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Mamur Zapt #2
The Night of the Dog
The Mamur Zapt, Head of Cairo's Secret Police under British Rule, did not concern himself with routine police matters. His are the intrigues, the shadowy and sinister events aimed at creating political instability―an event such as the discovery of the body of a dog in a Coptic tomb. This supreme Moslem insult could touch off an explosion among the Christian community. Equally volatile is the visit from an English Member of Parliament intent upon inspecting the Cromer administration's accounts. It is not a welcome time for a command that Captain Owen, the Mamur Zapt, show the MP's niece the sights. Worse, the sights include a dancing dervish stabbed before the lady's very eyes. Is this all part of a pattern that could lead to blood on the streets and set Cairo's ethnic communities at each other's throats?
230 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1989
About the author
Michael Pearce
54 books53 followersMichael 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.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
February 23, 2020
Religious tensions in old Cairo keeps the Mamur Zapt busy - but all because of a dead dog in a graveyard?
To work with a British Member of Parliament on a fact finding mission on over spending is yet another job that the Administration heaped upon the Mamur Zapt.
And don't forget the deadline!
‘Hello,’ said Paul, ‘I was trying to get you earlier but you were out. I need some help.’
‘Yes?’
‘Visitors. Important ones. Ones who need special handling.’
‘Bloody hell! I’ve got a lot on just now.’
‘Then put a lot off.’
‘Who the hell are these visitors?’
‘You only need to bother about one of them. Well, let’s say one and a half. He has a niece with him. He, John Postlethwaite, is one of the new intake of liberal MPs and has chosen to make a speciality of Egypt. This is because none of the other committees would have him. Retrenchment, Reform and Bolton’s backyard is all he really knows about. Oh, and accounts. He took Cromer to task over his and made something of a name for himself. That’s what gave him the idea. Of specializing in Egypt, I mean. He wants to come out and see things at first hand. The accounts, that is.’
‘McPhee sounds just the man for this,’ said Owen, selling the Assistant Commandant down the river without a qualm.
‘McPhee? Not in a million years. This is out of his class. This is a delicate exercise, boyo, and not for the McPhees of this world. Haven’t you been listening? We need someone with some political sense. This is important, I keep telling you. There’s a lot at stake. My job for a start. Yours, too, probably. It’s not trivial stuff like The End of Empire, Egypt’s Manifest Destiny, or England’s Moral Mission to Confuse the World (Christ! Did I say that? I’m going to have to watch my step for the next two months.)’
‘Two months? For Christ’s sake, I can’t spend that amount of time.’
‘You can do other things as well,’ said Paul magnanimously.
‘I’m afraid so,’ said Garvin.
‘But it’s going to take up hours,’ Owen complained. ‘Just when I’m especially busy.’
‘What are you busy on?’
Owen told him about the dog. Garvin, knowledgeable in the ways of Egypt, took it seriously.
‘Christ!’ he said. ‘If you don’t sort that out quickly they’ll be at each other’s throats.’
‘So I can concentrate on that and get someone else to look after Postlethwaite?’
‘You can concentrate on that and still look after Postlethwaite. Don’t spend too much time on him, that’s all.’
As Owen went out, Garvin said: ‘You’d better get it sorted out by the 25th.’
‘Why?’
‘That’s the Coptic Easter Monday. It’s also the day when the Moslems have a Moulid for some local saint or other. I think they do it just to be awkward. The problem is to keep the processions apart, because of course if they run into each other there’s all kinds of trouble, especially if things are a bit tense between them anyway. But that’s not till the 25th. You’ll have it all sorted out by then. I hope.’
The joys of having a jealous girlfriend - Zeinab
‘Who is this woman, anyway?’ demanded Zeinab of Owen.
‘I told you. She’s the niece of this MP who’s visiting us.’
‘What is she doing here?’
‘Keeping him company, I suppose. Having a holiday.’
‘She’s come here to get a husband. Like all the others.’
‘I wouldn’t have thought so. She’s not like them.’
This was a mistake.
‘How is she not like them?’ Zeinab asked.
Owen floundered.
‘Well, she’s quieter. More retiring.’
‘She doesn’t seem to have retired so far,’ said Zeinab. ‘What’s she like? Is she beautiful?’
‘No. She’s not beautiful. I don’t know what she’s like, really. Mostly she’s been under that hat.’
