Baksheesh

Kati Hirschel is not your typical Turkish lady, for a start she is half German, she runs her own crime novel book store and she refuses to be the glamorous, obedient woman her boyfriend wants her to be. She is also facing endless stresses in her life, starting with a landlady who is trying to push her rent way out of Kati's range. Finding a new flat in Istanbul is not easy, but thanks to large 'Baksheesh' or 'tips' passed on to the right people Kati has found her dream home overlooking the Bosphorus. So it is exceedingly inconvenient for her when a dead body if found inside and Kati herself becomes a suspect! Determined to clear her name and get her hands on the luxury apartment Kati decides to solve the crime.

This novel immerses the reader in the chaotic, colourful world of Istanbul from the first page. Kati Hirschel is an incredibly endearing character; a feisty, impulsive woman who changes her mind every five minutes. Aykol allows the reader a remarkable insight into life in Turkey's largest city, as she humorously deals with everything from politics and corruption to love and the menopause. This is the third book in the Kati Hirschel Istanbul Mystery series and readers will certainly find themselves wanting more.