It can't be you by Prem Rao

"It can't be you" by Prem Rao. This book is published by Cedar books in 2010 and has 188 pages.

Colonel Beliappa (Belli), a retired army man and estate owner, is dead at his bunglow in Coorg. He is survived by his 30 year old daughter, Shefali, whose affair to an unemployed Muslim youth is opposed by Belli. A 24 year old son, Pritam, who is not interested in the estate or army and is a drug addict. His second wife, a German lady 30 years younger, Elena. A faithful servant, Bahadur and memories of his first wife Dinaz.

Was it a murder or a suicide? Who had the motive? Who had opportunity? Why did Belli write 'It can't be you' just before dying?

Story happens in year 2000. Build up of the story and characters is very good. All the relationships are strained. The tensions between Belli and Dinaz before her death. Tension between Belli and Shefali over her relationship and intent of marrying a good for nothing Muslim boy. Tension between Belli and Pritam because of Pritam's interest in art and architecture instead of army and outdoor activities. Tension between Belli and Elena of a old rich husband and young beautiful trophy wife.

It is a murder mystery till you reach 70%, then suddenly the murderer is revealed. Then there is another murder. Then the story suddenly goes haywire and becomes one of old vengeance in last pages.

What happens to Elena? The character simply disappears from the story and there is no mention again. Looks like author is confused as to exactly what he wants to write; a murder mystery or a vengeance tale.

The story revolves around sex lives of the four main characters which are mostly their affairs. But some of them really do not have a bearing on the story. Then why are they in the book?

Author has sowed the seed of a sequel towards the end of this book. I hope that author resists the temptation to write one.

This book has a small font. Otherwise the pages would have increased by 50-70. So even though the book looks small, it isn't.

A good attempt for debut novel. Good first part before story goes haywire in the end.

Bullseye by David Baldacci

"Bullseye" by David Baldacci. This is advertised as 'An original Will Robie / Camel club short story' and is third book of Will Robie series.

Will Robie and Oliver Stone (of Camel club) happen to be in a bank when a robbery takes place. But the robbers do not seem to be interested in the bank. They want to go somewhere from here.

Where do they want to go? Why rob the bank? What is the real target? Are Will Robie and Camel Club with each other or against? What will be the outcome?

It's a classic situation where two unrelated characters of an author meet each other for or during one assignment. It's a way for the author to make them contemporary and entice fans of one to read the stories of other (cross selling of product). Clive Cussler has done it, television soaps do it all the time.

The story is small, full of action. An assassination attempt, a plot, hostages and our heroes happening to be on the spot at the right time. The story, being short, is self propelling and heroes don't do much to take the story forward. Although the protagonists foil the plot, who is behind it never becomes clear.

Although it is listed in Will Robie series, Camel club members get more page space.

A good cross over, but you can give it a miss.

Bestseller she wrote by Ravi Subramanian

"Bestseller she wrote" by Ravi Subramanian. This book is published by Westland in Oct 2015 and has 372 pages. This is author's 8th book.

Aditya Kapoor, an alumnus of IIM Bangalore (IIMB), is a banker and a very successful fiction author with four bestsellers to his credit. Shreya, a final year student of IIMB, first challenges and then is impressed by Aditya. Her ambition is to write a best seller. She joins Aditya's bank as GT.

Can she meet Aditya? Will she patch up? Would he take her as his protégé? Is she a good writer? Will she write a best seller? What would be the cost?

Characterization, in this book, is good. Shreya is portrayed as a brilliant girl who would do anything to get what she wants including flirting, sex, threats, opportunism, blackmail etc. Aaditya is a big shot author who drools after Shreya. He is also a very successful banker. He loves his wife and son and becomes helpless against Shreya's machinations. But he is honest. Maya is torn between her hate of Aaditya for adultery and her love for a lot of other things. Characters of Sanjay, Diana and Sunaina are play the supporting cast.

