Sniper by Shashi Warrior

"Sniper" by Shashi Warrior. This book is published by Penguin Books in 2008 and has 421 pages. 

Colonel Eswaran is a paratrooper, a sniper and a leader adored by all his subordinates. Gil, an Afghan sniper who's brother was killed by Eswaran, is looking for a revenge. Grey man abducts Eswaran's 19 year old daughter, rapes her, tortures her and murders her. Eswaran tries to investigate and fails.

Will he pursue? Will he get some clues? Who is grey man? Is there more to it? Will the sniper succeed? What will Eswaran do?

What are the qualities of a sniper? Patience, stillness, accuracy, quick thinking and aim. Eswaran has all these qualities. His subordinates are ready to give their lives for him but his marriage has failed. He feels helpless to give justice to his daughter. 

The book starts in Nagaland where Eswaran and the Afghan are pitted against each other in the battle of wits. Then Priya, his daughter, dies and the story returns to Kerala for good. Rest of the story takes place in the towns, plantations and forests of Kerala.

Narration is good enough to keep you interested. Reader expects battle of snipers as the main theme, but it takes back seat and search for Priya's murderer becomes main theme. Then the sniper returns in the end for the climax. Thus the book title seems to be a misnomer. 

Character of Eswaran, Kalpana, Grey man, Appu are rich, however Appu suddenly drops out unannounced from story. Some questions remain. Why Grey man is called Grey man? Why does he get Mustapha killed? Why does he trust Afghan suddenly while Afghan does not even know his name?

Although it's a good book, it's not exactly what the title suggests. 

Read if you have time.

Clear by fire by Joshua Hood

Mandar's book review (12th Aug 2016)

"Clear by fire" by Joshua Hood. This book is published by Pocket books in 2016 and has 448 pages. This is Book 1 of 'Search and destroy' series.     

Anvil program is an off the books black ops group that destroys terrorists using their own methods and without any rules, anywhere in the world. Mason Kane was its star member. Now he is hunted by the government of USA. Renee Hart is special ops agent, a beautiful and fierce fighter, posted in Afghanistan. 

What is the objective of Anvil? Who is the rogue agent? Who is pulling the strings? Why would Mason try to stop them? What will be Renee's stand?

The book is publicized as a 'Search and Destroy' thriller. US government has issued orders to shoot Mason at sight. Mason wants to stop a band of rogue agents from unleashing a WMD in Libya. He pulls in all the favors to stay alive. Hamid Karzai assassinated. Mr. David recruits him to counter rogue agents. He, his friends and Renee are the only hope of the world. 

Due to authors background, he has written fight scenes with great technical details. However the story is not delivered equally well. It does not become lively. The fluidity is missing. Probably the author needs to work on this aspect. 

A number of questions go unanswered. How come a Libiyan spy becomes mentor of American special forces operative? Why does Zeus help Mason? How come Renee move wherever she wants without official approvals? What is the significance of Karzai's assassination for the plot?

The story would continue in this trilogy. Hopefully some of the questions will be answered if one reads the sequel. 

Give it a miss. 

    

The Srinagar conspiracy by Vikram Chandra

"The Srinagar conspiracy" by Vikram Chandra. This book is published by Penguin India in 2000 and has 304 pages.

Vijay Kaul and Habib Shah are best friends in Kashmir before the militancy. Vijay joins army and Habib joins JKLF. Yasmin is soft spot of both of them. 

There is a big terrorist attack afoot. What is the target? Is it Bill Clinton in his visit to India? Who is the dreaded terrorist Jalaluddin? What happened in Charar-e-sharif?

Author has used all the incidents in the history of Kashmir, post independence, and blended them with the story by inserting the characters in those events seamlessly. Events like Start of insurgency, rigging of elections, training camps in Pakistan, ,Charar-e-Sharif, entry and domination of foreign terrorists, Kandahar hijack etc. are woven in the story. Charar-e-Sharif siege and burning of the Shrine of Nund Rishi, patron saint of Kashmir, is covered in detail. 

Vikram Chandra is a well known TV reporter and anchor. The narration of this book is reporter like. A large part of the book reads like a documentary or news report rather than a novel, but keeps the readers interested nevertheless. Author's day job seems to have influenced the writing style. 

There is a big plot afoot. Terrorists want to score a victory that will bring India to it's knees.

The Srinagar conspiracy, i.e. the terrorist attack, is about 10% length of the book. Too short. Moreover it lacks the adrenaline rush and action that makes a thriller 'thriller'. 

Author leaves some questions unanswered. Who was the traitor? What did Jalaluddin do when he confronted another traitor? Why? Why did the bomber choose his side?

The book promises a lot but does not deliver enough. 

Give it a miss.

Divya by Yashpal

"Divya" by Yashpal. The book is translated from Hindi to English by Anand. This book is published by Penguin India under the Modern Classics series in 2009 and has 304 pages.

Divya, great grand daughter of Chief Justice of Madra lost her parents at young age but is brought up in loving care of her great grandfather. She is unrivaled in dance but, being a high born Brahmin, is not going to pursue it as a profession. She falls in love with a brave young man who is son of a slave turned rich merchant. 

Will their love succeed? Will Divya give up dancing? Will she suffer in the tussle between cast system and Buddhism? Will she marry her love?

The story is set in 1st century BC in Sagal (today's Sialkot) where Greek Mithrodus is the President of Madra republic with Sagal as capital. An attack from neighboring King changes the lives of all its citizens and the social hierarchy undergoes metamorphosis. This very event changes the lives of Divya, Prithusen and Rudradir for ever. 

It was period of flux where Brahmins and Buddha bhikku's were pitted against each other for social superiority and the low casts were trying to attain position of prominence through friendship, alliance and marriage with the Greek community. 

When a Brahmin girl, who was brought up in a sheltered atmosphere, is thrown into the vicious world the experiences and sufferings cast her in a new dye. She undergoes a revolutionary change of personality and thought. She makes her choices. 

Most powerful message of the book is Divya's opinion that a girl may be a house holder or married to a noble or King, her standing is only a reflection of her husband's or father's glory. She is not free. Everything she has, goes away with the loss of husband or father. On the other hand, a courtesan and a prostitute may not command same respect from society, but they are FREE.

Characterization is good. Divya who goes from sheltered life to becoming a disgrace to slave to a prospective prostitute to a courtesan to house holder transforming her personality. Marish, an atheist who does not believe in afterlife, and is despised by Brahmins and Buddhists alike. Prithusen, who is insulted because of his low birth, despite proving his superior fighting skills by winning a weaponery competition. Rudradir who loves Divya, hates low born and fights for Brahmin supremacy. Chief Justice Dev Sharma, more than hundred years old, who has dispensed justice in three reigns and understands it's subjectivity. Mallika the court dancer. Mithrodus the President looking for Nirvana. Siro, his grand daughter. Monk Cheebuk who does not falter from Buddha's preaching. 

I did not comprehend why Divya returns to Sagal? She could have easily foreseen the reaction of the society. I also could not fathom her final decision which goes against her ideals. 

Although the story is set more than 2100 years ago, it is still relevant. Readers can identify with it. Reader becomes part of the social fabric while reading the book. 

A very good book. Recommend reading.

The End Game by Raymond Khoury

"The End Game" by Raymond Khoury. This book is published by Orion books in 2016.

Agent Raily is looking for a man from CIA who was responsible for brainwashing his son. He only has a name to go by. His investigations lead him to his father's name. Bad guys want him dead. He is charged with murder and is on the run.

Will he be captured? What will he uncover? Who is Corrigan? Who is Sand Man? Will he succeed?

This is a typical thriller with an agent who stumbles upon bad things done by a group of agents in the name of national security and inevitably is linked to him personally. He tries and succeeds in unraveling the mystery with the help of another agent. 

The book doesn't get boring or slow. It's a decently paced thriller. Reader neither gets overexcited nor does he sit on the edge of his seat.  In short, though it is readable and enjoyable, it has nothing new to offer. Most of what is in this book is covered by one book or another already. 

I expected more from an author of Raymond Khoury's caliber. This book is not as good as his previous books. 

Read if you have time.

The Avatari by Raghu Srinivasan

"The Avatari" by Raghu Srinivasan This book is published by Hachett India in 2014 and has 500  pages.

An oriental visitor tries to contact Colonel Henry Ashton. He is chased by someone and prefers to immolate himself rather than being captured. Ashton receives a letter from Far East seeking his help and reminding him of a promise made long time ago to the Teacher. Shambhala is under threat of discovery.

The expedition begins. But they are not the only interested party.  Who else is involved? Who's help will Ashton enlist? Where is Shambhala? Can they find it? What is in there?

Avatari or Rimpoche is a man who has forsaken nirvana to complete an earthly task. 

The book begins with a bang. Reader's interest is immediately aroused. Although it's an Indian book by an Indian author, most of the story takes place in England, USA, Pakistan, Afganistan, Laos and China. 

It's book that includes quest for a legend. Here the legend is the mythical kingdom of Shambhala which is said to have 'Kalachakra', medicine for long life and immortality, treasure etc. It appears that this is the second most famous legend in Indian fiction after the Ten Unknowns. 

Interest of dying billionaires, Buddhist book of dead, lure of riches, interest by Chinese and USA governments, double crossing, nirvana etc. make the plot thicker. 

According to the book, the legend goes back between 5000 and 8000 years. The story dates back to the time of Kublai Khan, the Mongol king who converted to Buddhism and who also was grand son of Chengiz Khan. Marco Polo, the Italian explorer, was sent by Kublai Khan to find Shambhala on a number of expeditions but was unsuccessful. 

Some of the shortfalls if the story are as follows. Ashton was shot in leg and Duggy lost his leg during previous battle. The expedition involves a lot of mountaineering but author never mentions any difficulty for these two characters. To put a recently defected KGB operative in charge of a covert CIA operation is not only unbelievable but naive. The blast on land destroys the helicopter in air but the protagonist on land remains unscathed. 

The book appears a bit lengthy. Author could have done away with fight with Russians with Afghans completely. Epilogue also appears like an appendage. 

From page 449, suddenly, author has changed narration style. From a third person narrative it suddenly become person centric.

Paper size of book is small (Pocket book), with 500 pages thick, it becomes uncomfortable for holding in hand. 

Read if you have time.

Heaven's edge by Romesh Gunesekera

"Heaven's edge" by Romesh Gunesekera. This book is published by Bloomsburry in 2003 and has 256 pages.

Marc, British by birth and Srilankan by ancestry, decides to visit the island to trace his roots and know the country. He meets Uva. One day she disappears and he is arrested. 

What happens next? Can he escape? Does he meet Uva? Can they be together? Does he like the island?

The book is divided in six sections. First is romance, second is arrest, search and escape, third is temporary refuge. Fourth is escape. Fifth is temporary home. And final is retention of the world he created. 

It's a love story on the backdrop of military rule in a war torn country. It's part poetic, part optimistic, part romantic with the harsh reality, devastation and loss of civilization lurking in the background. 

The devastation, lack of business, uncooperativeness of locals, loss of civilization, fighting spirit and nature are vividly depicted. 

Although the island is Srilanka and all references are there, it's never called by its name. Also the names of fighting factions are missing. Author does not mention who is fighting whom or why. Rather than going into why of the situation, author has concentrated on the after effects. 

The book is poetic but bares the pain. 

The question Marc grapples with is if violence will gain freedom. He gets his answer at the end by the quirk of fate. 

Read if you have lots of patience.