Blackwater Falls: A Thriller

A Publishers Weekly Best Mystery of 2022!
New York Post "Required Reading"
A We Are Bookish "November Most-Anticipated Book"

"Impressive. . . Khan is far too good to let the narrative devolve into a cliched showdown between immigrants and xenophobic locals. And Inaya is a fabulous character--shrewd and stalwart, yes, but also complicated and fully fleshed-out, as is the marginalized Syrian community of Blackwater Falls"--New York Times Book Review, "Editor's Choice"

"In a violent, divided town, Inaya is our moral center, with an unstinting gaze. Blackwater Falls is a tense and propulsive read from the start all the way through to its surprising, piercingly sad final chapter."--Washington Post

"Stunning . . . Kahn brilliantly depicts the complexities of her characters and the tensions of a multicultural American community struggling with bias, fear, and corruption. At once suspenseful, moving, and thought-provoking, this is not to be missed."--Publishers Weekly (Starred)

"Enthralling and intense, the plot unfurls a perceptive exploration of faith, race, gender roles, immigration, intolerance, and community. This is a masterfully crafted thriller that doesn't disappoint from beginning to end."--Booklist (Starred)

"An extremely timely and original thriller."--Buzzfeed, "20 New Mystery and Thriller Novels Coming Out This Fall"

"Inaya Rahman is leading the fiercest new detective series on the block."--Ms. Magazine, "November 2022 Reads for the Rest of Us"

"Khan's fast-moving but thoughtful series debut goes far beyond newcomers-vs.-racists tropes to look at real life in a changing town. Rahman is a tough, lovable, and often funny protagonist who will appeal to fans of Joanna Schaffhausen's Annalisa Vega."--First Clue

A complex and timely novel...Inaya is a well-portrayed character. The themes of violence and social justice resonate in Blackwater Falls and make for a compelling read."--Mystery & Suspense Magazine

"Clear your calendar--there's a new crime series from Ausma Zehanat Khan! Khan's brilliant balance of propulsive thought-provoking storytelling and timely themes resonates in every riveting book; with her tight plotting, intense characters, cinematic settings, and focus on social justice. Blackwater Falls is the first in what is sure to be an acclaimed and long-running series--do not miss this!" --Hank Phillippi Ryan, USA Today bestselling author of The First To Lie

"No one has a greater talent for exploring complex global issues through beautifully drawn, nuanced characters than Ausma Zehanat Khan. Blackwater Falls is a triumph, bringing to life an intricate mystery that features diverse characters with differing interpretations of justice. This is an exceptional novel that engaged both my head and heart." --Hilary Davidson, bestselling author of Her Last Breath

"Ausma Zehanat Khan's Blackwater Falls is a novel you will read in one sitting; a compelling, tense thriller from one of the most exciting, authentic voices in suspense fiction. This masterful series debut will leave you impatiently waiting for the next installment. --Jennifer Hillier, bestselling author of Things We Do in the Dark

"Timely, haunting, and immersive, Blackwater Falls is a powerful opening chapter to Khan's evocative series. While it honors the tropes and elements of the genre, Blackwater Falls deftly pushes things forward, creating a character and setting that feels fresh and wholly original. An of-the-moment crime novel that you shouldn't miss." --Alex Segura, acclaimed author of Secret Identity and the Anthony Award-nominated Pete Fernandez Miami Mystery series

"Poignant and powerful . . . Blackwater Falls is a page-turning, pulse-racing headlong jump into a complicated, nuanced community--one that Detective Inaya Rahman and her colleagues are determined to shake up. An astonishing, moving story. I can't wait for more!"--Uzma Jalaluddin, bestselling author of Hana Khan Carries On

"With multi-faceted characters you'll cheer for, and a taut, propulsive storyline Blackwater Falls is as surprising as it is evocative. This is crime fiction at its absolute finest." --Hannah Mary McKinnon, internationally bestselling author of Never Coming Home

"This book opens with a bang and doesn't let up. The sensitive and illuminating way that Khan writes about and illustrates the Muslim culture and the way "ordinary" Americans react to this culture in a time that is fraught with division as well as racial hatred and suspicion makes this book not just a good read, it's a must read. This is definitely one of the reads of the year."--Aunt Agatha's