Ravi is known for his banking thrillers. He has started to distance himself from 'banking' from his book 'Bankrrupt'. Although he has not been able to severe the banking connection completely in this book, this book confirms Ravi's departure from banking thrillers. Aaditya could have been working in any office instead of a bank and it would have made no difference to the story.

On this book he has used the world of fiction writing and book publishing as the theme and he has made good use of it. Author introduces us to this new world and tricks used by different players in the trade.

The story is good. It sashays between love story, adultery, family drama to suspense. The story slows down in the second part of second half but picks up in the climax and ends on a high note.

Ravi has delivered another best seller. Five of his books have won awards. He proves his skills once again.

A good book. Recommend reading.

The Terrorist by Juggi Bhasin

"The Terrorist" by Juggi Bhasin. This book is published by Penguin India in 2012 and has 512 pages. This is Juggi's debut novel.

The story starts with investigation of Capt. Suvir Suri that may result into eventual court martial. It goes into flashback to tell us what Suvir is made up of and comes back in present with an imminent terrorist attack by Pakistan trained terrorists in Delhi.

Who is the terrorist? Who will defend India? What role does ISI play? Will the plot succeed?

This is a thriller written by a first time author. But author displays a finess in writing, developing the story, racy narration and good climax. It's a big book. First half is the story of making of Suri and the terrorist and second half is the terrorist attack.

The memo prepared by ISI officer Mir, justifying major terrorist attack, about socio-political situation in India aptly describes the situation, though the conclusion is proven wrong in every terrorist attack on India so far. Every attack has united India.

Transition of the character of Murad from a normal human being to a hate filled individual begs more work on author's part. That part appears shallow and bit too easy. Author also tells us that Murad turns into a ruthless, brave and brilliant strategist and terrorist. How does it happen remains unexplained. His past does not indicate these personality traits.

The elaborate plot of terrorist attack is laid out in great detail. Author has gone into minute details and explained how preparations were done, how big the plot was and what could have been the repercussions. The plan is huge and would cost many lives. (Recent Pathankot terrorist attack seems to be lifted from this book).

It's a very well paced thriller. You sit on the edge of chair, especially, in second half. Sequels starring Suvir Suri are already published.

A very good thriller. Recommend reading.

The Guilty by David Baldacci

"The Guilty" by David Baldacci. This book is published by MacMillan in Nov 2015 and has 352 pages. This is Book 5 of Will Robie series.

Will Robie, an assassin for CIA, executes a kill. The 4 year old daughter of the target is also killed by same shot, a collateral damage. Robie's estranged father is charged with murder. Robie decides to go to Mississippi, where he was separated from his teenage love, to investigate.

Why does he go to Mississippi? Will his father welcome him? What had happened to Laura, his highschool sweetheart? Is his father guilty? Are there more murders? Who is behind all this? How will it impact Robie?

The story is OK and mostly takes place in Cantrell, Mississippi. Will Robie is a sniper who works for CIA. However in this book he becomes a private detective investigating murder, blackmail, kidnapping etc while trying to absolve his father. As if that was not enough there is also an angle of serial killer thrown in. Thus, although the book is not bad, it diverts from the storyline of the series.

Although it's a domestic story (Story of Americans happening in America) it has four murders and a number of gun fight deaths. Bloody.

The characterization appears to be shallow. Characters of Dan Robie and Victoria are not fully developed. There are a number of minor loop holes like why Will does not meet Laura? Why there is no communication between father and son? Why nobody wags tongues in a small town upon disappearance of Barksdale family? Why become a serial killer?

The murderer was very obvious. I guessed it halfway through the book. Murderer was not concealed from readers cleverly though the second identity of murderer was concealed .

This book appears off the track. Not a must read.

The Survivor by Kyle Mills

"The Survivor" by Kyle Mills. This book is published by Simon and Schuster in Oct 2015 and has 448 pages. This is Book 14 of Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp series. This one is written by Kyle Mills after death of Vince Flynn.

