Without warning by Joel C. Rosenberg

"Without warning" by Joel C. Rosenberg - strange!

This book is published by  Tyndale House Pub in 2017 and has 567 pages. This is Book 3 of JB Collins series. 

President Harrison Tailor is captured by Abu Khalif, Emir of Islamic Khalifet, but he is rescued with help of War correspondent JB Collins. Collins feels that the President is not being tough enough towards ISIS. America witnesses wide spread terrorist attacks on its  capital and other cities. Family of Collins is attacked. Collins decides to go his own way. 

Why does American President chicken out? Why 'Without warning'? What makes Mossad collaborate? Why take extreme step?

Collins is a recovering alcoholic, divorced, war correspondent for The Times. He is the only westerners who has seen and talked to Abu Khalif. He has tender feelings for a beautiful Israeli spy. When his family is endangered, he is determined. 

The biggest question that begs answer is the behaviour of President. Why is President reluctant to launch man hunt for Abu Khalif? If the terrorist had captured the President of America and threatened to execute him live, it is expected that the country will throw all their might to capture and kill that terrorist. But the President doesn't. Readers never come to know the reason till the end.

Although Collins is the only westerners who has seen and talked to Abu Khalif, What unique thing does he bring to the table for Mossad to make an exception and take him on board? How to take the battery of iPhone out? This and such questions remain open. 

Mohammed Bin Zayed is a character in this book. Here he is head of UAE's secret service. UAE, Jordan and Israel come together to hunt Abu Khalif.

Author had probably realized that the recipe did not come out as good as he wanted and hence introduces a twist at the end to pack a punch. Well it does pack a punch but also raises many questions. Primarily, why the terrorists did not relocate when JB found them?

It's a strange story. Unrealistic!

Why did I read this book? Author. 

What I didn't like? Story. 

What did I like? Umm...

Give it a miss.

Nooners by James Patterson and Tim Arnold

"Nooners" by James Patterson and Tim Arnold - Too predictable. 

This book is published by Bookshots in 2017 and has 128 pages.

Tim Mcgee is an Ad man. He is good at his job and is number 2 in his firm, has a beautiful wife, two kids and a plush house. However, he is living beyond his means and is maxed out. Three murders occur. Each victim is related to Tim's firm. 

Who is murdered? Why? What's the common thread? Is Tim suspected?

The story develops nicely. With every new murder, there is mystery. Incidentally Tim had met each of the victim on the day of murder. As the story progresses, new facets of Tim's personality become evident. 

However, the twist readers are waiting for never comes. Reader waits and waits and waits. The book is over with the most obvious conclusion without any twist. And then the readers think 'What the heck?'.

Reference to Nooners is limited to affair in this book, it has nothing to do with the time of the day. The name could have been anything else. 

Can someone be so naive not to take any care about not being noticed or not being found in possession of murder weapon?  Why does it take three murders for police to doubt Tim? That's why the end appears hasty, without enough and proper thought and also clumsy.

Why did I read this book?  Quick read. 

What did I like?  Early development. 

What I didn't like? Conclusion. 

AVOID.

King Solomon's curse by Andy McDermott

"King Solomon's curse" by  Andy McDermott -  Very lengthy

This  book is published by  Headline in 2017 and has 560 pages. 

Subsequent to the find of The arc of covenant, two books ago, a joint Israeli - Jordanian expedition along with a TV crew led by Nina Wilde (Yes, nowadays she is doing films and books) opens first temple of Solomon. There they find a scaled model of Zhakana, city of the damned. Another expedition is hastily put together to the jungles of eastern part of Democratic Republic of Congo (Former Zaire) and Eddy joins in. Soon danger finds its way.

Do they find Zhakana? What is it? Where is  the mother of Shamir? What is the danger? Which enemy from past will raise it's head?

The book is divided into two parts. One is the story in Middle East and DRC. The discovery of Zhakana, the palace without entrance and Shamir. Second part is the attack on UK parliament. Since the two sections are two different stories, it's not a cohesive book. The two stories are lengthy thereby making this book too lengthy. Towards the end, I went through motions waiting for the book to finish. 

A different angle is that MI6 is shown as active post Brexit and looking for mineral resources. There is a negative element within MI6 that claims to do things in the interest of nation. This puts Eddy in quandary. Patriotism Vs doing the right thing. 

As usual the book has awesome and awful jokes of Eddy, genius of Nina, action, a lot of violence, many deaths, booby traps set thousands of years ago that still work, discovery of something that defies logic, validation of a legend etc.

This book is neither as exciting nor as interesting as others. But it has as much violence and deaths in it. 

Give it a miss. 

Why did I read this book?  Andy McDermott. 

What I didn't like? Length. 

What did I like? Concept of Shamir. 

 Read, if you have read the series. 

To kill the President by Sam Bourne

"To kill the President" by Sam Bourne - Strong plot weak execution. 

This book is published by  HarperCollins in July 2017 and has 416 pages.

A volatile new President has taken office in USA backed by his strategist, Crawford McNamara. America comes to within 10 seconds of nuking North Korea and China as a retaliation to a provocative statement issued by Pyong Yang. Maggie, a white house staffer and trouble shooter for previous President, has decided to continue for current administration. Robert Cassian, Chief of staff, and Jim Bruton, Secretary of defense, are perplexed and powerless.

Does anyone have power to stop this freak President? Who can help them? What are their options? To kill the President? How's Maggie involved?

The new President is a white supremacist, has divisive policies, is unpredictable, volatile, is diabetic & overweight and has extremely low attention span and has won when no one expected him to win. He has a young married daughter and a young wife. Whenever he spoke on television it was either appalling or lie or both. 'Not my President' placards are everywhere. Sounds familiar?

Maggie Costello works in the office of Chief council. She was an expert trouble shooter for previous President and is in relationship with her colleague Richard. She unearths the plot to kill the President. She is torn between the two choices. Let the assassination happen and get the country rid of this tyrant and monster or save the President and democracy.

The story starts with a promise. It appears that execution of assassin is the real plot. But it isn't. Maggie's investigation and actions is the real plot.  Story is fast until the assassinating attempt but then becomes slower.  Sudden introduction of Rosemary helps to conclude the story. 

This book includes an entire talk show, a couple of news bulletins. Was it done to fill pages? The same could have been done with less pages. 

There are several weak spots in the story. How do they know that assassin will shoot the President in chest and not head? Why would Bob and Jim accept the position in new administration? The decision to kill the President appeared to have come very quickly.

They appear naive for someone to uncover plot.  Maggie's unearthing of pit is based on circumstantial evidence and deduction. No hard evidence. Final twist appears more like a fluke than plan.

Author has to be given credit for giving a Provocative title to the book. The cover with a gun in American flag colours is also a match to the title. This was my first Sam Bourne novel.

All said and done, the question of morality about killing a democratically elected President for greater good remains for the readers to decide. 

Why did I read this book?  Title and blurb.

What I didn't like? Execution. 

What did I like? Concept.

 Not a must read.