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Schatten über Marrakesch: Ein Marokko-Krimi #1
'Clever, captivating and colourful; an absorbing thriller rich in atmosphere' Philip Gwynne Jones, author of The Venetian Game and Vengeance in Venice
Death stalks the medina of Marrakech . . .
Marrakech, August. It is the start of Ramadan, the hottest in memory. Among the few foreigners left in the sweltering city are a riad owner, her French boyfriend and an English girl whose bag has been stolen after a hen weekend. At the local commissariat 24-year old detective Karim Belkacem is struggling to fast while holding down two jobs to pay for his sister's wedding. On the day that the English girl comes to him for help, a Moroccan girl is found dead, her body dumped in a handcart. Investigating, Karim uncovers a world of shadowy predators and ancient secrets hidden behind the high walls of the medina.
464 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2019
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168 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
April 22, 2020
I really enjoyed this novel. It is nominally crime fiction and as such it works - it has a coherent plot and I didn't guess the ending - but for me it was much more than that. I found the characters completely convincing, their strength lying in the fact that they are almost all shown acting in both morally good and questionable ways. The experience of living in Marrakesh is vibrantly conveyed and we see things from the point of view of Europeans (both wealthy residents and budget tourist) as well as from the perspective of locals of all classes, some of whom are devout Muslims and others who pay lip-service to the faith. The motivations of all the characters are complex and I felt their struggle at living in this place and time.
January 5, 2020
Death stalks the medina of Marrakech . . .
Set in Marrakech, Morocco this crime thriller ‘ A Death in the Medina”, written by James von Leyden is a highly atmospheric and rich in detail novel that will capture the imagination of any reader who loves to travel the globe through books and who enjoys an authentically written story.
Although for me it did take time to get into the ambience of the setting and get used to the many foreign places, names and phrases but once I did, I felt I was transported to Morocco and became a part of the story. Feeling the sweltering dry heat, hearing the call to prayer, the shouts from the local traders and the smells and taste of the honey, sesame, mint and the many pungent aromas, you could easily believe you were standing in the old part of the town and a member of the community.
Set in 2011 and based on a couple of real life events, the author has put a tremendous amount of his own personal knowledge and love of Morocco into the story and together with an obvious quantity of research in to the culture of Muslims including their religion and the Quran, this is a very enjoyable book if you like exploring and learning about different cultures. The intense details of Ramadan and the emotions of the people enduring it, made me feel I was actually fasting with them and I truly felt for their ordeal of not eating during the sweltering heat of the day and losing sleep at night to eat.
All in all, a modern day murder mystery wrapped up in rich, atmospheric detail that will appeal to many and I expect Detective Karim Belkacem to return again in the near future.
3 stars
Thank you to TripFiction’s #TFBookClub for my copy of the book in return for an honest review.
Set in Marrakech, Morocco this crime thriller ‘ A Death in the Medina”, written by James von Leyden is a highly atmospheric and rich in detail novel that will capture the imagination of any reader who loves to travel the globe through books and who enjoys an authentically written story.
Although for me it did take time to get into the ambience of the setting and get used to the many foreign places, names and phrases but once I did, I felt I was transported to Morocco and became a part of the story. Feeling the sweltering dry heat, hearing the call to prayer, the shouts from the local traders and the smells and taste of the honey, sesame, mint and the many pungent aromas, you could easily believe you were standing in the old part of the town and a member of the community.
Set in 2011 and based on a couple of real life events, the author has put a tremendous amount of his own personal knowledge and love of Morocco into the story and together with an obvious quantity of research in to the culture of Muslims including their religion and the Quran, this is a very enjoyable book if you like exploring and learning about different cultures. The intense details of Ramadan and the emotions of the people enduring it, made me feel I was actually fasting with them and I truly felt for their ordeal of not eating during the sweltering heat of the day and losing sleep at night to eat.
All in all, a modern day murder mystery wrapped up in rich, atmospheric detail that will appeal to many and I expect Detective Karim Belkacem to return again in the near future.
3 stars
Thank you to TripFiction’s #TFBookClub for my copy of the book in return for an honest review.