Rogue CIA agent, Joe Rickman, who was killed by Rapp in previous book has set up an automated system of exposing damaging information about CIA. Pakistan's ISI chief, who is considered a weak man by all, has plans to get his hands on the files and make Pakistan first Muslim superpower of the world.

What's in the files? Who is releasing the information to the media? How damaging is it? What would be the fall out? Why ISI wants it? Will they get it? What will Rapp do?

This book takes off where the previous one ends. The story continues and gets complicated. It's a complex plot where the very existence of CIA is threatened. Author has decided to bump off the character of Stan Hurley and it is done in keeping with the story and the traits of the character. The climax is a bit fast.

A few questions seem to be left unanswered deliberately. How Rickman gets hold of information he is not privy to? What happens to Taj's laptop? What happens to encryption key?

The character of Rapp is shown to be thinking of his future, his death and looking back at the past. In short the effects of age are showing. Is this a change in character with the change of author?

It is not easy to step into the shoes of a successful writer like Vince Flynn. Kyle Mills has accomplished the task really well. Though his writing style is different than Vince, he has remained true to the general theme of the series. It looks like Kyle Mills is acquiring a reputation of taking over literary enterprise of successful writers after their death.

Read it. If you are a Mitch Rapp fan, you will not be disappointed.

A most peculiar Malaysian murder by Shamini Flint

"A most peculiar Malaysian murder" by Shamini Flint. The book is published by little Brown Book Group in 2009 and has 304 pages. This is the first book of 'Inspector Singh investigates' series.

Chelsea Liew, an ex Singaporean model, is charged with murder of her Malaysian husband Alan Lee, in Malaysia. Inspector Singh, a sweaty, hairy, heavy smoking Sardarji with considerable girth is sent by Singapore police to assist in the investigation.

Will the Malaysian authorities cooperate? Will Inspector Singh make any headway or breakthrough? Is Chelsea the murderer? Why did Alan become a Muslim one week before his murder? Who murdered him?

Shamini has introduced Inspector Singh, the protagonist, who is neither young nor handsome. He is nearing his retirement and looked upon by his department as a relic of old days. He comes out to be humane and intelligent in the story. Other characters are OK. Some are not required to be in the story.

The story is decently paced. It's more a story than a murder mystery. The most important thing that is lacking in the book is 'investigation'. There is very little investigation, evidence gathering and tracking of clues to catch the culprit. The mystery more or less unravels itself. The writing style is circumambulatory.

The story takes place in Malaysia. It's a country with multiple ethnicities and delicate relations with its famed neighbour Singapore. Shamini is an observant author who has observed and studied Indian, Chinese and Malay traditions and traits and made good use of it in the book.

It's a different set up than the usual, hence reading it can be considered.

Host by Robin Cook

"Host" by Robin Cook. This book is published by Pan MacMillan India in Oct 2015 and has 400 pages.  It's a medical thriller.

Lynn is studying medicine. Michael, a black guy, is her closest friend and fellow student. Her 29 years old and physically fit fiancé undergoes a knee surgery and does not wake up. He goes in coma. Lynn and Michael want to know what happened. Middleton healthcare is going to be taken over by Siberian pharma, a Russian company. Shapiro institute for vegetative patients is next to the hospital.

Was this a mistake of a doctor? Was this a case of negligence? Are there other cases? Is there medical malpractice? Are there any secrets? How are Russians involved. Is there more than what meets the eye?

Robin Cook is known for his medical thrillers. This is another one from him although my first time to read Robin Cook.

The story is decently paced, enough to keep you interested. There is a suspense about what is happening and why is it happening. It becomes clear mid way, who is behind the conspiracy.

The buildup is good, but the climax is tantalizing but a bit too fast. The speed with which law enforcement agencies move is commendable but not realistic.

The conspiracy is horrible but rather than doing all this in a vigilant country like America, the conspirators might have found it relatively easier to do it in Russia.

Author has created Hospital atmosphere very well. There's a lot of medical jargon in the book. Somewhat difficult to follow for the uninitiated.

Read it if you like medical thrillers.