3.5 rounded up- professional behaviour used to solve the mystery questionable at times and the resolution a bit rushed.
Many 1-star reviews deplored the “politics” of the novel (and, yes, that verb is appropriate). I look forward to the continuation of these stories by Ms. Khan and reading her earlier works too. Having taught English learners for many years (and having been one myself), I found the representation of difficulties faced by immigrant communities quite plausible.
That being said, there are some triggering elements- primarily violence against immigrants, mostly women, and a rather gleeful attitude by bigots in power as they inflict harm on others- which, while I know it exists- may not be as widespread in most communities as is represented here; this appears to be the main trigger for 1-star reviews. Slaughterhouse description may be too detailed for some. ( )

Love the family values and complex characters and thrill, felt a little too perfect and the love story a little stilted, but I love Khan’s writing. ( )

The population of this small mountain town was Xenophobic and raciest. Not a place that anyone that didn't look like them and think like them was anything but welcome. Needless to say that tension was always high thanks to the evangelical, anti-immigrant Resurrection Church, and the motorcycle-riding vigilantes that called themselves "The Disciples". Members of minority groups have filed multiple useless complaints against the church but thanks to it's "Resurrection Church crony, Sheriff Addison Grant and his like-minded deputies the went into "file 13" never to be seen again or acted on in the first place. When the corpse of 16-year-old Syrian refugee, Razan Elkader is found stripped of her hijab and nailed to the door of her local mosque in a “gruesome representation of the crucifixion, the Denver Police Department’s Community Response Unit takes over the investigation. Led by Lt. Waqas Seif, the CRU’s mandate is to provide accountability and transparency to overpoliced communities. Seif taps Det. Inaya Rahman to head locally though she, her parents, and her younger sisters only moved to the area six months ago, and they worship at the Blackwater Mosque. Inaya has had prior experience working homicide with success. With the help from Det. Catalina Hernandez and civil rights attorney Areesha Adams, Inaya probes Razan’s murder while searching for two missing Somali girls whom Grant previously dismissed as runaways. Lots of immigrants mysteriously "disappear" from this town. Seif pushes back on efforts to implicate Grant, prompting Inaya to question his allegiance. The author's third-person narrative tells the story mostly from Inaya’s perspective, showing the difficult details of her struggles to fairly combine her faith with the realities of her law enforcement career. Occasional chapters from Seif’s point of view add context and help to heighten the tension. The mystery is very convoluted, and the characters are rampant with stereotypes. All that seems to lessen the tale’s impact that the author was obviously striving so diligently for...but Inaya's character is completely wonderful, complex, and compassionate I believe that it will maybe be nearly impossible for readers that have never experienced the prejudices and challenges that some people of different nationalities and religions have been subjected to will completely understand what the author is trying to show with this story...but they will see that those things are alive and thieving where we least expect them. ( )

The author did a great job of portraying the complexities of change in rural America. Detective Rahman is a woman and Muslim and single, all of which are difficult to navigate as the officer in charge of the killing of a young Muslim girl. There are many twists and turns in this character and issue driven mystery. Compelling and thought provoking. ( )

I've read the author in the past and, once again, this book is a deft handling of politics and religion and of people attempting to maintain their identity.
Two missing girls, a third murdered and a vast array of suspects. The characters are quite interesting and diverse, but, perhaps, too many for one book. It does take an interesting look at the multiple agendas the police might be balancing.
Some suspense was maintained in searching for the killer, but the solution was disappointing. I thought too many false leads, then, suddenly, the missing clue is revealed and the murderer confesses. ( )