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Among the Ruins
Among the Ruins | Ausma Zehanat Khan
41 posts | 22 read | 22 to read
On leave from Canadas Community Policing department, Esa Khattak is traveling in Iran, reconnecting with his cultural heritage and seeking peace in the countrys beautiful mosques and gardens. But Khattaks supposed break from work is cut short when hes approached by a Canadian government agent in Iran, asking him to look into the death of renowned Canadian-Iranian filmmaker Zahra Sobhani. Zahra was murdered at Irans notorious Evin prison, where shed been seeking the release of a well-known political prisoner. Khattak quickly finds himself embroiled in Irans tumultuous politics and under surveillance by the regime, but when the trail leads back to Zahras family in Canada, Khattak calls on his partner, Detective Rachel Getty, for help. Rachel uncovers a conspiracy linked to the Shah of Iran and the decades-old murders of a group of Irans most famous dissidents. Historic letters, a connection to the Royal Ontario Museum, and a smuggling operation on the Caspian Sea are just some of the threads Rachel and Khattak begin unraveling, while the list of suspects stretches from Tehran to Toronto. But as Khattak gets caught up in the fate of Irans political prisoners, Rachel sees through to the heart of the matter: Zahras murder may not have been a political crime at all. From Ausma Zehanat Khan, the critically acclaimed author of The Unquiet Dead and The Language of Secrets, comes Among the Ruins, another powerful novel exploring the interplay of politics and religion, and the intensely personal ripple effects of one womans murder.
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review
Jolynne
Among the Ruins | Ausma Zehanat Khan
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Pickpick

Book #3 in a series of 5.

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CaitlinR
Among the Ruins | Ausma Zehanat Khan
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Pickpick

Reading Ausma Zehanat Khan‘s novels provides a deep introduction to the culture and politics of the setting she has chosen. In this novel Esa Khattack and (later) Rachel Getty are in Iran. — and the political situation could not be more perilous. An attempt is made to trade knowledge of the theft of an incredible jewel for the freedom of a political prisoner.

Great story. Well worth the read.

11 likes1 stack add
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TrishB
Among the Ruins | Ausma Zehanat Khan
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Pickpick

This is another good one in this series 👍🏻 didn‘t really guess what was going on and lots of threads of the story everywhere.
Also learned a lot about Iran to counteract all the negative stereotypes that we always hear in the UK.

squirrelbrain Sounds like a good one! Hope the hair is looking fab! 4y
TrishB @squirrelbrain I love newly done hair 😁❤️ 4y
Cathythoughts I have this one on kindle TBR ! Nice to have new hair 👍🏻😊 4y
70 likes3 comments
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TrishB
Among the Ruins | Ausma Zehanat Khan
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Hairdresser reading, my reading has been woeful this week, too busy in work. Taken a day off to pamper. Roll on end of term.

MicheleinPhilly Good for you! Enjoy! 4y
Sace Enjoy! You deserve it 😊 4y
Amiable Celebrate you! 4y
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Cathythoughts Enjoy the pampering 👍🏻🥰 4y
Cinfhen 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 4y
Cinfhen Roll on 🙏🏼 4y
batsy Enjoy your day off 💜 4y
squirrelbrain You deserve a pampering day! Have a good one... 😘 4y
Balibee146 Enjoy.....wont be too long now 😘😘 4y
Megabooks Enjoy! 💙💙 4y
Caroline2 I haven‘t done much reading this wk either! Been a mental wk!!! 🙄 4y
91 likes12 comments
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TrishB
Among the Ruins | Ausma Zehanat Khan
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Started this one on today‘s train journey. Man next to me reading a John Connolly/Charlie Parker book and woman opposite me reading Stephen King. At least no one is talking!! 😁

rockpools You‘ve found the ideal seat! Have a good journey 😁 4y
squirrelbrain The past few weeks there‘s *always* someone talking on my commute. I give them the Paddington hard stare and then put my headphones in! 4y
Cathythoughts You are in good company so 👍🏻❤️ 4y
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Cinfhen Happy travels 4y
Kalalalatja Sounds like the perfect train companions 👌 4y
DGRachel 💖my favorite author 💖 4y
87 likes6 comments
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Lizpixie
Among the Ruins | Ausma Zehanat Khan
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I didn‘t even realise it was past midnight till now, so this time is 1/2hr over. It‘s 12.30am so officially I managed 23.5hrs in the #24B4Monday #readathon Almost got there🤗 I managed to finish 4 books(2graphic novels, I Crime & 1 “chicklit”)& half finish another crime novel. Not bad considering I lost over a full day in the beginning.

BeansPage Go girl! GO!!! 4y
TrishB Well done 😁 4y
Andrew65 I‘d still take that as a win and you completing the 24 hours during the Readathon. A great weekend for you. 🥳🥳🥳👏👏👏👏🙌👍😁 4y
48 likes3 comments
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Lizpixie
Among the Ruins | Ausma Zehanat Khan
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I have been getting back into my choice for #MuslimAuthorOrMC for #Booked2019 as my last book for #24B4Monday #readathon Not sure if I‘ll make the 24hr mark, it‘s 8.30pm Sunday here, but I‘m trying! I‘m at just over 20.8hrs & there‘s 3.5hrs to go. Cutting it close I think but maybe🤷🏻‍♀️

Cinfhen Amazing time!!! You can do it!!! 4y
Andrew65 Good luck, an amazing time whatever. 👏👏👏👏🙌 4y
alisiakae You can do it!! 🎉🎉📚 4y
jb72 Wow! That‘s a fantastic time so far! 4y
BarbaraTheBibliophage Hope you made it! 4y
58 likes5 comments
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MallenNC
Among the Ruins | Ausma Zehanat Khan
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In this book Canadian detective Esa Khattak travels to Iran. He‘s there for a personal trip but since this is a detective series, he gets involved in a mystery when a filmmaker is killed in Evin #prison. This is a great series. #LetsTravelAugust

OriginalCyn620 👌🏻👮🏻‍♂️⛓ 5y
27 likes1 comment
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sherryvdh
Among the Ruins | Ausma Zehanat Khan
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Thanks for the tag, @StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego
1⃣Often, about my next sleep 😴
2⃣Newspaper carrier
3⃣Probably have to bail on the tagged book for now. I've got a few other library books out with long wait lists, so I'll get back to it when my current holds settle down again.
4⃣ More mystery than thriller, but Robert Galbraith's Cormorant Strike series, and the series from the tagged book has been interesting too.
5⃣ All of you!
@Eggs

Eggs Newsgirl-love it🤗💗 5y
30 likes1 comment
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Lizpixie
Among the Ruins | Ausma Zehanat Khan
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#BookMail Pt11 Wow.And I haven‘t even got to the huge mail from yesterday! Maybe the hubs is right,I do have a problem🤔This is the third book in Khan‘s Khattak/Getty series about a Muslim Detective & his partner in Canada. This one sees Esa Khattak touring his home country of Iran while on leave,visiting beautiful mosques & gardens. But it‘s cut short when a Canadian Givernment agent asks him to look into the death of a Canadian-Iranian activist.

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howjessicareads
Among the Ruins | Ausma Zehanat Khan
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Pickpick

I‘ve really been enjoying this series. 😍 #howjessreadsin2019

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Penny_LiteraryHoarders
Among the Ruins | Ausma Zehanat Khan
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Mehso-so

This was just okay for me too. 😭😭😭 I need that knock out book!! This felt pretty clinical - the insertion of political facts felt too textbook and clinical breaking the flow for me.

I also read this using the Bluefire reading app. Never again. You can't see where you're at, you can't move back easily to the table of contents, no page numbers, you can't change font size. 😝 So I won't be reading using that app ever again.

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Penny_LiteraryHoarders
Among the Ruins | Ausma Zehanat Khan
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This is also for the 2029 #ReadingWomenChallenge - Task #1 A mystery/thriller by a woman of colour.

Reading on my tablet - something I haven't done in a very long time.

