Intrigue in Istanbul

A Jane Wunderly Mystery #4

by Erica Ruth Neubauer

In Agatha Award-winning author Erica Ruth Neubauer's fourth wanderlust-inspiring historical mystery, it's 1926 and the adventures of vibrant, young American widow Jane Wunderly send her to Istanbul, Turkey, where the search for her archeologist father unravels secrets tied to a mysterious relic from the Ottoman Empire...

Istanbul, 1926. After her archeologist father makes a clandestine journey abroad, Jane and the dapper Mr. Redvers trace his footsteps while signs of danger loom back home in the United States. They're greeted at their destination by Aunt Millie and unsettling news: Professor Wunderly was on a mission to locate the lost heart of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent--a legendary relic from the Ottoman Empire said to possess potent mystical powers--then vanished completely, leaving behind his unpacked luggage, a perplexing riddle, and an eerie mystery Jane must solve to keep her loved ones safe.

What starts off as a clear-cut investigation becomes an intercontinental game of cat and mouse as Jane realizes a gang of nameless figures have been stalking her every move from Turkey to Hungary. And it seems even helpful friends can't be trusted for long when a man is stabbed to death on the Orient Express to Budapest. With Redvers by her side and few clues to rely on, Jane's desperate search for her father leads to centuries-old secrets and an unidentified enemy who could make her disappear like the missing Sultan's heart . . .

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Historical, Cozy Mystery, Audiobook, Fiction

304 pages, Hardcover

First published March 28, 2023

Reviews

[Southern Lady Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

As one of the better cozy mysteries I've read in a while, Erica Neubauer's upcoming 4th book in the Jane Wunderly murder mystery series is a fun read!

Set against another far-flung location across the globe, Jane sets out to find her father after he haphazardly embarks on a journey to find his lifelong dream: the lost heart of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. As she explores 1920s Instanbul with her fiancé and quirky-opinionated aunt for company... watch Jane maneuver the social politics of Turkish bath houses, swanky night clubs and high luxury on the Orient Express.

THOUGHTS:
- What I loved most about this book is that the story was relatively easy to follow but still surprised me and made me smile as I listened. Far from boring, it was fun to imagine Jane's story playing out across the ancient city of Istanbul with its impressive background of historic architecture set against the sparkling waters of the Sea of Marmara.

- Another of my favorite things about reading, in general, is when books inspire me to travel. My husband and I love to travel, and while we've taken trains in Europe, we would LOVE the Orient Express and experience an overnight train! That's sure to be a vastly different experience than the high-speed trains that cross countries in just a few hours. (I even created a new Goodreads category for books like this called 'travel-inspiration'.)

- Jane's character was fun to read. She's an atypical gal of 1920s society and makes light of her decisions to wear pants etc. I also love that she's a mature gal looking to get her relationship right, on her second time down the aisle. It's always fun to read a mystery/adventure when the woman has a little life experience and isn't making silly decisions/ playing into the miscommunication trope!

Have fun with this happy-ever-after, cozy, lighthearted trot across the globe!!

**Thank you to Kensington Books & NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤

[Alisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

The covers on these Jane Wunderly mysteries are truly works of art, and I credit them for attracting me to the series and setting my expectations for the atmosphere of each novel. And truly, the descriptions of the locales are pretty great. This one takes place largely in Istanbul, of course, with briefer snatches of time spent in Boston and Hungary. (The sheer distance traveled over the course of just a few weeks makes my head spin a bit.)
I also liked the pacing of this one, as the plot gets going nearly right away and speeds along through various episodes of peril and investigation.
However, I'm becoming less enamored with Jane Wunderly herself as the series goes on, because she's a mixture of self-assured Mary Sue-ness and wide-eyed naivete, and I often find that a frustrating blend in a character. Especially in a mystery, it often leads to them doing unadvisable things--like following a mysterious stranger who says someone is looking for them in the middle of the night. But if you don't mind your main sleuth being a bit dense in that way, then you'll be just fine with this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this digital review copy!

