From the Memories of 30 Years in the Struggle Against Crime

The Egyptian detective story was unknown, a subject previously unexplored by our writers, narrated by our officers, or commented upon by our literary figures. This was perhaps because foreign detective stories had already provided them with ample material, or because the officers themselves, accustomed to such incidents, no longer saw anything new or interesting to recount. Perhaps the constraints of time and the relentless demands of their work were among the main reasons that distanced them from developing this genre, and indeed, distanced us, the police officers, from our citizens. For nothing is stronger than the bond of literature between people when lessons and reminders are combined in an engaging and accessible manner. It pains me that we do not have Egyptian detective stories that reveal methods of crime, entertain with danger, and combat crime. As a result, and after many years spent in the service of the police, I thought of presenting to the public what caught my attention and what I admired for its humor, or for the caution of the adult criminal, or for the strenuous effort of the police, so that people may learn a lesson from it, find amusement in it, and warn criminals of the inevitable result for those who preceded them in crime, of their discovery, public shaming, and judgment.