If you like strong, independent women solving crimes and taking names, this is the book for you! I spent most of the month of November reading this along with other members of the LBT Crew.

About the Book

Sidra Ali has just made it home after a date. Opening the door, her blood runs cold as she realises the caller is here to take her life…

When a young Asian woman is found brutally murdered in her North London home, DS Mumtaz ‘Moomy’ Ali begins the investigation, but is blindsided by a case with no obvious motive.

When a second female victim is found, with no obvious links to Sidra apart from also having her throat slit, it seems Moomy is up against every detective’s nightmare… a serial killer bringing terror to the streets of London.

As the case deepens, Moomy and her detective partner Sarah Heaton uncover a sinister underground group brought together by their hatred of women. But their roots run deep, and they count some very powerful people in their number.

To stop the bloodshed, Moomy must delve into the darkest corners of the internet, a place where hatred festers, unchecked – but she needs to be fast, because the killer has their sights set on her…

A hard-hitting, ripped-from-the-headlines detective novel with a shocking twist – fans of Angela Marsons, Cara Hunter and Ajay Chowdhury won’t be able to put this down.

My Thoughts

I really appreciated the strong female leads in this book. A stark contrast to the vile, misogynistic men at the heart of the crimes being committed. The fact that they were Muslim, offering insight into a culture that so many of us Westerners – especially in the United States – don’t know much about or understand was very edifying. It is always interesting to me to see different cultures and experiences. I did realize pretty quickly that this was the second book in a series and I hadn’t read the first one. It can be read as a standalone, but I felt a little like I’d walked into a movie part way and I was supposed to know who people were and I didn’t. Or like when you attend a party where everyone else knows each other, so you never quite catch on to the conversation and always feel just a little off and to the outside. I enjoyed the book though, so I’m definitely going to go back and find the first one because I’d love to see more of Sarah and Moommy and their team.

I thoroughly enjoyed all of the characters in the main team. They are great together, and delightful. Reading the back matter, I know some of them returned and some were new. I look forward to seeing where they came from and how they develop in the future. People who don’t read or watch crime books and shows have said things like how do these people watch this stuff. It can get pretty grizzly, and for some of it, I tap out. But those relationships, the beautiful human element, is what I’m here for. Friendship and romance forged by fire turn into beautiful stained glass.

Throughout the book, both main female characters kept talking about how people wrongly assumed that Muslim women were oppressed. I can’t claim to know either way, but I would say that I’m not convinced because of this book. A man wrote it. I just recommend always making sure you realize who has written what you’re reading. It’s a great story, but I’d believe that portion of it more if the person who wrote it identified as a woman.

The writing was engaging and kept the plot moving along. There were plenty of twists and turns to keep us guessing. I had no idea who the killer was going to be, right there alongside the team. The short chapters made it too easy to keep turning the pages and reading. Multiple POVs can be tricky, but the author did well with them.

I look forward to more books in this series and will go back and read the one before this. I think the author has developed an interesting team and characters. I am grateful to the author and Love Books Tours for including me in this month-long read-along. That experience always allows for an in-depth reading and analysis unlike others, and I always enjoy it. If you’d like to see my answers to some interesting questions, check my Instagram feed.

Who’s It For?

Those who enjoy a complicated, twisty murder mystery that deals with serious issues will enjoy this book. I would personally recommend starting with the first book, as I never prefer starting with a second one. But if you don’t mind it, the book did work as a standalone.

Content Warnings: Violence, especially toward women; Sexual content/assault; Racism; Xenophobia; Religious Ideology; Sexism; Pregnancy; Murder; and More. This is not meant to be a complete list of all issues that may trigger someone.

About the Author

Alex Khan has spent over a decade working in Information Systems Security for a number of government organisations, and is currently specialising in Terrorism Studies. A lifetime passion for writing was sparked by the encouraging words of an English Teacher in school, and eventually led to Alex successfully completing an MA in Creative Writing.

---

---