The Black Crescent by Jane Johnson is a historical novel set in 1950s Morocco, during the politically unstable final months of the French protectorate, following the exile of the Sultan of Morocco to Madagascar. The protagonist of the book is Hamou Badi. Badi was born in a rural mountain village where he is deemed to have the tell-tale signs of a “zouhry”, a figure of North African folklore who, as a hybrid between humans and djinns, purportedly holds special powers, particularly related to the uncovering of treasure and hidden springs of water. Perhaps it is precisely thanks to these magical powers that he discovers the body a murdered woman – a traumatic experience which leads him towards a career in law-enforcement. When Hamou Badi grows up he joins the French-run police force in Casablanca, adamant that he would like to do good. But in the increasingly violent struggle for Moroccan independence, Hamou Badi feels increasingly conflicted, until the time comes when he needs to choose whether to be complicit in the occupation of his country or to rebel against the foreign structures which have given him his education and job.

There is much that I liked about the The Black Crescent. The geographical and historical setting is conveyed in great and loving detail, with colourful descriptions of the sights, sounds and smells of Morocco. The story evidently has personal meaning for the author – in the Author’s Note at the end of the book, she explains that she is married to a Moroccan and that the novel reflects the experiences of his family and friends in the 1950s. The story, in fact, feels particularly authentic, and reading it is an immersive experience in a specific culture at a time of upheaval. The character of Hamou Badi is beautifully drawn, and the pangs of guilt he feels in his role as enforcer for the protectorate are poignantly brought out.

On the other hand, I also had some reservations. First of all, I could not help feeling that the novel is slightly overlong and although I didn’t much mind the leisurely pace of parts of the book, it would probably have been more effective had it been tighter. I also felt rather misled by the blurb – much is made of the fact that Hamou Badi is a zouhry, giving the impression that the novel has a supernatural element to it. It turs out, this is not particularly relevant to the novel, except to justify some improbable coincidences which, frankly, would have otherwise been unbelievable. What bothered me most, however, was the fact that the third-person narrative voice is not particularly distinctive. It certainly meets it purpose especially in the descriptive passages, but can at other times feel detached and rather bland.

Still, I would recommend this book, particularly to lovers of historical fiction and those who like good, “old-fashioned” storytelling which combines human drama, adventure, mystery, romance and a (small!) touch of magic.

https://endsoftheword.blogspot.com/2024/03/the-black-crescent-by-jane-johnson.html

The plot was interesting and well researched. A little slow in the middle, but this picks up towards the latter half of the book. Overall a great read!

Tengo un amigo que dice que está enamorado de Marruecos: su cultura, su gastronomía, sus paisajes… Pues no me cabe duda de que a Jane Johnson, la autora de The Black Crescent, le sucede lo mismo. Basta con leer algunas páginas de su libro para ver que está escrito desde la admiración y el amor.


Vaya por delante que a pesar de la mención de djinns en la contraportada del libro nos encontramos ante una novela de ficción histórica, maravillosa pero que solo estrechando mucho los límites del género podríamos definirla como fantástica.

El momento temporal en el que se desarrolla la novela es el protectorado francés de Marruecos tras la segunda guerra mundial, un momento de gran inestabilidad política pero que, al menos para mí, es muy desconocido. El personaje principal es Hamou Badi y quizá su principal característica es lo buena persona que es. Un suceso de su infancia en una aldea perdida le empujará a una carrera como policía en la Suretè francesa, y esa dualidad entre su origen y su trabajo, le sitúa en una posición muy incómoda cuando los movimientos nacionalistas van resurgiendo con mayor fuerza. No obstante, su bonhomía se verá recompensada con creces por casualidades de la vida o por la influencia de los djinns.

Jane Johnson tiene una capacidad asombrosa para hacernos empatizar con los personajes, pero, sobre todo, para imbuirnos en la ambientación de cada escena. La descripción de los platos que prepara la vecina de Hamou, por ejemplo, haría salivar al más desganado. De la misma forma es capaz de describir la depravación y maldad de algunos personajes para que los odies de forma visceral, pero sin tener que recurrir a la casquería. La crítica a la sociedad colonialista está muy presente en el libro, ya que la autora decide resaltar más los valores de la cultura autóctona, concediendo en ocasiones las ventajas que han aportado los franceses, pero poniendo en duda que compensen la explotación brutal de los recursos de país africano.

The Black Crescent es un libro de cuatrocientas páginas, pero os puedo asegurar que se lee en un suspiro y que reconforta el corazón. Lo recomiendo mucho.