[Jeannine · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first book was so good…I keep hoping subsequent ones will be at that level. This installment was good, but the relationship between the main characters is lacking. We’re told they’re in love and once in a while, there is something that alludes to it, but they aren’t warm or affectionate in the day-to-day. They interact like friends and then there’s a mention of a “do not disturb” sign and we’re supposed to see that as relationship development.

Another review mentioned the need to show, not tell when it comes to character and relationship development. I totally agree.

[eyes.2c · Rating 4 out of 5]

Istanbul and intrigue!

My first widowed Jane Wunderly novel. Since then I’ve very happily read the previous titles. If only to find out more about Redvers (now Janes fiancé), and how they met. More importantly who was the bad man Jane had been married to.
Set in 1926, Jane arrives home in Boston with her fiancé only to find her archeological father’s dashed off to Istanbul, having taken out a loan on their house. Subsequently all the mail including details about the loan and repayments have been languishing. Jane realizes it’s only three weeks before their house is possessed by the Bank, so it’s off to Istanbul lickety split!
There she runs into her Aunt Millie and her fiancé Lord Hughes, and a white Russian woman from Redvers past. Jane makes the acquaintance of a mysterious woman who knows her father rather well.
I’m thrilled to recall various landmarks of Istanbul I’d visited in the past. The Blue Mosque, the Grand Bizarre. And I remember those Cisterns well. Fabulous!
Bodies litter the ground behind them as they catch the Orient Express into Hungary and then move on to a smaller town where it appears Jane’s father is looking for the legendary lost heart of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent.
I’m unsure about how I feel about the ending, although there was no other outcome. Just pressed the boundaries a little too much. All dovetailing nicely but yet?

A Kensington Books ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.

[Carlymor · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very exciting mystery that has quite a bit of adventure as well. Newly engaged Jane Wunderly nd Redvers travel to her hometown of Boston to let her father meet her new fiance. But Professor Wunderly is not at home, having traveled to Istanbul on an archeological mission and then completely disappearing. What follows is an international investigation that leads them from Istanbul to Hungary, via the Orient Express. Quite a number of others become involved in the search for the Professor, some trustworthy and others not. I really enjoyed this mystery adventure.

[Barb in Maryland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shades of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade!

Jane and Redvers have arrived in Boston after their eventful Atlantic crossing (see Danger on the Atlantic), with the intentions of seeing Jane's father, Henry Wunderly. Surprise! The house is empty and hasn't been lived in for weeks. Second surprise: Dad has mortgaged the house and headed off to Istanbul. Why? Because he has another clue in his long-time search for the Sultan's Heart--a relic of Suleiman the Magnificent. Third surprise: the bank is going to foreclose on the house in three weeks if the note isn't paid in full.
Jane and Redvers turn around and head to Istanbul, and the fun begins. What a romp--full of mysteries, spies, rival groups looking for the Heart. We get to see a fair bit of Istanbul, meet some old 'friends' from Redvers' previous time in that city. There is also danger, as at least one person who had ties to Henry is murdered shortly after he assists Jane and Redvers.
We finally catch up with dear Henry, who is a great example of the obsessed professor trope. Jane doesn't know whether to hug him or shake him. (I found him to be rather endearing; but he's not my father and I don't have to deal with him.)
Aunt Millie and her beau, Lord Hughes, show up, of course. Henry is Millie's brother, and she's determined to help find him. Watching Jane and Redvers attempt to keep her occupied and out of their way is great fun.
All in all, I found this much more enjoyable than the last book and I am eagerly awaiting the next.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I continue to love Jane Wunderly and love this series! Book three is still my fave, but each one solidly delivers a spectacular heroine, a page-turning mystery and a wanderlust-inspiring setting.

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dollycas's Thoughts

Jane Wunderly and her beau Mr. Redvers arrive back in the States so Redvers can meet her father. But her archeologist father isn't home and hasn't been there for a while. Jane finds some concerning mail from their bank and after checking in with her father's housekeeper she learns he is off on one of his missions.

Jane and Redvers embark on another journey, this time to Istanbul formerly known as Constantinople to try to find her father and get some answers. They are met by Aunt Millie who tells them her father is on a quest to find a legendary relic from the Ottoman Empire - the lost heart of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. It is said to have mystical powers. She has no idea where he actually is but that he had left his belongings behind and didn't check out from the hotel.

