Rasputin's shadow by Raymond Khoury

"Rasputin's shadow" by Raymond Khoury - Historical fiction!

This book is published by Orion in 2015 and has 480 pages. This is Book 4 of Templar book series.

A Russian Embassy staff dies by jumping out of the balcony of an apartment owned by a Russian immigrant (Leo Sakharov) in America. The immigrant and his American wife go missing. FBI agent Shane Reilly investigates. There is a connection to the infamous Russian mystic and the adviser to Tsar and Tsarina, Rasputin.

Why is everyone looking for the immigrant Russian school teacher? What does he have? What is the connection to Rasputin? Can Shane solve the mystery?

What appears to be a case of missing school teacher and mystery of death of a Russian embassy staff becomes a full blown crisis. The body count starts increasing at an alarming rate. A Russian special forces operative (Koshe) is on the loose in America. Everyone is after the invention that can change the world. The invention is potent and can be a boon or bane depending on the user.

The story toggles between present time and the time of Rasputin. It uses the mystery surrounding Rasputin, one of the most controversial personalities in Russia. The invention is Perl and can do great damage to the enemies of its possessor.

Character of Sakhalov is interesting. He wants to live a decent life but can't quell his scientific curiosity. Reilly, the hero of first three books, is you against all odds. At the same time he is also trying to find out who from CIA tried to brainwash his 4 year old son. So on one side he is duty bound and on another side he has a personal score to settle.

Book ends with solution to one of these two problems and leaves the readers excited about what's going to happen in book 5 because of what he discovered at the end of book 4.

Why did I read this book? Good series so far. 

What I didn't like? Can a single man outsmart alphabet soup agencies?

What did I like? The  invention.

Read, if you plan to read the series. 

The mistress of Bhatia house by Sujata Massey

 "The mistress of Bhatia house" by Sujata Massey - Misnomer!

This book is published by Penguin in 2023 and has 432 pages. This is second book of Praveen Mystry series.

Gulnaz, Praveen's childhood friend and now sister-in-law has delivered a baby girl, but the arrival has created a rift in their relation. Uma, daughter-in-law of Sir Dwarkanath Bhatia, is collecting donations for a ladies hospital and Dr. Miriam Penkar has scripted to be the Chief Physician. Sunanda, the ayah in Bhatia house is arrested for allegedly attempting abortion. Colin Sandringham is working on updating the maps of Bombay Presidency and Princely States. There is a murder.

Why is Sunanda arrested? Did she attempt abortion? Why are certain Britishers against Praveen? Who is murdered? Whodunit?

The story starts with the hospital, then moves on to Sunanda's arrest and stays there for a long time. Then suddenly it moves to the Nawab of Varunpur and his Australian wife. Then a crime is committed. Then there is the incident of an Englishman grabbing Praveen's bottom. 

In short, the story has no flow. Things appear to be happening randomly. I continued reading the book assuming that although it looked chaotic, probably it will all come together nicely at the end. Alas! It was not to be. The end is even more chaotic and very abrupt. It's also unconvincing.

Author probably wants Praveen to experience motherhood without having her own child, so the character of Gulnaz becomes paranoid and the responsibility of little Khushi comes to Praveen. Again unconvincing.

Even the title is a misnomer. The mistress of Bhatia house is neither a heroine nor a villain and she doesn't even have a significant role.

Why did I read this book? It was available.

What I didn't like? Story. 

What did I like? Umm... 

Give it a miss.

Clive Cussler Fire strike by Mike Maden

"Clive Cussler Fire strike" by Mike Maden - Oregon under attack!

This book is published by Penguin in 2023 and has 528 pages. This is Book 17 of Oregon files series.

A French mercenary commander has set up a base in Eritrea. Dr. Hightower supplies him genetically modified convicts, the super soldiers. Dr. Elizabeth Huxley's friend is murdered along with a native tribe called Poison Arrow deep in Amazon rain forest. Deputy Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia dies in a flying accident, in front of his father. The corporation is assigned a case to find missing brother of former Mossad operative Saray Masala. Someone steals 2 hypersonic Brahmos missiles from India. This missile is the only kind in the world, extremely hard to detect and counter.

