Margaret H. (ExPeruanista) -
Helpful Score: 1
An excellent beginning to a fine series. These mysteries are set in Egypt, mostly before World War I, and do a good job of depicting the complex relationships between Egyptians at all levels of society, and the British, rulers in all but name. The main character is Welsh, so he has somewhat of an outsider's perspective on it all; his comments are so subtly funny that I was reading the books for the second time before I started laughing. Now they're my book version of comfort food - when i've read just too many highly touted dud mysteries and am quite disgusted with the publishing trade, I pick up a Mamur Zapt novel and am immediately and happily elsewhere.
Christopher M. (gilesgoatboy) reviewed The Mamur Zapt & the Return of the Carpet (Mamur Zapt, Bk 1) on + 55 more book reviews
The period and the setting of this series gives it more subtleties and depth than most mystery series. This is mostly due to the interlocking and competive legal systems operating after the British have stepped in as "advisors" at the request of the Khedive subsequenl to their forces quelling a major revolt. The politics are tricky to manuever amidst, with various other embassies of the waning Ottoman empire such as Turkey and Syria, as well as the French all jealously guarding their prerogatives. The Mamur Zapt, head of Cairo's CID in the heyday of (the indirect) British rule, focuses on political, not police, matters. As such, he must navigate considerably treacherous territory to help maintan law and order. The tenuous relationships needing to be formed and carefully managed in order to succeed in his post present consant challenges.
The shifting nationalist groups on the rise with little if any affinity for the British add to the Mamur Zapt's concerns.
The shifting nationalist groups on the rise with little if any affinity for the British add to the Mamur Zapt's concerns.
Thomas F. (hardtack) -
Suspenseless.
