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mysterycollector's review against another edition
3.0
I read this series years ago and quite enjoyed it. I returned to mystery series again in 2020. They felt sane in a topsy turvy world.
The Mamur Zapt is called in unofficially and then, eventually, officially to deal with the political ramifications of a kidnapping from the terrace of a hotel where many foreigners stay. No one saw his kidnapping though it should have been well-observed.
This one was not as good as the others I have re-read in this series. I felt that it started slowly and took too long too get to the point.
The Mamur Zapt is called in unofficially and then, eventually, officially to deal with the political ramifications of a kidnapping from the terrace of a hotel where many foreigners stay. No one saw his kidnapping though it should have been well-observed.
This one was not as good as the others I have re-read in this series. I felt that it started slowly and took too long too get to the point.
smcleish's review against another edition
4.0
Originally published on my blog here in October 2000.
The third Mamur Zapt novel (I think) is very like the other one I have read ([b:The Men Behind|1763180|The Men Behind (Mamur Zapt, #4)|Michael Pearce|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1328757433s/1763180.jpg|1761178]). The whole series is going to consist of gentle, amusing crime stories set in Cairo about a century ago. They're very enjoyable, so similarity won't stop me continuing to read them.
The plot of this novel is about an investigation into kidnappings of tourists from the terrace of Shepheards, the most exclusive hotel in Cairo. The major mystery is how presumably unwilling victims could disappear without anyone seeing it happen, in a place not only thronged by hotel guests but full of anxious vendors. The "donkey-vous" of the absurd title is like a taxi rank, with donkeys for hire, outside the hotel.
Entertaining, easy on the mind; an excellent book to relax with.
The third Mamur Zapt novel (I think) is very like the other one I have read ([b:The Men Behind|1763180|The Men Behind (Mamur Zapt, #4)|Michael Pearce|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1328757433s/1763180.jpg|1761178]). The whole series is going to consist of gentle, amusing crime stories set in Cairo about a century ago. They're very enjoyable, so similarity won't stop me continuing to read them.
The plot of this novel is about an investigation into kidnappings of tourists from the terrace of Shepheards, the most exclusive hotel in Cairo. The major mystery is how presumably unwilling victims could disappear without anyone seeing it happen, in a place not only thronged by hotel guests but full of anxious vendors. The "donkey-vous" of the absurd title is like a taxi rank, with donkeys for hire, outside the hotel.
Entertaining, easy on the mind; an excellent book to relax with.