When I read books, I don't generally get any mental imagery of the events or characters being described,  but the descriptions in this book are so well written that I've been bombarded with some fairly vivid imagery throughout. There's a scene towards the end of the book which brought back memories of a Doctor Who Christmas special, starring the Cybermen, whether this is accidental or an homage to the episode I don't know,  but it fits into the context of the story nicely. 

The story takes place in Cario, Egypt in 1912, but in an alternative reality where Djinn exist and live alongside ordinary humans integrated into everyday life.

The main character, Fatma, works for an agency that monitors and supervises supernatural beings, which requires a fair bit of mental dexterity along with specialised weapons to cope with the more powerful Djinns that exist. 

The book captures the ambience of both the period and locale it is set in, which together with the various characters, who encompass a diverse mix of cultures and backgrounds, makes for a lively and fascinating tale that is engaging on several levels.