The Brahmin by Ravi Shankar Etteth

"The Brahmin" by Ravi Shankar Etteth -  A thriller in the times of Ashoka!

This book is published by Westland in Mar 2018 and has 265 pages. 

Ashoka has ascended the throne by killing his 99 siblings including the crown prince. He is preparing to attack Kalinga. His nameless chief spy (spy master) is known as 'The Brahmin',  a disciple of Chanakya. An assassin named Blood Flower is on the loose.

Is Golden scythe,  the ultimate weapon, just a legend? Why did Lanka's princess arrive in Patliputra? Who is Blood Flower? Can the Brahmin find Blood Flower? Can he save Magadh?

The story is set in the times of Ashoka the great. This ruthless king is obsessed with more power,  more land and more money. He trusts the Brahmin more than anyone else. Murder in Ashoka's harem means the king is not safe. Brahmin has seven days.

Most of the story happens in 276 BC. The golden scythe is a nuclear weapon in  today's parlance. It was invented by scientists of Ravan and hidden from everyone by his nine brothers and their descendents. 

The story is interesting. Narration is good but it appears that in order to increase the intrigue,  author has over done few times. At times the narration veers off the track. However,  author takes the reader more than two thousand years back. The sights,  sounds and smells touch the senses through the pages. He has given special attention to various dishes and recipes and described them in detail.

From the initial description it appears that Golden Scythe is a large weapon. But eventually it turns our to be a pendant. Also Golden Scythe of peace appears in the epilogue,  without any explanation of what it is and how it works and without it's mention earlier. 

The use of Kovidara flower by the assassin and name Blood Flower for the assassin have no real significance to the story. It could have been Tom,  Dick or Harry.

The book has it's flaws,  but it's still interesting.

Why did I read this book? Blurb! 

What I didn't like? Flaws. 

What did I like? Author takes us in the time period. 

   

Recommend reading.

Eleventh hour by S. Hussain Zaidi

"Eleventh hour" by S. Hussain Zaidi - Second fiction from author. 

This book is published by HarperCollins publishers India in 2018 and has 247 pages. This Book is a sequel of Mumbai avengers.

5 Indian Mujahideen terrorists escape from jail. An Indian cruise liner going to Lakshdweep is hijacked by Somali men. Vikrant Singh, now working with NIA, is suspended and immediately assigned a role of 'consultant'. 

How did the men escape jail? Why is the boat hijacked? Has it got anything to do with Tiger Memon? What is the big plot? Who is Munafiq?

The story starts with a number of small events in multiple locations that slowly converge. The narration keeps the reader interested. Methods employed by the investigators are interesting. 

There is a theory in intelligence circles that a large portion of weapons received by Tiger Memon before 1993 Mumbai blasts are still hidden, somewhere in Maharashtra, with sympathetic families. Author has used this theory as a seed. The idea of a cache of weapons from 1993 blasts hidden for 25 years is a bit far fetched and interesting at the same time.

There are two twists towards the very end. One twist ends the game. Although its an interesting twist, I would have liked to see some clue hidden deep in the earlier part of the book about it. Without it,  the twist appears almost like an afterthought. Second twist is at the very end. This one appears to be immature deduction, rather than result of investigation. 

The book leaves the reader with some questions. Is it possible to blackmail someone in highest position? What can one sell for 50 Cr? Can one accuse someone in high position without proof?

Author is a well known crime journalist. His books are based on the underworld. Mumbai avengers was his first forey in fiction. This is his second. I purchased this book within a week of its release. 

Although the book is readable (I finished it in one day), it's not as good as 'Mumbai avengers'.

Why did I read this book? Mumbai avengers was good.

What I didn't like? Twist appears to be an after thought. 

What did I like? Narration. 

Read if you have time. 

Noordin's gift by Shashi Warrier

"Noordin's gift" by Shashi Warrier - A good book that falls short of finish line. 

This book is published by Manjul publishing house Pvt. Ltd. in 2014 and has 373 pages.

It's year 2025. Kashmir is now part of Pakistan. Indian army is weakened. Noordin, an Afghan residing in Kashmir, has planned an elaborate plot with ISI,  more than 20 years ago. He is determined to see it through. Ganesh gets a whiff of it. Thomas is not what he appears. 

What is the plan? Why is it in the making for more than 20 years?  Why did India secede Kashmir? How do Ganesh and Thomas fit in? Who is Noordin? What's his gift?