Jane will do anything to find her father and after a little investigating, she learns her father probably was headed to Budapest. She, Redvers, Millie, Lord Hughes, and a couple of locals continue their journey boarding the Orient Express knowing they are probably being followed.

Will they survive the trip and find her father? or will they be too late?

_____

I really enjoy traveling the world with Jane and Redvers and we were treated to some very interesting destinations this time including a ride on the Orient Express. Ms. Neubauer always gives wonderful details to help her readers clearly envision each city and the sites that Jane visits. Since I will never actually travel to these far-off places this makes me very happy.

Jane and Redvers continue to grow closer but when they are tracking down Jane's father romance takes a backseat even though they are traveling as husband and wife. Something Aunt Millie isn't happy about but she tries to stay focused on finding her brother. I love that Lord Hughes truly loves Millie and knows how to handle her and keep her very happy. I found it interesting to get another peek into Redver's past when we met some "friends" he made the last time he was in that part of the world. The four of them "work" well together. I laughed at how Redvers and Jane came up with things for Millie to do, usually as far away from them as they could get. When we catch up with Henry, Jane's father, he is just what I expected and the interactions between him and his daughter are priceless.

This mystery is very well-plotted with a lot of moving parts. Others were trying to find the lost heart of Suleiman and were following Jane and Redvers most of the time. They did do their best to lose those tails but it never lasted long. The entire story was like a game of cat and mouse right up until the end. Jane did make an unwise move during their travels that I was surprised by after all the danger around their adventure. And I believe because the search was for her father was second-guessing herself a lot about everything.

Intrigue in Istanbul was a very entertaining mystery that kept me engaged from start to finish. I am very excited to travel again with Jane and Redvers in Secrets of a Scottish Isle which will be released March 26, 2024. 

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fans of Deanna Raybourn’s Lady Julia Grey, Dianne Freeman’s Countess of Harleigh or Verity Bright’s Lady Eleanor Swift will enjoy this fourth entry in a series featuring intrepid Bostonian Jane Wunderley and her spy fiancé Redvers. In this novel, the pair, newly arrived from overseas, speed off to Turkey to investigate the disappearance of Jane’s absent-minded professor father.

This is my first read in this series, and, while it’s best suited for those who have read the series in order, I didn’t feel much at sea. Author Erica Ruth Neubauer has a much defter hand than Bright, but it wasn’t quite to the level of Raybourn’s Silent in the Grave or Freeman’s A Fiancée's Guide to First Wives and Murder, either. That said, I enjoyed it, and I’m bound to eventually catch up on the earlier novels in Neubauer’s series.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Historical mystery set in and around Istanbul in 1926.

Jane Wunderly and her new fiancé, Redvers, are on a mission to track down her father before their row house in the USA is repossessed by the bank. Her father is abroad, apparently determined to find an ancient Ottoman relic — the lost heart of Sultan Suleiman. Unfortunately, they can’t find Jane’s father and are being stalked and watched as they travel from Turkey to Hungary in search of Henry. Jane and Redvers are joined in their adventures by her Aunt Millie and Lord Hughes. Another surprise for Jane awaits along with danger on the Orient Express.

This was the 4th in series and the first I’ve read. I admit I wasn’t enamored with the characters and find Jane quite irritating for several reasons — mostly she seemed immature. I doubt I will go back to the beginning installment and not sure if I will read another in the future. The details about the places and such were interesting, but the story just was not that exciting or compelling and very predictable.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington for this e-book ARC to read and review.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another fun, light mystery in the Jane Wunderly series.

This series has been pretty consistent in what it offers, so if you liked the previous Jane Wunderly books, you’ll likely enjoy this one too.

The stories are fun enough, though I find these to be a step down from the best of the subgenre. Despite the romanticized globetrotting themes and covers, the books aren’t great for atmosphere and sense of place, and the used of modern language makes them feel a bit inauthentic.

It makes the characters feel a bit inauthentic too, though they’re certainly likable enough, and the mystery itself was fine. And of course, the book covers for this series are exceptional.