‘Cunning.’
Marriage therapy Egyptian style as explained by Zeinab
‘That’s all right, said Zeinab, ‘it happens all the time.’
‘They say it three times?’
‘Yes. And afterwards they’re sorry. It’s too late then, of course.’
‘He’ll have to marry someone else.’
Zeinab curled her legs up under her on the divan. ‘Why?’
‘Because we can’t go on like this. It’s affecting everybody.’
‘I didn’t mean that. I mean, why does he have to marry someone else? I would have thought it mightn’t be too easy. You say he’s got a bit of a reputation as a skinflint.’
‘I didn’t say that. His sister did.’
‘Well, she should know. If it’s true, he might find it difficult to get anyone to agree. Mothers are not going to let their daughters go to someone who’s mean with money. A bit of beating is all right, you can put up with that, but if a man is tight with his money there’s always trouble in the house. Besides, there’s nothing in it for the family.’
‘I would have thought a family would have been only too glad to get an unmarried daughter off its hands.’
‘Not if they’re going to come back again immediately because their husband is forever divorcing them.’
‘Yussuf’s not like that.’
‘It’s the money, you see,’ explained Zeinab, who tended to take a very practical view of these things. ‘A lot of families will say that as soon as he’s got the dowry you’ll get the girl back. And then you’ll be worse off than when you started. You’ve still got the girl but you haven’t got the money.’
‘Perhaps he’d be willing to take someone without a dowry. In the circumstances, I mean.’
‘Him? Yussuf? Not if what his sister says is true.’
‘If I leaned on him.’
‘That might help,’ Zeinab conceded.
‘I could even pay the dowry.’
‘I’d watch that if I were you. Otherwise they’ll all be doing it.’
‘There are lots of poor families.’
‘If you were prepared to pay the dowry—’
‘It might be worth it.’
‘What I can’t see, though,’ said Zeinab, ‘is why bother with all this? Wouldn’t it be simpler just for him to marry Fatima again?’
‘He can’t. That’s the whole point. He’s used the triple vow.’
‘But that’s no problem. I’ve told you. People are always doing it.’
‘But—’
‘There’s a way round.’
‘There is?’
‘Yes. It’s simple. What you’ve got to do is to get her to marry again. You go to a friend, or if you haven’t got one there are people who specialize in it, and then you get them to marry her on condition that they divorce her immediately afterwards. Once that has happened you’re free to marry her again.’
‘The triple vow doesn’t apply?’
‘Not any more.’
Seeing that Owen was having difficulties in getting used to the idea, she took him by the hand and pulled him down beside her on the divan.
‘It’s all right,’ she said. ‘In fact, it’s quite common. Men are always divorcing their wives and feeling sorry afterwards. So there’s got to be some way round it.’
‘It happens all the time?’
‘Sure,’ said Zeinab, snuggling down. ‘All the time.’
The Mamur Zapt takes us through the bustle of bazaars and the scents and colors of the markets in old Cairo while trying to stop religious riots
Enjoy!
To work with a British Member of Parliament on a fact finding mission on over spending is yet another job that the Administration heaped upon the Mamur Zapt.
And don't forget the deadline!
‘Hello,’ said Paul, ‘I was trying to get you earlier but you were out. I need some help.’
‘Yes?’
‘Visitors. Important ones. Ones who need special handling.’
‘Bloody hell! I’ve got a lot on just now.’
‘Then put a lot off.’
‘Who the hell are these visitors?’
‘You only need to bother about one of them. Well, let’s say one and a half. He has a niece with him. He, John Postlethwaite, is one of the new intake of liberal MPs and has chosen to make a speciality of Egypt. This is because none of the other committees would have him. Retrenchment, Reform and Bolton’s backyard is all he really knows about. Oh, and accounts. He took Cromer to task over his and made something of a name for himself. That’s what gave him the idea. Of specializing in Egypt, I mean. He wants to come out and see things at first hand. The accounts, that is.’
‘McPhee sounds just the man for this,’ said Owen, selling the Assistant Commandant down the river without a qualm.
