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Hyder Ali #4
The Serial Reporter
A serial killer is targeting Muslims in the city of Franklin and Hyder Ali could be his next victim.
Hyder Ali, a Muslim-American, loses a story to a rival newspaper which makes him question his position at the Daily Times. When a young man's body is found in the dumpster, things suddenly begin to spiral out of control, leaving Hyder more alone than ever.
Hyder Ali, a Muslim-American, loses a story to a rival newspaper which makes him question his position at the Daily Times. When a young man's body is found in the dumpster, things suddenly begin to spiral out of control, leaving Hyder more alone than ever.
295 pages, Paperback
First published October 25, 2014
About the author
Thomas Fincham
77 books157 followerspen name for Mobashar Qureshi
THOMAS FINCHAM holds a graduate degree in Economics. His travels throughout the world have given him an appreciation for other cultures and beliefs. He has lived in Africa, Asia, and North America. An avid reader of mysteries and thrillers, he decided to give writing a try. Several novels later, he can honestly say he has found his calling. He is married with two kids, and he lives in a hundred-year-old house. He is the author of LEE CALLAWAY series, the HYDER ALI series, the MARTIN RHODES series, and the ECHO ROSE series.
THOMAS FINCHAM holds a graduate degree in Economics. His travels throughout the world have given him an appreciation for other cultures and beliefs. He has lived in Africa, Asia, and North America. An avid reader of mysteries and thrillers, he decided to give writing a try. Several novels later, he can honestly say he has found his calling. He is married with two kids, and he lives in a hundred-year-old house. He is the author of LEE CALLAWAY series, the HYDER ALI series, the MARTIN RHODES series, and the ECHO ROSE series.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
February 14, 2018
Good read.
Report Hyder Ali lost the whistleblower investigations he was writing to another paper, because they paid him. His newspaper don't pay, also having financial problems and laying off reports. He suspect behind the killing of Muslim Americans suspect isn't who they think is. Good writing.
Report Hyder Ali lost the whistleblower investigations he was writing to another paper, because they paid him. His newspaper don't pay, also having financial problems and laying off reports. He suspect behind the killing of Muslim Americans suspect isn't who they think is. Good writing.
August 11, 2018
Above all, like all of the Thomas Fincham books that I have read this is a good read. Without being disparaging, I would call it thriller light. This is a short book (230 pages) with a straight story line told well without unnecessary padding with an earnest hero whom you cannot help liking. In fact the whole series has till this point been able to show the development and struggles of Hyder Ali quite well.
What is specially interesting is that this whole series deals beautifully with the life of a devout Muslim who happens to have been born in USA and thus feels himself to be as American as anyone else despite the fact that he comes from a traditional Pakistani family who have chosen to be fully American without giving up their traditions.
In particular, this book deals with the situation of the Muslms in USA more fully because the victims of the serial killer are Muslim men and this naturally leads to analysis and description of hate crimes. I need to emphasise that this is a thriller and not a novel about the plight of Muslims in America. Far from it. The police are shown to be very conscious of the need to solve what appear to be hate crimes as quickly as possible and are as sympathetic to the Muslim community as is possible.
In the rest of the series, Hyder Ali investigates issues of general interest where the Muslim part comes in only because he happens to be a Muslim, though I have enjoyed the descriptions of the Pakistani/Indian food and customs perhaps because I happen to be Indian.
What is quite remarkable is that Thomas Fincham (a pen name of Mobashar Quereshi) who is almost a second generation North American of South Asian descent has chosen not to write social novels but straightforward thrillers. While this series has a Muslim protagonist the other series written by him Martin Rhodes (introduced in this book) and Echo Rose have straightforward American characters where the writer’s ethnicity is successfully irrelevant. I have read the Martin Rhodes series and once again Fincham is very readable.
What is specially interesting is that this whole series deals beautifully with the life of a devout Muslim who happens to have been born in USA and thus feels himself to be as American as anyone else despite the fact that he comes from a traditional Pakistani family who have chosen to be fully American without giving up their traditions.
In particular, this book deals with the situation of the Muslms in USA more fully because the victims of the serial killer are Muslim men and this naturally leads to analysis and description of hate crimes. I need to emphasise that this is a thriller and not a novel about the plight of Muslims in America. Far from it. The police are shown to be very conscious of the need to solve what appear to be hate crimes as quickly as possible and are as sympathetic to the Muslim community as is possible.