*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series because I get to travel the world in style. This time we’re on a train to Budapest after spending some time in Istanbul. The story grabbed me from the very beginning. I loved following along as Jane and Redvers tried to find Jane’s dad and the Sultan’s heart. The mystery was well-paced and the search was fascinating. I enjoyed everything about this and devoured it in one sitting. Highly recommended for those who like a good mystery or love to travel through books.

I received a copy from #NetGalley and @kensingtonbooks for an honest review.

[QNPoohBear · Rating 4 out of 5]

when Jane and Redvers arrive in Boston to meet her father, he is long gone from home and has left behind a letter from the bank stating the very substantial loan he took put is due and the bank will take the house if he doesn't pay it back. Jane is gutted at the thought of losing her home where her memories of her mother are and her happy childhood with her parents. While the bank allows Jane a few weeks to find out what her father did with the money, it is not going to be an easy task because apparently he's gone to Constantinople (Istanbul) in search of the Sultan's Heart. Arriving in Istanbul, Jane and Redvers discover Aunt Millie and Lord Hughes are already there but there's no sign of Henry Wunderly! He left the hotel without luggage and simply disappeared. Jane turns to an archivist friend of her father's for answers but he doesn't know much more than Jane. The search for Henry Wunderly leads Jane and Redvers into their most dangerous adventure yet as various people follow them on their trek through Istanbul and onto the Orient Express, Budapest and elsewhere searching for Jane's missing father.

This was the most thrilling adventure yet! I simply could not put this one down! I stayed up very late finishing the very end. It was great to have Jane and Redvers investigate together. It made the story flow better not to have to have them explain everything and also it shows Jane's growth and her growing confidence in her own abilities. The action starts early on and it's nearly non-stop. The plot was a little hard to follow at first and I had to go back a bit and relisten to the part about the Sultan's Heart. The body count was a little high for me and the big reveal was a little lackluster. I never guessed who the villain was but also wasn't totally surprised. The villain's motive wasn't what I was expecting. The details of traveling in Istanbul and on the Orient Express were fabulous. I think literally everyone knows Agatha Christie traveled on the Orient Express and yes Jane she WILL write a novel about it. There was no need for that little wink at the audience. I also liked how the story touches on the Armenian genocide, an event some people try to deny ever happened.

Jane is growing in confidence but still not entirely certain of who she is and what she wants. She's hesitating to set a wedding date because her first marriage was abusive and a total disaster. She knows in her heart Redvers isn't like her first husband but she still has doubts in her head. She's a little more confidence in her ability to find her father but yet still naive in certain situations. Jane is squeamish about dead bodies and body parts. Redvers tells Aunt Millie he and Jane are already married, informally, it's just a matter of when and where the ceremony will take place. He is being patient with Jane, knowing her history, yet he's the one moving this relationship forward. I don't like them as a couple. They don't have much chemistry and though they are good detecting partners, I don't get a swoony romantic vibe from them. I like Redvers as a romantic hero more than Jane. Aunt Millie is less disapproving than Jane excepts. She's happy now and secure in her relationship with Lord Hughs. He never speaks but is there, a calming presence and happy to tag along with Millie. Millie is one tough lady and she can handle herself in a pinch! Jane should be more like Millie instead of fighting with her aunt.

Jane's father, Henry, is absent-minded, scholarly and selfish. He's not at all practical and totally unrealistic. He leaves Jane a note in the freezer box and that's just the first step. Henry either naively entered into a shady business deal or led a friend to invest in the shady business deal gone bad- depending on who you ask. He has a lady friend in Istanbul he just leaves behind as clueless as Jane. Meral is a tough lady. She's had a rough life. Her family is Armenian by ethnicity and they were force first to give up their jobs and then their homes and exiled to a country none of them had lived in for generations. Sound familiar? Her father made some unknown back room deal to return to run his night club while Meral works as a waitress. She's handy with a knife when it counts for life and death, hinting at the troubles she's faced and the things she's seen- unlike Jane who endured an abusive husband but not ethnic cleansing, rough customers, thieves and whatever else is going on in Meral's life. I'm not sure I entirely trust her though. I hope so. Jane is astonished her father has this whole other life she knew nothing about. Jane is hurt because it feels like her father is abandoning her mother. In her head Jane knows her mother has been gone a long time and her memories are fading but her heart clings to the past and her memories of her mother. Jane clearly knows nothing about men at this point. Unless Meral is making the whole thing up or imagining more than there is to the relationship. She's hard to read and not warm at all.