February 23, 2023
Inace ne čitam romane ovog žanra, ali mi se ovaj krimic svidio. Ambijent je docaran vijerno i slikovito. Likovi okarakterisani detaljno. Mala doza misterije i nepredvidivost.
January 6, 2020
A murder of a local girl in the midst of Ramadan in Marrakech - hard going.
A Death in Medina is the first in a projected series of police procedurals to feature Lieutenant Karim Belkacem, an eager and devout young Muslim Berber in the commissariat in modern day Marrakech, Morocco. Having loosely woven several events of 2011 into his story there is no doubt that James von Leyden’s portrayal of a bustling and culturally rich city is up to the moment and realistic. Drenched in atmosphere and a detailed look at the gruelling experience of fasting during Ramadan I confess to finding the novel hard going due to just how immersive the writing proved! Foreign dialect, locations and names together with details about the Muslim religion and traditions (including the graphic description of sacrificing a sheep for Eid) proved a little too abundant to the detriment of actually telling a decent crime story.
The central mystery involves the body of a local Muslim girl turning up dead in a handcart outside the walls of a mosque. Dressed in clothing appropriate for a nightclub and with a sign attached to her body casting aspersions on her character, Karim is first to the scene. When he discovers that the victim is the daughter of his father’s former best friend and at the age of eight he was once betrothed to her, his resolve to see justice done is hardened. When the case is taken off him and handed to an officer of the same rank he starts to fear there could well be a cover-up with the murder put down to a honour killing within the family for the sake of tourism. I could not really understand the weight that Karim put on his destined betrothal but along with his dislike of the newly assigned detective he feels compelled to perform his own shadow investigation. As life goes on alongside with Karim forced for take a night job to finance his sisters wedding, his own romantic life is forced to take a back seat.
For me the mystery element was a bit of a non-starter, with it pretty obvious from the start who the bad guys were and there was little suspense in the police detection which felt haphazard and and deserved a tighter plot. As an investigator Karim is naive and headstrong and although his devotion to supporting his family and determination to see justice done is admirable he did feel a little too flawless to be realistic. I did however enjoy learning about the divide between Karim and several colleagues who looked down on his Berber heritage. It is Karim’s foundling sister, Ayesha, who made the strongest impression on me and seemed the best fit for a job in the commissariat! Disappointedly the westerners are one-dimensional and don’t get a good press at all!
Overall the novel was culturally and religiously top-heavy. Although I learnt an enormous amount about the city of Morocco, the daily lives of the natives and the experience of Ramadan as a fasting Muslim, I did become a little bogged down by all the unnecessary detail that prevented the story flowing. Whilst the extensive foreign dialogue and recitals of the Quran may have made for a more authentic read, sadly it made the book hard going for a confused non-linguist atheist.
With many thanks to TripFiction for supplying my copy of this novel as part of the #TFBookClub.
A Death in Medina is the first in a projected series of police procedurals to feature Lieutenant Karim Belkacem, an eager and devout young Muslim Berber in the commissariat in modern day Marrakech, Morocco. Having loosely woven several events of 2011 into his story there is no doubt that James von Leyden’s portrayal of a bustling and culturally rich city is up to the moment and realistic. Drenched in atmosphere and a detailed look at the gruelling experience of fasting during Ramadan I confess to finding the novel hard going due to just how immersive the writing proved! Foreign dialect, locations and names together with details about the Muslim religion and traditions (including the graphic description of sacrificing a sheep for Eid) proved a little too abundant to the detriment of actually telling a decent crime story.
The central mystery involves the body of a local Muslim girl turning up dead in a handcart outside the walls of a mosque. Dressed in clothing appropriate for a nightclub and with a sign attached to her body casting aspersions on her character, Karim is first to the scene. When he discovers that the victim is the daughter of his father’s former best friend and at the age of eight he was once betrothed to her, his resolve to see justice done is hardened. When the case is taken off him and handed to an officer of the same rank he starts to fear there could well be a cover-up with the murder put down to a honour killing within the family for the sake of tourism. I could not really understand the weight that Karim put on his destined betrothal but along with his dislike of the newly assigned detective he feels compelled to perform his own shadow investigation. As life goes on alongside with Karim forced for take a night job to finance his sisters wedding, his own romantic life is forced to take a back seat.
