The Arab Grimoire

This is an urban fantasy story set in contemporary London and Baghdad.

Baghdad is a lot safer than it used to be. Everyone says so.

The Guild in London wants to learn about the Arab tradition of magic. And they know you can find anything in Baghdad's markets.

They sent their best agent, Oliver Main. His task was to return a stolen grimoire to a school of magicians. His second task was to look for evidence of magic. But the magicians were suspicious and unhelpful and he found nothing.

Constance, fluent in Arabic, is studying the science of the caliphate, and has relatives in the Middle East.. The Guild thinks she has a better chance of success. And she owes the Guild a favour.

In Baghdad, the police barricades have been removed, the nightclubs have reopened. But there are still kidnappings. The militias are still active. There are violent protests outside the American embassy. The magicians are male, secretive - and resent foreign intruders. Perhaps the female magic-users will be less hostile.

But then the ladies of Baghdad decide to organise a fashion show. The venue is in the Green Zone, close to the US embassy. But, for Constance, the worst hazard is the journalists at the show.