The Spoils of Egypt (Mamur Zapt Mysteries) [Paperback]

Michael Pearce (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 30, 2003 | Series: Mamur Zapt Mysteries

Edwardian Egypt and archaeology go hand in hand, not just for the antiquarian but for the men, whether poor fellahin or rich merchant, who profit from the illegal export of antiquties. Captain Gareth Owen, the Mamur Zapt or head of Cairo's Secret Police, turns his attention to the trade when Miss Skinner arrives. She's a woman with the habit of asking awkward questions. And because her uncle might be the next President of the United States, her queries demand answers. So what is she doing looking at crocodiles? And mummified ones at that? Were they priceless? Are they even antiques? Owen's new brief is to see that Egypt's priceless treasures stay in Egypt. But when Miss Skinner narrowly escapes falling under a conveyance, whether she was just accidentally nudged by a Passover sheep or no, Owen expands his command. As he labors to thwart killers and the flight of national treasures abroad, he faces an even graver problem: whether to ask lovely pasha's daughter Zeinab to marry him and risk his career, an her anger...

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

In his sixth book in the series, Pearce offers an entertaining story, full of the ambience and mystery of old Egypt. Set in Cairo at the beginning of this century, the tale features stalwart, sensible Captain Gareth Owen, otherwise known as the Mamur Zapt, head of Cairo's secret police. Owen has been asked to keep an eye on the attractive Miss Skinner, an American whose chief reason for visiting Cairo seems to be to launch her own campaign to stop the smuggling of antiquities out of the country. At first, Owen finds the woman merely a nuisance, especially when she insists on asking embarrassing questions of the pashas, Cairo's most wealthy, influential citizens. But when two potentially fatal accidents happen to Miss Skinner within the space of a few days, Owen begins to wonder if her investigation could be exposing some dangerous truths. Pearce's book features intelligent writing and a pithy plot, a cast of eccentric and engaging characters, and an appealing blend of gentle humor, historic ambience, high adventure, and exotic settings. Emily Melton --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 188 pages
• Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press (July 30, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590580583
• ISBN-13: 978-1590580585
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,697,220 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Protecting Egypt from the Antiquities Thieves, February 25, 2008

By 

George Wood (Sweden) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Spoils of Egypt (Mamur Zapt Mysteries) (Paperback)

Each of these excellent (but slim) books placed in Edwardian Egypt seems to revolve around a theme. Captain Gareth Owen, the Mamur Zapt (head of the political section of the British police in Cairo), has to deal with the conflicting laws, nationalities, religions, and other forces in tracking down crime and protecting British rule.

The stories parallel Elizabeth Peters' Amelia Peabody archaeological detective adventures, especially this one, as the theme is the theft of Egypt's antiquities. But, while the story is up to the usual high standards, for once the picture of Egypt doesn't really correspond to the image in the Peabody books. Captain Owen visits Luxor and Deir el-Bahri (spelled here Der el-Bahari), site of the excavation of the lovely temple of the woman pharaoh Hatshepsut. And while Peabody's husband Emerson may be constantly complaining about the quality of other excavators, the (apparently imaginary) Parker expedition at Deir el Bahri seems much less savory than the actual excavations in the area as late as 1908.

(There's also nothing here to indicate that Howard Carter was busy digging in the nearby Valley of the Kings on behalf of Lord Carnarvon.)

Gaston Maspero, the head of the Department of Antiquities, is nowhere to be found in this book, nor does it reflect his struggle to stop the looting, which became law four years after the time of this book, in 1912.

The story is a good one, but it is weakened by its interesting theme apparently not reflecting the actual situation in Egypt at the time. On the other hand, it does end on a high note, with Captain Owen popping "the Question" to his independently-minded Egyptian mistress Zeinab.