DGRachel I love Ausma‘s books. They‘re so good. (edited) 5y
Penny_LiteraryHoarders @DGRachel 👍 I really loved the first one! (Oops skipped #2 and went right into #3) 5y
29 likes2 comments
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slhbooks
Among the Ruins | Ausma Zehanat Khan
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The cats are fed. It is STILL snowing. 3 more inches expected on top of the, I don‘t know, 14” we got yesterday. What to do but start a new book📚 I‘m really looking forward to this one. Her other two were quite good. Much of this one takes place in Iran so I think I‘ll learn a little something along the way.
#reallyneedmyuffdamugtoday

8little_paws Ughhhhh I'm so sorry 6y
Bette We're still getting snow too, I thought it was supposed to slow, but no. Just bailed on my book, so looking for the next 📚 6y
slhbooks @Bette Isn‘t this nuts? Just 2” more to go! How are your snow totals looking?? 6y
Bette Not sure, I do know they closed roads yesterday due to white outs. Today it is still coming but not as thick. But that's Mn. 😜 just wish it wasn't in April. 🌨❄️🌬 6y
32 likes4 comments
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CoffeeK8
Among the Ruins | Ausma Zehanat Khan
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Pickpick

Gripping thriller set in Canada and Iran, the use of art, international politics and technology was fascinating. I cannot wait read the next one!

MuddyPuddle @CoffeeK8 Can you read this one easily without reading the first two in the series? 6y
CoffeeK8 @MuddyPuddle there‘s some reference to the previous books but I think you can get it pretty easily. It was similar to 3 pines, can be standalone but you get a deeper story if read in order 6y
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CoffeeK8
Among the Ruins | Ausma Zehanat Khan
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Sneaking in a little reading during my son‘s piano lessons 🎹💖

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CoffeeK8
Among the Ruins | Ausma Zehanat Khan
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I‘m really enjoying this book. Usually I race through thrillers but I have to keep stopping and thinking... so much of the history incorporated in the book is really unfamiliar

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CoffeeK8
Among the Ruins | Ausma Zehanat Khan
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I‘m not sure which of us was more surprised on my #audiowalk this morning 🦌

FlowerFairy Beautiful!!! 6y
AmyG 💕 6y
JanuarieTimewalker13 So sweet❤️ 6y
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Gezemice This seems like a fascinating book. 6y
CoffeeK8 @Gezemice it it, I 💖 this author!! 6y
61 likes1 stack add6 comments
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CoffeeK8
Among the Ruins | Ausma Zehanat Khan
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❄️ day = more time for 📚

CoverToCoverGirl The best kinda days... hoping for one just like it tomorrow .. two back to back storms coming our way starting in the wee hours of the morning 🤞 6y
Cinfhen Whoa 😲 I‘m feeling lucky 🍀 my flight is scheduled to leave on time...hope to see you Sunday 😊will email you 6y
CoffeeK8 @Cinfhen My FIL is flying in today too. He‘s got a one hr delay but everything seems to be moving at the airports 6y
Gezemice Gorgeous picture. 6y
46 likes5 comments
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dsfisher
Among the Ruins | Ausma Zehanat Khan
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Pickpick

This is the third Esa Khattak & Rachel Getty mystery and I have to highly recommend this series. The storyline and the twist were were almost secondary to the characters and their relationships. The setting in Iran was fascinating.

DGRachel Yay!! Now you just have to read the novella and you‘ll be all set to wait (im)patiently with me for Book 4! 6y
saguarosally I have got to get going on the first one. I saw her at Tucson Festival of Books earlier this year and she was fantastic! (edited) 6y
58 likes1 stack add2 comments
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MicheleinPhilly
Among the Ruins | Ausma Zehanat Khan
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Little Free Library score! I JUST purchased book 2 in this series the other day and have had book 1 for an age. Perhaps I should read them. 🤔

cathysaid Sooooo good...IMHO 😁 6y
TrishB I have brought the first of these too - on @DGRachel recommendation. Not got to yet! 6y
DGRachel Yes! I love this series and Ausma Zehanat Khan. I will read anything she writes. I got my mom hooked. 😊 6y
Hooked_on_books I read book one recently. Outstanding. 6y
75 likes4 comments
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dsfisher
Among the Ruins | Ausma Zehanat Khan
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1️⃣ @DGRachel Christmas flamingo panel she appliqués and embellished.
2️⃣ Hope to finish 3-4
3️⃣ A plant
4️⃣ Groceries
5️⃣ USA, Charlotte