Jane Johnson is a British author who has set several of her novels in Morocco, her husband’s country, with each book exploring a different period in Morocco’s history. The Black Crescent is set in the 1950s, during the time of the French protectorate, when support for Moroccan independence was building momentum.

Our narrator, Hamou Badi, grows up in the remote mountain village of Tiziane, a place where the people still cling to ancient traditions and superstitions. Due to the lines on his hands, Hamou himself is said to be a ‘zouhry’, a legendary figure blessed by a djinn and capable of locating treasure and detecting sources of water. However, it is not treasure that eleven-year-old Hamou finds one day in 1939, but the body of a woman, hidden amongst the palm trees by a dried up riverbed. The lack of interest shown by the French authorities in trying to solve this murder leads to Hamou’s decision to become a police officer and ensure that future victims of crime are given the justice they deserve.

Several years later, in 1955, we rejoin Hamou in Casablanca, where he is now working for the Sûreté, the police force of the French colonialists who are still ruling the country. Hamou takes his job seriously, trying to maintain law and order on the streets of Casablanca, but he quickly discovers that many of his fellow Moroccans see him as a traitor and someone not to be trusted. As the independence movement continues to gather force, Hamou finds himself caught between the two sides and must decide which is most important to him – loyalty to his country or to the employer who pays his wages.

The Black Crescent is a fascinating novel, particularly as I previously had such limited knowledge of French-ruled Morocco. I knew nothing about the work of the Istiqlal (independence) Party or the tensions and unrest following France’s exile of Sultan Mohammed V in 1953. Hamou is the perfect choice of narrator, with one foot in both worlds, showing us that there are good and bad people on both sides. Johnson has clearly researched this period thoroughly (she provides a list of her sources in her author’s note) and writes with an understanding and sympathy for the aims of the Moroccans in attempting to overthrow their French occupiers, but without condoning the violence used by some groups such as the ‘Black Crescent’ of the title.

Hamou is portrayed as an honourable, kind-hearted man trying to navigate his way through a difficult situation and I found him easy to like. He also has a love interest – a young woman he meets in Casablanca – but it only plays a small part in the book and I was just as captivated by the relationship he forms with Madani, the little black cat he rescues and adopts. The book did feel very slow-paced and took much longer to read than I’d expected based on the length, but it held my interest throughout and I learned a lot from it. I wish I’d known there was a glossary at the end of the book, but I was able to understand most of the Moroccan terms from the context anyway, so that wasn’t too much of a problem!

I think The Sultan’s Wife, set in 17th century Morocco, is still my favourite Jane Johnson book so far, but there are three of her earlier novels I haven’t read yet, so that could change!

I felt transported to 1950’s Morocco in this affectionate, fast-paced and thought-provoking read by Jane Johnson. Hamoud Badi is a police officer for the Sûreté, the law enforcement of the French protectorate in Casablanca. When tensions and violence engulf the city and Moroccan rebel groups, one of which is The Black Crescent, challenge the leadership, Hamou finds himself caught between two worlds. Hamou is such a likeable character and this story is embued with rich and authentic details of Moroccan culture, revealing their complicated history and oppression in a subtle and often heart-rending way. I also loved the pace - Hamou would only have escaped from one sticky scenario before he became embroiled in another, and it kept me glued to the page. The love story with Zina was beautiful along with his loyalty and love for family and community in his village of Tiziane. A highly entertaining story bringing the brutality of colonialism to light.
With thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for the ARC copy.

Okay, this was a great story. It took a bit to get into it, but it flew by and was hard to put down.

It hits the heartstrings, I think the author did well capturing the attitude of the Morrocan people during the French Occupation.

I really enjoyed this, what a gem of a story. Set in 1955 and set against the French occupation of Morocco. I felt absorbed in the culture by the wonderful descriptions.
The protagonist of the story is Hamou, a kind man who is a police officer for the French occupation and The Black crescent refers to the organisation taking action against the French occupation.

A thoroughly absorbing story, so well written.

Such an amazing read! I can't wait to get a physical copy of this book to read again!

Thanks NetGalley for the eArc. I enjoyed every moment of it. I have read Jane Johnson's books in the last and this was just as engaging and historical.

Please give me more of it!