In the rest of the series, Hyder Ali investigates issues of general interest where the Muslim part comes in only because he happens to be a Muslim, though I have enjoyed the descriptions of the Pakistani/Indian food and customs perhaps because I happen to be Indian.
What is quite remarkable is that Thomas Fincham (a pen name of Mobashar Quereshi) who is almost a second generation North American of South Asian descent has chosen not to write social novels but straightforward thrillers. While this series has a Muslim protagonist the other series written by him Martin Rhodes (introduced in this book) and Echo Rose have straightforward American characters where the writer’s ethnicity is successfully irrelevant. I have read the Martin Rhodes series and once again Fincham is very readable.
June 29, 2019
Great Book!
I love the way this author pairs the detectives to the most favorable people. Each person adds to making the adventures very interesting for the main characters.
I love the way this author pairs the detectives to the most favorable people. Each person adds to making the adventures very interesting for the main characters.
August 19, 2018
I have read most of the reporter series now and I found them all very readable. The level of detail is exceptional and I am very excited to find stories about a (in our white Anglo-Saxon society) character who is not the same as us.
The Character of Hyder Ali is really cool. Believable and exciting. The plots are intricate and contain enough twists and turns to keep life interesting and to keep the page turning, but it is the characters and their relationships (the good and the bad) that make these books so easy to read.
Many times in one of my bookclubs I find myself saying. "I really don't care a jot about this or that character. I am not interested in their lives or what they do, be it good or bad."
NOT the case with the reporter series. I felt I could relate in some way to all of the characters. And the use of a reporter rather than a lawyer or a cop or a PI is really good as well. A neat device. Nicely handled.
I want more of these books. Have just downloaded The Crystal Towers to try something different. I do not expect to be disappointed.
The Character of Hyder Ali is really cool. Believable and exciting. The plots are intricate and contain enough twists and turns to keep life interesting and to keep the page turning, but it is the characters and their relationships (the good and the bad) that make these books so easy to read.
Many times in one of my bookclubs I find myself saying. "I really don't care a jot about this or that character. I am not interested in their lives or what they do, be it good or bad."
NOT the case with the reporter series. I felt I could relate in some way to all of the characters. And the use of a reporter rather than a lawyer or a cop or a PI is really good as well. A neat device. Nicely handled.
I want more of these books. Have just downloaded The Crystal Towers to try something different. I do not expect to be disappointed.
February 26, 2025
DNF 12%
I tried to read Hyder's series 1st because I originally wanted to try A Killers Heart, the first in Jo's series. That led me to this author's website to find that she was first mentioned in Close Your Eyes, the first book in Rhodes's series. Then noticed that Rhodes is first mentioned in this book. So I decided I'd start with Hyder's series from the beginning obviously. I just couldn't click with Hyder so I decided to skip him entirely and go straight to Rhodes's series. Thus the reason I decided to try this book because it was the first mention of Martin Rhodes, his series sounds interesting. I did try reading the rest of the book thinking maybe that maybe being book 4 the character might have improved for me but no still not a fan of Hyder thus the DNF @ 12%. So instead I skimmed the parts with Martin Rhodes and found I liked the his character quite a bit.
I tried to read Hyder's series 1st because I originally wanted to try A Killers Heart, the first in Jo's series. That led me to this author's website to find that she was first mentioned in Close Your Eyes, the first book in Rhodes's series. Then noticed that Rhodes is first mentioned in this book. So I decided I'd start with Hyder's series from the beginning obviously. I just couldn't click with Hyder so I decided to skip him entirely and go straight to Rhodes's series. Thus the reason I decided to try this book because it was the first mention of Martin Rhodes, his series sounds interesting. I did try reading the rest of the book thinking maybe that maybe being book 4 the character might have improved for me but no still not a fan of Hyder thus the DNF @ 12%. So instead I skimmed the parts with Martin Rhodes and found I liked the his character quite a bit.
