Guard, trained in all the ways of modern warfare, are missing. His second case is a mysterious death in the harem. One of the chosen girls has been found dead, a ring stolen from her finger, just before she was to join the Sultan. Also, and maybe more important, the mother of the Sultan has had her jewels stolen. Yashim can easily travel into the harem, because he is a eunuch.

The missing men begin to turn up dead in very mysterious and gruesome circumstances, and Yashim tries to keep up with what is going on, dealing with threats to his life, and threats to his good friends. The pace is grueling, but he is up to it. He keeps hoping he can ascertain where the men are being held and possibly rescue them. The clues all lead to the Janissaries. Are there Janissaries still active, and are they out for revenge? What could have happened to the jewels?

Goodwin makes the period, the city and the characters positively leap off the page. You can smell the onions cooking and the hides boiling in the tannery, the perfumed oils in the harem bath, and the coffee with cardamom or cinnamon.

NOTE: Picador has a book discussion guide on their web site: http://www.picadorusa.com

Armchair Interviews says: Wonderful story well deserving of the Edgar Award!

Author’s Web site: http://www.jasongoodwin.net