@MinDea

DGRachel Those little pieces were a b**** to appliqué. ? 6y
Laura317 That‘s awesome! I have a pen that‘s flamingo in a Santa hat my daughter gave me. It makes his appearance every December 1. 6y
callielafleur I love this!!!! I need more Christmas flamingoes in my life. 6y
See All 9 Comments
mabell Nice work @DGRachel ! 6y
DGRachel @Laura317 ooh! I need one of those! @mabell @ElishaLovesBooks Thanks! @callielafleur One can never have too many flamingoes! 6y
Mollyanna I love the Christmas flamingoes! 6y
Amandajoy I love flamingoes! That‘s great! 6y
BookNAround That‘s so cute! 6y
72 likes9 comments
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dsfisher
Among the Ruins | Ausma Zehanat Khan
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This question, so pertinent today. Soul searching

mcipher Human decency to start! 😝 6y
[DELETED] 3803335244 Empathy & compassion. So many are quick to judge others when they are not perfect. Also a little less greed would be nice, helping others. 6y
63 likes3 comments
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untrlvdwrlds
Among the Ruins | Ausma Zehanat Khan
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Sunday morning ritual, reading in bed while my husband sleeps. So peaceful. ❤

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DGRachel
Among the Ruins | Ausma Zehanat Khan
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1️⃣best of August so far is the tagged book-Among the Ruins
2️⃣Nope. I read an article about dust mites and how not making your bed actually exposes more of them to the elements and kills them, so I use that as my excuse. 😉
3️⃣86*
4️⃣Pirates
5️⃣will do!
#friYAYintro

Bostonmomx2 #2 good answer!!! 7y
TheWordJar I use the same not-making-the-bed excuse! Science! 🤓 7y
Daisey That dust mite fact is an awesome reason! 7y
Smarkies I am googling that dust mite excuse now! 😂😂 7y
57 likes4 comments
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DGRachel
Among the Ruins | Ausma Zehanat Khan
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Pickpick

Another great mystery. The writing is fantastic and I absolutely love the recurring characters. Even the secondary characters, though, are well developed.

ChasingOm Good way of sharing your full review! 7y
DGRachel @ChasingOm Thanks!! I'm not good at linking to Goodreads, and this way I didn't have to retype or edit anything either. I'm all for lazy. 😂😂 7y
72 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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DGRachel
Among the Ruins | Ausma Zehanat Khan
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Ugh. Now I want to go find a Persian restaurant. So hungry. 😋

8little_paws There used to be one in my neighborhood , and I loved some of these dishes referenced. 7y
ChasingOm Yum! 7y
ReadingEnvy Oh my gosh I craved Persian so food when I read 7y
58 likes3 comments
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DGRachel
Among the Ruins | Ausma Zehanat Khan
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My Rachel Getty/Esa Khattak series readathon continues with # 3. Plenty of Litsy love for this one, so I'm really excited. The first two were great. I have high hopes.

60 likes2 stack adds
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DGRachel
Among the Ruins | Ausma Zehanat Khan
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My #augustTBR plans include these novels by Ausma Zehanat Khan, whatever my postal book club delivers mid-month, and then whatever strikes my emotional-reader fancy. I joined a private Facebook fan group for Red Rising, and I feel the need for a trilogy reread coming soon. #booksacrossoceans

mellisarock I'm a moody reader too! 😍🙋🏻 7y
pri_bibliophile I never end reading all the books from my tbr too. I end up reading whatever strikes my fancy too! Hahah happy reading!! 7y
59 likes2 comments
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Moonpa
Among the Ruins | Ausma Zehanat Khan
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Pickpick

This third book in the series was wonderful. The action takes place mostly in Iran where Inspector Khattak is touring for a holiday and gets pulled into the murder of an Iranian Canadian filmmaker. His partner Sergeant Getty trying to help from Toronto searches for answers in the recent past and present of Iran's political history and culture. Looking forward to the next one in the series!

