Barbara Nadel books

Anthologies

Francis Hancock Reading Order

Hakim and Arnold Reading Order

Inspector Ikmen Reading Order

Barbara Nadel has built a strong reputation in British crime fiction through two long-running mystery series. Her Inspector Ikmen novels, which began with Belshazzar’s Daughter in 1999, follow a chain-smoking Istanbul detective through cases that often touch on Turkey’s complex ethnic and religious landscape. The series has grown to more than 25 books and remains popular with readers who enjoy crime fiction with a strong sense of place.

Her second major series features Lee Arnold and Mumtaz Hakim, private investigators operating in London’s East End. Starting with A Private Business in 2012, these books draw on Nadel’s familiarity with East London’s communities and social issues. Before becoming a full-time novelist, Nadel worked in mental health services in the area, which informs the authentic, grounded feel of her fiction.

Nadel also wrote a set of four historical mysteries featuring Francis Hancock, set in wartime London during the Blitz. Across all her work, she brings careful attention to setting and cultural detail that gives her crime fiction a distinctive flavor.