As the furore surrounding the publication of cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad continues to spread, those who seek to understand the depth of anger in the Muslim world could do worse than turn to Orhan Parmuk's Impac award-winning novel, My Name is Red, writes Mark Tran.

Published in the UK in 2002, the book is a tour-de-force. Set in the late 1590s in Istanbul, it begins as a murder mystery but goes on to explore the relationship between Islam and art, the central theme of the novel.

The story follows the investigation of Black Effendi, a civil servant, who upon returning to Istanbul after a long absence, is commissioned by the sultan to look into the murders of two of his master illuminators. Black discovers that the illuminators were working on a top-secret project for the sultan, in which they were encouraged to adopt European techniques of perspective and portraiture, contrary to the teachings of Islam. The novel provides a fascinating history of great miniaturists, going back to legendary figures such as Bizhad, and examining the artistic influences of the Mongols.

The book delves into discussions about form and style, the relation of art to religion and culture and the impact of western art - discussions that are all too relevant to the current controversy over the Danish newspaper cartoons. In Turkey, now, police are investigating possible links between the killing of an Italian priest and the row over the 12 drawings, that included one of the Prophet wearing a turban shaped like a bomb.