The Language of Secrets

November 30, 2015
Loosely based on a terrorist plot foiled by Canadian law enforcement in 2006, Khan’s engaging sequel to 2014’s The Unquiet Dead finds Esa Khattak, the head of Toronto’s Community Policing Section, investigating the murder of an estranged friend, Mohsin Dar, who, unbeknownst to him, infiltrated a Muslim terrorist cell that was planning a devastating attack. Khattak, who still mourns his late wife seven years after her death, struggles daily with his man-in-the-middle role between police and fellow Muslims. But as he and his personable partner, Sgt. Rachel Getty, sprint to uncover out what’s really going on in the cell led by the charismatic Hassan Ashkouri while being kept dangerously in the dark by Khattak’s nemesis, Ciprian Coale, about a larger antiterrorist operation, the stakes suddenly skyrocket with the engagement of Khattak’s headstrong sister, Ruksh, to Ashkouri. Those prepared to slog through the blizzard of poetry used to convey clues will be rewarded by a gripping climax in the snowy wilderness of Ontario’s Algonquin Park. Agent: Danielle Burby, Hannigan Salky Getzler.

July 4, 2016
Ganim has a pleasing baritone voice, but it is used to little effect on this audio. Though a heightened performance is not called for here, Ganim barely distinguishes speakersâmale and female, Arabic and Canadianâand adds little drama to characters' thoughts and actions in a variety of dangerous situations. This is partly due to the limitations of the book. Khan's second novel, like her first, features Esa Khattak, the head of Canada's Community Policing Section, and his sidekick, Sgt. Rachel Getty. This time around the two are investigating the murder of Khattak's estranged friend, Mohsin Dar, who, unbeknownst to Khattak, infiltrated a Muslim terrorist cell that was planning a devastating attack. But as he and his personable partner, Sgt. Rachel Getty, sprint to uncover out what's really going on in the cell led by the charismatic Hassan Ashkouri, the stakes suddenly skyrocket with the engagement of Khattak's headstrong sister, Ruksh, to Ashkouri. The book deals with the discrimination and emotional contradictions faced by Arab-Canadians, but the plot is often confusing, the characters leaden, and the tensions muted. Ganim is best when he's simply narrating the story of Khattak's search for a friend's murderer and Sgt. Getty's attempt to infiltrate a terrorist group plotting a Toronto bombing on New Year's Eve. A Minotaur hardcover.

June 15, 2016

Khan revisits the foiled 2006 "Toronto 18" bombing plot as a touchstone for her characters' current case. After an undercover officer is murdered, Canadian Inspector Esa Khattak is assigned to keep the agent's top-secret terrorist investigation under wraps. Despite his hands-off orders, Esa, a Muslim, doggedly stalks his friend's murderer by embedding partner Rachel Getty at a Toronto mosque to pose as an initiate. Rachel quickly amasses clues and suspects, but her unofficial status means she and Esa are on their own. Khan describes the Jihadist mind-set and Muslim culture in detail, in effect embedding the listener at Rachel's side. She tightens the noose as Detective Getty becomes increasingly imperiled and is eventually snowed in at a Jihadist training camp with no backup. Peter Ganim imbues Esa's voice with gentleness and patience, while the bad guys simmer with malevolence. VERDICT Fans of cerebral detecting and vicarious danger will be absorbed. ["A heartfelt novel for lovers of crime fiction and anyone interested in the complexities of living as a Muslim in the West today": LJ 12/15 starred review of the Minotaur: St. Martin's hc.]--Judith Robinson, Univ. at Buffalo

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