The Mingrelian Conspiracy (Mamur Zapt, Book 9)

Description

A classic historical mystery from the award-winning Michael Pearce, set in the Egypt of the 1900s. When gang violence strikes the city, the inimitable Mamur Zapt is called in to investigate. In 1908, the city of Cairo lives - and dies - by its cafe culture. But for restaurant businesses, the protection rackets pose a problem. And the city's cafes are experiencing a sudden upsurge in threats from various gangs. When one cafe proprietor is attacked, his legs broken for noncompliance, everyone is worried. Then the Russian Charge files a complaint - the Mingrelians may be targeting a Russian Grand Duke. Now the Mamur Zapt, Head of the Secret Police, must find a way to prevent an international incident...

Michael Pearce grew up in the (then) Anglo-Egyptian Sudan among the various tensions he draws on for his award-winning Mamur Zapt series. He returned there to teach, and retains a human rights interest in the area. In between whiles his career has followed the standard academic rake's progress from teaching to writing to editing to administration. He finds international politics a pallid imitation of academic ones. He lives in London. He is now a full-time writer. He was awarded the Crime Writers' Association's prestigious Last Laugh Award for funniest crime novel of the year for the 'Mamur Zapt and the Spoils of Egypt'. Michael Pearce is also the author of the crime novels featuring Dmitri Kameron, set in Tsarist Russia of the 1890s.

Praise for Michael Pearce: 'Pearce takes apart ancient history and reassembles it with beguiling wit and colour' Sunday Times 'As ever, Owen is wordly-wise, droll, and eminently at home in his adopted city' Sunday Times 'Enjoyable ... original and charming' Independent 'The Mamur Zapt's sly, irreverent humour continues to refresh the parts others seldom reach' Observer