The Bellini Card ('Yashim the Eunuch' Mystery)
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Amazon.co.uk Review
Jason Goodwin’s series featuring his Ottoman detective Yashmin has quickly established itself as a readers’ favourite. Of course, having a eunuch investigator at the centre of your narratives is a fairly surefire guarantee that your series will be particularly memorable, but that basic concept has to be shored up by solid, atmospheric writing -- and that is just what Goodwin delivered in The Janissary Tree and The Snake Stone. Those books were crammed full of fast-moving narrative incident (including chases and even heady erotic episodes), not to mention elegant plotting and writing -- elements that are well to the fore once again in the new book, The Bellini Card.
Here, Yashmin travels from sultry Istanbul to the darker place of Venice, employed by the Sultan to track down a lost painting by Bellini. Assisted by his old friend Palewski, the Polish ambassador, Yashmin immerses himself in a world of shady dealers, down-at-heel aristocrats and reckless pleasure seekers.
Needless to say, the stakes are higher than simply finding a missing painting, and people soon begin to die violently. This is richly entertaining writing, delivered with the intelligence and flair that we have come to expect from Jason Goodwin. --Barry Forshaw
Daily Telegraph
`Yashim is a scholar, fighter, master chef and sex machine. But he's a reluctant eunuch, serving "the Sick Man of Europe", and a pervading sense of loss and decline suffuse these rich romps with melancholy intelligence.'
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
An excellent addition to this series about a Turkish eunuch detective. This time, Yashim's friend the Polish Ambassador has quite the leading role as the duo steps out of Istanbul into Venice. The atmosphere is probably more interesting than the story itself but I thoroughly recommend this to readers who like period mysteries in exotic settings.
As usual Jason hasn't bothered to include city maps or notes (like Flashman); so a working knowledge of the period in question, the cuisines involved and the political issues in the twilight years of the Ottoman Empire help in appreciating the book more.
As usual Jason hasn't bothered to include city maps or notes (like Flashman); so a working knowledge of the period in question, the cuisines involved and the political issues in the twilight years of the Ottoman Empire help in appreciating the book more.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is the third in the Yashim series 'The Jannisary Tree' was 1; 'The Snake Stone' was 2; and The Bellini Card' is 3; and so it is in my ranking of the books, only 3 stars for this one. For me the basic problem with this book was the plot, it did not grip me as The Jannisary Tree did which promised great things for a series. Unfortunately this book did not shine for me. Why? Could it be that Yashim the central character of the series plays only a bit part in the first half of the book? The central character is Palewski and try as he might he does not match Yashim. Could it be that the centre of action is relocated from the exoticism of they lanes of Istanbul to the smelly canals of Venice? I think so. It was a bit of both as far as I am concerned. The pace did pick up a bit in the second half of the book but by then I was struggling a bit. The plot let it down but I hope book 4 'An Evil Eye' which will be published soon gets the series back on track.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Goodwin trots out familar tropes (cooking, drowning, eunuch as love god etc) to diminishing effect. The research and descriptive writing are excellent. He is very effective at creating an atmosphere; this time of Venice.
However, the main plot makes no sense (even when explained at the end) and sub-plots are either left unresolved or brought to a ridiculous, sugary-sweet and frankly intelligence-insulting conclusion. The reader will assume that things are carefully laid red herrings only to realise that they are a narrative strand that has vanished because the author couldn't work out what to do with it. And don't get me started on the 'symbolism' of the pattern that pops up everywhere.
The apparently superhuman attributes of Yashim himself are also annoying; none more so than the coup de theatre which reveals his presence about half way through the book. I know Conan Doyle used to do the same thing, but who wants a faux Holmes in a turban instead of a deerstalker? Do yourself a favour and read the real thing.
However, the main plot makes no sense (even when explained at the end) and sub-plots are either left unresolved or brought to a ridiculous, sugary-sweet and frankly intelligence-insulting conclusion. The reader will assume that things are carefully laid red herrings only to realise that they are a narrative strand that has vanished because the author couldn't work out what to do with it. And don't get me started on the 'symbolism' of the pattern that pops up everywhere.
The apparently superhuman attributes of Yashim himself are also annoying; none more so than the coup de theatre which reveals his presence about half way through the book. I know Conan Doyle used to do the same thing, but who wants a faux Holmes in a turban instead of a deerstalker? Do yourself a favour and read the real thing.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Thumps up for Goodwin!
The Bellini Card is another delightful tale of Yashim the detective eunuch in service of the Ottoman Empire in the 19th century. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Andy
Okay, buy it
Jason Goodwin writes again. What more do you need to know? Oh, you haven't met Yashim the Eunuch? For a deep intrusion into the life and dangers of the nineteenth century Ottoman... Read more
Published 15 months ago by John Barrett Rose
a eunuch abroad
I decided to keep with yashim and go to Venice . La serenissima possibly the most convoluted of italy's cities historically speaking seemed like the perfect destination for... Read more
Published 20 months ago by A. Browne
The further adventures of Yashim
Another tale of dark deeds, courtly intrigue and fine cooking as Yashim the detective is tasked by the sultan with the recovery of a painting, a mission that risks turning powerful... Read more
Published on 14 May 2010 by Aidan J. McQuade
Third read but first in enjoyment
I enjoyed the first two Yashim books but I found this one even better. I marvel at the amount of reasearch that has gone into his books and here I discovered so much I did not... Read more
Published on 13 July 2009 by S. McEwan
Death and deceit in Venice
This is another (the third in a row!) delightful novel featuring Yashim the eunuch. Sultan Abdülmecid has succeeded his father Mahmut on the throne of the Ottoman empire, and... Read more
Published on 25 April 2009 by Didier
a Turkise delight wrapped with Venetian vice
A good page turner, that provides the novice with an idea of links between the Ottoman and Venetian worlds. Read more
Published on 7 Dec 2008 by M. French
A must for all budding world statesmen
Goodwin's Palewski and Yashim strike again with a passionate and intriguing romp through 19th Century Venice and Istanbul. Read more
Published on 23 Nov 2008 by P. Colfox
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