Are these five stories connected? What is the common thread? How is corporation involved? Will the Oregon be exposed? Can it survive?

Juan Cabrrillo, a former CIA operative, runs a ship called Oregon. Outwardly it's a tramp steamer - a rust bucket, but belowdecks it's a state of the art espionage vessel with submarines, tilt roter aircraft, moon pool, advance weaponry and highly skilled operatives. The corporation is Oregon based organization mostly working for CIA.

This time Juan Cabrrillo and his team are up against enemy that is superior biologically and equal technologically. It's going to test their endurance and limits. Several of the Oregon staff on combat duty are injured. There is an attack on vulnerable Oregon.

This story is complex and layered but it all comes together. However, the post climax part where the plot is unraveled is covered very briefly.

After the death of original author Clive Cussler, looks like Mike Madden has taken over this series. He has retained the basic style and added his own variations.

There is a James Bond style adventure at the start of the book. But this adventure has nothing to do with the story. Unnecessary!

Why did I read this book? I have read the series.

What did I like? Morris gets his due.

What I didn't like? The Saudi plot is not elaborate enough.

Read if you are reading the series.

Clive Cussler's The Heist by Jack Du Brul

Clive Cussler's "The Heist" by Jack Du Brul - Will dollar survive?

This book is published by Putnam Pub Group in 2025 and it has 449 pages. This is Book 14 of Isaac Bell series.

Issac Bell, Chief Investigator of Van Dorn Detective Agency is traveling on a yacht with his banker father, other influential bankers and President of USA. The occasion is the imminent centralization of banks and launch of new dollar bills. An aeroplane attacks them by dropping couple of bombs, but Bell uses the machine gun onboard and saves the situation. The wreckage of the plane has newly printed 100 dollar bills. He is then summoned to investigate a murder that he proves to be a suicide and Jackson Pickett, the husband of victim, innocent. Someone tries to murder him by locking him in a room in a ship and then sinking the ship. There is a brilliant heist of almost 1 billion dollars at the Bureau of Printing and Engraving.

Why was there an attempt of life of Bell? Who tried to kill the President? How was the heist carried out? Can Bell solve the mystery?

It's a very trickery situation. If the news gets out that the federal reserve was robbed, dollar will lose its credibility and the American banking system will collapse. If the theft is not solved, someone flush with money may try to flood the markets with stolen money and dollar will be devalued as soon as it's launched. Even if the perpetrator is found he/she can't be charged publicly. What a dilemma? Michaelene Riordan, an Irish assassin, is the point man for this operation. But who is he working for?

Like previous Bell novels, this one also has railways as primary means of transport and there is a rail chase. There is also a boat chase. Bell, the brilliant investigator, uses all his deductive powers and intellect to solve the case but the perpetrator is going to walk free despite all his efforts. Can he let that happen?

The story is good. Despite it happening more than a century ago, the story isn't slow. This one, however, is a little short on adrenaline, as compared to others.

Jack Du Brul used to cowrite this series with Clive Cussler. After Cusdler's death, Jack has continued the series in same vein. 

Why did I read this book? Have been reading the series.

What I didn't like? Umm.....

What did I like? The boat chase.

Read if you are reading the series.

Spider by Azma Dar

"Spider" by Azma Dar - Wasted potential!

This book is published by Datura books in 2023 and has 336 pages. 

Book starts with the death of Tarek.  Sophie's Husband. They are British-Pakistani's living in England. But Tarek is not her first husband, neither is her second. He's third. After Tarek's death the flash back starts.

Why did Sophie marry thrice? Are her two previous husbands (Aamir and Faraz) alive or dead? What are her ambitions?

The book starts interestingly. Author peels the layers of the story one by one. Reader's expectations are heightened. How will the story end? What will Sophie do? Can she overcome the odds? 

