The twelfth Imam by Joel C. Rosenberg

"The twelfth Imam" by Joel C. Rosenberg. This book is published by Jaico publishing house in 2013 and has 500 pages.

David Shirazi is a American Shia Muslim and becomes a CIA agent to capture of kill Osama Bin Laden. He is reassigned to Iran to prevent Iran going nuclear. Iran and Shia world is awaiting appearance of twelfth Imam as per the prophecy.

It's David happy to be reassigned to Iran? Will Iran go nuclear? Will twelfth Imam appear? Will Jesus appear? Will there be a showdown between them? Can CIA prevent Iran going nuclear?

This book is about the legend of Twelfth Imam from Shia eschatology. Imam's appearance in modern times while Iran nurses nuclear ambitions is a potent recipe.

Author has written a book with off the track thinking. This is neither a pure thriller not pure mythological. It does not oppose legend of twelfth Imam nor does it support it. It looks at one particular religion with tinted glasses.

Characterization is OK, but a number of questions remain unanswered. Why father of David's lady love breaks contact? Why David's boss does not believe him? How come he gets so close to Iranian authorities so easily? Etc.

Strange things happen in this book. The twelfth Imam makes an appearance, Jesus Christ makes an appearance, both try to convince that their religion is better, God speaks to man.

However the book ends upon public appearance of the twelfth Imam. What happens next and what happens to Iranian nuclear war heads remains unknown. Probably it will be in a sequel. But author does not tell the readers that this is first part of sequel.

The book is different from regular thrillers. But it's inconclusive. Give it a miss.

Menaka's choice by Kavita Kane

"Menaka's choice" by Kavita Kane. This book is published by Rupa Publications in 2016 and has 290 pages. This is Kavita's third book.

As the title suggests, this is the story of Menaka, the most beautiful celestial Apsara. An Apsara who dares to live and dares to marry against the law.

Indra feels very territorial about Menaka but she is in love with Vishwa Vasu, King of Gandharva's. He curses him to become Kabandh, a demon, and banishes him to earth on a flimsy pretext. Menaka is incensed and distraught but helpless. The tussel between Indra and Menaka is the main stay of first half and her torrid romance with Vishwamitra and then her choice forms second half of the book.

Author has tried to bring forth the plight of Apsaras, who were created to entice, seduce, dance and entertain in short creatures of pleasure. They were not supposed to develop feelings for anyone. Neither marriage nor children were for them. So despite living in heaven they lived a cursed life.

Menaka is most beautiful of the Apsaras, she is intelligent, quick thinker, confident and knows her craft very well. Despite being part of Indra's court she does not subjugate herself. She is feisty, fiercely loyal and ready to go to any length for her love and loved ones.

When Indra comes to take Menaka away from Vishwamitra, her arguments and subtle prodding and inciting fear in Indra to drive him towards decision she wanted is the high point of this book.

Author purports the theory that Menaka left Vishwamitra on her own accord, not because Shakuntala was born or because she wanted to return to heaven but because she felt guilty that Vishwamitra deviated from his goal of becoming Brahmarshi because of love and lust for her. She loved him so much that she let him go. It was a choice she made.

Since it's the story of Menaka, the most beautiful seductress, it has to be erotic. And so it is. But the romantic scenes are not vulgar.

Special mention should go to the book cover where a sensuous bare back Menaka is shown from behind.

Although this book is good, it is not as good as the two previous books of this author.

Recommend reading.

Blood song by Juggi Bhasin

"Blood song" by Juggi Bhasin. This book is published by Penguin Metro Reads in 2014 and has 440 pages. This third novel of Suvir Suri series.

Simran is a Sikh girl living in London with her ultra conservative family. Her brother commits suicide. She is deceived in love and brutally gang raped in London. Her family packs her away to Punjab. Here she first meets an enigmatic middle aged woman and then eventually meets Suvir.

Will Simran accept the rape as her destiny? Will Khalistan movement resurrect? What are the designs of corrupt chief minister? What has Suvir got to do with all of it? Will Simran avenge her violators?

