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Book Review By Harriet Klausner
The Mingrelian Conspiracy by Michael Pearce

Poisoned Pen, July 2003, 24.95, 208 pp. ISBN 1590580699 Thirty years ago the Khedive, the ruler of Egypt, invited The British in to help sort out his country's finances. The British never left and now in 1908, the English are the true rulers of the country in all but name. Gareth Owen, the person in charge of security known as the Mamur Zapt, has a relatively easy time of it until the Khedive invited Grand Duke Nicholas, heir to the Russian throne, for a visit. There are many nationalities and ethnic groups living in Egypt, groups like the Mingrelians who were forced to flee when the Russian army invaded their homeland in the Caucasus. The Georgians too resent the Russians for wiping out their homeland and some of these groups work together to make a political statement by killing Nicholas with a bomb. Owen works overtime to defuse the radical elements and he has matters under control until the explosives are stolen from under the eyes of his informant. To prevent an international incident, Owen must figure out who is the mastermind that is controlling events and bring him in before he assassinates the Grand Duke. Readers get a very clear picture of the culture, politics and growing nationalism in 1908 Egypt. Michael Pearce paints a very sympathetic picture of the country almost a century ago as a nation who welcomed displaced ethnic groups who had no where else to go. There is a lot of subtle humor in THE MINGRELIAN CONSPIRACY, which is needed when the tension level of the story line reaches extreme levels. Mr. Pearce is a gifted storyteller who makes the past come alive in the mind's eye. Harriet Klausner
Plot Tone of story - suspenseful (sophisticated fear) Time/era of story: Spying/Terrorism Thriller Yes Cloak & Dagger Plotlets: - preventing/finding assassin descript. of violence and chases - 10 % Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40 % Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30 % How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 20 % Main Character Gender - Male Profession/status: Age: - 40's-50's How much violence does he/she use? - a little Ethnicity/Race How sensitive is this character? Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters Physique - very athletic Main Adversary Identity: - Male Age: - 40's-50's Profession/status: How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount Motive of antagonist - revenge How sensitive is this character? Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters Physique - very athletic Setting Africa Yes Part of Africa: - White Enclave Style Person - mostly 3rd Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment Amount of dialog - significantly more dialog than descript