The Last Watchman of Old Cairo: A Novel

The Last Watchmen of Cairo was a great, cozy read with just the right amount of thrill to keep you turning the page but not be overwhelmed with action scenes and bravado. Instead it’s a charming tale that combines two beautiful stories into one. I like that the book juxtaposes the past with the present while adding layers of complexity.

Joseph represents a lot of this complexity. On one hand, he is the hero of the story who is destined to unlock the secret behind the book. On the other hand, he is also a reluctant hero who wants nothing else but to get back to his books and French cooking. This subtle tension between duty and obligation is what drives the story, not necessarily the action (which is good and often humorous). It’s that tension between being bold to accept an uncertain fate while you’re still uncertain about yourself that really got me. That is what I really liked about this book. Michael is thrown into this situation, not as a ready-made hero out of nowhere, but as a guy who has problems with his family and who is struggling to define himself and his career. Because of those flaws, which are shared beautifully in this book, I have a deeper appreciation for the hero and a deeper appreciation of the story. “The Last Watchmen of Cairo” has the mystery of a Robert Langdon mystery, but is more personal and more real.