Unfortunately, author fails to maintain the tempo. When the book is about 80% complete, the story fizzles out. The story dies a sudden death. A lot of potential goes waste. The character of Sophie goes from victim to vindictive to plain stupid.

Why did I read this book? Book by Pakistani British author.

What did I like? Initial story. 

What I didn't like? The end and later part of the story.

AVOID.

Shadow of the Fox by Julie Kagawa

"Shadow of the Fox" by Julie Kagawa - Japanese fantasy !

This book is published by HQ Young Adult in 2018 and has 464 pages. This is Book 1 of the series.

Umeko, a Kitsune or Fox girl, half human and half fox, lives with the monks of Silent winds temple on a mountain. Lady Satomi, concubine of the king, is a blood witch. She has summoned Yaburama anOni and 4th General from Gikoku, the horned demon and his army of Amanjaku, little demons to retrieve the dragon scroll. Chief of The shadow clan, Lady Hancho, orders the assassin of the clan Shinobi Kage Tatsumi to retrieve the first part of Dragon scroll from Silent wind temple. Tatsumi wields the sword called Kamigorushi, the Godslayer. It has the spirit of demon Hakaimono. A series of events sends Umeko and Tatsumi on a journey together as reluctant accomplices.

Why was Umeko abandoned at the temple after birth? Why Tatsume, the loner, is accompanying her? Where is the other temple? Will the dragon rise?

They encounter Jurogumo the spider, Kamaitachi the magical Wezels, Wind witch Kazekira, Kibasama a demon bear, Gaki - spirits of greedy humans, who are punished and are always hungry, Omukade a giant man eating centipede. 

On the way they are joined by Okame the Ronin, Onino Mikoto the demon Prince or Taio Daisuke, ghost of the daughter of the flute maker. They need to find Master Isao of Harare shrine to find another temple.

Dragon, god of tides and harbinger of change rises every 1000 years. It has Fushino Tama, the jwel of immortality. Everyone is after it and Umeko is the last hope to safeguard it.

The characters are rich. There is Lot of variety. Magic makes it exot sub plots but the journey is kind of predictable.

Book 2 of the series titled 'Soul of the sword' and Book 3 titled 'Night of the dragon' are already published.

Why did I read this book? Wanted to read N Japanese fantasy.

What did I like? Rich characterization.  

What I didn't like? Predictability.

Read if you want to continue the story.

If an Egyptian cannot speak English by Noor Naga

 "If an Egyptian cannot speak English" by Noor Naga - Something different!

This book was published by Graywolf Pr in 2022 and has 186 pages.  

Afer her graduation, a shaven headed American young girl of Egyptian origin comes to Egypt. She is a foreigner in her own land. She befriends Samy and Reem (a lesbian), two misfits and starts teaching English at British Embassy. A man, fed up with poverty, runs away from his village in Egypt and moves to Cairo. He becomes a drug addict photographer. Expectedly, they meet.

What happens next? Will they become friends or enemies? Will the two opposite cultures clash? How will it end?

Title of every chapter of this book is a question. The questions are very intelligent and make you think. For example: If you play to lose, what do you win if you win? Is a country boy trading country stories for city stories from city girl, being ripped off? If a city is trying to kill you actively, should you take it personally? Is it arrogant to grieve the loss of something you never had? If the beast is already in your house, does that make the wilderness safer?

The boy and girl have no names. They get introduced, struck up, start living together, bliss, relationship turning toxic The story is nostalgic, cryptic, surreal at the same time.

It's a slow story. Not much happens. It's a story of Conflict between haves and have nots, suffering and comfort, Egyptian and foreign culture, orthodox and liberal.

The book ends with a book club discussion of the memoirs of the girl where the girl participates. This discussion provides the readers multiple possible ending reader choose whatever they want.

It's a different kind of book.

Why I read this book? Curious title.

What did I like? Something different.  

What didn’t like? Place is slow.

Read if you liked the review.