A Cold Touch of Ice [Paperback]

Michael Pearce (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Collins Crime (2000)
• ASIN: B000O8UC6A
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars strong early twentieth century Egyptian historical mystery, August 3, 2004

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Cold Touch of Ice (Mamur Zapt Mysteries) (Hardcover)

In 1912, Italy invades Tripolitania. Turkey declares war on Italy since Tripolitania belongs to them. Most of Europe wants to remain out of the conflict hoping that it will remain somewhat localized. British leaders choose a neutral path, but not all of the empire agrees. Though a British Protectorate, Egypt remains part of the Ottoman Empire and sympathies lie strongly with the Turks.

In Cairo, someone strangled to death an Italian-Egyptian Sidi Morelli, a resident for forty years and whose warehouse contained weapons. Gareth Owen, the Mamur Zapt, investigates the homicide wondering if this is the beginning of an anti-Italian movement or was the murder tied to the guns? As he digs deeper and looks into several seemingly unrelated other incidents, Owen struggles with what he should do with his beloved Zeinab, who as she turns thirty wants a deeper commitment from him. As his own loyalties are questioned even by himself and Zeinab demands more of him, Owen wonders if it is time to relocate to perhaps Zanzibar.

As usual, Michael Pearce provides a deep and entertaining early twentieth century historical mystery that brings to life Egypt under British control. The story line works on three levels (historical, investigative, and personal) that cleverly intertwine into a cohesive terrific who-done-it. Gareth is a fantastic protagonist who symbolizes the pull in two directions. He is at his witty, somewhat bewildered best as he ponders to Zanzibar or not to Zanzibar that is the question.

Harriet Klausner

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A COLD TOUCH OF ICE, September 20, 2005

By 

THE BEARD "GOOD BOOK READER" (OHIO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Cold Touch of Ice (Mamur Zapt Mysteries) (Hardcover)

THIS IS A GREAT SERIES. A COLD TOUCH OF ICE IS THE 13th IN THE SERIES & THEY SHOULD BE READ FROM THE BEGINNING, STARTING WITH THE RETURN OF THE CARPET. I FIRST READ THE 3rd & 4th BOOKS IN THE EARLY 90s WHEN I FOUND THEM IN PAPERBACK. BUT AFTER THAT I COULD FIND NO MORE UNTIL A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WHEN I FOUND THAT THERE WAS A WHOLE SERIES, PURCHASING MOST OF THEM FROM AMAZON. THERE IS A LOT OF HISTORY IN THESE BOOKS & GREAT ATMOSPHERE & A LOT OF RESEARCH HAS GONE INTO THESE BOOKS. I HIGHLY COMMEND THE AUTHOR & HIGHLY RECOMMEND THESE BOOKS. THERE IS ALSO SOME SUBTLE HUMOR & SOME POLITICS OF THOSE TIMES.












7 GREAT ATMOSPHERE

3.0 out of 5 stars mediocre, June 18, 2008

By 

J. Palmer - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Cold Touch of Ice: A Mamur Zapt Mystery (Paperback)

This isn't his best book but I always love reading about the relationship between Gareth and Zeinab.