Man, I love this series. The relationships and mysteries are complex and feel real. People learn from their mistakes, think about how their actions impact others, and grow over time. The audiobooks are outstanding. So sad I will have to wait awhile for the next one. ( )

"In the glare of the volunteers' flashlights, Rachel had her first look at a boat arriving from Turkey. It was a small rubber craft designed for twenty people, but double that number were crammed aboard, sitting on each other's laps, children packed into the middle, silent and numb with cold. A few of the older boys who could swim were clinging to the sides of the boat, treading water to prevent the boat from sinking under the weight of such a load. Families were squeezed together--the elderly, the middle-aged, the young--small children and babies gripped in their mothers' arms." (169)

The Canadian Community Police duo of Detective Esa Khattak and Sergeant Rachel Getty travel to the Greek island of Lesvos, the base of a huge refugee camp of displaced Syrians and others in the region fleeing for their lives. While Esa and Rachel are concerned about the humanitarian crisis, they have been sent to find out what happened to Audrey Clare. She just happens to be Esa's best friend's sister so the search is both a police and a personal matter. Audrey was last seen running from her tent, which headquartered the privately sponsored Women2Women Organization she supported, after an Interpol leader and a refugee were shot and killed there. This first-rate mystery/suspense novel is No. 4 in the series. It's best to read them in order because A Dangerous Crossing goes back to previous events and relationships with little in the way of explanation.

I have learned much about the world of refugees and injustices from this series. Esa is a practicing Muslim, and the author shows the religion at its best and worst. Ms. Kahn has credibility with her doctorate in International Human Rights Law and compassion for refugees. This book showcases the tragedy in Syria under the Assad regime that has resulted in the overcrowded camps in Europe where people exist with little hope for the future. Be certain to read the Author's Note at the end of the book to get more insight into the complicated ongoing situation in the Middle East. ( )

This is the fourth full length novel in Khan’s Esa Khattak & Rachel Getty mystery series, and quite possibly the best. It certainly is the most heartbreaking. Like her previous novels, the mystery is set against a backdrop of a humanitarian crisis. The Unquiet Dead dealt with the aftermath of the Srebrenica massacre, The Language of Secret with stopping a terror attack on Canadian soil, Among the Ruins discusses the Iranian regime and their torture of political dissidents, and this book brings the Syrian crisis into full view. It is devastating.

It is difficult for me to separate feelings about the book from feelings about the events in Syria and the plight of the Syrian people, both as refugees fleeing their homeland and those left behind. Khan has a PhD in International Human Rights Law and you can tell this is something she cares about deeply. Her characters care deeply and as a reader, you can’t help but care, too.

We’re given more insight into the main characters, their personal lives, including budding romance, but at no point does it overwhelm the greater narrative. As always, there are multiple layers of complexity to the story and nothing is as simple as it seems on the surface. I love that. I don’t want to give anything away, so I’ll just say have a box of tissues with you while you read, but know that even in the darkness, there is light, and be prepared to be angry enough to need to take action. Find the helpers, as believe Mr. Rogers said, and join them. That’s my plan. ( )

I received this book in a goodreads giveaway. The story was intriguing but more importantly I found this book a real learning experience. I learned so much about the war in syria, and the refugee crisis. I listen to the news and I read but still there was so much that I did not know. This book really helped me to understand the situation more fully. I also learned a lot about the International Criminal Court. I consider this an important read. Highly recommend. ( )

ausma zehanat khan holds a Ph.D. in international human rights law, with a research specialization in military intervention and war crimes in the balkans. in each of her novels in the getty & khattak series she brings her experiences into her stories. though the characters are based in toronto, their work, khan's mysteries, have taken readers to bosnia, and iran, and examined radical islamists in canada. in this new story, getty & khattak travel to greece in search of a canadian NGO worker who has vanished from a syrian refugee camp - we are given a very up close experience of the syrian crisis in all its horrors.

as with her past novels in the series, there are heartbreaking moments, yet the astounding strength and perseverance of the human sprit shines through. i really enjoy khan's style of storytelling. in bringing such difficult subjects to life, she displays incredible kindness and sensitivity. her characters are flawed and evolving, and her settings are vividly brought to life. while the mysteries anchor each story, these books are as much about the characters as they are about solving crimes. i do feel a dangerous crossing wobbled a little bit with the esa and sehr storyline, but it will be interesting to see how this plays out. (i suggest reading the series in order as histories are built upon, and certain aspects carry forward from one book to the next.) i often feel that the character of esa khattak reminds me of louise penny's wonderful armand gamache. if you are a fan of the three pines series, i think you will enjoy the getty & khattak series too. (with one caveat: the supporting cast in khan's books aren't as large a presence, and are not as quirktastic as penny's.)

we often hear about the ability of fiction to improve empathy in readers and i feel like this is something khan takes seriously. khan includes informative afterwords in each of her books, which help anchor her fiction in reality, and add depth to the reading experience - i always find these sections of her work fascinating and helpful. ( )