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The Sultan’s Seal Audiobook
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(3.03) - 500 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
The naked body of a young Englishwoman washes up in Istanbul wearing a pendant inscribed with the seal of the deposed sultan. The death resembles the unsolved murder of another Englishwoman, a governess, ten years before. A magistrate in the new secular courts, Kamil Pasha, sets out to find the killer, but his dispassionate belief in science and modernity is shaken by betrayal and widening danger. In a lush, mystical voice, a young Muslim woman recounts her own relationship with one of the dead women and with the suspected killer. Were these political murders involving the palace or crimes of personal passion?
Rich in sensuous detail, this novel of faith and desire brilliantly captures the political and social upheavals of the waning Ottoman Empire and the contradictory desires of the human soul, transporting listeners to another time and place.
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"More mature in theme and complex in plot than I expected from this historical-fiction detective mystery. [I've worked my way through the more innocent yet thoroughly enjoyable Cadfael & Amelia Peabody series.] I applaud White for managing to do justice to her setting, her characters, & storyline. I've already reserved the next in series from the library & 'TiVo-ing' programs about the Istanbul and the Ottoman Empire."
— Bernadette (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Intricate and subtle as a Turkish carpet, lush as silk upon the skin…A fascinating and remarkably knowledgeable look at a society in flux, its very appealing characters caught between East and West, Islam and Christianity, and bound in a web of murder and treachery that only the lucky few may escape.”
— Diana Gabaldon, New York Times bestselling author -
“A wonderful read…about the exotic and fascinating world of the late Ottoman Empire. Of the highest quality.”
— Iain Pears, New York Times bestselling author of An Instance of the Fingerpost -
“[A] passionate debut…The writing is lyrical and the characters enchanting.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“Fascinating, and…a lot of fun.”
— AudioFile -
“Exciting, alluring, and steeped in the kind of period detail that brings listeners into the story. [McCaddon] turns in a dramatic, fluid performance…[She] pays as much attention to verbal nuance and dialogue as White does to the historical details. The author and reader are a winning combination.”
— Booklist -
“[McCaddon’s] slightly husky, cultured British voice perfectly sorts out this complex mystery by pausing between changes in character or time or place, and she encompasses male and female voices effortlessly.”
— Kliatt -
“White’s intelligent, sensuous writing marks a promising debut.”
— Kirkus Reviews -
“An unputdownable read…filled with a wide range of fascinating characters and set against a rich and mysterious backdrop…Ms. White’s writing is as sensuous as the shimmering harem silks and the waters of the Bosphorus she describes so eloquently.”
— MostlyFiction.com
Awards
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A Booklist Top 10 First Novel
The Sultan’s Seal Listener Reviews
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" This might be good but I don't plan to find out! I couldn't get past the first sixty pages. The author is an anthropologist and writes well, but I am just not a fan of her style. "
— Chavonne, 2/19/2014 -
" At first, I wasn't sure I would like this book, but then I felt myself drawn in. A well-written murder mystery with a surprise ending. "
— Gloria, 2/15/2014 -
" Always a fan of mysteries in the PD James fashion, this first book in, hopefully, a series, was really enjoyable. I liked the fact that I knew little or nothing about this time in the decline in the Ottoman empire. "
— Heather, 2/12/2014 -
" This is a historical drama meets traditional murder mystery set in 1886 Istanbul. It feels like the television show "CSI" goes Ottoman Empire. The main character Kamil Pasha is very likable as the the magistrate. "
— Kelli, 2/10/2014 -
" It was a little slow in the beginning but picked up by the halfway point. "
— Shelby, 2/5/2014 -
" Good; quite good. This is a "thinking man's" mystery much like An Instance of the Fingerpost by Mr. Pears. So, if you like rich detail, lyrical writing, and a mystery told in three voices, you will love this one! I plan on reading the next two in the series. "
— Wanda, 1/19/2014 -
" Sorry, it was a hard book to read. Even though its plot was somewhat good, it was written in non fluently language and in some points in street language. "
— Doron, 1/19/2014 -
" I view this as a beach read. A whodunit type of mystery that only because the setting is in the middle east makes you read it. Not enough action, not enough romance not enough... "
— Citlali, 1/15/2014 -
" A very interesting well written book. "
— Mary, 1/10/2014 -
" Istanbul in the late 1800's. A mysterious death of an englishwoman and the detective Kamil Pasha who works the case. A great portrayal of turkey in a time of transition. "
— Sherilyn, 12/25/2013 -
" Gave me an insight into Istanbul culture at the end of the Sultan era in preparation for our trip in the fall. Not particularly exciting mystery otherwise. "
— Alicia, 12/10/2013 -
" Sadly the cover art was much more intriguing than the plot... "
— Jessica, 11/15/2013 -