‘McPhee? Not in a million years. This is out of his class. This is a delicate exercise, boyo, and not for the McPhees of this world. Haven’t you been listening? We need someone with some political sense. This is important, I keep telling you. There’s a lot at stake. My job for a start. Yours, too, probably. It’s not trivial stuff like The End of Empire, Egypt’s Manifest Destiny, or England’s Moral Mission to Confuse the World (Christ! Did I say that? I’m going to have to watch my step for the next two months.)’
‘Two months? For Christ’s sake, I can’t spend that amount of time.’
‘You can do other things as well,’ said Paul magnanimously.
‘I’m afraid so,’ said Garvin.
‘But it’s going to take up hours,’ Owen complained. ‘Just when I’m especially busy.’
‘What are you busy on?’
Owen told him about the dog. Garvin, knowledgeable in the ways of Egypt, took it seriously.
‘Christ!’ he said. ‘If you don’t sort that out quickly they’ll be at each other’s throats.’
‘So I can concentrate on that and get someone else to look after Postlethwaite?’
‘You can concentrate on that and still look after Postlethwaite. Don’t spend too much time on him, that’s all.’
As Owen went out, Garvin said: ‘You’d better get it sorted out by the 25th.’
‘Why?’
‘That’s the Coptic Easter Monday. It’s also the day when the Moslems have a Moulid for some local saint or other. I think they do it just to be awkward. The problem is to keep the processions apart, because of course if they run into each other there’s all kinds of trouble, especially if things are a bit tense between them anyway. But that’s not till the 25th. You’ll have it all sorted out by then. I hope.’
The joys of having a jealous girlfriend - Zeinab
‘Who is this woman, anyway?’ demanded Zeinab of Owen.
‘I told you. She’s the niece of this MP who’s visiting us.’
‘What is she doing here?’
‘Keeping him company, I suppose. Having a holiday.’
‘She’s come here to get a husband. Like all the others.’
‘I wouldn’t have thought so. She’s not like them.’
This was a mistake.
‘How is she not like them?’ Zeinab asked.
Owen floundered.
‘Well, she’s quieter. More retiring.’
‘She doesn’t seem to have retired so far,’ said Zeinab. ‘What’s she like? Is she beautiful?’
‘No. She’s not beautiful. I don’t know what she’s like, really. Mostly she’s been under that hat.’
‘Cunning.’
Marriage therapy Egyptian style as explained by Zeinab
‘That’s all right, said Zeinab, ‘it happens all the time.’
‘They say it three times?’
‘Yes. And afterwards they’re sorry. It’s too late then, of course.’
‘He’ll have to marry someone else.’
Zeinab curled her legs up under her on the divan. ‘Why?’
‘Because we can’t go on like this. It’s affecting everybody.’
‘I didn’t mean that. I mean, why does he have to marry someone else? I would have thought it mightn’t be too easy. You say he’s got a bit of a reputation as a skinflint.’
‘I didn’t say that. His sister did.’
‘Well, she should know. If it’s true, he might find it difficult to get anyone to agree. Mothers are not going to let their daughters go to someone who’s mean with money. A bit of beating is all right, you can put up with that, but if a man is tight with his money there’s always trouble in the house. Besides, there’s nothing in it for the family.’
‘I would have thought a family would have been only too glad to get an unmarried daughter off its hands.’
‘Not if they’re going to come back again immediately because their husband is forever divorcing them.’
‘Yussuf’s not like that.’
‘It’s the money, you see,’ explained Zeinab, who tended to take a very practical view of these things. ‘A lot of families will say that as soon as he’s got the dowry you’ll get the girl back. And then you’ll be worse off than when you started. You’ve still got the girl but you haven’t got the money.’
‘Perhaps he’d be willing to take someone without a dowry. In the circumstances, I mean.’
‘Him? Yussuf? Not if what his sister says is true.’
‘If I leaned on him.’
‘That might help,’ Zeinab conceded.
‘I could even pay the dowry.’
‘I’d watch that if I were you. Otherwise they’ll all be doing it.’
‘There are lots of poor families.’
‘If you were prepared to pay the dowry—’
‘It might be worth it.’
‘What I can’t see, though,’ said Zeinab, ‘is why bother with all this? Wouldn’t it be simpler just for him to marry Fatima again?’
‘He can’t. That’s the whole point. He’s used the triple vow.’
‘But that’s no problem. I’ve told you. People are always doing it.’
‘But—’
‘There’s a way round.’
‘There is?’
