THE MARK OF THE PASHA

The remarkable Bill Wallis plays every part to perfection in this entertaining addition to Pearce's mystery series, set in British-ruled post-WWI Cairo. Greek, Brit, Copt, and Sudanese accents color the story as exotically as an Egyptian spice market. In between, Wallis's handsome baritone eases listeners through the tale of intrigue, which is blended with humor. In this installment, the protagonist, the Welsh-born head of the secret police, investigates the attempted bombings of local leaders, an effort that takes him deep into the city's back alleys. A secondary plot follows the efforts of his Egyptian-born wife to find her way as an educated woman who belongs neither to the conservative Muslim society nor to the insular expat enclave. R.E.K. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2009]