A Dead Djinn in Cairo: A Tor.Com Original (Dead Djinn Universe)

4/5 stars

First unwritten rule of investigation—when in need of information, make sure you flatter your source. In that regard, immortals were no different than anyone else.

Special Investigator Fatma el-Sha’arawi, of the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities, has been assigned the case of an unusual suicide involving a djinn but not everything is what it seems and heer night is just beginning.

Set in an alternate Cairo, where the supernatural coexist with regular humans, this was a fun adventure. I liked that this book didn't treat readers as idiots and introduced the world building without pages of exposition, thought I would have liked something like a glossary for certain words.

The plot itself was a very forward crime investigation and the main character was interesting and distinct. I will say that there were parts that felt a bit rushed and this definitely needed to be longer. I'm looking forward to reading the other tales and books in this series.

короткий рассказ, в котором автор, тем не менее, смог в ворлдбилдинг и даже совсем чуть-чуть в детектив (но реально чуть-чуть, последние 3% тайны). мир интересный - стимпанковский каир 20-х годов, в котором не только джинны с ангелами водятся, но и женщине разрешено быть детективом и носить мужские костюмы и короткие стрижки. пока не очень понятно, справится ли автор с образом героини и с лейсбийским романом в следующих книгах, но чем черт не шутит