Eleventh hour by S. Hussain Zaidi

"Eleventh hour" by S. Hussain Zaidi - Second fiction from author. 

This book is published by HarperCollins publishers India in 2018 and has 247 pages. This Book is a sequel of Mumbai avengers.

5 Indian Mujahideen terrorists escape from jail. An Indian cruise liner going to Lakshdweep is hijacked by Somali men. Vikrant Singh, now working with NIA, is suspended and immediately assigned a role of 'consultant'. 

How did the men escape jail? Why is the boat hijacked? Has it got anything to do with Tiger Memon? What is the big plot? Who is Munafiq?

The story starts with a number of small events in multiple locations that slowly converge. The narration keeps the reader interested. Methods employed by the investigators are interesting. 

There is a theory in intelligence circles that a large portion of weapons received by Tiger Memon before 1993 Mumbai blasts are still hidden, somewhere in Maharashtra, with sympathetic families. Author has used this theory as a seed. The idea of a cache of weapons from 1993 blasts hidden for 25 years is a bit far fetched and interesting at the same time.

There are two twists towards the very end. One twist ends the game. Although its an interesting twist, I would have liked to see some clue hidden deep in the earlier part of the book about it. Without it,  the twist appears almost like an afterthought. Second twist is at the very end. This one appears to be immature deduction, rather than result of investigation. 

The book leaves the reader with some questions. Is it possible to blackmail someone in highest position? What can one sell for 50 Cr? Can one accuse someone in high position without proof?

Author is a well known crime journalist. His books are based on the underworld. Mumbai avengers was his first forey in fiction. This is his second. I purchased this book within a week of its release. 

Although the book is readable (I finished it in one day), it's not as good as 'Mumbai avengers'.

Why did I read this book? Mumbai avengers was good.

What I didn't like? Twist appears to be an after thought. 

What did I like? Narration. 

Read if you have time.