For me the mystery element was a bit of a non-starter, with it pretty obvious from the start who the bad guys were and there was little suspense in the police detection which felt haphazard and and deserved a tighter plot. As an investigator Karim is naive and headstrong and although his devotion to supporting his family and determination to see justice done is admirable he did feel a little too flawless to be realistic. I did however enjoy learning about the divide between Karim and several colleagues who looked down on his Berber heritage. It is Karim’s foundling sister, Ayesha, who made the strongest impression on me and seemed the best fit for a job in the commissariat! Disappointedly the westerners are one-dimensional and don’t get a good press at all!
Overall the novel was culturally and religiously top-heavy. Although I learnt an enormous amount about the city of Morocco, the daily lives of the natives and the experience of Ramadan as a fasting Muslim, I did become a little bogged down by all the unnecessary detail that prevented the story flowing. Whilst the extensive foreign dialogue and recitals of the Quran may have made for a more authentic read, sadly it made the book hard going for a confused non-linguist atheist.
With many thanks to TripFiction for supplying my copy of this novel as part of the #TFBookClub.
January 7, 2020
I'm a very fast reader and it's almost unheard of for a book of this size to take me a week to read. But I found it a very slow read and not the kind of book I felt compelled to pick up in every spare moment. The story itself was rather thin and I didn't take to any of the characters. I thought Karim was rather wet, nowhere near assertive or decisive enough to be a detective or to be the head of a family and have to look after his mother and sister(s).
I didn't like the ending of the book either, there were several characters who didn't get what they seemed to have coming to them, and a few loose ends that were bluntly chopped off rather than being tied in.
As for the descriptions of the city, the people, the culture and the religion, that's really what makes up the main bulk of the book. I found it all very interesting - for instance I'd never thought about the problems with dehydration and possible kidney failure during Ramadan in hot climates - yet I sometimes felt I was being forcibly educated. I love to learn about places and cultures through reading fiction, but I prefer it to be in the background rather than making up the bulk of the story. For instance, it's helpful to know that Karim prayed a lot, because his devout faith explains his reluctance to form a deeper relationship with Ayesha, but did we really need the full description of exactly what he did and said every time he prayed? As for the sheep-slaughtering scene, even as a meat eater I found it unpleasantly graphic and disturbing; a vegetarian would probably have nightmares after reading it!
I've learned a lot about a city I've never visited and a culture I am only superficially familiar with, so from that point of view the book was a great success, but from a general enjoyment point of view it was a bit of a damp squib, and as a thriller it didn't work for me at all.
I didn't like the ending of the book either, there were several characters who didn't get what they seemed to have coming to them, and a few loose ends that were bluntly chopped off rather than being tied in.
As for the descriptions of the city, the people, the culture and the religion, that's really what makes up the main bulk of the book. I found it all very interesting - for instance I'd never thought about the problems with dehydration and possible kidney failure during Ramadan in hot climates - yet I sometimes felt I was being forcibly educated. I love to learn about places and cultures through reading fiction, but I prefer it to be in the background rather than making up the bulk of the story. For instance, it's helpful to know that Karim prayed a lot, because his devout faith explains his reluctance to form a deeper relationship with Ayesha, but did we really need the full description of exactly what he did and said every time he prayed? As for the sheep-slaughtering scene, even as a meat eater I found it unpleasantly graphic and disturbing; a vegetarian would probably have nightmares after reading it!
I've learned a lot about a city I've never visited and a culture I am only superficially familiar with, so from that point of view the book was a great success, but from a general enjoyment point of view it was a bit of a damp squib, and as a thriller it didn't work for me at all.
October 19, 2021
Being an absolute crime fiction fanatic, it is not often that I REALLY enjoy a murder mystery, but this is one of those rare occasions.
A Death in the Medina grabbed my attention by the title and blurb, although the author is not one I had heard of before. It is set in present day Marrakech during Ramadan in August. The story intertwines both expats and locals, and a murder which links them all. A police officer, Karim uncovers the darker side of Marrakech, and eventually solves the crime.
