Book description
Former police inspector Makana, in exile from his native Sudan, lives on a rickety Nile houseboat in Cairo, scratching out a living as a private investigator. When he receives a call from the notorious and powerful Saad Hanafi, he is thrust into a dangerous and glittering world. Hanafi is the…
Why read it?
1 author picked The Golden Scales as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
In writing my own crime novels set in 1920s British India, I am always looking for other series that take me into “Other” places, and the Makan series that starts with this book is a wonderful model. This is the pen name for Jamal Mahjoub, a Sudanese-British writer who gives real insights into cultural differences and practices. His protagonist is a Sudanese working as a cop in Cairo, and the adventures roam far and wide across the city and its people.
For me, the word pictures created here help inspire my own writing aspirations, there is always much to learn.
From Brian's list on The best crime novels to help us understand other cultures.
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