A master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark

"A master of Djinn" by P. Djèlí Clark  - Magic in the air?

This book is published by Astra Media OPC Private Ltd in 2023 and has 378 pages. This is Book1 of Dead Djinn Universe. 

It's first decade of 1900s. The times have changed. Several Djinns live with mortals and follow human rules. El Jahiz is credited with bringing magic and Djinns back into the world few years ago. Lord Worthington, founder and head of the brotherhood of El Jahiz and his 20 odd members are killed. Their flesh burned without burning their clothes or anything else by a man who claims to be the El Jahiz returned. Fatma investigates.

Has Al Jahiz really returned? How can he come back from dead? What does he want? Can Fatma unravel the mystery?

Fatma Al Sharawi works for Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities in Egypt as an investigator. She is very good at her work. Hadia, her Hijab wearing investigator is thrust upon her as her partner. She is brave and always has a cousin who is in every field. Siri or Abla is a Nubian beauty. She follows the old Egyptian religion and hence called Idolator. She worships of Godess Hathor. Fatma and Siti are very close. Then there is the son and daughter of Lord Worthington. Ahmed, worshipper of Crocodile God Sobek.

The setting is fantastical. There is a lot of magic. There are non humans like Djinns, Angels, Ghouls, Ifrits etc. In all this melee, Fatma possesses no magic. But she doesn't give up until she gets to the bottom of the mystery.

The buildup is good. The pace is good. The characterization is very good. The social fabric is well defined. The only blemish might be that the identity of the perpetrator could be guessed mid way into the book. So, instead of whodunit it becomes did that character do it?

This is the first book of the series. Subsequent books are still to be published.

Why did I read this book? Wanted to explore the world of Djinns.

What did I like? The world with Djinns.

What I didn't like? Guessable perpetrator.

Recommend the series, of this book is anything to go by.