I was so excited there was a historical element to the story and it involved an archivist. Then I was furious when Jane and Redvers weren't sure the archivist could be trusted. I was very disappointed the plot seemed to be leaning in that direction. He knew something about Jane's father only they knew but he revealed his source which could be checked. Then he ended up murdered and I was certain he was mixed up in sordid business. But in the end Jane's father was somewhat responsible, urging his friend to invest money he couldn't afford to repay into the shady business deal and it got him killed. Of course Mr. Bey had free will to invest or not but Jane's father SHOULD feel guilty. His brother, Ekrem Bey, is a slimy character. Jane doesn't like him AT ALL and longs to throw her drink in his face. He thinks he's charming and only has to smile at a woman and she'll fall at his feet. Blech. He doesn't seem to mourn the loss of someone he should yet he does explain his reasons. They were somewhat estranged and argued a lot. Could it be one was the good brother and the other bad? I don't trust Ekrem at all and I think he knows more about the shadowy figures following Jane and Redvers than he lets on. He even tags along when they get on the Orient Express and things happen on the train that can't be coincidences!

Redvers was in Istanbul once before, on assignment, where he met the sexy, sultry Katrina, a former Russian noblewoman turned nightclub singer. Katerina seems to want Redvers in her bed and he isn't interested. Katerina isn't the type that accepts no for an answer. I think she continues to pursue him and ignore his social cues. She could make trouble for Jane but Jane is secure enough to know Redvers isn't interested. Katerina helps in their investigation into the identity of the bad guys but no one seems to know anything and any witnesses who CAN tell them end up dead.

This was a fun adventure and I can't wait to see where Jane and Redvers go next and if they ever develop chemistry before they tie the knot!

[Libby · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pleasant cozy historical mystery. Having lived in Turkey, it was obvious that the author is writing from a tourist's perspective which is fine since the narrator, Jane, is also a foreigner in the country, but I did miss more nuanced details coming from the Turkish (and Armenian) characters. While the villain was hardly a surprise, I enjoyed the story enough that if I come across another in the series, I'll read it. However, not a series that I'll be actively searching out.
Review based on an eARC received through NetGalley.

[Dawn Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have really liked this series - Jane is a great MC and the pairing of her and Redvers is both genius and hilarious and having them fall in love was just icing on the cake. They compliment each other so well and he is one of the rare men in these mysteries that doesn't treat their woman like a fragile china doll and often makes sure that Jane is IN the mix. How refreshing. I like also how Jane is taking her time with this relationship [even though they are engaged] after her disastrous first marriage [and wasn't HE a peach - UGH!!] and even though she trust Redvers, there is still a lot of hesitation as they move forward [full points again to Redvers in this department].

In this adventure, Jane and Redvers have just arrived in Boston to tell her father all about their engagement and find that he is gone, the house hasn't been lived in in quite some time and the bank is trying to repossess their house. NOT exactly the welcome Jane was anticipating, nor was the revelation that her father was Istanbul and that rather than resting at home, she and Redvers were back globe-trotting again.

I loved the descriptions of Istanbul. I have wanted to go there for years and this just triggered that all over again [and who wouldn't want to take a trip on the famed Orient Express?]. All the cool things that Jane and Redvers get to see [and I am sure Aunt Millie and her fiance see too, but they, thankfully, don't figure in the story that much. I am still not a huge fan of Aunt Millie] really adds to the story and it is a lot of fun, even while there is danger, death and the continued search for Jane's father.

