As he approached the door of the riad in the dimly lit alleyway, he sensed a dark shadow from behind. He heard a voice say, ‘Open up, Heesham, quickly please!’

Oliver Bradshaw, the central character of In the Shadow of the Muezzin, has long been fascinated by the magic and mystery of Marrakech, the Red City. Pervading his Marrakech home, Riad Star, are the wails of the muezzins calling the faithful to prayer at regular intervals. He alternates his evening meals between the Riad and a nearby French restaurant. Each serves excellent Moroccan food and wine, with impeccable service. Marrakech is in itself a feast for the senses, and Oliver’s senses are always fully enriched, without question.

It is in the French restaurant that he receives an anonymous note via the barman from an individual who becomes a man of mystery. Oliver himself can be a man of mystery, preferring to be incognito. On occasion, he can adopt a disguise, wandering through the alleyways, past the souks and bazaars of Marrakech, and into the magical bustling atmosphere of the famous square of Djemaa el-Fna. One day, unexpectedly, a beautiful woman enters his life, and he takes on the role of a perfect gentleman, of course. For Oliver, his daily adventures and nightly escapades in Marrakech are never dull, and never far from the shadow of the muezzin.