‘Yes. It’s simple. What you’ve got to do is to get her to marry again. You go to a friend, or if you haven’t got one there are people who specialize in it, and then you get them to marry her on condition that they divorce her immediately afterwards. Once that has happened you’re free to marry her again.’
‘The triple vow doesn’t apply?’
‘Not any more.’
Seeing that Owen was having difficulties in getting used to the idea, she took him by the hand and pulled him down beside her on the divan.
‘It’s all right,’ she said. ‘In fact, it’s quite common. Men are always divorcing their wives and feeling sorry afterwards. So there’s got to be some way round it.’
‘It happens all the time?’
‘Sure,’ said Zeinab, snuggling down. ‘All the time.’
The Mamur Zapt takes us through the bustle of bazaars and the scents and colors of the markets in old Cairo while trying to stop religious riots
Enjoy!
September 7, 2021
This is actually the second in the series having been unable to attain a copy of the first, with such a long series hopefully I won’t have missed too much background…….
1905, Cairo & the days of the British Empire when Egypt was under colonial rule.
Who are or what is the Mamur Zapt is my first question? We find out almost immediately It’s the title given to the head of the Cairo secret police who don’t actually deal with policing matters but that of political affairs & the man in question is a Welsh Captain called Gareth Owen. He being the main man that we follow in the story.
It becomes clear early on that the story will revolve around the growing/ongoing conflict between the Copts & the Moslems of the city which evolves as the story develops. To an outsider it seems no more than a series of petty squabbles as it starts with said “dog”, it’s dead carcass being thrown into a copt crypt by ways of a desecration but then a murder is committed……. Will it escalate? Holy holidays are appearing over the horizon? An MP from Blighty & his niece have jus arrived on the scene & are poking into the financial affairs of the Egyptian operation, Is said niece looking for a husband….. How will all this tie of?
The humour is very British & fits with the setting/time, subtle too as the characters develop. It does feel a novel of the time as well, where the British are few in number but hold authority over the peoples, somehow maintaining the peace by virtue of simply being of the Empire despite the ever increasing resentment & rise of nationalism.
It’s a good yarn, great characters, witty & appropriate dialogue for a Sunday afternoon film & have to say I really enjoyed this for a change of pace for me.
Glad I picked this up & can see me reading on when I need an appropriate fix, 4.5 stars rounded to a four.
1905, Cairo & the days of the British Empire when Egypt was under colonial rule.
Who are or what is the Mamur Zapt is my first question? We find out almost immediately It’s the title given to the head of the Cairo secret police who don’t actually deal with policing matters but that of political affairs & the man in question is a Welsh Captain called Gareth Owen. He being the main man that we follow in the story.
It becomes clear early on that the story will revolve around the growing/ongoing conflict between the Copts & the Moslems of the city which evolves as the story develops. To an outsider it seems no more than a series of petty squabbles as it starts with said “dog”, it’s dead carcass being thrown into a copt crypt by ways of a desecration but then a murder is committed……. Will it escalate? Holy holidays are appearing over the horizon? An MP from Blighty & his niece have jus arrived on the scene & are poking into the financial affairs of the Egyptian operation, Is said niece looking for a husband….. How will all this tie of?
The humour is very British & fits with the setting/time, subtle too as the characters develop. It does feel a novel of the time as well, where the British are few in number but hold authority over the peoples, somehow maintaining the peace by virtue of simply being of the Empire despite the ever increasing resentment & rise of nationalism.
It’s a good yarn, great characters, witty & appropriate dialogue for a Sunday afternoon film & have to say I really enjoyed this for a change of pace for me.
Glad I picked this up & can see me reading on when I need an appropriate fix, 4.5 stars rounded to a four.
August 20, 2022
This is the second in the series that I have read, and I find them an excellent portrait of Cairo in the early 20th century. In this book the mystery plays second fiddle to the unrest between the Muslims and the Copts. The Mamur Zapt needs to determine who, why and how the unrest is being fomented but his bribery account has run dry, and the accounting books are being monitored.
I found out the author died recently. RIP and thank you for your books.
I found out the author died recently. RIP and thank you for your books.
