Reviews & Overviews by Rod Cameron

        

Pashazade - The First Arabesk - Jon Courtney Grimwood A classy detective novel set in an alternate future, middle eastern city.

Pashazade is set in the modern day, in a world where Germany won the 1914 - 1918 War, in a Middle East where the Ottoman Empire is still in control, in the city of El Iskandryia in Egypt. Here cultures clash, and money talks. The hero is Asraf Bey, sprung from a Seattle prison by a woman who may be his aunt, he rapidly finds himself drowning in the complex politics of El Iskandryia. Soon after his arrival, he finds himself the main suspect in a murder, the girl he is supposed to marry hates him and to top it all, he has become responsible for the welfare of his nine year old cousin. In this world, crime can go unpunished as long as you're a member of the elite. But if Asraf Bey is to survive he must turn detective to uncover answers to questions about himself, his past and the city that is his future. Unfortunately, nobody wants to tell him the truth. This is a well written, enjoyable detective alternate future novel. The characters are well rounded and believable. It is the sort of book that you cannot put down. I thoroughly recommend it. Effendi - The Second Arabesk is out now in Hardback. I will not be waiting for the paperback edition ...

Publisher: Earthlight Date: 2001 Pages: 327 Price: £6.99 Format: Paperback ISBN: 0-671-77368-2 Reviewed by: Rod Cameron Review Date: September 2002

Copyright : Roderick Alasdair Cameron 2001 - 2012                   rod@rodcameron.co.uk