I found this to be really authentic in its portrayal of the region, as well as gripping. I really didn't want it to end and am already looking forward to reading more of James Von Leyden books.
A Death in the Medina grabbed my attention by the title and blurb, although the author is not one I had heard of before. It is set in present day Marrakech during Ramadan in August. The story intertwines both expats and locals, and a murder which links them all. A police officer, Karim uncovers the darker side of Marrakech, and eventually solves the crime.
I found this to be really authentic in its portrayal of the region, as well as gripping. I really didn't want it to end and am already looking forward to reading more of James Von Leyden books.
January 7, 2020
A Death in the Medina is rich in descriptive detail and information about what it's like to live in modern-day Marrakesh, from the point of view of the indigenous, Muslim inhabitants and of expats who come to work there. Religion, particularly the strictures of the Ramadan fast, and cultural and social issues are all covered in considerable detail. One can see the busy streets and smell the honey, mint and charcoal-grilled lamb. Perhaps because of all this immersive detail, the murder mystery almost seems ancillary to the author's main interest, which is in the city. Nevertheless, I recommend the book to anyone who's going to Marrakesh or is considering doing so and wants to get the flavour of the place in advance.
May 28, 2022
I liked it! It's a murder mystery novel, but the structure is unusual. Normally crime novels laser-focus on the murder, but this one is much more diffuse. It's about the city and the month with five or six different threads all looped together with the murder investigation.
December 8, 2022
Haunting
April 5, 2020
Detective Karim Belkacem is stressed about paying for his sister's wedding and restless in his hope for his "big break" in his career. When a body turns up mysteriously, in what appears to be an "honor killing", Karim just can not control his emotions and gets replaced by his most hated rival, Aziz.
A Death In The Medina is James Von Leyden's debut novel and it may very well be the first of a series featuring Detective Karim Belkacem. As someone who can only hope to be able to travel abroad someday, I had a marvelous time walking these beautiful, colorful and diverse streets through the wonderfully atmospheric narrative that describes the city and the people without detracting from the story.
The story of Amina Talal is told through multiple points of view - characters, both native and foreign alike, all strangers to each other are intertwined when it turns out that the victim featured in some way in all of their lives.
Besides Karim, who lives with his mother, Lalla Fatima, sister, Khadija, and his adoptive sister, Ayesha, in their run-down family estate, we also meet Kay, an American divorcee who has bought a riad and turned it into a hotel; her French boyfriend. Sebastien, architect, and developer extraordinaire; Melanie, a tourist; Rashid, a taxi driver, along with a few others, too.
Even though the story is based around death and murder, this book is beautiful in so many ways; the writing is simple yet evocative; the characters live and breath; the city comes to life in every nook and cranny; cinematic imagery in an atmospheric, breathtaking setting - just beautiful!
A Death In The Medina is James Von Leyden's debut novel and it may very well be the first of a series featuring Detective Karim Belkacem. As someone who can only hope to be able to travel abroad someday, I had a marvelous time walking these beautiful, colorful and diverse streets through the wonderfully atmospheric narrative that describes the city and the people without detracting from the story.
The story of Amina Talal is told through multiple points of view - characters, both native and foreign alike, all strangers to each other are intertwined when it turns out that the victim featured in some way in all of their lives.
Besides Karim, who lives with his mother, Lalla Fatima, sister, Khadija, and his adoptive sister, Ayesha, in their run-down family estate, we also meet Kay, an American divorcee who has bought a riad and turned it into a hotel; her French boyfriend. Sebastien, architect, and developer extraordinaire; Melanie, a tourist; Rashid, a taxi driver, along with a few others, too.
Even though the story is based around death and murder, this book is beautiful in so many ways; the writing is simple yet evocative; the characters live and breath; the city comes to life in every nook and cranny; cinematic imagery in an atmospheric, breathtaking setting - just beautiful!
July 10, 2020
This was definitely a gripping read, lots of twists and turns that I didn’t expect. I am very picky when it comes to the crime genre, but I love crime fiction that includes other aspects like political/historical elements, unusual settings, cultural and general drama/great storytelling. I love Paul Sussman’s work for example, as the crime is an important part of the story but there are loads of other intriguing and just as gripping aspects to the tale beeing told.
