Mamur Zapt And The Mingrelian Conspiracy, The [Audio Cassette]

Michael Pearce (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 12, 2000

It is 1908 and Cairo lives by and in its cafes. Now, suddenly, gangs in the protection industry are threatening the cafe culture. But who is behind the gangs? Is it the usual political clubs? Or is it something more sinister: a conspiracy of Cairo's Mingrelians? And what is their connection with the Der of Babylon? It falls to Gareth Owen, the Mamur Zapt and head of Cairo's Secret Police to find out the answers to these arcane and pressing questions. He must discover the answers quickly for the conspiracy is aimed at a Russian Grand Duke who is due to visit the country shortly in an attempt to replicate his royal uncle's visit at the time of the original opening of the Suez Canal.

"Another witty and fascinating novel from one of the funniest and most original mystery writers around." (B-O-T Editorial Review Board)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In Pearce's latest entertaining historical (after 2003's The Snake Catcher's Daughter), set in 1908 colonial Egypt, Captain Gareth Owen, aka the Mamur Zapt who heads the British secret police, tackles two problems. Gangs of extortionists have been terrorizing the caf‚ owners of Cairo, and the impending visit of a Russian grand duke ignites political unrest that may involve assassination plots. Britain's world standing hangs in the balance. As usual, Pearce masterfully depicts Owen's skills at maneuvering through both the British and the Egyptian bureaucracies, as well as his familiarity with every byway of his adopted city. The author's subtle humor complements the vivid period details.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

With its innumerable ethnic strains and cultures, its three legal systems, and nationalism coming to the boil, 'what really happened' is always a relative matter in turn-of-the-century coffee-house Cairo. It requires all security chief Owen's tightrope discretion when a drunken barney between two British regiments in the brothel quarter sparks three diplomatic protests. For sly proconsular comedy and erudition, the Mamur Zapt series stands alone since Anthony Burgess's Malayan Trilogy. (Kirkus UK) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Books on Tape, Inc. (July 12, 2000)
• ISBN-10: 0736655298
• ISBN-13: 978-0736655293
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,358,034 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars "It's a Potential Powder Keg...", November 24, 2011

By 

R. M. Fisher "Raye" (New Zealand = Middle Earth!) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Mingrelian Conspiracy (Mamur Zapt Mysteries) (Paperback)

The ninth in the Mamur Zapt Mysteries, but the first one I'd ever read, I'll admit to being a tad lost at times when reading "The Mingrelian Conspiracy." Author Michael Pearce has set up a protagonist with a background and relationships that are obviously better appreciated if you have the first eight books under your belt.

Captain Gareth Owen is the Mamur Zapt of Cairo, 1908, working for the British secret police in their attempts to keep control of colonial Egypt. With an Egyptian girlfriend and a strong grasp of the myriad nationalities around him, Owen is very good at his job, knowing full-well that the city thrives on its café culture. But when a protection racket rears its ugly head, Owen investigates, suspecting that the political movement behind it is collecting funds for an even darker purpose. With a Russian Grand Duke visiting in order to replicate his uncle's visit to the Suez Canal, Owen hurries to uncover an assassination plot among the Mingrelian minority living in the city.

It's a short but engaging historical mystery, with plenty of wit and intrigue. Pearce has a good grasp of his setting, drawing on various tensions between the people of Egypt as well as the early 1900's time-period in order to plot his story. His characters are colorful and interesting, particularly Owen's main suspects: an eccentric old man and his granddaughter, and there are some truly funny moments concerning Owen's dealings with his rather melodramatic girlfriend. The setting is also particularly vivid, from Cairo's sweltering heat to the fragrant gardens, the squalid marketplaces to the comfort of private houses - you get a real sense of both time and place.

The mystery itself isn't really that much of a mystery (it's easy enough to guess the who, how and why) but the rest of the novel's components - the characters, setting and style - are the real draw-card of the book, and I suspect, the rest of the series.

5.0 out of 5 stars Colonial Egypt, civil service, Pearce, February 2, 2009

By 

Kathryn Murdock "coastal kate" (el granada, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: The Mingrelian Conspiracy (Mamur Zapt Mysteries) (Hardcover)

All of Michael Pearces' books are fun to read and sort of by -the- by you get a lot of history and feel of an era. Yhat he knows what he is talking about comes through very clearly. Humorous and insightful but mostly FUN.