Death of An Effendi: 12 (Mamur Zapt Mysteries) - Softcover

Pearce, Michael

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1590581784 ISBN 13: 9781590581780

Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press, 2009

Synopsis

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.... Praise for Death of An Effendi... "Fans of Pearce's delightful Mamur Zapt series will find this...among the best of the bunch and clearly deserving of its shortlisting for the Ellis Peters Award....Witty and beguiling, with an amusing cast of characters, this story also offers a charming glimpse of turn of the century Cairo." -Booklist starred review The prolific 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. He now lives and writes in England.

About this title

Review:

*Starred Review*

Fans of Pearce's delightful Mamur Zapt series will find this latest entry among the best of the bunch and clearly deserving of its shortlisting for the Ellis Peters Award. Captain Gareth Owen, Chief of Cairo's Secret Police (called Mamur Zapt), is asked to guard Russian financier Tvardovsky during a shooting party for potential Egyptian investors. But Owen fails. Tvardovsky, along with hundreds of birds, is shot dead, apparently by another member of the hunting party. Before Owen can set the investigatory wheels turning, Tvardovsky's body is spirited away, and another Russian is imprisoned for murdering him. Owen and his colleague Mahmoud are furious that the foreign effendi's death has not been properly investigated, and they're positive the wrong man has been jailed. But when the pair attempt to unearth the truth, they are thwarted at every turn. Their tenacity eventually pays off, and they crack the case, but even these two experienced investigators are shocked by the bizarre story that emerges. Witty and beguiling, with an amusing cast of characters, this story also offers a charming glimpse of turn of the century Cairo. The Mamur Zapt series has been underappreciated for too long; let's hope this one brings Pearce the wider audience he has long deserved. -- Emily Melton, Booklist (6/01/2004)

The twelfth installment in this wonderful, ironically funny, mystery series, DEATH OF AN EFFENDI was a treat to read from start to finish. With a deep appreciation for the historical and cultural nuances of the period, Michael Pearce successfully transports the reader to Egypt in the early part of the
twentieth century, sketching out quickly and with a few well placed phrases and sentences the special interests that many foreign powers had in the region, and the frustrations that the locals felt about living in a country under the yoke of a foreign power. But that's just for starters. For, of course, Michael Pearce also manages to marry a clever and cunning mystery subplot to the political one, and tells his story in such a completely wry and gently humourous manner that, before you know it you've spent an
entire afternoon imagining yourself in Egypt, walking the narrow bazaar streets with the Mamur Zapt in
search of evil doers and trying to maintain the status quo. Fast paced and simply told, DEATH OF
AN EFFENDI proved to be a memorable and worthwhile read. I not only enjoyed this installment
thoroughly, but also came away with a better picture of what was going on historically. Shortlisted for
the Ellis Peters Award for Best Historical Novel of the Year (in 1999), DEATH OF AN EFFENDI should have won that award; unfortunately, it didn't. So, hoping to mitigate that oversight, I'm awarding the novel the BLACK DIAMOND for excellence. -- Sheila Nathan, I Love A Mystery Newsletter

Once again Michael Pearce
has effortlessly brought to
life the city and surround
A-ing background. His dia
A-logue is particularly good."
- Sunday Telegraph

*Starred Review*

Fans of Pearceas delightful Mamur Zapt series will find this latest entry among the best of the bunch and clearly deserving of its shortlisting for the Ellis Peters Award. Captain Gareth Owen, Chief of Cairoas Secret Police (called Mamur Zapt), is asked to guard Russian financier Tvardovsky during a shooting party for potential Egyptian investors. But Owen fails. Tvardovsky, along with hundreds of birds, is shot dead, apparently by another member of the hunting party. Before Owen can set the investigatory wheels turning, Tvardovskyas body is spirited away, and another Russian is imprisoned for murdering him. Owen and his colleague Mahmoud are furious that the foreign effendias death has not been properly investigated, and theyare positive the wrong man has been jailed. But when the pair attempt to unearth the truth, they are thwarted at every turn. Their tenacity eventually pays off, and they crack the case, but even these two experienced investigators are shocked by the bizarre story that emerges. Witty and beguiling, with an amusing cast of characters, this story also offers a charming glimpse of turn of the century Cairo. The Mamur Zapt series has been underappreciated for too long; letas hope this one brings Pearce the wider audience he has long deserved. -- Emily Melton, Booklist (6/01/2004)

*Starred Review*

Fans of Pearceas delightful Mamur Zapt series will find this latest entry among the best of the bunch and clearly deserving of its shortlisting for the Ellis Peters Award. Captain Gareth Owen, Chief of Cairoas Secret Police (called Mamur Zapt), is asked to guard Russian financier Tvardovsky during a shooting party for potential Egyptian investors. But Owen fails. Tvardovsky, along with hundreds of birds, is shot dead, apparently by another member of the hunting party. Before Owen can set the investigatory wheels turning, Tvardovskyas body is spirited away, and another Russian is imprisoned for murdering him. Owen and his colleague Mahmoud are furious that the foreign effendias death has not been properly investigated, and theyare positive the wrong man has been jailed. But when the pair attempt to unearth the truth, they are thwarted at every turn. Their tenacity eventually pays off, and they crack the case, but even these two experienced investigators are shocked by the bizarre story that emerges. Witty and beguiling, with an amusing cast of characters, this story also offers a charming glimpse of turn of the century Cairo. The Mamur Zapt series has been underappreciated for too long; letas hope this one brings Pearce the wider audience he has long deserved. -- Emily Melton, Booklist (6/01/2004)

From the Back Cover:

Cairo 1909. The murder capital of the world, where deaths are two a piastre. But the death of an effendi? That is something different. Because effendis – the Egyptian elite – are important. Especially if – in a country ruled by foreigners – they happen to be foreign.

When Tvardovsky, an effendi and a foreigner, is shot at a gathering of financiers, Gareth Owen – the Mamur Zapt, Chief of Cairo’s Secret Police – is called to investigate. But is he the right man for the job? 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 have preferred Tvardovsky dead.

As the maverick financier said, before going on the fatal shooting party, there were still crocodiles in Egypt. Of all kinds. And perhaps the place to look for them was Crocodopolis, the ancient City of the Crocodiles, where the financiers were to hold their meeting. It is when the crocodiles start cooperating, said Tvardovsky , that you really have to watch out ...

PRAISE FOR MICHAEL PEARCE

THE LAST CUT

“The whole novel is a joy”
GERALD KAUFMAN, 'Scotsman'

“Plot and dialogue as perfectly pitched as ever”
PHILIP OAKES,'Literary Review'

THE FIG TREE MURDER

“Michael Pearce’s light touch and witty dialogue make this series a continuing delight”
SUSANNA YAGER, 'Sunday Telegraph'

“effortlessly funny and engaging. Packed, as ever, with fact, flavour and the kind of insouciance which makes history lighter than air”
PHILIP OAKES, 'Literary Review'

THE MINGRELIAN CONSPIRACY

“As ever, Owen is worldy wise, droll and eminenetly at home in his adopted city”
DONNA LEON, ' Sunday Times'

“As beguiling, amusing and painlessly informative as its predecessors”
JAMES MELVILLE, 'Ham and High'

About this edition

• Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 1590581784
• ISBN 13: 9781590581780
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 188