Operation Chaos by Himanshu Rasam

"Operation Chaos" by Himanshu Rasam. 

There is a blast in Rashtrapati bhavan. Chief of security is dead. Indian black cast commandos storm a terrorist base in India near Pakistan border. Hypersonic BrahMos missile, first of its kind in the world, project completes phase 1. Terrorists across the border, headed by an intelligent man, have infiltrated India.

What is operation chaos? How is it related to BrahMos? Why Rashtrapati bhavan? What do the terrorists want? Who are the players? What is the objective?

The book jumps straight into action right from the word go without much preamble. The action or actions set the readers pulse high within first 30 pages. The national security is at risk, situation is grave. Commander David D'costa has to save the day.

This story is a treasure hunt with clues, ciphers, references in the books, archeological structures and artefacts from Gautam Buddha's time. It involves a historian, a cryptographer, a hacker, set of commandos and a scientist (now President of India) who had worked on Pokhran nuclear blasts.

Authors writing style is good, very good. He manages to bait the readers and readers take the bait: hook, line and sinker. What is better is that author manages to keep the reader interested till the very end. It's a thriller out and out. The narration is vivid. Moreover author has provided some photographs and maps to understand the action better. It makes reading pleasurable.

The idea of a brilliant person, having a grudge at a particular person and nation, hiring terrorists across the border and forcing the Indian securities on a treasure hunt seems a bit far fetched. If the person can do all this planning why he can not hire a team of mercenaries for treasure hunt of his own is confounding. The explanation given is not convincing. If he can take over an ultra secure facility, effect blasts in Rashtrapati bhavan, plant his moles in India and had money why can he not do it himself or wait till the missile goes into production and gain access to many more to increase his bargaining power?

This is the fifth book, I read, based on the legend of Samrat Ashok's nine unknowns. Looks like this legend is getting crowded. Are there no other legends in Indian mythology and history?

A good thriller. Recommend reading.