The Gurkha's daughter by Prajwal Parajuly

"The Gurkha's daughter" by Prajwal Parajuly. This book is published by Quercus in 2014 and has 304 pages.  It's a collection of eight stories.

'The cleft' is story of Kali, a black servant girl of 13 with a cleft lip & her master, a widow when they travel to Birtamod for a funeral.

'Let sleeping dogs lie' is the story of Munnu, a Bihari Musalmaan paanwala, in Kalimpong who is losing money due to a kleptomaniac daughter of a rich man. What can he do?

'A father's journey' takes us through the journey of a father and his daughter from age six to age thirty in Gangtok.

'Missed blessing' is a story of a young jobless engineer staying with his brother and grandmother in Darjeeling. It's a day in his life when western Christians purportedly try to convert him and unwanted relatives come for Tika ceremony and stay at his house stretching his resources.

'No land is her land' is story of Anamika, an ethnic Nepali Bhutanese from Phuntsholing who is a refugee staying in Khudunabari Nepal and who has a chance to migrate to America.

'The Gurkha's daughter' is a beautiful story set in Kathmandu. It's a story about two little girls who are best friends.What happens in their emotional worlds when transformations take place in their lives?

'Passing fancy' is the story of a recently retired mother's perceptions in Gangtok whose children are in America.

'The immigrants' is the story of a well to do Nepali Indian working in Manhattan and his Nepali maid who unknowingly becomes his good friend.

As the name suggests, all the stories are of Nepali people (Gurkha) living either in Nepal, Bhutan or India (BTW, the book was published in America). These are the stories of common Gurkha people, their poverty, plight, difficulties, issues, emotions, thinking, transitions and ups and downs in their lives.

All these stories are about feelings, emotions and perceptions, be it a small child, an army man, an immigrant, a retired lady, an unemployed youth or a common person. The steak of immigrant or displacement appears frequently.

An interesting aspect of the book is that, in each story the author has given a part map of the Gurkha area which includes India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh identifying the city where the story takes place. It helps in understanding the ambience.

Of all these stories, I liked 'The Gurkha's daughter', 'Let sleeping dogs lie' & 'The immigrants' most.

Read it for it's different perspective.

The Solomon curse by Clive Cussler

"The Solomon curse" by Clive Cussler and Russell Blake. This book is published by G. P. Putnam's Sons in Sept 2015 and has 400 pages. This is Book 7 of Fargo adventures.

Fargos are on an archeological expedition in Solomon islands when they stumble upon sunken ruins. They are inclined to find a project to provide medical facilities to islanders. Someone tries to kill them twice in one day. An Australian businessman is in a financial loss. He has partnered with a mysterious person with unknown identity.

What's in the ruins? Why are they attacked?  Is there another hidden plot? Is there treasure involved?

If it's a Fargo adventure, there has to be a treasure. And so it's here as well. The treasure is or was in a construction that sunk in the sea. With Fargos, there are always bad guys who want to kill them and acquire the treasure.

The story is evenly paced. The book has usual witty commentary of Fargos, efficiency of Salma and her impeccable logistics, adventures of Fargos, under water exploration and secrets.

Overthrowing regime of a mineral rich small country to acquire exploration rights is a tried and tested formula. Add to it a treasure and clues and you have this book.

The climax comes suddenly and it's not clear how long and meticulous planning unravels by one radio address of the prime minister.

I am a Cussler fan, however his Fargo adventures are my least favourite. Though they are good, others are better. Same applies here. This book is testimony to this opinion.

The book has all that you expect from a Fargo adventure. It does not surprise you positively or negatively. In this aspect it's pretty much predictable.

Give it a miss, if you have never read Fargo adventures.

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.

Tantra by Adi

"Tantra" by Adi. This book is published by Apeejay Stya Publishing in Feb 2013 and has 260 pages.

Anu Agrawal, a young American Indian vampire hunter or 'guardian' decides to transfer from New York to New Delhi. Apart from hunting down vampires, she has a hidden agenda. But the Delhi scenario is very different than America. Here there are other players in the game.

What is Anu's hidden agenda? Does she encounter vampires? Why is the Delhi scene quiet as compared to America? Who would she have to collaborate with? Who will she fight?

The supernatural power balance in Delhi is precarious. Guardians (vampire hunters), Vampires, Sattvik powers, Tantric powers and Karta have maintained a precarious balance of supernatural powers. Anu's entry tips it a little and then Baba Seneka destabilizes it completely. Anu has to seek help from unexpected quarters and enemies.

The story is interesting. Author has created a supernatural world in Indian context. Anu, the protagonist, gets a cultural shock but adjusts to the new reality quickly in view of the looming threat. World is in danger, all hopes are on Anu. Will she deliver?

