Death of an Effendi

Mamur Zapt #12

by Michael Pearce

It's 1909, and Cairo is the murder capital of the world. Deaths are two a piastre. But the death of an effendi is something different. Effendis―the Egyptian elite―are important. Especially if they happen to be foreign. When effendi Tvardovsky is shot at a gathering of financiers in Crocodilopolis, the ancient City of the Crocodiles, Mamur Zapt Gareth Owen―Chief of Cairo's Secret Police―is called in to investigate. In some countries, if someone goes for a walk or a boat ride with the Head of the Secret Police and doesn't come back, it's best not to ask any questions. And there are powerful people who might prefer Tvardovsky dead. There are still crocodiles―of all kinds―in Egypt. And when the crocodiles start cooperating, it's time to really watch out....

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Egypt, Historical Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Audiobook

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

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

[Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Mamur Zapt - Captain Owen - is the political policeman for Egypt in the 1900s. Cairo, with its many different religious and ethnic groups and its multiplicity of nationalities was like a power-keg; one spark and the whole lot might blow up.
The Mamur Zapt must defuse growing tensions caused by the death of an Effendi.



Trust no one except the British.
‘Cash?’
‘He put it straight in the bank.’
‘Which bank was that?’
‘The British Bank of the Levant. It was the only one he trusted. It is British, he said, and they allow no one to rob but themselves.’



Family first
Back in Cairo the next morning, Owen was arranging his and Zeinab’s holiday weekend in the Fayoum. That took some doing. The hotel by the lake did not have a telephone; nor did its mother hotel in Medinet; nor, it appeared almost, did anyone else in the Fayoum.
‘For Christ’s sake!’ expostulated Owen.
‘We haven’t got there yet,’ said the official defensively.
‘Where have you got?’
‘We’ve got trunk lines to Alexandria and Port Said and one or two other places are on the system.’
‘The Fayoum?’
‘Not the Fayoum. Important places. Like where my mother lives.’



Don't ever confess
‘Effendi!’ cried the waiter. ‘The man is crazy! He seized me and told me he would beat me if I didn’t confess. And then when I confessed, he beat me!’
‘That was because you confessed to the wrong things, Fazal!’

Official favors?
Savinkov, who had a place in Venice, invited them to join him there.
At once, though, to Zeinab’s fury, the prospect was dashed by Owen remarking, somewhat huffily in Zeinab’s opinion, that a British government official could not accept favours. If that was so, Zeinab inquired, what was the point of being an official?

Carefully follow the twists and turns of the political offices as Captain Owen pursues the truth, while also trying to keep his jealous Egyptian girlfriend happy.


Enjoy!

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review to follow

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michael Pearce always teaches me something as he entertains me. In this era Egypt is being governed by England but there are many other countries including Russia who want a piece of this pie. Where ever there is money to be made there are always vultures circling the skies overlooking the squabbles over land, over water and over power. All these three things are in a precarious balance in the early 1910 to 1915 and when a Russian who lives in Cairo is killed in an apparent hunting accident while being guarded by the Gareth Owen the head of the Secret Police a tortuous investigation is set off. With humor and tenacity Pearce brings this adventure to a satisfying conclusion. This is a wonderful series.

[kerrycat · Rating 5 out of 5]

The politics of early twentieth century Cairo are unbelievably convoluted; more than in any other Mamur Zapt novel up to this one, THIS one details said politics and the absurdity of attempting to follow any sort of rules set up by any country or leader involved. What a mess.

Zeinab - gotta love her. Owen hasn't got a chance against this girl.

[Scilla · Rating 2 out of 5]

In this early 1900's Egyptian mystery, the Russian is shot at at meeting of financiers in the Fayoum. Owen, the Mamur Zapf is investigating with Mahmoud the Parquet. The story doesn't really hang together very well, and is confusing. There are a lot of political issues, and the characters are not well developed.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was really entertained by this book. The characters are deftly portrayed as is the frustration of Egyptians who are ruled by foreigners. The reader did a very good job.

[Pato Myers · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick and enjoyable read. I liked the writing style particularly and the book over all even though it is not my favorite genre.

[Laurie Dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoy this series, and this one in particular.

[Liz V. · Rating 3 out of 5]

The death of Tvardovsky, a Russian ex-pat financier, is written off a hunting accident, but the Mamur Zapt, who had been directed to guard Tvardovsky, is unsure. The Parquet assigns Mahmoud to investigate, but obstacles arise at every step. Though the Mamur Zapt and Mahmoud persevere, it is clear that other concerns are preeminent.

[Karen (Living Unabridged) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Engaging story but so brief as to be more of a novella rather than a full length mystery. No Georgiades or a few other supporting characters. More Zeinab than last time, which is good, but she only gets a few good lines and moments. Read all in one go on a winter evening. (Like I said, it's not very long!) On to the next.

[Keith Broz]

Good book.

[Hermien · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very entertaining.

[Linda · Rating 1 out of 5]

It does pick up at the end, but I found the first 2/3 to be a slog. I want to like this series, because who doesn't want a virtual trip to turn of the century Cairo, but... I'm not sure the setting can redeem characters and plots that just don't grab me.

[Tbfrank · Rating 4 out of 5]

The simplicity of the style mixed with the believeable human elements and actual historical events and conditions made this a highly enjoyable read. Though perhaps Prince Fuad was more of a characture for the story-telling purpose than he should have been.

[Patty · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a fun, quick listen. I know very little about the British rule in Egypt and I still don't know much. But this mystery kept me interested as I drove down the road. That is all I need.

[Cletus Lee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as entertaining as others in the Mamur Zapt series

[Regine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Smooth.