Cold Touch of Ice

Lord Kitchener's appointment as consul-general for Egypt in 1912 portends major changes for Gareth Owen, the head of the Cairo secret police, in Michael Pearce's A Cold Touch of Ice: A Mamur Zapt Mystery, the latest standout in the long-running series. Once again, Pearce seamlessly blends a whodunit plot with a vivid portrayal of colonial Egypt. The political tensions that plague the British overseers will resonate with readers following current events in Iraq. .