The Black Crescent

1950s Morocco: murder, magic and divided loyalties...

Hamou Badi is born in a mountain village with the magical signs of the zouhry on his hands. The zouhry is a figure of legend, capable of finding all manner of treasure. But instead of finding treasure, young Hamou finds a body.

Haunted by this unsolved murder, Hamou goes on to train as a police officer in Casablanca. Yet the city is trapped in a nationalist uprising, and Hamou is soon torn between his heritage and his employers. How will he choose between all he knows and all he loves?

About the Author

Jane Johnson is a British novelist and publisher. She is the UK editor for George R.R. Martin, Robin Hobb and Dean Koontz and was for many years publisher of the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. Married to a Berber chef she met while researching The Tenth Gift, she lives in Mousehole, Cornwall, and Morocco.

Reviews

"The Black Crescent transports you to another place and time and completely absorbs you in an arresting story of love and divided loyalties. Jane Johnson is a remarkable author... I loved it." —Rowan Coleman

"The Black Crescent is a marvellous novel, evocative, powerful and transportive, and Hamou is a wonderful protagonist, full of empathy and curiosity about people. I loved it and felt I had been steeped in Morocco." —Elizabeth Chadwick

"The Black Crescent admitted me to a Casablanca I'd never imagined before... A hugely enjoyable and unusual historical novel" —Rachel Hore

"Johnson's depth of knowledge about Morocco is evident in every page. Atmosphere and accuracy exude from every sentence. The story is great too! I loved this book." —Ben Kane

Dimensions: 13 x 2.8 x 19.6 cm