THE WINTER THIEF

The Ottoman Empire of 1888 provides the exotic backdrop for this story of revolution, intrigue, and violence. Kamil Pasha, the sultan's special investigator, seeks to unravel multiple crimes involving his archenemy, Vahid, the vicious head of the secret police. Narrator Wanda McCaddon, briskly paced and often strident, keeps the story moving through the numerous plot twists. However, the characters’ names, most unfamiliar to the Western ear, can be difficult to follow. With a bank robbery, illegal guns, an explosion, torture, and a fire, the blood flows freely. While this story is not for the faint of heart, McCaddon’s depictions of Kamil’s moral dilemmas make for a compelling main character. M.H.N. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2011]