My only complaint was the whole end/reveal. By the time they end up in Hungary, I had actually figured most of it out and so the reveal fell very, very, flat for me [though some of the stuff that happens DURING the reveal was really unexpected so that made it less...eye-rolling?? Okay, maybe that is harsh, but I cannot say I didn't roll them a couple of times] and felt kind of contrived. It was disconcerting as the rest of the book was genuinely so good and really took the book from 5 stars to 4. It didn't ruin the book for me by any stretch of the imagination, but it was a disappointing way to end a really good book.

All that said, I am happy I read this and I am really looking forward to the next book in Jane's adventures!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Erica Ruth Neubauer, and Kensington Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't realize this is the 4th book in a series before I started it, but that did not keep me from enjoying the story.
Set in 1926, Jane Wunderly has returned home to introduce her father to her fiance, Redvers, only to discover that her father obtained a large loan from their bank, putting Jane's childhood home up as collateral, and disappeared to Istanbul in search of the lost heart of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. Determined to keep her home from being repossessed, Jane and Redvers head for Istanbul to get the money back. Upon their arrival, however, they discover that her father has gone missing and they are being followed. As Jane and Redvers get closer to finding out what happened to Professor Wunderly, they realize that there are others who will kill for the Sultan's heart.
The story is well plotted and told at a good pace, full of intrigue, and descriptions of Istanbul that make you want to pack your bag. Jane Wunderly is a strong, smart woman who doesn't let the men get all the action.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Lois · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was delightful as always

[Kiaran · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve enjoyed the Jane Wunderly series and this installment is no exception. Jane’s professor father is the quintessential absent-minded professor. Jane and her fiancé Redvers have traveled to Boston to visit her father, only to find out that he’s traveled to Istanbul in search of a mystical relic of the Ottoman empire. They also learn that he’s mortgaged her childhood home and only has a few weeks left before the bank forecloses if full loan repayment isn’t made. Jane and her fiancé head to Istanbul to find her father and find out what happened to the mortgage money and hopefully pay back the bank before it’s too late. Post WWI Istanbul is full of change, intrigue and a wide array of menacing characters. As Jane and Redvers search for her missing father they encounter a trail of violence, greed and a scavenger hunt for relic of Sulieman the Great.
The only downside of this book is that it did very little to forward Jane and Redvers’ relationship and we, again, learn almost nothing about his personal or professional past.
Thanks to #netgalley for the ARC of this book.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars for this one. I honestly feel like this one was the weakest of the 4 Jane Wunderly books so far. I didn't like Millie and Lord Hughes being there, and the inclusion of Maral and Ekram Bey later gave the whole adventure the feel of a school field-trip. Maybe it's just me but I just didn't enjoy this book as well as I did the last one.

[Bargain Sleuth Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

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Intrigue in Istanbul is the fourth outing for Erica Ruth Neubauer’s Jane Wunderly. I was originally introduced to Jane in the first mystery several years ago and found the mystery enjoyable. I will say that you do not have to have read the first three books in the series in order to enjoy this volume, but it would help with the characterization of some of the principal characters.

I love a good historical mystery done well, and the Jane Wunderly Mysteries seem to have hit their stride with this volume. Jane and her fiancé’ Redvers have arrived in Boston to find her father missing. It appears he’s taken out a large loan out on the house and payment is due in just a few short weeks. Jane pieces together the clues to her historian father’s research and realizes he’s gone to Istanbul with the cash advance, so she and Redvers follow him.

Of course, once arriving in Istanbul, with her Aunt Millie and her fiancé’ in tow, Jane and Redvers find her father’s boarding room empty, his luggage left behind and no sign of the massive amount of money her borrowed from the bank. But at a local restaurant near the hotel, they find a woman who knew Jane’s father, Henry quite well. Unnervingly well, in Jane’s opinion. As she grapples with the fact that her father may have romantic feelings for someone other than her long-dead mother, she looks for clues to her father’s whereabouts. Redvers sleuthing skills reveal that they are being followed wherever they go.

Jane frequently shivers or gets the chills in fright, and despite having been around murders several times now, it seems like she hasn’t developed a thicker skin. A minor complaint, to be sure, however there were times where she lets Redvers take the lead while she patiently waits for answers to just drop in her lap.

