Review by Booklist Review
At first glance, university roommates Ece and Meltem couldn't seem more different--one short, the other tall; one comical, the other serious; one possibly failing, the other always at the top of her class. Opposites must attract because the pair are close friends, sharing an overcrowded dorm room and longing for financial autonomy and individual freedom--and the occasional functioning shower. Scuba diving in the Bosphorus provides an escape from Istanbul's heat; on one such underwater excursion, the girls witness a plummeting car and attempt--but fail--to rescue the driver, who turns out to be a fellow student. Their heroic deed gets them embroiled with Aslan Adam, a powerful political candidate who, as a former cop, believes himself to be above the law. When he requests to hire the girls to retrieve a sunken safe, saying no is not an option. Spunky, tenacious Ece with her wild orange curls will undoubtedly, delightfully remind readers of Samanci's avatar in her memoir, Dare to Disappoint (2015). The pages here continue Samanci's distinctive style, layering cartoon characters over meticulously detailed settings--the Basilica Cistern's interior, a curved staircase over an ostentatious entry, Rumeli Castle on the banks of the Bosphorus. As entertaining as it is exposing, Samanci's sophomore title is an exquisite, multilayered showpiece confronting gender inequity, religious manipulations, political corruption, and the gray zones of morals and ethics--gray zones necessary for survival.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In this rambunctious murder mystery set in 1990s Turkey, Samancı (Dare to Disappoint) contrasts a playful and vibrant visual style with deadly serious themes. For university students Ece and Meltem, the only escape from the cramped dorm room they share with six other women is diving into the nearby Bosphorus Strait. But after the two see a car driven by a university acquaintance splash into the water, they become entangled in a murder plot involving corrupt nationalist politician Aslan Adam, the car's owner. The two meet with Adam, who offers them a generous reward to retrieve a safe full of American cash from the bottom of the Strait. Convinced they have a magical ability to make things happen with the power of their combined stares, the two women try to use their "Medusa's gaze" to find the treasure and thwart Adam's plans for political takeover. Whether or not they double cross the politician becomes a life-threatening decision. The bright colors, cartoonish art, and silly internal dialogue lend a whimsical tone to the high-stakes action. It's a winning escapade. (May)
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