A Dead Djinn in Cairo

Novella set in an alternate Cairo in the early 1900s. Special Investigator Fatma el-Sha’arawi investigates the case of a dead Djinn who seems to have died by suicide. Ghouls, assassins, and angels all show up during her investigation, some a help, some a deadly hindrance.

I didn’t care much for this, it’s too short to have anything other than a straightforward plot, and there’s no space for deep characterisation. The writing is good, and the world-building impeccable, but I think I’ll stick to Clark’s novels from now on. It’s a good novella, but I prefer longer fiction.

Nice little noir-style story set in an intriguing, complex urban fantasy world. The scope of the story and the richness of the setting would have merited a bit more length. I'm looking forward to the other stories set in this world (my book club will read "Master of Djinn" later this year).

A lovely amuse bouche for Clark's steampunk Cairo stories, which has certainly left me wanting more of Fatma and of this world.