August 14, 2007
THE MAMUR ZAPT AND THE NIGHT OF THE DOG (Pol. Proc.-Cairo-early 1900s) - VG
Pearce, Michael -2nd in series
A Crime Club Book/Doubleday, 1991- Hardcover
*** Captain Gareth Cadwallader Owen is the Mamur Zapth; head of Cairo’s political CID. When a dead dog is placed at the Coptic tomb and a Moslem Zikr dancer is murdered, it is up to Own to find out who is behind the escalating unrest. At the same time, he much find the money to support his investigation, resolve the marital problems of his office bearer, and entertain the niece of a visiting British MP while keeping happy his beautiful Egyptian girlfriend.
*** Pearce does a wonderful job of conveying the delicacy needed to maintain peace between religious and political factions. This look at the past is very relevant to the present. But he balances that nicely with the humor of Owan’s involvement in a marital situation. Pearce creates a wonderful sense of place and period. This is a fairly quick read, but a fascinating one. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Pearce, Michael -2nd in series
A Crime Club Book/Doubleday, 1991- Hardcover
*** Captain Gareth Cadwallader Owen is the Mamur Zapth; head of Cairo’s political CID. When a dead dog is placed at the Coptic tomb and a Moslem Zikr dancer is murdered, it is up to Own to find out who is behind the escalating unrest. At the same time, he much find the money to support his investigation, resolve the marital problems of his office bearer, and entertain the niece of a visiting British MP while keeping happy his beautiful Egyptian girlfriend.
*** Pearce does a wonderful job of conveying the delicacy needed to maintain peace between religious and political factions. This look at the past is very relevant to the present. But he balances that nicely with the humor of Owan’s involvement in a marital situation. Pearce creates a wonderful sense of place and period. This is a fairly quick read, but a fascinating one. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
January 26, 2016
The subtle humor of a Welshman caught between the rule of the English and the governance of the Egyptian police in Edwardian times makes for a very interesting setting and story.
June 16, 2025
A fine series entry. It’s the 1900’s in Cairo, when the British reign over all while trying to pretend they’re desirous of turning things back over to the locals - all the many of them, Christian and Moslem and others and all at each other’s throats…thus the British Protectorate now stretches to some 30 years or more…
Gareth Owen, the Mamur Zapt - British head of Cairo’s Secret Police, is tasked with sniffing out trouble before it occurs and squelching it, not an easy task considering the budgetary constraints he works under and the fact that none of those competing local interests has any interest in sharing any knowledge with the outsider British…but when sporatic but growing violence rears its head, there’s more interest in gaining ascendancy with the police so as to turn things against other interest groups and the Mamur Zapt must play one party off against the others in order to gain the information he needs.
Wonderful period ambiance, a chaotic but enthralling plot and a view of a largely forgotten time and place make for terrific reading.
Gareth Owen, the Mamur Zapt - British head of Cairo’s Secret Police, is tasked with sniffing out trouble before it occurs and squelching it, not an easy task considering the budgetary constraints he works under and the fact that none of those competing local interests has any interest in sharing any knowledge with the outsider British…but when sporatic but growing violence rears its head, there’s more interest in gaining ascendancy with the police so as to turn things against other interest groups and the Mamur Zapt must play one party off against the others in order to gain the information he needs.
Wonderful period ambiance, a chaotic but enthralling plot and a view of a largely forgotten time and place make for terrific reading.
April 29, 2014
"The Mamur Zapt and the Night of the Dog" by Michael Pearce, #2 Mamur Zapt historical mystery series (our library only had this one in the series)
I found this to be an interesting historical mystery set in a time that I'm unfamiliar with (early 1900's Egypt). I enjoyed the author's style of writing, although I found his historical references to be more interesting then the actual mystery. The author is very talented in showing us the differences between British culture and Egyptian culture. At first I was bogged down with all of the different secondary characters but I found that by writing down their names, how they related to the story and the page # they were first introduced, I was able to finally remember their importance to the story! Even though I've only read this one, I would definitely recommend the series to those who like a quick and entertaining mystery read. The only reason this got 3 stars instead of 4 is because as much as I enjoyed it while reading, afterwards I didn't really feel much emotional connection to the characters.
I found this to be an interesting historical mystery set in a time that I'm unfamiliar with (early 1900's Egypt). I enjoyed the author's style of writing, although I found his historical references to be more interesting then the actual mystery. The author is very talented in showing us the differences between British culture and Egyptian culture. At first I was bogged down with all of the different secondary characters but I found that by writing down their names, how they related to the story and the page # they were first introduced, I was able to finally remember their importance to the story! Even though I've only read this one, I would definitely recommend the series to those who like a quick and entertaining mystery read. The only reason this got 3 stars instead of 4 is because as much as I enjoyed it while reading, afterwards I didn't really feel much emotional connection to the characters.