I would say this book does well in painting an enlightening , multifaceted picture of Marrakesh, it illustrates well the different types of people in Moroccan society, but also other people’s views on this including different kinds of foreigners which I found really fascinating as well. Some reviews mentioned that there were a few stereotypes, but I guess stereotypes don’t just come from thin air.... The main ones are Sébastien and Mohamed Al-husseini, if I elaborate it would spoil the story! ;-) I suppose the Western women were also painted in a specific light as well; Kay was manipulative, entitled and very exploitative while Melanie was dressed revealingly with a pushy demanding attitude which is fair enough. But I don’t really think these things detracted from the story in my opinion. People like that do exist so why not include them in a fictional tale about Morocco? Either way, to me, the characters were convincing and believable, very well rounded, far from perfect but interesting either way to the point where you still really root for them. Karim was both exasperating and awesome in turn, but I suppose that’s part of telling a good story – making you feel for the characters but also getting annoyed with them just like you would an average person. I’m looking forward to more character development from him and others throughout the series. It’s also worth mentioning that I didn’t guess who the culprit was until near the end!
I am Moroccan, my family are from Marrakesh although I was born and raised in the UK so it was great for me to read about a city I am both quite familiar and not so familiar with. So in light of this, I would say most of the language was pretty accurate, although there was a word or two that may have been misspelt but considering it was written by a Westerner it was done really well – This includes cultural references and the captivating picture painted of the city at large as well as it’s more intricate details. Considering a lot of culture was included in the story, it seemed very very well researched which helps the plot to flow nicely. I therefore feel that the setting really enhances the crime aspect of this book, as well as Moroccan culture. I am not berber/amazighi though, so can’t speak for how accurate that part of the narrative is – )however I found it really fascinating as I don’t know that much about their culture, a little but not a whole lot.
Either way I highly recommend you all to give it a go if you’re in the mood for crime in a rich setting with other cultural and exciting dramatic aspects added in for good measure. I’m really looking forward to his next book that will be released later on this year!
I would say this book does well in painting an enlightening , multifaceted picture of Marrakesh, it illustrates well the different types of people in Moroccan society, but also other people’s views on this including different kinds of foreigners which I found really fascinating as well. Some reviews mentioned that there were a few stereotypes, but I guess stereotypes don’t just come from thin air.... The main ones are Sébastien and Mohamed Al-husseini, if I elaborate it would spoil the story! ;-) I suppose the Western women were also painted in a specific light as well; Kay was manipulative, entitled and very exploitative while Melanie was dressed revealingly with a pushy demanding attitude which is fair enough. But I don’t really think these things detracted from the story in my opinion. People like that do exist so why not include them in a fictional tale about Morocco? Either way, to me, the characters were convincing and believable, very well rounded, far from perfect but interesting either way to the point where you still really root for them. Karim was both exasperating and awesome in turn, but I suppose that’s part of telling a good story – making you feel for the characters but also getting annoyed with them just like you would an average person. I’m looking forward to more character development from him and others throughout the series. It’s also worth mentioning that I didn’t guess who the culprit was until near the end!
I am Moroccan, my family are from Marrakesh although I was born and raised in the UK so it was great for me to read about a city I am both quite familiar and not so familiar with. So in light of this, I would say most of the language was pretty accurate, although there was a word or two that may have been misspelt but considering it was written by a Westerner it was done really well – This includes cultural references and the captivating picture painted of the city at large as well as it’s more intricate details. Considering a lot of culture was included in the story, it seemed very very well researched which helps the plot to flow nicely. I therefore feel that the setting really enhances the crime aspect of this book, as well as Moroccan culture. I am not berber/amazighi though, so can’t speak for how accurate that part of the narrative is – )however I found it really fascinating as I don’t know that much about their culture, a little but not a whole lot.
Either way I highly recommend you all to give it a go if you’re in the mood for crime in a rich setting with other cultural and exciting dramatic aspects added in for good measure. I’m really looking forward to his next book that will be released later on this year!