The Black Crescent by Jane Johnson follows the story of a Berber boy, Hamou Badi, who is growing up in a poor, remote Moroccan village during the time of the French Protectorate. As a youngster, Hamou has to leave his family and relocate to Casablanca where he is educated and eventually joins the French Police. He finds himself standing with “a foot in two worlds that are moving further apart by the day”, during a turbulent time in the 1950s, when Moroccan independence movement is at its height. The activities of the independence party, the Istiqlal, are being usurped by a new movement for liberation, the Black Crescent, which is taking direct action to restore the Sultan and remove the French.

Hamou’s loyalties are tested; loyalty to his people, who have been oppressed by the ‘colons’ and aren’t above taking the law into their own hands, but also to the French, who pay his salary and represent order and progress, but also corruption and abuse of power. He struggles with his sense of identity, as he considers his nation, parentage, community and religion. He asks himself whether loyalty to your employer should trump his heritage.

Hamou is an engaging character, as are the many others we encounter – not all of whom are as likeable as Hamou. The plot is tense at times, as Hamou’s precarious situation makes him the enemy of both his own people and the French. His own character shines through, with admirable values that ought by rights to be rewarded. Although Hamou is an upright citizen, with many good qualities, an additional challenge is the traditional belief that he is a ‘zouhry’; born with magical powers. This is something he tries to deny, even to himself, yet things just keep happening around him that fit the tradition, which is quite amusing.

Johnson weaves a romantic life for Hamou, which adds to the tension, as he and Zina seem destined never to be together. Zina is just one of many strong and believable female characters. The romance, combined with the detective work that Hamou embarks on at various stages in the book, make The Black Crescent a fascinating read, and not just a political account of an important time in Morocco’s history.

As far as location is concerned, it is all I can do to stop myself from booking a visit to Morocco immediately after reading the book: the descriptions of people and places are so evocative that I feel I must see them for myself. From the bustling maze that is the old city of Casablanca to the wild, arid and mountainous countryside where Hamou grew up, Johnson’s depictions in the novel are vivid and colourful. There are rich, descriptions of scents, sights and sounds. This is a book to appeal to all your senses - including your sense of fair play. Johnson uses local words in the text, which adds to the authenticity. There’s a useful glossary at the end of the book, though most are either self-explanatory or clues are given alongside. The author mentions her love of learning new things when she reads, and this is my own passion; one that is amply satisfied by this lovely book. I hadn’t read any of her work before but will definitely be searching the TripFiction database and keeping an eye on NetGalley to see what else I can find.

The Black Crescent is many things: a political and historical novel; a romance, a murder-mystery and a record of Moroccan traditions and beliefs. All of these things are done superbly by Jane Johnson, who has written a book that is light and entertaining while dealing with some pretty weighty issues. Her afterword illustrates how well qualified she is to write about the people of the country that has become her home.

THE BLACK CRESCENT by Jane Johnson is a historical fiction story in a place I've never been!

In 1929 Morocco, we meet Hamou Badi as an 11 year old. He is a typical Berber boy, but one day he and his cousin find a body. The lack of attention or honor given to the woman by the occupying French authorities deeply disturbs Hamou.

As an adult in 1955, Hamou finds himself trying to straddle the home of his people and the French, with an untenable hold. He is forced to make a choice at one point, and somehow lives through the ensuing chaos. Is he really a Zouhry, also straddling the real with the spiritual worlds?

I learned so much in this historical fiction story. First, I have known vaguely about the various occupations of African nations by European countries, but rarely do I read about it so precisely. This story gave a real and unvarnished look at how it may have been, and how the Moroccan people held on to hope and their country. I found Hamou's story fascinating and I enjoyed seeing his growth in such circumstances.

Thank you @netgalley and @headofzeus for this digital ARC and for letting me share my thoughts. It was a gorgeously told narrative that I hope hist-fic fans will grab! It was published August 3rd, and so is available now!

The Black Crescent - Jane Johnson
I had some very mixed feeling following finishing this book. My initial visceral reaction was “No you can’t end it there” but that is purely down to the inner romantic inside of me, I love love! So I was a little disappointed in the sense that there was a little romantic build off throughout the story, but I didn’t get the payoff - however if you are the type of person who can take or leave the romance subplot, you might not get the same feeling when you get the last sentence of the book.

I think overall, I had generally good feelings about this book. I enjoyed the plot and the story that we being told overall, I did go into it thinking it would err on the side of being a little more fantasy, but ended up being more firmly historical fiction which I still enjoy, so that wasn’t actually a drawback to be honest. I enjoyed the characters, Hamou and Zina in particular - though I wish there was some more Zina and her mother throughout, I feel a little robbed of Zina (more on that later).