June 1, 2019
Multiple mysteries
Not as much procedure as I prefer, lots of emotion . Hyder Ali is devastated when his best friend Lester is to be fired from the Daily News . At the same time he has met Martin Rhodes, he picked him up at the prison when he was released . Nolan and Lopez are in Mexico for a wedding . There is also a murderer in the city . Pascale is himself , to quick to place blame without getting the facts . This puts people in danger .
Not as much procedure as I prefer, lots of emotion . Hyder Ali is devastated when his best friend Lester is to be fired from the Daily News . At the same time he has met Martin Rhodes, he picked him up at the prison when he was released . Nolan and Lopez are in Mexico for a wedding . There is also a murderer in the city . Pascale is himself , to quick to place blame without getting the facts . This puts people in danger .
February 21, 2021
A serial killer is targeting the ones that go to the muslin mosque.
Hyder was working on a big city rumor and wanting to dig further, the person wanting money to give information. Now with the cut back at the newspaper he had to let it go. Then hearing his friend Lester was one to be cut, and he was so dedicated to the paper. Tom ask Hyder to pick up a friend from prison. A former detective wanting justice done killed a person.
A story that showed the depth of loyalty and the emotions of doing the right thing. Fast pace and a lot of twisted plots
Hyder was working on a big city rumor and wanting to dig further, the person wanting money to give information. Now with the cut back at the newspaper he had to let it go. Then hearing his friend Lester was one to be cut, and he was so dedicated to the paper. Tom ask Hyder to pick up a friend from prison. A former detective wanting justice done killed a person.
A story that showed the depth of loyalty and the emotions of doing the right thing. Fast pace and a lot of twisted plots
May 13, 2020
Team work
It was good too see that detective Pascale really does have feelings. I hope to read more about Martin Rhodes. He's a very fascinating, complicated man. I hope to read that he has gotten rid of some baggage. Then there's Hyder, always humble and loyal to a fault. We all wish we had friends like Hyder. Hope he goes far in his career.can't wait for the next book.
It was good too see that detective Pascale really does have feelings. I hope to read more about Martin Rhodes. He's a very fascinating, complicated man. I hope to read that he has gotten rid of some baggage. Then there's Hyder, always humble and loyal to a fault. We all wish we had friends like Hyder. Hope he goes far in his career.can't wait for the next book.
January 19, 2018
The Serial Reporter
This is the best series that I have read in a long time . Thomas Finham is an excellent writer. All his series are five star series. I would give them more star if there were more. I very highly recommend this series.
This is the best series that I have read in a long time . Thomas Finham is an excellent writer. All his series are five star series. I would give them more star if there were more. I very highly recommend this series.
April 20, 2018
Refreshing.
Interesting approach to a mystery tale. Characters from other books mesh neatly into this book. Interesting insight into the Muslim community and the challenges they face in the Judeo/Christian environment here in America. Good, enjoyable book.
Interesting approach to a mystery tale. Characters from other books mesh neatly into this book. Interesting insight into the Muslim community and the challenges they face in the Judeo/Christian environment here in America. Good, enjoyable book.
April 28, 2020
Another good read
Fincham has a way to keep the reader waiting for the next clue to be revealed. It always has a character who makes you want to wring his neck, but you end up liking him anyway.
Fincham has a way to keep the reader waiting for the next clue to be revealed. It always has a character who makes you want to wring his neck, but you end up liking him anyway.
December 12, 2024
Loved the story, it kept you on the edge of your seat. Love the new character, as I know he has his own series now ( which is great also). I just can't stop reading the series, I am on to number 5. Check it out
April 1, 2020
Love this series.
December 13, 2021
book was excellant only read at night can't put book down once i start
July 31, 2022
eeeeek!
Like Echo Rose, Hyder gets himself embroiled in such unexpected incidents - life-threatening incidents - and this time, without Nolan!
Like Echo Rose, Hyder gets himself embroiled in such unexpected incidents - life-threatening incidents - and this time, without Nolan!
July 7, 2016
Hyder Ali, a Muslim-American, loses a story to a rival newspaper which makes him question his position at the Daily Times. When a young man's body is found in the dumpster, things suddenly begin to spiral out of control, leaving Hyder more alone than ever.
Another page turner in the series
a good 5 star read
Another page turner in the series
a good 5 star read
April 30, 2017
Another great read
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews