'Irresistible fun' Time Out The latest novel in Michael Pearce's award-winning series, set in the Egypt of the 1900s. Cairo, 1909. The murder capital of the world, where deaths are two a piastre. But the death of an effendi? That is something different. Effendis - the Egyptian elite - are important. Especially if - in a country ruled by foreigners - they happen to be foreign. Gareth Owen, the Mamur Zapt, is called in to investigate. But is he the right man to be investigating? In some countries, if someone goes for a walk - or a boat ride - with the Head of the Secret Police and doesn't come back, it's best not to ask questions.

And powerful people might have preferred Tvardovsky dead. As the maverick financier said, before going on the shooting party, there were still crocodiles in Egypt. Of all kinds. And perhaps the place to look for them was Crocodilopolis, the ancient City of the Crocodiles, where the financiers were to hold their meeting. It is when the crocodiles start co-operating, said Tvardovsky, that you really have to watch out.