The story wasn't very fast-paced. It was slow to start with, taking up to the first 100 pages to pick up the pace, and then slowed down again. I wish the pace had remained more stable throughout the novel, as I would have found it to be more gripping overall. However, despite the slow start, the world-building and descriptions were beautiful. The descriptions of Casablanca (Casa) were so clear and vivid that they showed Jane's experience of Casa in a very clear way. It's obvious from reading this book that Jane Johnson is very familiar with Morocco and clearly loves the country a great deal. I have been to Morocco, but not Casa, and it really felt real and made me remember and picture the feeling, sights, and smells of Morocco. It was absolutely gorgeous. The descriptions of the more rural areas (which were fictional) were less powerful than those of Casa, but still beautiful.

Hamou was an absolute sweetheart. He’s called a Zouhry, a creature with a foot in the mundane world, and the other in magic. In reality (particularly Hamou’s reality) Hamou has a foot in the Surete (the french police occupying Morocco) while being Moroccan. He has such strong morals and thoughts on what is right, and I find this super relatable. I think anyone who is in a similar position of living in a culture that is at odds to the culture of their family might find Hamou a powerful character, and really find themselves able to relate to Hamou - I know I did!

Zina, Zina, Zina. I LOVED Zina! She was incredible, totally kick ass and such a powerful woman, particularly for the 1950’s in Morocco. I just wish there was more of her! Spoilers When Zina and her family left after the uprising, I was actually so upset, I just kept wishing that she would come back or that Hamou would find her. I wish she had arrived in Tizane earlier towards the end so that should could be seen settling in, and maybe commend Hamou for finally taking a stand for Moroccans. I also wish there had been a little more fleshing out of her actions as a member of the Black Crescent and had a bit more of a starring role - perhaps she could have helped Hamou come to terms with the injustices of french rule a little more overtly? but either way, I love her. End of Spoilers

The quotes in this novel were lovely. The title of this review is from Hamou's mother, and I found this to be very poignant. There are also some very insightful discussions between Zina and Hamou, as well as the other Moroccans in Hamou's life, such as Didi, Moha and his mother.

I ended up giving this 3 stars. I enjoyed the world building and descriptions and also the characters, but the overall story was missing something. Despite Hamou ending up in prison briefly, there was a very convinient reason for his relase, and he never really comes to a conclusion about his feelings on the french occupation or resolving his issues alone about the dichotomy of working for the french, while being Morocan, and seeing the injustices towards his own people. I did like the development and characterisation of why Hamou ended up working for the Surete but I think fundamentally, there is something missing from the overall story. I only really had the reactions to the romance subplot, rather than the main story - hence the lower rating. I liked it, but I didn’t LOVE it.

Overall, I would recommend this book, especially if you enjoy historical fiction with a touch of magic. The slow pace may not be for everyone, but the beautiful descriptions and world building are worth it. The characters are well-developed and relatable, particularly Hamou for those who may struggle with their cultural identity. While I wish there was more of a payoff for the romantic subplot and more development for Zina's character, I still found her to be a standout character.

I am very grateful to have received an E-Arc of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review.

This is a book which has taken me a longer time than usual to read. I can usually read an ‘easy’ story in a matter of hour but this one I’ve read slowly, a chapter here or there. It’s not one I’ve been able to rush.

I think the subject matter is so different to what I’d usually go for meant that I’ve savoured the contents. The whole setting of the book, 1950’s French invasion of Morocco, the clashing of the modern French against the traditional Islamic tribal villages, the city of Casablanca where corruption is rife, it’s described incredibly well, you can appreciate the research which has gone into this story.

We meet our main protagonist Hamou Badi a young boy who finds a corpse hidden away by his childhood village which gives us a mystery. We learn of a local myth, the zouhry which he has the particular markings for, lines on his hands and his eyes. I loved how this shaped the story, how he’s a good man seeking to do good in the world and there’s a hint of magic in him which we see throughout the novel. His discovery of the body is what shapes him, his decision to become a policeman, to help others. And ultimately the novel comes full circle with Hamou solving the mystery.

For someone with no notion as to what occurred in Morocco (it’s not something we study in history here) I’ve had to do some serious internet reading around, but Ms Johnson paints such a vivid picture. I’ve experienced the souks myself in Tunisia and Oman albeit I’ve not yet visited Morocco, and I can recall the hustle and bustle, the sights, sounds and the smells which have all come back to me from reading this story.

