Kaalkoot by R. Venkatesh

"Kaalkoot" by R. Venkatesh - India's Andy McDermott. 

This book is published by TreeShade books in 2018 and has 343 pages. 

A secret was buried in Himalayas in 1944. Manohar Rai has chosen Yogyaveer, to go into hiding with a trove of artefacts, manuscripts and sculptures that represented best of Indian civilization from Vedic times to save them from Imperial guard. Imperial guard, British white supremacist secret organization, planned to destroy all Indian artefacts and manuscripts before giving independence. In 2018, ACG (an undercover group formed by government of India) smells something fishy. A banker loves a girl but is afraid of commitment. A professor is spinning fantastic tales about Kaalkoot. A mad scientist is weaponizing labour of his life.

What is the secret? What does ACG discover? What does Sam have to go through to recognize that he loves Ananya? What is Kaalkoot? Can Damini stop the plot?

Fate throws Damini- ACG's best agent,  Sam- a banker and Bani- a professor together. Each of them has a different agenda. Damini wants to stop the bio weapon,  Bani wants the glory of discovering antidote and Sam just wants to get his girlfriend back. Eventually the mantel rests with Sam to rescue the world. 

The story is about Kaalkoot or Halahal, the mythical poison released during Samudramanthan, a toxin. It's produced by a pathogen making it a bio weapon without cure. Apocalypse is round the corner, world's only hope is Sam, but world doesn't know it. 

The Gupta Khandara and it's booby traps reminded me of Andy McDermott's Nina Wilde - Eddie Chase adventures. This one also contains clues in the form of verses that Sam has to decipher to get to his goal and also to remain alive. Although this idea is not new, author has used original tricks for the traps. 

There are some objectionable things too. Will an intelligence officer dismiss a plot involving visiting heads of state as heresy because there is no proof or will he reinforce the team to get to the bottom of it? Will an intelligence officer trust an investment banker to save the world? Moreover, Sam remembering images from past and those images solving the puzzle is little too convenient. A person is referred as Doc. Suddenly Doc is addressed as Maestro from one point onwards. Then why call him Doc in the first place?

Cover of this book is gaudy and colourful. Author R. Venkatesh is from the new breed of authors who graduated from IIT and IIM and took up writing fiction, following footsteps of Chetan Bhagat.

Why did I read this book? Author, Title.

What I didn't like? Objections as above. 

What did I like? Sikkim.

Although it's not wow, you can read it.