The Point in the Market

Mamur Zapt #15

by Michael Pearce

It's World War I. Britain's shadow government, headed by its Agent and Consul General under the nominal authority of Egypt's hereditary ruler the Khedive, has ruled Egypt since 1881. The head of the Secret Police is the Mamur Zapt, an office currently held by a Welshman, Captain Gareth Cadwallader Owen. And as the clouds of the war further darken Egypt's sun-lit skies, he has his hands full.

On the professional front, there's all that commotion that started in Cairo's Camel Market. On the personal side, Owen has married his longtime lover, the lovely Pasha's daughter, Zeinab. Their union comes with serious consequences for both of them and is riddled with political and social pitfalls. Neither can be fully accepted by the other's culture and community.

Against this, the perils of the Great War pale....

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Egypt, Murder Mystery

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 30, 2003

About the author

Michael Pearce grew up in the (then) Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. He returned there later to teach, and retains a human rights interest in the area. He retired from his academic post to write full time.

Reviews

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

[Lloyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a sucker for this long series - this is #15. Cairo during WW I

[kerrycat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, I quite object to certain characters getting married between books. Really? Not like I've been waiting for that event through 14 books already . . .

[Liz V. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A man is murdered at the camel market, and the Mamur Zapt must determine whether the death resulted from a private quarrel or from his part-time work for the Mamur Zapt. With WWI months old, tension are high with the complex loyalties of old changing and tearing families and society apart.

[Keith Broz]

Good book

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

The mystery takes a backseat to the story of Egypt under the British - good, but not strong enough for me to go after other entries in the series.

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice to read a book set in WWI Egypt. Many different political viewpoints on the time period. .

[Regine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solidly written.