I think it’s a story which has utterly captured my imagination, it’s written very well with engaging characters , a satisfying conclusion and a subject area of interesting history which is new to me. I would throughly recommend it.

It's a thought provoking story, a story about Morocco under French government and how it was hard for the Moroccan.
I liked the style of writing and liked the characters.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This is a book I think everyone should go into blind. The pacing is done so well that I found myself forgetting my chores so that I could spend more time in the story. I also enjoyed what the author did with the character development, I'm going to remember these characters for a long time.

"We will never give in to the French. The Nationalists will see them off." Fascinating fiction that immerses the reader into Morocco during the 1950s at a time of French imperialism.
Our main narrator Hamou is 11 years old when we meet him and his annoying cousin Moha (aged 8) collecting water for the family in their village of Tiziane in the rural countryside of Morocco. But soon we fund Hamou in the heart of Casablanca working as a policeman for the French Surete where his mild and kind manner is conflicted against the growing hostility from Moroccans against their occupying 'masters'.
The writing is totally immersive in the main city - it's streets and buildings clearly described alongside the food, with its tastes and aromas and the culture of the inhabitants living their traditions and religion alongside the invading Europeans.
Hamou fins family and neighbours involved in terrorist groups (such as the Black Crescent) and when violence erupts and affects him directly where in the city can he turn or escape to avoid what seems a traitor's death?
The experience of the author who is married to a Moroccan and her time living in the country ooze from the pages into an intriguing and heart rendering plot that takes us on every turn with Hamou - be it on foot, a bicycle or a stubborn mule! I wished him happiness and success from the very start.
Absolutely adored it and would seek out other offerings by this writer.

I’d like to begin by thanking Head of Zeus and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. I was drawn to this book because of its premise; a book set in Morocco at a time of the Moroccan Independence movement was at its height - brilliant! It’s clear from the offset that the book is very well-researched and written by someone who loves the country and its culture. However, I have mixed feelings about this book for several reasons.

Hamou comes across as familiar; as someone whose family hails from a country that was occupied by the French too, I recognised his inner conflict in marrying the positives of what the French have brought with them with the oppressive, racist regime. I also recognised the Moroccan people’s tenacious and fighting spirit as they pushed to get sovereignty. Hamou was a well-written, multifaceted character who was trying to do his best without veering too much from his moral compass. I wish the secondary characters were written as well as he was, instead they felt rather flat in comparison. This didn’t detract too much from my reading experience, but I would have loved to have gotten to know Didi, Zina, and even Jérome better.

What I really enjoyed about this book too was the first half which was set in Casablanca. I loved reading how Hamou wrestled with his moral compass about working for the French when those he loved are at risk because of their involvement with the insurrectionists. My initial impression of the book based on its first half and the blurb was that this was going to be a book focused on the insurrection and how the characters navigated life in such a politically unstable period, but the book seemed to veer into a different, rather disappointing direction. While I liked that we got to learn about a part of Morocco and a population group, the Amazigh, that aren't as exposed as Morocco's urban areas and its Arabic-speaking population, my interest in the book dipped shortly after Hamou’s return to Tiziane.

The book felt like it was consolidating two genres into one: a socio-political historical fiction with a crime novel. I was disappointed by the fact that we didn’t get to see more about The Black Crescent or the Istiqlal despite their prominence at the start of the book, nor did we see much more of the characters that initially featured so heavily. That’s not to say I didn’t like the crime/detective aspect of the second book, but the pacing and sudden gear change were unsettling, and it explains why I felt less intrigued to finish the book. With that said, I did like how everything came full circle without it feeling too coincidental or like a cheap trope.

Lastly, I enjoyed the writing too; it was immersive and, for the most part, flowed well. I could easily picture Casablanca’s layout, from the posh French quarters to the more deprived, maze-like parts of the city inhabited by Morocco’s poorest and most neglected. I loved how Tiziane and its surrounding areas were described. Although I’ve never been, it was so easy to picture the landscape and feel immersed in the story. There were times when the writing was clunky which broke the immersion, particularly where things were being listed or too much detail was being given. However, this wasn’t a frequent issue and it was easy to overlook.

Overall, as I mentioned above, this is a book I have mixed feelings about. There were definitely strong elements to the book and the writing which made it enjoyable. Getting some insight into what life was like in Morocco towards the end of the French occupation and learning about the Amazigh left me wanting to read up more on Morocco's history and the Amazigh culture. But the somewhat misleading plot was disappointing.