July 16, 2021
Ein weiteres der wenigen Bücher, die mir im Juli bisher gefallen haben. Ausserdem eine kleine Sensation für mich.
Von Leyden beschreibt die Stimmung während des sommerlichen Rammadans in Marrakesch so eindrücklich, dass ich in jeder Zeile mitfühlen konnte. Der Autor vermittelt auch, wie wichtig den Menschen die Einhaltung dieser religiösen Regel ist.
Mit Karim hat von Leyden einen sympathischen Ermittler mit einigen menschlichen Fehlern geschaffen, der mir sofort ans Herz gewachsen ist. Gerade weil Karim auch Fehler macht, eben kein Maigret oder Poirot ist, mochte ich ihn auf Anhieb. Ich litt mit ihm, ich freute mich mit ihm, und konnte es stets kaum erwarten, zu ihm zurückzukehren.
Es sei jedoch darauf hingewiesen, dass dieser Titel kein Wohlfühlroman ist. James von Leyden stellt Zustände dar, die noch immer aktuell sind, die die Stadt bewegen. Einiges davon haben wir in Europa mitbekommen, aber dieses Buch schürft tiefer. Ich war emotional so involviert, dass ich manchmal am liebsten die Figuren gegen die Wand geknallt hätte. Sie anschreien wollte. Ihnen erklären, dass sie sich doch bitte mal zusammenreissen sollen.
Aber das Leben geht nicht immer so, wie man es möchte. Das erlebt auch Karim, der Gute.
Nun muss ich mir dringend den nächsten Band holen, obwohl ich selten zwei Bände derselben Reihe so kurz aufeinander lese. Aber hier mache ich eine Ausnahme.
Von Leyden beschreibt die Stimmung während des sommerlichen Rammadans in Marrakesch so eindrücklich, dass ich in jeder Zeile mitfühlen konnte. Der Autor vermittelt auch, wie wichtig den Menschen die Einhaltung dieser religiösen Regel ist.
Mit Karim hat von Leyden einen sympathischen Ermittler mit einigen menschlichen Fehlern geschaffen, der mir sofort ans Herz gewachsen ist. Gerade weil Karim auch Fehler macht, eben kein Maigret oder Poirot ist, mochte ich ihn auf Anhieb. Ich litt mit ihm, ich freute mich mit ihm, und konnte es stets kaum erwarten, zu ihm zurückzukehren.
Es sei jedoch darauf hingewiesen, dass dieser Titel kein Wohlfühlroman ist. James von Leyden stellt Zustände dar, die noch immer aktuell sind, die die Stadt bewegen. Einiges davon haben wir in Europa mitbekommen, aber dieses Buch schürft tiefer. Ich war emotional so involviert, dass ich manchmal am liebsten die Figuren gegen die Wand geknallt hätte. Sie anschreien wollte. Ihnen erklären, dass sie sich doch bitte mal zusammenreissen sollen.
Aber das Leben geht nicht immer so, wie man es möchte. Das erlebt auch Karim, der Gute.
Nun muss ich mir dringend den nächsten Band holen, obwohl ich selten zwei Bände derselben Reihe so kurz aufeinander lese. Aber hier mache ich eine Ausnahme.
January 11, 2020
I was very much looking forward to this one because it didn't sound like your average thriller.
I usually read on my commute to and from work and I couldn't wait to pick this back up after putting it down each time. The setting was rich in context and James didn't skimp on any details.
Sometimes it can take me a little while to really get a feel for a book but I can honestly say with this it wasn't the case. I also liked how informative it was and it wasn't just a thriller full of doom and gloom as it was descriptive with regards to Ramadan too. I have been in Turkey during Ramadan and made friends with some locals but this novel has given me a deeper insight as to what it is like for a devout Muslim during the holiday.
The ending wasn't like I anticipated as I thought that there were a few odds and ends that I would have liked tying together however I realise that this could be a teaser for a second one.
I have never been to Marrakech but with this book I really did feel like I was transported to Morrocco shadowing Karim Belkacem in his investigation all of which flowed beautifully throughout the story.
