Review: The Face in the Cemetery

Another in the long series of mysteries about the Mamur Zapt from this author. The Mamur Zapt is, in effect, the British Secret Service in Egypt during the long period of real and nominal occupation around the turn of the last century. These excellent novels do a couple of things. They give us a very nice arc which shows the changes that have occurred in Egypt over the many years encompassed by the novels and they allow the author to comment on various aspects of our modern society.

In his fourteenth adventure, Gareth Owen, the Mamur Zapt, watches the fog of war gather over Europe in 1914. But, with many of his colleagues and acquaintances, Europe seems very far away as does the war. At this time, Cairo, where Owen is stationed, is a large, bustling, cosmopolitan city, peopled by citizens from all over the world.

Then, as war inches closer, bureaucrats with probably the least idea of the realities of life, decree that foreigners, abruptly designated foreign aliens, must be rounded up and sequestered in camps. The reasons for these orders are obscure and because there are many foreigners working in important jobs for the British and for the titular Egyptian rulers, the decision is devastating to smooth operation of many government functions. Along with the widespread disruption of families, the relocation of public officials causes innumerable breakdowns and a good deal of unrest.

Unhappily, the Mamur Zapt is designated the task of rounding up these so-called aliens. Complicating matters is the sudden disappearance of a large number of new rifles and the appearance of gun-toting citizens in the provinces. Add a death, mysterious movements of bodies of men in the desert. Add Owens's growing conviction that he ought to do his duty and go to active duty, which irritates ands frightens his Egyptian lover, and you have a compelling, swirling mass of conflicts large and small, and a very nice mystery or two, all of which adds up to a most enjoyable novel.

The characters are excellent and Pearce utilizes the setting to its fullest. Readers will enjoy this journey to Cairo and up the Nile River.

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Carl Brookins - RAM

Book Review: The Face in the Cemetery