Author has decided to bump off the character of Kalpana from Suvir's life. None of the characters from previous two books make an appearance.

Character of Baba Santok Singh was created with a lot of promise but makes a hasty exit. Character of Avjeet is seriously underdeveloped. It's not clear why Aranjit does, what she does. In short the characterization is not good.

Suvir enters the story at about 50% of the book and meets Simran for the first time at around 60% of the book. The real story starts only after that. Author has lost to much page space in developing background and preamble leaving little time for the real story.

Author has created a seed for next book that should have a showdown between Suvir and Simran.

This book is not in the league of first one, not even second one. Give it a miss.

The girl on the train by Paula Hawkins

"The girl on the train" by Paula Hawkins. This book is published by Random House in 2015 and has 320 pages.

Rachel is divorced from Tom due to her habit of drinking and not remembering what she did in drunk state. She watches the house where she used to live with her ex husband and it's neighbourhood, especially a fine couple, from train every day. The lady, of this couple, disappears. Rachel has some information.

Is her information useful? Is it real or a figment of her imagination? Will anyone believe her? Will the paranoia of her ex husband's current wife put her in trouble?

This is a psycho thriller. A lot of things happen and the reader keeps wondering if this is real or Rachel only thinks it is real. The story is centered around three ladies and their husbands / lovers. At times the story slows down but keeps you interested.

This book is narrated in monologues. These are monologues of these ladies. Rachel, her husband's wife and the missing lady.

It's a different kind of story and different kind of narration. This book was the most sold book on Amazon.in last year. Though it is good, I did not find it that good.

Read for a change.

Bhima: Lone warrior by M.T. Vasudevan Nair

"Bhima: Lone warrior" by M.T. Vasudevan Nair. This book is published by Harper Perennial in Oct 2013 and has 373 pages. This book is the translation of original Malayalam book and is translated to English by Gita Krishnankutty.

This is the story of Bhima, the second Pandav. He was the fiercest warrior of them and the mightiest as well.

Everyone considered him blockhead, all mussels and no brain. He was credited more for his size and strength than his skills. However author tells us that he was skillful, agile and adept at all war forms including archery and fighting from a chariot. In this book portrayal Bhima is lonely, sometimes helpless and always taken for granted by everyone. His size and strength become a hindrance and advantage at the same time.

Whenever there was a danger, be it Baka or Hidimba or Kichak or any other, it was always Bhima to the rescue. Bhima was always the point man in the war, the most important position, while Arjun (the greatest Archer) and Dhrushtadhymna (the commander-in-chief) covered flanks. He was the only one to take view of revenge at the time of Draupadi Vastraharan and singlehandedly killed all Kaurav's.

He had there wives. Hidimbi, who was a forest dweller and who he never m meet after impregnating her. Draupadi, who was aroused by stories of war and violence, who always expects from him without giving and who he still loves unselfishly. Balandhara, princess of Kashi who stayed with him for a long time. Author unpeeles the human side of Bhima. He repents for not asking after his wives when he was away or not sending messengers to them. He is anguish that his son, and eldest of the next generation of Pandav's, Ghatotkach is not respected by Pandav camp, despite proving that he is an unmatched fighter, because his mother does not have a royal lineage and that he is not accorded respectful funeral. He even abdicates the throne.

Towards the end author even dispels the myth that Pandav's were born of Gods and even goes on to reveal identities of Yudhishthir and Bhima's fathers.

Author has consciously avoided the myth and magic from the story and has tried to give a logical explanation to everything that happened. He has an easy writing style and has put the things plainly rather than making them dramatic. Although you read the story of Mahabharata, the writer has introduced the readers to Bhima, the human, rather than Bhima, the hero.

Cover is not eye catching. It looks more like a caricature. Hence I was reluctant to read it and kept postponing the purchase. Finally I read it when Ravi recommended and loaned it.

A good book and different perspective. Recommend reading.

An innocent traitor by Satyapal Chandra

"An innocent traitor" by Satyapal Chandra. This book is published by Pigeon Books India in 2012 and has 219 pages.

This is the story of Rohit, who's trade name is Arman Ali. What's his trade? He is a contract killer. He works for the underworld.

Was he a criminal from his childhood? Was he dreaming like a normal man? What made him take a gun in his hand? Will he ever come out of it?

The story takes place in Delhi and Mumbai. It is semi interesting. At times author has struggled with continuity and consistency.

It's a story of mafia. It could have been very interesting. But it appears more like a patchwork than an easily following story.

The English in this book is bad. It is as if the sentence is thought in another language, translated in English and then written down. There are syntax errors, capitalization errors, typing errors and grammatical errors. Wrong words are regularly used like gate of car instead of door of car etc. You lose fun of reading as there errors keep popping up on every page. Instead of a reader you become 'proof reader'.

It's taxing to read this book. I did not like this book.

AVOID, even if someone pays you to read.

Mom and I love a terrorist by Leema Dhar

"Mom and I love a terrorist" by Leema Dhar. This book is published by General Press in 2012 and has 192 pages.

Kelly, a carefree teenager, lives with her mother, Lili Matthew, in Dignabad, Port Blair, Andaman. One day a black stranger walks in their house with her Mom and Kelly's life does not remain the same. The hunk in her class, Rico, is showing interest in her. She also meets mysterious Amaan.

Who is the stranger? Why does he live in their house? Why does her mother visit him at night? Who is the mysterious young Amaan living at the sea shore? Kelly can't find the answers and does not have courage to ask.

Author has tried to capture the process of emotionally coming off age of a young girl who has numerous questions, especially since the stranger walks in, but has no answers.

She is emotionally confused and does not understand who she hates, who she likes and who she loves. Life is full of possibilities one moment and gloomy the other. She is not able to make out what she feels about her mother. Should she love her for bringing her up as a single parent or should she hate her for getting involved with the black stranger. She likes Ricco. He makes her feel comfortable and his attention pleases her. She is in awe of Amaan who speaks cryptically and who she considers a superhero.

To add some drama and excitement, author has added the dance competition and birthday party. It lightens the mood a little bit and is fun to read.

However Kelly is oblivious to the truth that stares you in eye. She can't guess it. Her mother tries but can't tell it to her. Sounds unreal? If you want to tell something to your daughter desperately, you would make her sit and listen. Isn't it? But no. Here months pass without the truth being told.

The book is not interesting. I started this book in November last year and completed after four months because it could not keep me interested for a long time. Finally I completed it because it remained in my shelf for a long time.

Special mention should go to the book cover with a girl looking at a pathway where her mom is following the stranger. Cover captures the soul of the book. Title of the book also generated interest in you. Alas the story was also equally good.

Avoid.

Murder House by James Patterson and David Ellis

"Murder House" by James Patterson and David Ellis. This book is published by Random House in 2015 and has 400 pages.

Nova Walker is having an affair with wife of a rich businessman. He is arrested by Jenna, an honest and intelligent cop, for murder of an upcoming stunning model and the agent who supported her in a house termed as 'Murder house'. Jenna's uncle is chief of Southampton police. The businessman wants Nova convicted. Jenna's uncle is killed and Nova sentenced. More previous murders are found.

What role does Jenna play in the conviction? Why is her uncle killed? Is Nova guilty? What has it to do with a school shooting incident in 1995? What happened when Jenna was eight?

It's a multiple murder mystery. Jenna, who doesn't remember what happened when she was eight, first investigates the murders, then she is arrested for them, then released and then pursued again. The key is in her lost memory of that incident.

There are multiple suspects. Author has done his best to divert his attention from the real criminal. But he has overdone it. Thus I could identify the identity of the criminal using least suspected method very easily halfway through the book. Then what remained is to go through the process.

Author has succeeded in giving a small surprise in the climax. But it is too little, too late.

Characterization is not mature. The story doesn't flow. It's like bits and pieces put together.

Give it a miss.