" Loved, LOVED this book. Another one I couldn't put down. "
— Cayla, 10/30/2013 -
" A fascinating first novel. And a remarkable accurate portrayal of late-19th Century Turkey. "
— Jehnie, 8/19/2013 -
" Kamil Pasha is the quintessential history teacher detective...solving crimes, unravelling the Western/Otttoman conflicts and puzzling through love interests! "
— Margaret, 7/25/2013 -
" This book was okay - the ending wasn't satisfactory. I will probably re-read it to see if there was something I missed the first time around :) "
— Mel, 7/17/2013 -
" Great book this was my 2nd time reading it and found it just as exciting as the first time! "
— Linda, 2/17/2013 -
" The setting was interesting, but the mystery was not. "
— Lynne, 12/28/2012 -
" Beautifully written. The story grabbed me right away and kept my interest throughout. I read this shortly after returning from a trip to Istanbul so enjoyed reading descriptions of places I'd seen. I'll recommend this to anyone I know who is planning a trip to Istanbul. "
— Krista, 9/11/2012 -
" A historical mystery in a time and place I don't know very much about, so I enjoyed the cultural immersion in Istanbul. But it was one of those mysteries where you're sad to find out whodunit and why. I did like the main character so I suppose I'll read the others in this series eventually. "
— Stephanie, 8/3/2012 -
" Fabulous novel of intrigue set in the Ottoman empire during the late 19th century. Murder, coverup, royalty, romance, betrayal - Jenny White weaves a tale of suspense that is impossible to put down. "
— Terri, 3/22/2012 -
" Delve into the fading years of the Ottoman court with Kamil Pasha, a local magistrate as he hunts down the reason a British woman's corpse is found in Istanbul. "
— Kate, 2/18/2012 -
" audio. liked the narrator. good but felt i missed plot points in the beginning. "
— Paul, 6/21/2011 -
" This might be good but I don't plan to find out! I couldn't get past the first sixty pages. The author is an anthropologist and writes well, but I am just not a fan of her style. "
— Chavonne, 5/7/2011 -
" Mysteries and murder in the twilight of the Ottoman Empire "
— Dan, 4/27/2011 -
" This is a historical drama meets traditional murder mystery set in 1886 Istanbul. It feels like the television show "CSI" goes Ottoman Empire. The main character Kamil Pasha is very likable as the the magistrate. "
— Kelli, 4/7/2011 -
" I felt the writing style, use of language and setting of the story was very good, but found the characters a bit dull. The author also left so many loose ends I almost wonder why she bothered finishing the book that way. "
— Sandra, 2/3/2011 -
" After a trip to Istanbul I became interested in reading about the city, whether current or past. I just couldn't get through this book, though. It moved too slowly for me. "
— Jeanne, 11/3/2010 -
" I really enjoyed this book. Especially the second half was a real page turner. I stayed up til 1am last night finishing it. Looking forward to reading #2. "
— Misty, 9/23/2010 -
" This mystery takes place during the waning days of the Ottoman Empire--there is a juxtoposition of the old and the new, of desires, duties,cultures, and beliefs. Will hold your attention. Good read. "
— Ralph, 6/2/2010 -
" Really enjoyed it! The author knows what's she talking about, but resist the tempation to show off too much.. <br/> <br/> "
— Boshka, 5/7/2010 -
" Mystery set in Istanbul during the later years of the Ottoman Empire. A little bit too much jumping around, but I like the main character. "
— Jennifer, 4/1/2010 -
" Always a fan of mysteries in the PD James fashion, this first book in, hopefully, a series, was really enjoyable. I liked the fact that I knew little or nothing about this time in the decline in the Ottoman empire. "
— Heather, 3/19/2010 -
" Interesting combination of history and mystery in 1880s Istanbul, showing 19th-century beliefs from the Moslem, Jewish and Christian points of view. "
— Linda, 1/26/2010 -
" A very exotic and unexpected mystery. "
— Rachel, 1/25/2010 -
" Englishwoman murdered inIstanbul in the 1800s, local magistarte must solve. "
— Tara, 1/18/2010 -
" The setting was interesting, but the mystery was not. "
— Lynne, 1/17/2010 -
" A fascinating first novel. And a remarkable accurate portrayal of late-19th Century Turkey. "
— Jehnie, 1/4/2010 -
" Istanbul in the late 1800's. A mysterious death of an englishwoman and the detective Kamil Pasha who works the case. A great portrayal of turkey in a time of transition. "
— Sherilyn, 12/12/2009 -
" have tried to read this twice now and despite being fascinated by Persia / Iran just cant get into this story. <br/> "
— Maggie, 11/20/2009 -
" Beautifully written. The story grabbed me right away and kept my interest throughout. I read this shortly after returning from a trip to Istanbul so enjoyed reading descriptions of places I'd seen. I'll recommend this to anyone I know who is planning a trip to Istanbul. "
— Krista, 10/20/2009
About Jenny White
Jenny White is the author of the Kamil Pasha novels, The Sultan’s Seal, The Abyssinian Proof, and The Winter Thief. She is a professor of anthropology and the author of numerous nonfiction works on Turkish society and politics. She lives in Boston.
About Wanda McCaddon
Wanda McCaddon (d. 2023) narrated well over six hundred titles for major audiobook publishers, sometimes with the pseudonym Nadia May or Donada Peters. She earned the prestigious Audio Award for best narration and numerous Earphones Awards. She was named a Golden Voice by AudioFile magazine.