November 19, 2017
Thoroughly enjoyed this. Lovely descriptions of Cairo between the wars, somewhere I would like to have gone. Unfortunately, the copy I was reading was very frustrating. There was no gap between the scenes which caused confusion. Mr Publisher, please leave a line in the future to make it clear. Thank you.
May 10, 2015
Pearce is a master at knowing when to show and when to tell. The story never drags because of this. It is also a pleasure to visit Egypt in this time period. You have a real sense of the place and the politics. A thoroughly enjoyable read and I look forward to the next in the series.
September 9, 2016
Very good. Tight writing (with wit!) and great characters.
October 5, 2025
Mamur Zapt and the Night of the Dog (1989) is part of a historical mystery series about British rule in Egypt from between 1908 to 1918. The Mamur Zapt is the Egyptian Secret Service, manned by Egyptians and commanded by the British – an unfailing recipe for local tensions, which is what ‘The Night of the Dog’ is all about. It doesn't help when a British MP turns up to “inspect" the local auditing process, and being a strict and honest churchman, adds to the tensions by cutting the time honoured baksheesh or bribery allowance in the account.
When religious fanaticism joins with fierce nationalism in a fight against foreign occupation and rule, there is no telling when straightforward political protest or a peaceful religious procession might suddenly metamorphose into communal hatred and acts of vandalism, which is when the Mamur Zapt comes in, when Copy turns against Muslim in anger and hate.
But is religious fervour alone behind the criminal acts? As Captain Owen, British Army, and formerly in India, who is more sensitive than others to local religious and cultural tensions, delves into the case, he finds something very odd going on besides the obvious.
With the Khedive wanting to raise the taxes for a jaunt to Monte Carlo, and the British MP cutting the bribery allowance, and the MP’s niece with her marrying eye fastening hungrily on Owen, and Owen’s longtime girlfriend spitting fire; with Owen’s office servant, a Muslim, speaking the dreaded three time word to his wife, and so divorcing her, this book has as many laughs as it has very serious moments with grave implications for the future of the Suez Canal and the continued rule of the British in Egypt.
An unusual and delightful series.
When religious fanaticism joins with fierce nationalism in a fight against foreign occupation and rule, there is no telling when straightforward political protest or a peaceful religious procession might suddenly metamorphose into communal hatred and acts of vandalism, which is when the Mamur Zapt comes in, when Copy turns against Muslim in anger and hate.
But is religious fervour alone behind the criminal acts? As Captain Owen, British Army, and formerly in India, who is more sensitive than others to local religious and cultural tensions, delves into the case, he finds something very odd going on besides the obvious.
With the Khedive wanting to raise the taxes for a jaunt to Monte Carlo, and the British MP cutting the bribery allowance, and the MP’s niece with her marrying eye fastening hungrily on Owen, and Owen’s longtime girlfriend spitting fire; with Owen’s office servant, a Muslim, speaking the dreaded three time word to his wife, and so divorcing her, this book has as many laughs as it has very serious moments with grave implications for the future of the Suez Canal and the continued rule of the British in Egypt.
An unusual and delightful series.
March 19, 2025
Mamur Zept #2. Cairo, Egypt circa 1905. There's a murder to solve and religious rioting to prevent. Lots to keep the Mamur Zept busy. A great many moving parts to remember and keep straight and I had a bit of trouble with all the Egyptian names so 3 stars for this one. FYI the Mamur Zept is the head of the British secret police.
February 4, 2026
I feel like I enjoyed this one more than the first. Don't know if it's because I read it instead of listening to it, or something else, but there you are. Has the time and place foibles of the first book, but they didn't feel quite as in my face. Wanting the half star, but doesn't quite make four stars. Looking forward to the next.
August 13, 2022
Another pre-sunscreen tale from 1900's with Owen, Mahmoud, McPhee and Garvan making ends
meet on the books, in the dance circle, in the cemetery and on religious grounds, amid the
historic beauty of Egypt's Cairo.
