A novel set in Istanbul about Galip, a lawyer whose wife, Rüya, vanishes one day. He starts to search the city for her and for her half-brother Celâl, a famous newspaper columnist who has also disappeared. As he follows clues, he begins to take on aspects of Celâl's life, reading his columns and walking his routes.
Alternating chapters present Celâl's essays, stories and fantasies. The book is a layered mystery that explores identity, memory, secrets, and the history and streets of Istanbul. It is one of Pamuk's most inventive and influential works.