From the critically acclaimed author Ausma Zehanat Khan, A Deadly Divide is the devastatingly powerful new thriller featuring beloved series detectives Esa Khattak and Rachel Getty.In the aftermath of a mass shooting at a mosque in Quebec, the local police apprehend Amadou Duchon–a young Muslim man at the scene helping the wounded–but release Etienne Roy, the local priest who was found with a … the local priest who was found with a weapon in his hands.
The shooting looks like a hate crime, but detectives Esa Khattak and Rachel Getty sense there is more to the story. Sent to liaise with a community in the grip of fear, they find themselves in fraught new territory, fueled by the panic and suspicion exploited by a right-wing radio host.
As Rachel and Esa grapple to stop tensions shutting the case down entirely, all the time, someone is pointing Esa in another direction, a shadowy presence who anticipates his every move.
A Deadly Divide is a piercingly observed, gripping thriller that reveals the fractures that try to tear us all apart: from the once-tight partnership between detectives Esa and Rachel, to the truth about a deeply divided nation.
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I like to read authors from other countries or cultures. I’ve found myself a new author. Characters came to life for me & I found I couldn’t put the book down. Well written & kept my interest. I’m so glad there are other books featuring these characters. Highly recommend.
/ 5
A Deadly Divide by Ausma Zehanat Khan has a mystery, some romance, plus speaks to hate in our nation. There are a lot of heavy themes in this book, but it was incredibly enlightening for someone that doesn’t know too much about what is happening in Canada.
What it’s about: There has been a shooting at a mosque in Quebec and partners Esa Khattak and Rachel Getty are called in to help solve the case. A priest is found with a gun and is let go, while a young Muslim man that is helping the wounded gets arrested. Tensions are high in a city that is divided by fear and hate, and on top of that Khattak seems to have a stalker. Can Khattak and Getty find out who the shooter is and find Khattak’s stalker, while also dealing with love interests? We will find out!
I’ll be honest, this isn’t the type of book I would normally read. I tend to stay away from books that have strong political and cultural themes. Not that I don’t think it is important for authors to write about these things (because it obviously is), it’s just that I’ve never really been interested in reading books about them. A Deadly Divide is the first novel related to these themes that I have ever read, and I really did like it. Enough in fact, that I definitely want to read the other books in this series.
The book did get a bit confusing for me at times, especially with all the names, plus the switching back and forth from Esa Khattak and Rachel Getty’s first and last names. At first when I saw Khattak in one paragraph and then Esa in the next, I kept thinking it was a different character. I finally got used to that though and was able to keep up with those 2 characters at least. As the book went on it was easier to keep up with the rest of the character names as well, though I still found it a bit much overall.
A Deadly Divide is book 5 of a series, but the case itself is unique to this novel. It was a bit like Criminal Minds to me; if you don’t start at the beginning you will be a bit lost on the character relationships, but the case itself is easily understood and a standalone.
Final Thought: If you are interested in books that discuss racial, political, and cultural themes then I would recommend reading A Deadly Divide. Even if you are just looking for something different than what you normally read, this would be a good one to try. I liked the mystery and had no idea who it was until it was revealed, and the romance aspect was there but not overwhelming. I am going to have to go back to read the first 4 books so I can get caught up on the relationships between characters, but the book can definitely be read on it’s own with minimal confusion in that respect.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy of this book!