Blackwater Falls

Detective Inaya Rahman, Book 1

By: Ausma Zehanat Khan

Narrated by: Fareeda Pasha

From critically acclaimed author Ausma Zehanat Khan, Blackwater Falls is the first in a timely and powerful new crime series, introducing Detective Inaya Rahman.

Girls from immigrant communities have been disappearing for months in the Colorado town of Blackwater Falls, but the local sheriff is slow to act and the fates of the missing girls largely ignored. At last, the calls for justice become too loud to ignore when the body of a star student and refugee—the Syrian teenager Razan Elkader—is positioned deliberately in a mosque.

Detective Inaya Rahman and Lieutenant Waqas Seif of the Denver Police are recruited to solve Razan’s murder, and quickly uncover a link to other missing and murdered girls. But as Inaya gets closer to the truth, Seif finds ways to obstruct the investigation. Inaya may be drawn to him, but she is wary of his motives: he may be covering up the crimes of their boss, whose connections in Blackwater run deep.

Inaya turns to her female colleagues, attorney Areesha Adams and Detective Catalina Martín, for help in finding the truth. The three have bonded through their experiences as members of vulnerable groups and now they must work together to expose the conspiracy behind the murders before another girl disappears.

Delving deep into racial tensions, and police corruption and violence, Blackwater Falls examines a series of crimes within the context of contemporary American politics with compassion and searing insight.

©2022 Ausma Zehanat Khan (P)2022 Recorded Books

Felt this in the core of my being

I honestly am at a loss for words at how well-written, heartbreaking, and profound this book is. As a Muslim, woman of color - this book hit home in so many ways. Thank you, Ausma.

Compelling read!

Thoroughly enjoyed these new characters and the new location, too! The story was satisfying as a mystery read and also a thoughtful commentary on the state of affairs with settler and immigrant relations.

Excellent beyond the murder mystery story

Saw review of this in NYTimes, decided to give it a try. Good, solid murder mystery w some good ol' corruption thrown in. But what I really liked was seeing the story through the eyes of the young muslim woman detective. An affluent, mega-MAGA town w an influx of syrian and other muslim refugees. The cultural tensions, the exploitation through fear by various charlatans. Can't wait for the next one. Well written & well narrated.

To the future

This was wonderful in its depiction of the immigrant situation in Blackwater Falls. I can’t wait to find out what happens next.

Powerful and real

Khan skillfully wove much of the current realities concerning racism against migrants, black and brown citizens, and Muslims, including Muslim women and their headscarves. I know almost nothing about the Muslim faith, but I have more of an understanding now. There were many examples of the strength of family as well as a hint of romance. This is a serious book, a novel it might be, but it contains many truths.

A good start on a new series

I wondered what Ausma Zehanat Khan would write when she moved to Colorado, and I was not disappointed by her newest heroine of Community Policing and the heartbreaking story she wove of the violence, bigotry and corruption in Blackwater Falls. She writes readers into the pain and terrible losses exacted by poisonous racism and prejudice but manages to end on a glimmer of hope and grace. Thank you Ms. Khan for your contemporary mysteries and the complexity of your characters and the plot lines that draw them into relationship. The performance of this book was brilliant. Don’t hesitate giving it a listen.

spellbound

expertly crafted suspense coupled with a tightly written cast. excellent narration. story elements straight from present day that do not hold back, I felt like these could have been events unfolding next door. I loved the characters. highly recommended reading

A complex, eye opening mystery

A strong woman detective protagonist with integrity who’s also from a Muslim immigrant family adds depth, insight, and complexity to the murder mystery genre that is welcoming. Well written and well paced story and a the narrator did a wonderful job. I can recommend this book with 5 stars.

Great characters and narration

The story was excellent and unique. A Muslim woman detective is not your typical detective novel so I liked that from the start. The characters were nuanced and the story had enough twists that it kept me guessing almost until the very end. The narrator was fantastic. Highly recommended!

Really terrible in all ways

The writing cliche, no one seems to be catching on to the obvious so characters are dense, and BTW the narrator is impossible to listen to. Flat modulation, irritating voice, and sometimes she even had a frog in her throat. Ugh, listened to this on long drive and felt like driving into an abutment. Can't figure out why anyone thought this was good unless it's just politically correct to say you like a female muslim investigator.