Blackwater Falls is a brand-new police procedural mystery series about Inaya Rahman, a female Muslim detective in Colorado.

What appealed to you the most in this story?

I was really drawn to how unique this story was, and the variety of cultures represented in it. This was a story about more than a murder, and it takes on a very complex situation involving politics, possible dirty cops, and prejudices. As I read, I felt like I learned more about some of the problems facing Muslims and refugees from other countries.

How was the pace?

This story held a steady pace and there were enough twists and turns to keep me interested for the most part. It took me a bit to start getting into the book due to everything and character being thrown at me during the very beginning of the story, and it got a little confusing with so many side characters as I continued to read. There was a lot of backstory detail (which is normal for the first book in a series) and the inner monologues began to become repetitive.

How was the romance?

I think it detracted from the story and I just didn’t buy into it.

Do you recommend this book?

If you like starting a new series and police procedurals, then check this one out.

Thank you, Minotaur Books, for this gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.

Synopsis: Girls from immigrant communities have been disappearing for months in the Colorado town of Blackwater Falls, but the local sheriff is slow to act and the fates of the missing girls largely ignored. At last, the calls for justice become too loud to ignore when the body of a star student and refugee--the Syrian teenager Razan Elkader--is positioned deliberately in a mosque.

Detective Inaya Rahman and Lieutenant Waqas Seif of the Denver Police are recruited to solve Razan’s murder, and quickly uncover a link to other missing and murdered girls. But as Inaya gets closer to the truth, Seif finds ways to obstruct the investigation. Inaya may be drawn to him, but she is wary of his motives: he may be covering up the crimes of their boss, whose connections in Blackwater run deep.

Inaya turns to her female colleagues, attorney Areesha Adams and Detective Catalina Hernandez, for help in finding the truth. The three have bonded through their experiences as members of vulnerable groups and now they must work together to expose the conspiracy behind the murders before another girl disappears.

Yesterday

Yesterday was all about hiding from the cold and watching college football, so I put some chili in the crockpot. This recipe for Cooking Classy is one I’ve been making for years and is always a hit!

For dinner Web requested Half-Baked Harvest’s Oven Fried Southern Hot Honey Popcorn Chicken. This is another household favorite and so super easy to make. Plus it’s healthier since the chicken is baked instead of fried, and had tons of flavor. my only change to the recipe is to 4x the breading ingredients. You need a lot for four children breasts.