Within this book, a comprehensive exploration unfolds regarding the beliefs, values, customs, practices, and institutions that comprise various cultures. The author masterfully imparts profound insights, allowing readers to delve into the intricate tapestry of diverse cultural perspectives. By delving into the narratives of individuals from varying cultural backgrounds, a profound comprehension of their ways of life, thought processes, and interpersonal dynamics is cultivated. Through this immersive journey, my admiration for the boundless spectrum of human culture has significantly deepened.

This literary work serves as a bridge fostering understanding, empathy, and a profound interconnectedness among individuals hailing from disparate origins. The book's captivating cover art beckons with its allure, an immediate draw for any perusing the shelves of a bookstore. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for providing this Advance Reader Copy, which has undoubtedly enriched my intellectual and cultural horizons.

1955 Morocco was a time of turmoil, a time of fear and hope.
The French were never loved in countries they colonized. And every country run by a foreign power will fight for its independence sooner or later. And so the Moroccans fought.

This is a fictional story with fictional characters about a decent, sensitive person who suddenly finds himself in a political whirl and must choose a side. This choice is not a choice, there is no right thing to do. Whatever he will or will not do, won´t earn him any friends.
Well written, a bit slow, but this isn't a complaint. This slow pace is in a way reflecting the state of awareness of Hamou. He cares about his family, friends, and his job. He tries to be a good person and live a quiet life. Don´t we all? So when he finally starts to understand what other people, his people, are thinking and doing, when this realization comes to him - this is when the story, the writing picks up some speed.
It´s an enjoyable read, however, I´d like to see some footnotes that would explain some Arabic words, phrases, customs, etc. Not everyone is familiar with Moroccan traditions.

My thanks to Head of Zeus Apollo for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Black Crescent’ by Jane Johnson.

Morocco, 1939. The novel opens in the mountain village of Tiziane where eleven years previously Hamou Badi had been born with the magical signs of the zouhry on his hands. In Morocco, the zouhry are figures of legend, a child of a human and a djinn, believed capable of finding all manner of treasure: lost objects, hidden water. Yet instead,
Hamou finds a body….

The unsolved murder haunts him and instils in the young Berber a deep desire for order and justice. A few years later he trains as a police officer. In 1955 he is working for the French-run police force in Casablanca, sending money home to his mother in Tiziane while fending off her attempts to find him a suitable wife.

Hamou finds himself caught up in the increasing turmoil of the resistance and the fight for Moroccan independence; realising that soon he will be forced to choose between his position and his love for his country and its peoples. The Black Crescent of the title is an organisation that is taking direct, often violent, action against the French.

I have enjoyed a number of Jane Johnson’s novels over the years and this latest one was superb. In her Author’s Note she provides background on her inspirations, including the stories told to her by Abdel, her husband, about the experiences of his family and friends in the 1950s as well as his own in Casablanca. She also lists some nonfiction sources about this period of Moroccan history.

She mentions her decision to have Hamou Badi bear the marks of the zouhry, bringing a touch of magic and folklore into the story. I had never heard of this particular legend and appreciated how well Johnson had incorporated it into the narrative.

Animals feature prominently in the novel including Hamou’s mule, Makouda, and the black cat he rescued, Madani, who pretty much does what cats do all over the world and soon has Hamou at their beck and call. Madani seemed a fitting companion for a suspected zouhry.

Overall, I found ‘The Black Crescent’ an excellent novel that also served to inform me about this period of Moroccan history as well as the rich culture of the region. It has moments of tragedy as well as hope, humour, and even a touch of romance. Jane Johnson’s writing is rich in description and it was very easy to feel transported in time and place.

Highly recommended.

Set in 1950s Morocco, Hamou Badi begins life in the mountain village of Tiziane. He has the magical signs of the zouhry on his hands. One day he discovers a body, obviously a murder but it remains unsolved. This leads him to becoming a policeman in Casablanca which is occupied by the French. All Hamou wants to do is help people but as the nationalist uprising grows, he finds himself on the wrong side of the law.

I know very little, if anything, about Moroccan history so this story was quite an eye opener. It was fascinating to learn about the era, customs and the cuisine. It was very vividly described and depicted, so much so I almost felt I was there and could nearly taste the food. I loved Hamou, he was such a great character. Even the delightful cat, Madani, played a strong role. I enjoyed following their journeys and Hamou’s trials and tribulations. It’s very much a page turner, quite the adventure story. I highly recommend this gripping, compelling and, may I say it, educational read.