Author has narrated a good story. You don't abandon the book. I felt that author should have spent few more pages to create and elaborate the supernatural world. That would have made the reading easier.

This books throws up some interesting concepts. The concept of Maya and it's threads is curiously interesting. Concept of using astra with the combination of astra, sadhana and yantra is also convincing. Concept of creating vampires by changing the soul of a body but retaining the memories is also interesting.

A number of questions remain unanswered after the climax. What happens to Chandra? Why Baba Seneka does not take drastic steps to stop Anu? Who is Karta? Does she find who killed Brian? How does the world see the events on Choti Holi? Either they are left loose because author wrapped the climax up in hurry or they are left open deliberately, to be addressed in next book.

Normally I am not into vampire stories. Someone gifted this book a few months ago, so I decided to give it a try. Thus this book became my first vampire book. Since the story is in Indian context it has to include tantric powers and sattvic powers and the fight has to be between them. Anu is the protagonist who gets the help of one camp to defeat other.

Quality of paper used for the book is very good. The font also makes reading a pleasure. The book has also got a bookmark fixed to the book, so you don't have to look for one or worry where to keep it while reading.

Read it for a change.

Robert Ludlum's Janson equation by Douglas Corleone

"Robert Ludlum's Janson equation" by Douglas Corleone. This book is published by Orton publishing group in 2015 and has 400 pages. This is the Book 4 of Paul Janson series.

Paul Janson and Jessica Kincaid have planned a vacation when Paul accepts a new case. Girlfriend of the son of an American senator is murdered in Seoul, South Korea. Senator's son is missing and suspected of murder. Evidence looks too obvious.

Where will the investigation lead? Why does Jason take a murder investigation?
What is Diophatnous? Who is behind it?

The story takes place in America, South Korea and North Korea. Story is decently paced and keeps readers interested. Janson has now morphed into a principled man and Seoul not break his rules for anyone.

Idea of a sinister plot to ignite a war between South and North Korea is good but the reason given for the players to plot it is a bit weak.

The story ends with a victory to Janson, but the real peril players behind the scheme are still at large and would resurface in next book. Author also hints that next book would be about Russia.

There are some unbelievably naive things in the book. The spy in North Korea gives his life to allow Janson take his family to South safely when he could have done it himself without sacrificing his life. Janson giving himself up for Kincaid. North Korean General believes Janson quickly. Janson returns from North Korea with the help of 12 men with entire army in pursuit.

This is 4th Jason novel and it's third writer. Why so many authors? Just to keep the franchise alive? However to be fair to the author of this book, he has done a good job, though the writing style is different.

This book goes on to demonstrate that the Robert Ludlum franchise still goes strong. Even years after his death Paul Janson, Jason Bourne & Covert-one series are still being published.

It's yet another novel where the American intelligence agencies are shown as the bad guys. This trend seems to be on the rise now a days. Earlier mafia was bad, then police became bad, then politicians became bad and now intelligence guys are bad. Is this evolution a reflection of society?

If you have read previous books, read it.

The hunt for Kohinoor by Manreet Sodhi Someshwar

"The hunt for Kohinoor" by Manreet Sodhi Someshwar. This book is published by Westland Ltd in 2013 and has 432 pages. This is Book 2 of Mehrunisa Khosa series.

Mehrunisa has taken the post of her godfather at Archeological Survey of India. She is still haunted by nightmares; aftereffect of her father's disappearance when she was six.

President of Pakistan and Prime minister of India are in secret talks to establish peace when President of Pakistan is assassinated. The important documents he was going to hand over to India are also destroyed, but there is a copy somewhere. It's code named Kohinoor. Hunt for Kohinoor is on - in Pakistan. Babur Khan, a mysterious American soldier turned Islamic terrorist has surfaced.

Who is hunting for Kohinoor? Where is it? Who will get it? How is Mehrunisa involved?

As in the first book there are a lot of references to renaissance painters and their paintings and Mughal art. The story takes place in Pakistan and India.

The decision to send Mehrunisa, a civilian, to Pakistan in search of Kohinoor instead of her father does not make sense from logical and intelligence point of view. Especially when so much is dependent on the success of the mission, recruiting Mehrunisa seems to be far fetched. It's surprising that Pakistani intelligence can not find Mehrunisa, Raghav and RP Singh but Babur Khan can track them.

The author seems to be confused as to what should form the central theme of the story. Mehrunisa, Kohinoor documents, Agent Snow Leopard or the terrorist attack on Indian facility. In an attempt to cover all, she is all over the place and none of them is covered properly.

Manreet had raised my expectations after her first book. Her first book was profound. The second book however does not stand up to the reputation. It appears like a documentary. It's superficial. It disappoints.

Give it a miss.