Another great read, thank you Michael Pearce :-)
meet on the books, in the dance circle, in the cemetery and on religious grounds, amid the
historic beauty of Egypt's Cairo.
Another great read, thank you Michael Pearce :-)
July 27, 2024
These are really neat little books, if only to give you an idea of the color of Egyptian culture in the early part of the 20th century. With so many foreign influences, religious interests and legal systems, it requires a delicate balancing act by the Mamur Zapt.
July 6, 2019
The Mamur Zapt confronts a spike in the Copt-Muslim antipathy and must try to identify the source before a massacre occurs.
April 17, 2020
This book has simply changed the test of genre! Highly recommended by me.
Read
August 23, 2021Good book.
June 1, 2023
The Mumar Zapt series are short books, slow reads, making the finer details enticing. A dead dog in a Coptic crypt in Cairo? The consequences are astounding. And delightful
December 28, 2025
This is a great series, and this is an early one in the set (#2). Very well plotted, with great characters, and a good setting.
Recommended.
Recommended.
January 21, 2015
I think I liked the first in the series better because I was very excited about this look into colonial Egypt. The newness of that wore off a little with the second and I was less taken with the story. Perhaps it is the kind of series where it is good to read them one after another so the story just keeps rolling. (It has been a few years since I read the first.) I can certainly say though that I have no interest in being the Mamur Zapt. What a difficult job.
The BEST part of the whole thing was the author's blurb on the back. Maybe the best one I've read:
Michael Pearce grew up in the (then) Anglo-Egyptian Sudan among the political and other tensions he draws on for his books. He returned there later to teach and retains a human rights interest in the area. In between whiles his career has followed the standard academic rake's progress from teaching to writing to editing to administration. He finds international politics a pallid imitation of academic ones.
The BEST part of the whole thing was the author's blurb on the back. Maybe the best one I've read:
Michael Pearce grew up in the (then) Anglo-Egyptian Sudan among the political and other tensions he draws on for his books. He returned there later to teach and retains a human rights interest in the area. In between whiles his career has followed the standard academic rake's progress from teaching to writing to editing to administration. He finds international politics a pallid imitation of academic ones.
March 5, 2024
This series set in Egypt in the early 1900s featuring Captain Owen, Chief of the Secret Police, (his official title is the Mamur Zapt) started in 1988 and I read the first thirteen books (out of nineteen) as they were published.
This is the second book in the series which I first read in 1989 and now in 2024 I was pleased to see a copy in my local library. In this story there are tensions between Copts and Moslems and Owen believes someone is stirring up trouble for a political purpose. It's a charming read with some interesting descriptions of life in early twentieth century Cairo. It certainly made me want to re-read the books I have read and find the ones I have not yet read.
This is the second book in the series which I first read in 1989 and now in 2024 I was pleased to see a copy in my local library. In this story there are tensions between Copts and Moslems and Owen believes someone is stirring up trouble for a political purpose. It's a charming read with some interesting descriptions of life in early twentieth century Cairo. It certainly made me want to re-read the books I have read and find the ones I have not yet read.
March 20, 2011
I very much enjoyed this slice of English Empire life. Pearce people's this series with characters that are the British Empire quirky equivalent of Green Acres. And somehow the Mamur Zapt, somewhat like Oliver Douglas, keeps all these zealots and oddballs in a working balance. Pearce creates a wonderful sense of place with some effective, economical writing. There's a tendency for some writers to beat home with extended prose the exoticness of a foreign locale; Pearce accomplishes this with minimal brush strokes. It's definitely a series I'll continue reading.
February 2, 2012
Delightful read once you except that it takes place in Egypt under British colonial rule. The mystery is not very intense but that is more than made up for by the description of Egyptian customs, beliefs, and the interplay between Copts, Muslims, and the British. Much better than the first in the series, which was rather slow. Well written.
September 8, 2012
Oldie but goodie in mystery genre. Relative to current events as reflects history of area. Author has good characters & story has enough twists to move forward at acceptable pace.
November 22, 2013
It is certainly a well-written and entertaining but it is, ultimately, standard detective fiction.
December 23, 2013
Clearly the last one was fun enough for me to read this one, but they are still only okay (except the setting, which is really delightful)
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May 11, 2016Another interesting story by Michael Pearce about the Mamur Zapt and the intrigue going on in Cairo, with the British presence still there.
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