Barbara Nadel Books in Order

Where to Start Reading Barbara Nadel

Barbara Nadel is renowned for creating immersive, culturally rich mystery series. Her work spans two primary locations: the bustling, history-soaked streets of Istanbul, Turkey, and the diverse, resilient neighborhoods of London's East End. Because her books feature strong character progression and evolving relationships, the absolute best way to read Barbara Nadel is in publication order within each series.

If you are new to her work, here is where you should begin based on your reading preferences:

• For atmospheric international police procedurals: Start with Belshazzar's Daughter (1999), the book that introduces Inspector Çetin İkmen and launches her most famous series.
• For gritty modern PI stories with social depth: Start with A Private Business (2012), the first installment of the Hakim and Arnold series.
• For dark historical mysteries set during World War II: Start with Last Rights (2005), which introduces undertaker Francis Hancock during the London Blitz.

Inspector İkmen Series (The Turkish Detective)

Set in Istanbul, this series follows the chain-smoking, brandy-drinking Inspector Çetin İkmen, alongside his colleagues Mehmet Süleyman, Balthazar Cohen, and Arifa Suleyman. The books are celebrated for their rich Turkish cultural details, multi-ethnic casts, and complex psychological profiles. The series also served as the inspiration for the TV adaptation The Turkish Detective.

While each book features a self-contained murder mystery, the characters' personal lives, families, and career steps change significantly over time. Reading them out of order will reveal major spoilers about their relationships, health, and family dynamics. Follow the publication order to get the full experience:

1. Belshazzar's Daughter (1999)
2. A Chemical Prison (also published as The Ottoman Cage) (2000)
3. Arabesk (2001)
4. Deep Waters (2002)
5. Harem (2003)
6. Petrified (2004)
7. Deadly Web (2005)
8. Dance with Death (2006)
9. A Passion for Killing (2007)
10. Pretty Dead Things (2007)
11. River of the Dead (2008)
12. Death by Design (2010)
13. A Noble Killing (2011)
14. Dead of Night (2012)
15. Deadline (2013)
16. Body Count (2014)
17. Land of the Blind (2015)
18. On the Bone (2016)
19. The House of Four (2017)
20. Incorruptible (2018)
21. A Knife to the Heart (2020)
22. Blood Business (2020)
23. Forfeit (2021)
24. Bride Price (2022)
25. Double Illusion (2023)
26. The Darkest Night (2024)
27. The Wooden Library (2025)
28. Serpent's Tongue (2026)

Hakim and Arnold Series

Returning to her roots in London's East End, Nadel created the Hakim and Arnold series. This series highlights the modern social landscape of London, tackling issues like gentrification, immigration, and community tensions. It follows Lee Arnold, a cynical ex-soldier and former cop turned private investigator, and Mumtaz Hakim, a bright Muslim woman who becomes his business partner. Reading these in order is crucial to follow Mumtaz's transformation from an anxious assistant to a confident, licensed investigator.

1. A Private Business (2012)
2. An Act of Kindness (2013)
3. Poisoned Ground (2014)
4. Enough Rope (2015)
5. Bright Shiny Things (2017)
6. Displaced (2018)
7. A Time to Die (2020)
8. Web of Lies (2022)
9. The East Ham Golem (2025)

Francis Hancock Series

This four-book historical series is set in West Ham, London during the Blitz. The protagonist, Francis Hancock, is a World War I veteran working as an undertaker. Because of his profession and his struggles with trauma and alcoholism, he is drawn into investigating murders that the authorities overlook amidst the chaos of the bombings. The series is relatively short and tells a complete, focused story across the four novels:

1. Last Rights (2005)
2. After the Mourning (2006)
3. Ashes to Ashes (2008)
4. Sure and Certain Death (2009)

What to Know Before You Start

Readers should note that Barbara Nadel's books are highly atmospheric and detailed, prioritizing cultural immersion and psychological depth over rapid-fire action. In the Inspector İkmen series, Nadel presents an authentic, unfiltered look at Istanbul's diverse populations, including Turkish, Jewish, Armenian, Greek, and Romani communities. Her East End series are similarly praised for their realistic portrayal of multicultural London communities.

For the İkmen books, note that the second novel, A Chemical Prison, was published under the alternative title The Ottoman Cage in some markets, so be careful not to buy the same book twice.