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MallenNC
Among the Ruins | Ausma Zehanat Khan
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Pickpick

This is the third installment of a mystery series I really enjoy. The only issue I had was that the two main detectives are separated for much of the novel, but that adds to the tension of the story. This one is set mostly in Iran instead of Canada. I really bought into the level of danger the investigation created for the main characters & the mystery had twists I didn't expect. I am already looking forward to book 4.

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Audrey
Among the Ruins | Ausma Zehanat Khan
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Pickpick

This was an excellent continuation of this series. Most of the book is set in Iraq and I definitely felt the tension for Esa as he was looking into a film maker's murder. Love Rachel and Esa's long distance partnership and the descriptions of various settings in Iraq.

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MallenNC
Among the Ruins | Ausma Zehanat Khan
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I'm terrible at making a #TBR list. As soon as I make one I want to read something else! But these are either books I've started or that I've just gotten, so it will count for a general #MarchTBR for #MarchIntoReading

Reviewsbylola I'm hoping to read The Animators this month too. 7y
17 likes1 comment
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MallenNC
Among the Ruins | Ausma Zehanat Khan
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My friend's second-grader made bookmarks to sell for a school project and I was her first customer. She made them out of duct tape. (I bought two for $1)

OriginalCyn620 Aw! Very cute! 7y
Texreader ❤️❤️❤️ books and entrepreneurship: two of my favorite things! 7y
18 likes3 comments
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MallenNC
Among the Ruins | Ausma Zehanat Khan
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Excited that the new Esa Khattak & Rachel Getty book came in! This is how I'm spending my evening except for a break to watch Jane the Virgin. Pretty good for a Monday.

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mischa
Among the Ruins | Ausma Zehanat Khan
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Pickpick

Yet another fantastic book by Khan. My favourite is still The Unquiet Dead, but this is a close second. This time I learnt a bit about Iran, some of its history and the political unrest and human rights abuses in recent years.

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Thenovellife
Among the Ruins | Ausma Zehanat Khan
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An evening alone with jazz playing and the latest release by Ausma Zehanat Khan. You can't see in this photo but I am only a third way into the book and have sticky notes throughout with questions. What part is actual history and which is fiction?
📖
Fascinating, disturbing and absolutely absorbing.

[DELETED] 3803335244 I sent you a email about Junior Readers. 💜 6y
20 likes1 stack add1 comment
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mischa
Among the Ruins | Ausma Zehanat Khan
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IT HAS ARRIVED. I am so excited to have this arrive on my kindle. I have to do a bunch of housework when I get home tonight but my motivation will now be high so I can get to bed and start reading! 🎉🎉🎉

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MallenNC
Among the Ruins | Ausma Zehanat Khan
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The two books on my #TBR that I'm most excited about for February are these two that are soon to be released. I'm on the list at my library already so I hope I get them as soon as the library does! I love this mystery series by Ausma Zehanat Khan, and I've heard a lot of good things about Exit West, which is about refugees so it's really timely. #FeistyFeb

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Matilda
Among the Ruins | Ausma Zehanat Khan
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Zero plans on moving.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend!

Megabooks Fantastic!! 7y
60 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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Matilda
Among the Ruins | Ausma Zehanat Khan
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Littens I have an announcement: I'll be writing the new Unusual Suspects newsletter for @bookriot that will be all mystery/thrillers! And there's an awesome book giveaway if you want to signup for the newsletter: http://bookriot.com/2016/10/17/introducing-unusual-suspects-new-mysterythriller-...

I'll be muppet arm flailing the rest of the day if you need me.

Cinfhen Congrats on your new gig👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 7y
LeahBergen Woo hoo! 👏🏻👏🏻 7y
theshrinkette So cool! 7y
See All 10 Comments
Verity Congrats! So cool. 7y
Verity (And I've just signed up!) 7y
LauraBrook Yaaaaay! Been wondering why there wasn't a mystery "section" on BR - that's mostly what I read. So excited - and congrats! 7y
DanySpike Awesome! I already signed up! 7y
rachellayown 👍 7y
Carol Woohoo!!! 7y
DebinHawaii Congratulations!! That's awesome! 🎉👍🎉👍🎉 7y
53 likes10 comments