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Voice of Conscience

Behcet Kaya
Authorhouse (2009)
ISBN 978144901453-7
Reviewed by Kam Aures for Rebeccasreads.com (10/09)

Behcet Kaya’s novel “Voice of Conscience” begins in 1962 in Atamkoy, Turkey and focuses on the events surrounding the marriage of Erin Ozcomert.  Erin is the village beauty and although she fully intends to marry Turkel, in which she has her own family’s full support, another family in the village has other plans.  The Elder Korucu and his sons come to the Ozcomert house seeking Erin’s hand in marriage for his grandson instead.  When Korucu is refused is when the trouble really begins.  Erin’s family moves up Erin’s wedding date in an attempt to prevent anything from happening, but it is not enough to stop the impending acts of violence. 

Ramzi Ozcomert, Jr. (Erin’s brother,) though not a major player in the opening segments, becomes the key focus of the book after the rest of his family is brutally slain.  The remaining portion of the novel follows Ramzi as he embarks on his life journey, haunted by the harrowing events of his past.

“Voice of Conscience” is an impressive and riveting debut novel.  The portrayal of rural Turkey and a culture so far different from our own was eye-opening.  I found the traditional customs surrounding a wedding to be quite interesting and thought-provoking.  For instance, traditionally the job of handing out wedding invitations was given to the poorest family in the village.  When the person from the family passed the invites out, he received gifts like meat and baked goods from the family that he was giving them to.

The author’s storyline was solid and compelling and I could not pull myself away from the novel.  The characters and settings were portrayed so vividly and developed fully.  Kaya writes in a very classic style and I truly believe that this book is destined for literary greatness.  I am quite confident that we will see many more works from him in the future and I highly recommend this current novel.  


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