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author_d_r_oestreicher's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
A Deadly Divide by Ausma Zehanat Khan is the fifth (and final?) in the Esa Khattak and Rachel Getty series. He is the Director of the Community Policing Section, and she is his sergeant. When there is a mass shooting in a Saint-Isidore Mosque, they are called in. The Francophone Québécois are a minority in Canada and the Arabic-speaking Muslims are a minority in Quebec. This is a story of the big minority’s fear of and animus towards the smaller minority. A fast-moving mystery with engaging characters and plenty of twists and turns. Highly recommended.
For my extended notes: https://1book42day.blogspot.com/2024/03/a-deadly-divide-by-ausma-zahanat-khan.html
“As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Gun violence, Islamophobia, and Mass/school shootings
lsparrow's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this better than the last few in the series - perhaps because of the story set in a more canadian context.
leavingsealevel's review against another edition
3.0
Good, intense, timely, eye-opening. As always. I appreciated an entire book of Rachel and Esa being in the same geographic location working together on their regular police work, after the last couple of books which were great but took them away from their Community Policing Section world.
mpr2000's review against another edition
4.0
I am a big fan of the Rachel Getty and Esa Khattak series, they are always controversial and make you re-think the way you see the world. This book would not be different from the others, Ausma always writes about difficult themes and makes the reader think how they would act in that special circumstance and possibly change your perspective on it.
In this book we will have two different cases (or only one?), there’s been a terrorist attack in a mesquite with a lot of victims… There’s one clear suspect for the police, the Wolf Allegiance, but Rachel and Esa don’t see it so clear and want to know more about the victims. On the other side we will discover that someone has been stalking Esa for months, yes MONTHS! and now he has started receiving menacing messages and weird photos. What do they want from him? Since the beginning I thought that these were two different cases, with no relation between them… but you’ll have to read the book if you want to know the truth, of course!
The story as always is interesting, the race and white power is again at the centre of the hurricane, the little village where the attack has happened is scared of the immigration, because even if they say it’s hate, I always believed that is fear. Fear of the unknown, because it’s true that we don’t know much about the Muslim religion, their costumes or actions; but if we don’t ask and be open we will never learn or understand them! And if you think about it, I don’t think they know much about the Christian religion either. Simply the general believe is that we don’t want them here! I know we’ve been listening a lot about Muslim attacks, but how many times we have listened to White Supremacism attacks? Because it’s the same! There’s always extremisms and we should never judge someone looking at the extremism example, don’t you think?
Esa and Rachel base their cases on talking with the people involved and proofs, that’s what makes the case interesting and real, you could understand how the case in investigated and the point of view of everyone (even the attackers). This case will be quite complex, with white supremacists’ verbal abuse, romance and family problems our detectives will not have an easy time, they will visit the hospital a couple of times! But they will discover the truth, risking their lives, as always but worth the sacrifice!
A Deadly Divide is the book everyone should read to understand the Muslim conflict, twisted and gripping, it is the perfect read! Ready?
In this book we will have two different cases (or only one?), there’s been a terrorist attack in a mesquite with a lot of victims… There’s one clear suspect for the police, the Wolf Allegiance, but Rachel and Esa don’t see it so clear and want to know more about the victims. On the other side we will discover that someone has been stalking Esa for months, yes MONTHS! and now he has started receiving menacing messages and weird photos. What do they want from him? Since the beginning I thought that these were two different cases, with no relation between them… but you’ll have to read the book if you want to know the truth, of course!
The story as always is interesting, the race and white power is again at the centre of the hurricane, the little village where the attack has happened is scared of the immigration, because even if they say it’s hate, I always believed that is fear. Fear of the unknown, because it’s true that we don’t know much about the Muslim religion, their costumes or actions; but if we don’t ask and be open we will never learn or understand them! And if you think about it, I don’t think they know much about the Christian religion either. Simply the general believe is that we don’t want them here! I know we’ve been listening a lot about Muslim attacks, but how many times we have listened to White Supremacism attacks? Because it’s the same! There’s always extremisms and we should never judge someone looking at the extremism example, don’t you think?
Esa and Rachel base their cases on talking with the people involved and proofs, that’s what makes the case interesting and real, you could understand how the case in investigated and the point of view of everyone (even the attackers). This case will be quite complex, with white supremacists’ verbal abuse, romance and family problems our detectives will not have an easy time, they will visit the hospital a couple of times! But they will discover the truth, risking their lives, as always but worth the sacrifice!
A Deadly Divide is the book everyone should read to understand the Muslim conflict, twisted and gripping, it is the perfect read! Ready?
bookwrm526's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
bookqueen82's review
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
kgraham10's review against another edition
3.0
The author picks timely and interesting topics. The main characters are interesting and developed. And they continue to progress during the books.
My critique on these mysteries include
1) Not much police work is done or shown (procedurals).
2) The flow of the mysteries are often interrupted by asides. The history is interesting but it should be more integrated into the story line.
3) We are often told what people feel but the motivations don't always match.
My critique on these mysteries include
1) Not much police work is done or shown (procedurals).
2) The flow of the mysteries are often interrupted by asides. The history is interesting but it should be more integrated into the story line.
3) We are often told what people feel but the motivations don't always match.
creeker868's review against another edition
3.0
Tackles current topics (islamophobia/racism, immigration) and makes you think. I think I need to read the earlier books in the series.
leonorekoki's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0