Audiobook
Narrator: Justine Eyre

I'm honestly not sure why Emily annoys me so much. I think I'll take a break from the series in the hope I can give her a fairer shake at a later date. ( )

I just didn't like this one as much as the others in the series. Too much going to this harem or that harem for one thing, (and I'm sick of the Bosporus now) and for another, what's become of the butler, her house, etc.? And I still just can't believe Colin being so supportive about her being so independent. ( )

They are very bad at honeymooning, but their adventures are fascinating. Love the history, love the plain speaking on both sides of the Ottoman/British cultural divide. Continue to enjoy the series. ( )

Lady Emily has married her late husband's best friend, Colin Hargreaves. As the embark on their honeymoon to Constantinople via the Orient Express they meet Sir William, a British diplomat who lost his wife(murdered) & 5 year old daughter (kidnapped) to bandits on an archaeological expedition. While in the dining car w/ Colin and Emily he nearly succumbs to an overdose of chloral hydrate.

Both Colin & Emily, along w/ Sir William are invited by the Sultan to attend a Verdi opera w/ a G&S ending . Afterwards while strolling through the Palace Gardens they come across a screaming concubine and the body of another, that turns out to be the lost daughter of Sir William.

Things are kind of a mish-mash after that. Emily is allowed inside the harem to question the concubines and the two Valide Sultans (Mother of Sultan). Both Valides make things difficult for Emily & hamper her investigation. Also making things difficult for Emily, is the concubine Roxelana, a christian, who convinces Emily to help her escape.

I really didn't warm to any of the characters, I had no empathy for any of them and I figured out who the bad guy was near the beginning.

Although I usually like Lady Emily, I find Alexander's writing uneven and unstable from one adventure to the next.... This book had so much possibility & I found it fell short. ( )

I wanted to like this book more, since I enjoyed the previous three in the series. But I just couldn't get into the mystery--it wasn't as personal to the characters as in the previous books. Hopefully in the next book, Emily will get back to England to do some detective work. ( )