A review by sydsnot71
A Dead Djinn in Cairo by P. Djèlí Clark

4.0

This is the second P Djèlí Clark novella I've read and, like the first, this was an enjoyable story. It's set in an alt-Cairo where a mystic opened a gate to an another plane where the djinn lived (and others, including Angels. Well, possible angels.)

The story centres of the investigation of a dead Djinn by Fatma el-Sha’arawi, special investigator with the Egyptian Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments, and Supernatural Entities. It's a short story/novella - I'm never sure of how the rule work on what is what. I know there are other stories set in the same 'world' but I don't know whether Fatma el-Sha'arawi is the main character in any of them. It's a fascinating setting.

The story itself is a mix of murder mystery and not quite horror. There is a Lovecraftian tinge in terms of hints about what might be out there in the universe. I really like the setting and the main character.

Highly enjoyable. Looking forward to reading more.