A Master of Djinn

 A Master of Djinn by P. Djeli Clark (2021) 396 pages

I listened to the audiobook through Hoopla and it was narrated by Suehyla El-Attar Young. Three years ago I read Clark's novella The Haunting of Tram Car 015, which was my introduction to this world and the detective character Fatma. I really looked forward to revisiting this alternate steampunk Cairo of 1912 in a full-length novel. Djinn and magic were released into the world several years before. Clockwork automatons, self-driving vehicles, and other tech are boosted by magic to allow futuristic wonders in the past. The novella introduced a major women's suffrage movement in Cairo in these years before WWI might happen. It also introduced the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments, and Supernatural Entities of which Fatma is one of the only women agents. Now Fatma has to work to solve the murder of all the members of a secret brotherhood with a rookie partner, Hadia, another woman agent. Fatma often receives surprise help from her girlfriend Siti as well. All three are kick-ass characters! Colonialism and racism are important themes that connect this magical world to history. Cairo is a cosmopolitan place with Pagans, Muslims, and Christians living side by side. Drawing on the real-life 1919 Egyptian Revolution against British occupation, revolution is stirred up in the streets. The murderer comes forward claiming to be the master of djinn, the being who opened the door between the magical and mundane worlds. Fatma's agency and the police cannot get the murderer in custody because they surround themselves with many magical henchmen and stir up chaos. Fatma is also convinced the murderer is an imposter, not the revered figure they claim to be. Bonus points for some cool librarian, archivist, and bookseller characters providing key clues to unravelling the illusions at play. I enjoyed the mixture of mystery, adventure, and fantasy.