The title gives us a good clue to the storyline, so straight away I pictured Turkey, and perhaps an affair?

The story begins with an Archaeological dig in Karakuyu, the passage reads “3,000 years ago the Hittites were attacked by Assyrians and took over the land” my thoughts then pictured all the treasures that are possibly lying buried for all those years!!

With important artifacts from the site vanishing and the site manger/director Mike Benson also missing, American Renaud Townsend is sent to the site to find out what’s been happening. Could the missing artifacts and Mike vanishing be connected?

An intriguing way to start the book, I was certainly drawn in.

The mystery continues when translator, Anne Pierson is spotted with Mike in the local town. People assume that the pair must be having an affair.

With a first chapter as good as this, it made it hard not to read on. Ms. Culiner had me hooked.

The book is an interesting mix of mystery and romance. The plot is written from Anne Pierson’s point of view, and in an informal style that is definitely suited for readers who love these genres.

There are good descriptive narratives of the town, archaeological site, and the weather. I could almost feel the heat, visualise the sights and smell the Turkish spices. Lots of work has also gone into making sure the historic facts and archaeological details are spot on.

The Turkish Affair is an excellent book that was an easy read. The pace was steady and the whole mystery kept me gripped to the unexpected ending.

I would certainly recommend this book, and I definitely would read more by this author.

About the Author

Born in New York, raised in Toronto, J. Arlene Culiner has lived in several cars, one closet, a Hungarian mud house, a Bavarian castle, a Turkish cave dwelling, in a haunted house on the English moors, in the Sahara desert, on a Greek island, in several French villages.

She has worked as a go-go girl, belly dancer, fortune teller, translator, newspaper deliverer, radio broadcaster, contemporary artist, photographer, actress and writer.

She now resides in a 400-year-old former inn/museum in a French village of no real interest. Much to everyone’s dismay, she rescues dogs, cats, hedgehogs, and protects all other living creatures — especially spiders and snakes. Her wild (or wildlife) garden is a classified butterfly and bird reserve.

She writes romances as J. Arlene Culiner, mysteries and non-fiction as Jill Culiner.