I would like to read more books by this author. Thank you to TripFiction for sending me a copy in exchange of an honest review.
I usually read on my commute to and from work and I couldn't wait to pick this back up after putting it down each time. The setting was rich in context and James didn't skimp on any details.
Sometimes it can take me a little while to really get a feel for a book but I can honestly say with this it wasn't the case. I also liked how informative it was and it wasn't just a thriller full of doom and gloom as it was descriptive with regards to Ramadan too. I have been in Turkey during Ramadan and made friends with some locals but this novel has given me a deeper insight as to what it is like for a devout Muslim during the holiday.
The ending wasn't like I anticipated as I thought that there were a few odds and ends that I would have liked tying together however I realise that this could be a teaser for a second one.
I have never been to Marrakech but with this book I really did feel like I was transported to Morrocco shadowing Karim Belkacem in his investigation all of which flowed beautifully throughout the story.
I would like to read more books by this author. Thank you to TripFiction for sending me a copy in exchange of an honest review.
April 11, 2020
This book is set in Marakesh at the start of Ramadan. A young girl is found dead in a handcart with a sign around her neck that says she is a whore. The book introduces Karim Belkacem who is a young detective but he also has to take a second job as his sister is getting married and as they have lost their father he is the person to cover the bills. Karim wants to find out who killed the girl but his colleagues in the commissariat want him to follow other cases and eventually try to pin the death of the girl on her own father.
The description around the city allows the reader to imagine what it would be like when the heat reaches 40 degrees and the city cannot have drink or eat until the sun goes down. Money and wealth rule and the poor can suffer badly at the hands of those who have more power.
A really good debut which makes me want to read the next one as soon as possible.
The description around the city allows the reader to imagine what it would be like when the heat reaches 40 degrees and the city cannot have drink or eat until the sun goes down. Money and wealth rule and the poor can suffer badly at the hands of those who have more power.
A really good debut which makes me want to read the next one as soon as possible.
December 29, 2024
Read for 52 Book Club Challenge 2024 #40 Set during a holiday you don’t celebrate.
My last book of 2024 for the 52 Book Club Challenge and it was an interesting one! The joy of books is that you can walk in another's shoes, experience a different time, a different place. Thrillers are often marked by their setting and this one didn't disappoint, set in the heat and craziness of Ramadan in Marrakech. It also boasts a novel detective in Karim Belkacem, a Muslim trying his best to be faithful to Allah, whilst working two jobs to pay for his sister's wedding and fasting in a heatwave for Ramadan. The plot interweaves tourists, ex-pats on the make, incompetent policemen and garrulous taxi-drivers, as well as Anusha, Karim's adopted sister and forbidden love. A very different thriller to end the year in a cold, grey December.
My last book of 2024 for the 52 Book Club Challenge and it was an interesting one! The joy of books is that you can walk in another's shoes, experience a different time, a different place. Thrillers are often marked by their setting and this one didn't disappoint, set in the heat and craziness of Ramadan in Marrakech. It also boasts a novel detective in Karim Belkacem, a Muslim trying his best to be faithful to Allah, whilst working two jobs to pay for his sister's wedding and fasting in a heatwave for Ramadan. The plot interweaves tourists, ex-pats on the make, incompetent policemen and garrulous taxi-drivers, as well as Anusha, Karim's adopted sister and forbidden love. A very different thriller to end the year in a cold, grey December.
April 1, 2023
This is the author's first book in what will become a series based around the cities of his adopted home, Morocco. The second, about Tangiers, has already been published. The country is one of the main characters and Von Leiden, who obviously loves the country, captures its atmoshere well, with the smells of the souk, the heat of the summer, the trials of Ramadan.
His detective is rather unusual. Karim is a devout Moslem, an non-drinker, a non-drug addict, with no hangups, other than a longing for the love of his sister by adoption. Although there is no blood-tie and so no incest, such a relationsahip is still forbidden. Wistful he may be, but he sublimates his desires by emersing himself in the dangerous job of catching felons in a country where not everyone in authority can be trusted. This is a good novel, the second is better and we hope the third - in Fez I suspect - will be better still. Pleasant light-reading for those who like detective novels and those who have been or want to go to Morocco.
