The Point in the Market: A Mamur Zapt Mystery    by Michael Pearce Order:  USA  Can Poisoned Pen, 2005 (2005) Hardcover     Reviewed by Mary Ann Smyth It's World War I in Cairo, Egypt. Captain Gareth Owen is head of the Secret Police – the Mamur Zapt. Britain has ruled Egypt since 1881 and the natives are getting restless. The Point in the Market is the twelfth book in the Mamur Zapt mysteries. Michael Pearce puts his experiences as an Anglo-Egyptian civil servant to good use to provide an exciting mystery for his fans. Political upheavals are around every corner. But is it political when an informant of Owen's is killed and left to be found in the bazaar? Owen has married his long-time lover, the daughter of a Pasha. Both Egypt and Britain are not ready for that combination. His wife Zeinab also confronts the Arab male's mindset on what Egyptian women can and cannot do. To top off all of Owen's problems, a young Egyptian girl has decided that, if she must martyr herself for her cause to be noticed, then so be it. The political background of Egypt at that time is something I knew nothing about – never really gave it any thought. But The Point in the Market made the whole era come alive for me. The fast-paced action and intrigue set the tone for the plot immediately and I had no trouble racing with them to the satisfying end. The characterizations made me love and hate the right people and feel I was a part of a well-written plot. Thank you, Michael Pearce, for a good read. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Mystery books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews