The hostage by James Patterson with Robert Gold

"The hostage" by James Patterson with Robert Gold. The book was published by BookShots in 2016 and has 144 pages. This is Book 1 of Jon Roscoe series. 

Tribeca, luxury hotel with 40 floors, is being inaugurated in London. Someone important is murdered by a masked man in full view of the invitees. Jon Roscoe, Head of global security for Tribeca wants to apprehend the killer. Inspector Savage, corrupt nemesis of Roscoe, reaches the scene with the force. Three more people are murdered brutally.

Who is the murderer? What does he want? Why the brutalization?

It's a pacey story. Short and simple. Expected to be completed in one sitting (Although I did it in two). There is thrill and there are murders. 

But what is missing is investigation. The protagonist starts stitching things together by deduction but the killer is always two steps ahead. The protagonist is not able to stop the crimes but becomes only a witness to the aftermath. In the end Jon Roscoe also commits a crime on humanitarian grounds.

Although it's a small book, it has 29 chapters. Thus the chapters are short. Authors have done a good job in accommodating all the essentials and doing away with the fat to keep the book small.

The book is titled 'The Hostage' but ironically, the murderer does not take any hostage. He simply kills them one by one.

There are a few holes in the story. How does the murderer kills the victims but no one sees him. Why the security footage was not detected by the watchers. Who were the other two children? Was it the short book length that did not allow the authors to tie up the loose ends?

This book is from Bookshots series. Bookshots is a series of Thrillers under $5 and 150 pages. These are stories at the speed of life. 

Why did I read this book? Curiosity about Bookshots. 

What I didn't like? Protagonist can't stop crime. 

What did I like? Compactness. 

Read for a change.  

Immortal by Krishna Udayasankar

'Immortal' by Krishna Udayasankar. This book is published by Hachatte India in 2016 and has 389 pages. 

Prof. Bharadwaj is a historian for hire. In reality he is Ashwatthama, the immortal. Maya Jervois approaches him to find Vajra, the object that's supposed to have alchemical properties of turning metal to gold and immortality for humans. 

Will Bharadwaj accept? Who is Maya working for? Does Vajra exist? What will Ashwatthama do?

Alchemy is a subject that has fascinated many from Chengiz Khan to Newton. The quest for it has never succeed but has never stopped either. Every human in a position of immense power has desired it. It's a good seed for the story that has been used numerous times previously. 

Inevitably the search for Vajra turns into a hunt with cryptic clues, symbols, references, inferences and legends. The team of Bharadwaj, Maya and Manohar embark on a journey. During their journey they aquire company. The story moves from Delhi to Somnath to Arunachalam to Balochistan and back. There are discoveries, altercations, fights, deaths and betrayals. 

Ashwatthama has lived forever and has been witness to a lot of things. He continued his life by changing identities, proffessions and countries. He was soldier most of the time. Thus he witnessed crucifixion of Christ, has been involved in Singaporean resistance of Japanese army, was part of Azad Hind Sena, was there during the time of Greeks, Turks etc. He met many famous personalities like Maharshi Ramana, Jabir etc. He has continued to live the life of an immortal, an aberration. Is it a boon or a curse or an anomaly?

The book discusses a number of philosophical and scientific things. A lot of research, Indian as well as non Indian, has gone into writing of this book.

The story is not uniform in pace. At times it gets boring. At times it is exciting. There is a traitor that I could recognize but then there is another one that I didn't. The end of book appears stretched. Author should have ended earlier on a tantalizing turn full of ambiguity and hope. 

Why did I read this book? Ashwatthama. 

What I didn't like? Length. End. 

What did I like? Metaphor of alchemy. Philosophical and scientific discussion. 

Read if you have time.

A secret revealed by Christopher C. Doyle

"A secret revealed" by Christopher C. Doyle. This book is published by Westland in 2016 and has 92 pages. This is a mini sequel to 'The Alexander secret'. 

Office of a company that tracks movement of aircrafts is attacked and all records are destroyed. 'The order' is on to something. Vijay is desperate to find Radha's body. A mysterious man contacts Vijay and offers to meet him after six months with something very important. Vijay goes on vacation to England. 

Where is Radha's body taken? What does the mysterious man have? Is Vijay's vacation really a vacation?

Although it is publicized as mini sequel to 'The Alexander secret' it's also prequel and curtain raiser to Book 2 'The secret of the Durids', now published. 

This book carries the story a little bit forward. A few things happen which will be carried over to Book 2. There's not much to write about. The book cover is also not imaginative. 

Publishing a small book between two books sounds like a purely commercial gimmick to boost sales. Otherwise what's in this book could very well have been part of second book. There was no literary need for this mini book. 

Why did I read this book? What's in the mini sequel?

What I didn't like? Objective of the book. 

What did I like? Commercial gimmick. 

Read if you plan to read Book 2 'The secret of the Durids'. 

For complete review, please visit:

Mandar's Book reviews

http://mandarbookreviews.blogspot.com/

Order to kill by Kyle Mills

"Order to kill" by Kyle Mills. This book is published by Simon & Schuster in 2016 and has 440 pages. This is Book 15 of Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp series. 

Russian President wants to lay his hands on Pakistani nuclear war heads. There is a sinister plan afoot that will restore Russia's glory at someone's expense. Grisha, the Russian equivalent of Rapp, is tasked to take care of Rapp.

Why does Krupin want Pakistani war heads when Russia has them too? Will there be a Grish-Rapp showdown?

The book is good, but not as good as the previous (and first by Kyle Mills) and definitely not in the league of Vince Flynn books. The story is interesting but fails to raise your pulse. The end of book is predictable. Author does not want to waste a character built meticulously.

Years of body abuse and age is taking its toll on Mitch. He has aches and pains. He is also becoming soft. He is inexplicably attracted towards Claudia Gould whose husband killed Mitch's wife and tried to kill him twice. Rapp in this story lacks the single mindedness that was the defining feature of his character. 

Grisha is a new entrant. He is a match to Rapp, younger, agile and on drug regimen. But he remains unknown to world's intelligence agencies, despite remaining operational. Is that possible? The character enters as remorseless but then grows conscious. 

Rapp treats President and Army chief of Pakistan with disdain like petty criminals. How ever one abhorres another person, the respect due to the position of power is always given. Not here. 

Kyle Mills took over the enterprise, after death of Vince Flynn, from last book. He bumped off Stan Hurley in last book and almost bumped off Scott Colemanin in this. Eric Van Lustbader did the same when he took over Bourne enterprise. New author's attempt to break away?

Why did I read this book? Mitch Rapp series.    

What I didn't like? Lack of intensity. 

What did I like? The end. 

Read if you have time.

Sleeping on Jupiter by Anuradha Roy

"Sleeping on Jupiter" by Anuradha Roy. This book is published by Graywolf Press in 2016 and has 256 pages. This book was long-listed for Man Booker prize. 

Nomi was orphaned in India, was adopted by a European mother and lived in Norway. She decides to come back to Jarmuli-India to make a documentary and to search her routes. Here she meets a number of people. A guide, a photographer, three old women, a chaiwala & a monk. 

Will she find what she seeks? Will she meet someone from the past?

Characterization is vivid. Nomi was orphaned by war, the implication here is war against Naxalism. She is sheltered by an ashram run by a Guruji. Her sufferings leave her a broken girl. She does not really connect with her foster mother. She must come back to India to search for her identity and to achieve a sense of closure. She can not forget what she has gone through. She has a secret wish to disappear that is also shared by the photographer. Suraj, the photographer, is trying to come out of a broken marriage with Ayesha who is older than him as she is having an affair with his friend. To add to it, he does not have a stable work. Johny Tapo runs a tea stall. He has a soulful voice and sings often. He has started a new life in Jarmuli and refuses to talk or even think of his previous life. Badal is the guide who believes that his uncle has usurped everything after his father's death and resents working for uncle. He is attracted towards Raghu, a teen aged boy working for Johny. Vidya, Latika and Gouri are old ladies and close friends. They have embarked on this trip to enjoy, to visit Vishnu temple and to forget their aches and pains. 

The book brings forth naked and heinous truth about physical and sexual exploitation of young girls by Pedophile God men under the guise of shelter. It makes ones blood boil with indignation. 

Author's narration is lyrical. She has very good imagination and is capable to see to the things from a different perspective. She also manages not to get entangled in the story and remains a neutral narrator. 

The story builds up nicely upto a point and then quickly unravels. By the time readers come to term with this change, the book concludes abruptly. 

Why did I read this book? Title. 

What I didn't like? Abrupt end. 

What did I like? Author's take. 

Read if you have time.

Indian superfoods by Rujuta Diwekar

"Indian superfoods" by Rujuta Diwekar. This book is published by Juggernaut in 2016 and has 200 pages.

At the onset author provides her definition of superfood. It's the food that grows in your area, is rich in micro nutrients, every part of plant can be used in unique way, encourages diversity in diet, leads to a sustainable lifestyle. 

1. Ghee - the fat burner: it's a short chain fatty acid (SCFA) that breaks down fat and reduces glycemic index of food. It's most potent antioxidant on earth. 3-5 tsp a day is good start. She has given a stepwise procedure to make ghee.
2. Kokum - the natural antacid: It's grandma's go-to herb to cure acidity, bloating and flatulence. Ayurveda celebrates Kokum for its ability to regulate menses and to protect the heart. The ORAC (anti oxidant score) of Kokum is very high. 
3. Banana - the recharger: It has potassium, vitamin B6 and has low to medium glycemic index. It's a natural tiny packet of performance enhancing nutrients. Banana is the best snack any time of the day. She praises Sukeli (sun dried banana) the most as delicacy and immunity booster.
4. Kaju - the antidepressant: it has amino acids, minerals and vitamins. She gives her recipe of Cashew milk. 
5. Ambadi - the stomach soother: Rich in folic acid and iron, easy to digest and cook and no side effects.
6. Rice - the grain that sustains: Ayurveda celebrates rice as a symbol of health, wealth and prosperity. She rubbishes that rice should be taken off your plate when you turn diabetic. She also warns against removing water from rice. 
7. Coconut - the calmer: The coconut is divine. They contain magical medium chain triglycerides (MCT). It helps in myelination. 
8. Aliv - the beauty pill: Ayurveda recognizes Aliv as an important part of the post-partum diet. In Africa it's regarded as natural aphrodisiac. It has estrogenic properties, rich micronutrients and cancer protecting abilities. 
9. Jackfruit - the fertility booster: It is national fruit of Bangladesh and is carotene & anthocyanin rich and has antioxidant properties. It is a vegan, gluten free proton alternative to meat. It can help improve your insulin sensitivity. 
10. Sugar - the antiageing secret: Sharkara is mentioned in Rig Veda, Charak Samhita and Sushruta Samhita. She says that sugercane sugar is not the same as beet sugar or HFCS (High fructose corn syrup). Sugarcane has glycolic acid used in cosmetics. 

Rujuta has given myth busters for each of the superfood in the tabular format of 'Fact Vs Fiction'. She also provides 'How to eat' guidelines. In this section she does not talk just about one product but all the products of that particular plant. These two sections are vital. This format makes immediate impact and summarizes the superfood.

Rujuta is a staunch supporter of local produce and food habits. She also scorns the foreign 'experts' and MNCs who package things that are of little use as healthy, influence masses and get rich. Her writing also has a flavor of 'Swadeshi'. Some of the sentences are even populist. She criticizes Indian schools for not teaching about local foods and micronutrients in it and government for not having policies for local food.

She also provides nuggets of information. USFDA admitted in 2015 that there's no link between cholesterol and heart decease. NICE (UK health guidelines) officially removed omega 3 as a nutrient that helps heart health in 2014. Kokam and jackfruit are in the NUS (Neglected and underutilized species) of UNFAO (United nations food and agriculture organization).

Most of these superfoods are native of Kokan, costal region of the state of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Goa. Rujuta's family hails from this region. Thus these superfoods seem to be close to her heart. 

The recurrent theme of the book is that the traditional food habits with locally produced good content are proven and have stood the test of time over generations. Don't' disturb them by coming under influence of some foreign expert who advises against it and retracts it after few years. 

She, however, has given wide birth to two important aspects and their impact on health. 

1. Non organic food. 
2. Artificial ripening of fruits. 

Why did I read this book? Recommended by wife. 

What I didn't like? She could have listed dishes made from the superfood in various states. 

What did I like? Knowledge. Author's conviction. 

A very good book. Must read.

The gangster by Clive Cussler & Justin Scott

"The gangster" by Clive Cussler & Justin Scott. This book is published by Michael Joseph in 2016 and has 400 pages. This is Book 9 of 'Issac Bell' series. 

Year is 1906. A new type of criminal organization seems to be in operation. An all rounder who is in kidnapping, ransom, counterfeiting and explosives.  To add to this there is a plot to assassinate US President Teddy Roosevelt by a wealthy businessman. Isaac Bell leads the charge.

Who is behind the gang? Who wants the President dead? Is the same person behind both?

There are two plots. Extortion and Assasination. They take a long time to converge. The story keeps you interested but slackens occasionally. The century old story does not bore you and you remain rooted. 

This is the story when Issac Bell is still to become the chief investigator of Van Dorn detective agency. Story takes place in booming America where development is supported by Italian labor. 

.

Bell adventures always have locomotives as modes of transport and many times used for climax chase. This book has locomotives but uses ice yatch for the climax chase. A novelty. 

I have always maintained that Bell adventures are hundred year old high tech fictions. This one is no exception. Author has to be credited for this. Bell adventures have a story pattern. There is a villain who is otherwise a respected figure that does villainy on the sides. It's identity is not a secret for the readers but the characters are unaware. Bell unearths the identity and saves the disaster at the end. 

Identity of Gangster is not a suspense. Neither is the identity of mastermind of Assasination. However Bell takes his time to unearth the identities. 

Why did I read this book? Clive Cussler. 

What I didn't like? Brief climax sequence. 

What did I like? Genre of period high tech fiction. Writing. 

Read it if you are a Cussler or Bell fan.

The legend of Lakshmi Prasad by Twinkle Khanna

"The legend of Lakshmi Prasad" by Twinkle Khanna. This book is published by Juggernaut in 2016 and has 233 pages. This book contains four stories. 

In 'The legend of Lakshmi Prasad' a village where birth of a daughter is considered liability, a girl named Lakshmi has an idea. She changes it all. How?

In 'Salaam, Noni Appa', Noni, an Ismaili widow, is in a quandary as to weather to give a name to her relationship with Anandji, a Yoga teacher, (both above sixty) or let it remain undefined. What will be her choice?

'If the weather permits' is the story of Elisa who has two unsuccessful marriages while her parents still want her to marry. 

'The sanitary man from a sacred land' is story of Babloo who is passionate about producing low cost sanitary pads for rural women. It shows his struggle, difficulties, ostracization, will power, never give up attitude, tremendous efforts and social engineering. He loses his wife, family, friends and well wishers. He was called blood sucker, vampire, pervert and raving mad but he did not give up. Did he succeed?

Author has consciously decided to take up a different genre. Instead of her tried and tested light hilarious formula, she has ventured into social issues like child discrimination, live-in relationship, societal necessity of marriage and sanitary pads through stories. 

The stories are not bad, but they are not wow either. Since these stories are fictions, they could have been better and more interesting. I doubt if one would remember the book after a few years. 

Twinkle had heightened the expectations of readers and I purchased the book with a lot of anticipation. I expected it to be hilarious or observant or memorable or witty or emotional or brilliant or unputdownable or a combination of some of above. However the book falls short on all counts. 

Although the book is named after the first story, neither is it the largest story of the book nor the most important. Author dedicates the book to Akshay, the friend! That too with a seemingly innocuous but probably meaningful message. 

The book is more than 200 pages long but it uses a large font. Had a normal font been used it would have been about 150 pages long.

Why did I read this book? Author. 

What I didn't like? Blandness. 

What did I like? Author's choice of social causes. 

Give it a miss.

The ghost bride by Yangsze Choo

"The ghost bride" by Yangsze Choo. The book was published by Hot key in 2013 and has 200 pages.

Li Lan, 17 and daughter of once wealthy family, gets a  proposal to become ghost bride of the deceased son of Lim family in 1890 Malysia. At the same time she is attracted towards Tian Bai, Lim family's nephew. Then her soul travels the spirit world while she is alive. Here she meets another irresistible person. 

Will Li Lan agree for a ghost marriage? Will she become ghost bride? What would happen to her body while she is in the sprit world?

Characters in this book are rich. Thian Bai who should have been the real heir of Lim family. Lim Tian Ching who is vindictive, possessive and unscrupulous even after death. Ghost of Fan, who can't leave her living lover and pass to another world. Ama, who raised Li Lan's mother and then her. Er Lang guardian of spirit world, extremely handsome & interesting who wants to apprehend corrupt officials and goes out of the way to save his witness, Li Lan. Li Lan who is torn between two men, one dead another alive and is also attracted to a mysterious third. She enters the spirit world as a care free 17 year old but returns a mature lady. 

When Li Lan enters spirit world she discovers many things about the world of dead and secrets of living. The spirit world consists of Plains of the dead, the Hungry ghosts who did not get proper funeral, paper Funeral offerings (like horses, palanquins, houses etc.) burned for dead so that they can get these material things in afterlife. It was interesting to read that spirit world works on funeral money burned by the relatives of dead and the food offered by them. The spirit world officials are corrupt and take bribes in return for favors. There is friendliness, rudeness, hatred and betrayal. All the human emotions are carried over. In fact it is so closely related to human world that you hardly find differences. This world is interesting and appears like a distorted replica of human world.

The main theme of the book starts with a proposal of spirit marriage, a historical Chinese custom, mainly followed by overseas Chinese. Then it moves to spirit world and its machinations. Finally comes back to the world of living. 

Character of Thian Bai suddenly takes a back seat. Why? Don't know. Li Lan's final choice is also baffling and appears impulsive. 

The story slows down in certain sections. But author manages to keep the audience interested. Author confesses that she has added the plains of dead in the story that do not exist in Chinese belief. All in all its a good package.

Yangsze Choo is a fourth generation Malysian of Chinese decent. She lives in America. 

Why did I read this book? Blurb. Spirit marriage custom. 

What I didn't like? There is no ghost marriage and hence no ghost bride. 

What did I like? Novelty. Chinese spirit world. 

A very good change. Recommend reading.

Jump, Didi! by Sharath Komarraju

"Jump, Didi!" by Sharath Komarraju. This book is published by Sharath Komarraju as Kindle edition in 2015 and has 80 pages. It's a collection of nine stories. 

'Arranged marriage' is a science fiction of society of surrogates where mates are chosen by computer based on sexual, emotional and genetic needs and all children are surrogates. What does Varsha desire?

In 'Carnival at big house', a man visits his about-to-be-sold, dusty home. In the dust he sees his past. What does he see?

'Envy' is a science fiction where the last surviving human being discovers that music gives pleasure to one of the robot. What will he do?

'Jump, Didi!' is story of a college going girl who has a way with children. Then why jump Didi?

In 'Justice', Subroto defies death. Literally! Can he continue?

'Book house' is the story of a girl, Sahitya, who wants to be in a book. Will her wish come true?

'Science project' is a letter written by Brahm to Vishnu about their project that has sprouted life. Why is he afraid?

'The disloyal son' is a monologue of a Brigadier who wants his son to be a man, not a poet type like his first wife. What will he choose?

'The music shop' is a science fiction where Mr. Fernandes meets himself. Not a twin, not a clone and not even a time travelled him. How, then?

Authors imagination in 'The carnival at big house' should be applauded. He uses the shapes created by dust clouds, in a disused house, to go into flash backs. In the story Envy, author provides cold reasoning arising out of Envy towards a machine. Yes a machine! In science project, an allegory, he voiced the fear of Gods. Book house is a horror story set in his favourite village Rudrakshapalem.

It's a good bouquet of stories. There are science fictions, horror stories, emotional stories and psychic stories. However the book is tilted in favor of science fictions. All the stories are good. Author has not become predictable. That's an achievement. Thus the shock factor remains and makes impact.

It's a small book, the stories are good, there is variety, the book manages to bind you. Various kinds of stories keep you guessing about genre of the next one. I read it in one go. 

Why did I read this book? Author, Short length. 

What I didn't like? Title story. 

What did I like? All other stories. 

A good book. Recommend reading. 

The Mahabharata code by Karthik K. B. Rao

"The Mahabharata code" by Karthik K. B. Rao. This book is published by Notion press in 2016 and has 234 pages. 

Narayan Rao is a scientist at NASA. They receive response from an unknown planet in Sanskrit. No man has ever travelled 10 light years. A crew is assembled and they reach this mysterious planet. There they meet Vyas who wants to stage Mahabharata on that planet for the evolution of the inhabitants with the help of earthlings. 

Who is Vyas? Why does he want to stage Mahabharata? Is it possible to recreate such a complex story? What is the role of Narayan Rao?

The story uses technology to restage Mahabharata. The bow in Draupadi swayamwar is biometrically protected so that only a descendant of God can lift it. There is a hidden camera in Krishna's peacock feather. Krishna gifts Draupadi solar oven and ready to eat food packets and calls it Akshaypatra. Divyastra are Biometrically protected weapons. Nirbhaya shot is an injection to render someone impotent to prevent rapes, an example of Black humor. NASA's satellite launched in 1989s called WHATSUP? Etc. 

It's a fantastic idea to restage Mahabharata on a remote planet with simpleton humans. When you plan any event, there are a thousand things that can go wrong. Would it not happen with this Mahabharata? I would have liked the story to show how Vyasa managed to stage it despite various characters wanting to respond to the events in a different way than the character of original epic. However that does not happen. Author tells us how the story line was maintained with the help of technology largely ignoring the human mind and possible anomalies and deviations. When the story reaches to delivering Gita, it takes an entirely different course of action and restaging of Mahabharata is abandoned like an orphan. 

Krishna's explanation of human lives, rebirths, yugas, avtars, essence of being through the allegory of malware infested souls, environment and 'The Game' is very good. It converts philosophy into modern parlance easily understood by today's generation. 

However after this the book goes into tail spin. Rao's derilium plunges the readers into an eddy of reality, virtual reality, dream, hallucinations and parallel universe. At the end it's like the movie 'Inception' where you don't know if it's reality or it's a dream. 

Why did I read this book? Blurb. Concept. 

What I didn't like? Restaging was abandoned. 

What did I like? Krishna's explanation in modern day parlance. 

Read if you like this review.

The bard of blood by Bilal Siddiqui

"The bard of blood" by Bilal Siddiqui. This book is published by Penguin books and Blue salt and has 299 pages. This is Bilal's debut novel. 

Lieutenant General Sadiq Sheikh, head of MI, is killed. Kabir Anand, a professor of Literature and former spy, is called back into action to rescue Indian hostages from Mulla Omar's custody. A sinister plot is in the offing. 

Who killed Sadiq? Why? Why did Kabir become Proffessor?  Will Kabir agree? What is the big plot? Who is behind it?

Bilal has written a good story. The narration does not give away the fact that this is author's debut novel. In reality there are three stories, that are intertwined, in the book. The actions are fairly good. Plot is interesting. Traitor is well hidden. Delivery is interesting. He has also used Shekspere's quotes owing to Kabir's background. 

Author has used Baloch dissention and their antipathy towards Pakistan and India's efforts to help them and leverage it to gain help in mission inside Pakistan in the story. Whether such a thing happens in reality is anybody's guess. Mission sabotaged by a traitor in RAW, twice, gives it another dimension. Terrorist attack that has potential of wiping India off the world map crowns the plot. 

Character of Kabir Anand is interesting. He is a sleuth and Professor of Literature with specialization in Shakspere. He is a patriot and one of the best agent but was kicked out under unproven suspicion of treason. He is brought back into action because of a murder of his mentor, guide and boss. He is cold blooded and emotional at the same time. He feels that he was treated unjustly and pounces on the opportunity that may absolve him. 

There are a some naive slip ups. e.g. Why Kabir was not patted down for weapons by the Afghan guard at Taj? How come the real names of operatives are shared with people who help them on mission? Why send an untested, emotional desk jockey on a mission? Why give English code names for agents on mission to Pakistan?

Author has concluded a book with a possibility of sequel. Bilal has shown good potential and he will only get better in subsequent books. 

Read if you have time.