The rest of the book is a series of following clues, stepping over a dead body or two, evading their pursuers, and finding Jane’s father. But will they find the lost heart of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent–a relic from the Ottoman Empire that alleges to have mystical powers? And will Jane and her father lose their Boston home to the bank? You’ll just have to read the book for yourself to find out.

Now I’m going back to read volumes 2 and 3 in the series to find out more about Jane’s betrothed, Redvers. And look forward to future adventures with Jane Wunderly.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and Kensington Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Istanbul, 1926: After her archaeologist father makes a clandestine journey abroad, Jane and fiancé Mr. Redvers trace his footsteps while signs of danger loom back home in the United States. They’re greeted at their destination by Aunt Millie and unsettling news: Professor Wunderly was on a mission to locate the lost heart of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent—a legendary relic from the Ottoman Empire said to possess potent mystical powers—then vanished completely, leaving behind his unpacked luggage, a perplexing riddle, and an eerie mystery Jane must solve to keep her loved ones safe. What starts off as a clear-cut investigation becomes an intercontinental game of cat and mouse as Jane realizes a gang of nameless figures have been stalking her every move from Turkey to Hungary.
This is the fourth book in the series & whilst it could be read on its own I recommend reading in order to fully appreciate it as the author doesn’t give much backstory to the main characters. Thus a new reader may be a bit lost. I do like Jane & thoroughly enjoyed the mystery, it’s well written & the pace is good as are the descriptions. This could easily have been a five star read if there had been a bit more feel of the 1920’s to it. I do look forward to more of Jane’s adventures
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

[Linniegayl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 4th in the jane Wunderly historical mystery series, and definitely my favorite. I just loved this book!

As the book opens, Jane and her fiance Redvers have just arrived in Boston. Redvers plans to ask Jane's father for her hand in marriage. But when they get to the house, Jane's father is not there. Worse, Jane finds letters from the bank indicating her father took out a loan using the house as collateral, and has paid nothing on it. The bank intends to foreclose shortly. Soon, Jane and Redvers are off in pursuit of her father, believe him to be in Istanbul.

We have it all in Istanbul, lots of interesting secondary characters, ancient monuments, murder, intrigue, and more. I liked everything about this, and can't wait for the next in the series. I just wonder where the next entry will take us.

[Eden · Rating 5 out of 5]

2023 bk 135 I believe this is my favorite title of the series. That said, I'm very thankful that I had watched the Josh Gates episodes dealing with the Search for the Sultan's heart before reading this book. That prior knowledge let me 'see' the places Jane and Redver visited in the course of their search for Jane's missing father. A very well done mystery that begins with a missing person, not a murder, and archaeological mystery, international intrigue, and then a few bodies. The author does give the flavor of the city of Istanbul's history as a city of intrigue, espionage, and refuge for some. The author also touches on the Armenian Massacres (which if you don't know about - you should). A very well done book and one that will be read again.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid mystery. This is the fourth book in the series and one of the best. Jane and Redvers arrive in Boston only to discover that Jane’s father has mortgaged his home and taken off, apparently to Istanbul, in search of the Sultan’s Heart. In order to save her father and their home, Jane and Redvers follow. Much intrigue along the way. As well as a journey on the Orient Express. Well researched and the characters are well written.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another day another country and another investigation for Jane and Redvers. This time, Jane is looking for her father and chasing him around Istanbul. Is he safe or is he in danger? He is leaving notes for her that seem increasingly dire. I loved learning some cultural history of this area and the descriptions of everywhere Jane and Redvers travel. I also love them and their chemistry. The audiobook brought an extra level of tension and danger that I just loved. This series is so much fun and I cannot wait for more.

[Jan Lehman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read

Love the setting, and the characters very fun light read. So many references to famous people,places and things made the book very relateable, and reminded me of the Miss Fischer mysteries.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mysterious disappearance, murders, spies and treasure all set in 1920s Istanbul.

[Karen Jaeckels · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm loving this new cozy murder series. I've read all four and can't wait to read number 5 to find out what Jane and Redvers are up to and where in the world murder and mystery will take them.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is such a fun adventure. I read this on two flights and had the best time! 🖤

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rounding up to 4 as I enjoy this series