This is an exciting novel of danger and daring underpinned by a sharp political eye.
What SW Perry does so well is to convey the class distinctions between the characters – the English and the Americans, the Egyptians and the Palestinians, and to give us an intimate portrait of Cairo and life in Egypt with all its contradictions. Prim is an engaging heroine with the determination to find her missing father even when she discovers that the finances around his theatre are somewhat murky. Undercover policeman Harry Taverner is the one always watching her back as she braves Cairo’s underbelly, though she can certainly take care of herself. The two make a great pairing. The novel heats up when the manager of the theatre is found dead in the auditorium, and Prim realises that the danger in Egypt is much closer than she thought.
Overarching Prim’s story are the diary entries (although they are never dated) of the missing Archie writing to his lost brother Nim. In these entries we are given tantalising clues about the ruthless gangs who are really in control of this empire of corruption, and Archie’s motivation for going into hiding. We also feel the emotion of a man hopelessly in love, and this plays out in the shocking denouement.
A finely-drawn thriller you wont be able to put down, with enough twists and turns to keep you gasping right up until the last page.
Very highly recommended.