His detective is rather unusual. Karim is a devout Moslem, an non-drinker, a non-drug addict, with no hangups, other than a longing for the love of his sister by adoption. Although there is no blood-tie and so no incest, such a relationsahip is still forbidden. Wistful he may be, but he sublimates his desires by emersing himself in the dangerous job of catching felons in a country where not everyone in authority can be trusted. This is a good novel, the second is better and we hope the third - in Fez I suspect - will be better still. Pleasant light-reading for those who like detective novels and those who have been or want to go to Morocco.
October 2, 2023
This was not a novel that I would ordinarily choose but I loved it! I only chose it because we were going to Marrakesh and I thought it would give me something topical to read in the evenings. Unlike some of the reviewers, I did not want to put it down. I felt invested in the characters and was immersed in the atmosphere of the storyline. For me it was more than just a crime novel. I was kept guessing until the end. The author's evident understanding of where he was writing about made it real for me. I would have enjoyed this novel wherever I was reading it.
October 20, 2021
A fantastic read. JVL captures the vibrancy, colour and even the aromas of the Medina. A captivating plot that introduces detective Karim Belkacem as the less than perfect investigating detective. I have just finished JVL's second book 'Last boat from Tangier' another superb read with a page-turner of a plot. I couldn't put the book down. I am so looking forward to reading the next one and following detective Karim conduct the next investigation in beautiful Morocco.
June 16, 2022
Set in Marrakech during Ramadan, when the city is experiencing a heat wave. These factor pay a large part in the murder investigation. Karim finds a body near the mosque. He is shocked to realise he knows her. However a different detective is given the case, but Karim can’t let it go and decides to investigate on his own.
January 6, 2023
Too much going on in this book - yes they all tied in at the end but the interesting parts were left hanging
- the incest and paedophillia really were unnecessary and played no part in the plot so it just added unnecessary drama.
The main storyline- good twists but again - it was the book that just didn’t stop giving
- the incest and paedophillia really were unnecessary and played no part in the plot so it just added unnecessary drama.
The main storyline- good twists but again - it was the book that just didn’t stop giving
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 5, 2024
I rated this 3.5. I found the blur actually more exciting than the book. I liked the detective main character although I thought he was not the smartest normal most socially adept detective there was plenty of lying in misdirection. I learned more about Marrakesh, which was great, the author sprinkled French words and phrases throughout which at times was interesting and others aggravating.
February 25, 2025
A wonderful depiction of Marrakech
I read this in advance of a visit to Morocco at the start of Ramadan. It set the scene and the mood for my stay in this amazing place which I hope to learn about in greater depth in the next few weeks. Incidentally, a pretty darn good whodunnit as well.
I read this in advance of a visit to Morocco at the start of Ramadan. It set the scene and the mood for my stay in this amazing place which I hope to learn about in greater depth in the next few weeks. Incidentally, a pretty darn good whodunnit as well.
October 15, 2020
A great page turner. Written with real authenticity of place. A friend on the acknowledgements page leant me his copy but at 40% theough I returned it to him because I knew I would want my own copy so that the next book in the series has something to sit next to!
July 18, 2021
I really enjoyed this book and found it hard to put down. The characters are endearing and believable and the plot neat. It’s a really good holiday read too; evocative.
I’m off to read the second book!
I’m off to read the second book!
September 13, 2022
Murder mystery is not normally the genre I would levitate towards. However, this book defiantly did lure me in from the beginning. Marrakesh would described beautifully and the plot ran smoothly. I defiantly will read his other book.
April 20, 2023
Beautifully evocative of Morocco. Lots of information about the Muslim culture of Morocco too. Good twisty story that keeps you guessing. Will see if this author has written other similar books with similar settings.
February 13, 2021
The plot is quite boring and basic. Wont read again
May 17, 2021
An enjoyable read. Nice and atmospheric
October 27, 2021
I really enjoyed this book as I have just returned from a trip to Marrakech. All the references to things I had just seen and words I had just learned was so fun.
September 30, 2023
I was skeptical but really enjoyed it! Hoping for more of detective karim's stories
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