It's a terrorist plot in making for 20 years. A very long,  probably longest,  plan. Why does ISI want to hatch such a plan? What are the chances of such a plan remaining secret?

The story is interesting most of the time. It occasionally slows down. Noordin's quandary is captured very well. Ganesh the patriot is likable. Thomas plays with fire. Many of the conclusions drawn by the three protagonists are too simplistic and fortunate but correct. A bit too coincidental. 

However,  the climax is very anti climactic. The build up leads us to believe that climax will be very exciting, but it turns out to be insipid. It remains unknown what would the real perpetrator gain by such an elaborate plot.

Book cover shows a terrorist,  a fence and fires. It's interesting. A peculiarity of this Book is that its a book without index.

This book has narration with a difference. The entire book is narrated in first person,  but not by the same person. It's narrated by various persons, in first person. The story has three first person narratives. One of Noordin, the terrorist. Second of Ganesh, ex army and managing partner of a security agency. Third of Thomas, a RAW man.

Author toggles between present times (2025), recent past (2020), before that (2008, 2010, 2012) and old past (2989, 1992 etc.). This style of narration has become famous. However, author has overdone it by changing the timeline multiple times within each chapter. Reader has to be watchful. If not,  reader is bound to get confused and would have to go back and read again to understand the time line. 

Why did I read this book? Interesting title and cover.  

What I didn't like? Anti climax. 

What did I like? Character of Noordin.   

Read if you  have time. 

Phunkar (फुंकर) by Prof. Dr. Vinayak Nanawre

"Phunkar (फुंकर)" by Prof. Dr. Vinayak Nanawre - A bouquet for debut. 

This book is published by Rashmi book agency in 2018 and has 183 pages.

This book is a collection of short stories and author makes a debut in literary world through this book. 

In 'Phunkar (फुंकर)', 4 year old Manu unwittingly  gives her grandfather a great lesson. 

'Guinea pig (गिनी पिग)' is the story of an elderly lady, who is diagnosed with cancer, and her attempts at different treatments. 

'Shodh' tells us a story of a family trip. However, the real story happens in last 10 lines. 

'Ani Sikandar rajya karayche rahunach gela! (आणि सिकंदर राज्य करायचे राहूनच गेला)' is the story of a person who works and succeeds and works and succeeds and works and keeps working but forgets to live. 

'Bandh (बांध)' is the story of two cousins who are at loggerheads over the boundary between their farms. Where will it lead?

'Navas (नवस)' is a story of a family who promises something to God in lieu of surviving a difficult situation. Will it stop?

'Adla badal (आदला बदल)' is the story of Principal Mrs. Deshpande and her teachings to keep emotion away and being on time. Will there be an exception?

'Lakshmicha tukda (लक्ष्मीचा तुकडा)' is a story of a poor large family who have great difficulty in making ends meet. 

'Bajar (बाजार)' is a beautiful description of the weekly market,  it's sights and sounds seen from the eyes of a small girl. 

'Patlancha tidha (पाटलांचे तिढा)' is the story of two wealthy farmers who are playing the game of one up manship during the marriage of their children. How will it end?

'Yogayog (योगायोग)' is a story of two strangers who met in a bus. Will the encounter end with the journey?

'Akher Sisiphus jinkla (अखेर सिसिफस जिंकला)' is the story of a peon who struggles to make the ends meet through marriage of six daughters and education of the seventh son. Will he win?

'Missed call (मिस्ड काॅल)' is the story of a mother who had toiled hard to educate her son. What does she expect from him?

'Maza pahila wadhdiwas (माझा पहिला वाढदिवस)' is the story of affection of students and teachers towards a principal who is about to retire.

Some noteworthy observations:

• Last sentence of 'Navas' automatically brings smile to the readers face.
• The title of 'Sikandar...' appears grammatically incorrect.
• Bajar is beautiful description that makes us visualize the market.
• Missed call is emotional.  
• Guinea pig is very good. 

The stories are simple. So simple that, at the end  of it, you wonder how author created a story out of what we see everyday. Its this ability to observe that makes a good author. Nanavre sir has demonstrated the ability.

By comparing Aba with Sisyphus, author demonstrates his knowledge of Greek mythology. By comparing the protagonist with Alexander he also demonstrates his knowledge of history. The stories range from rural to urban backgrounds, poor to wealthy, happy to sad. In short it's a bouquet. A beautiful bouquet. 

Author resided in and around Phaltan and was a professor. Obviously the stories happen in and around Phaltan and a number of stories are related to school and college i.e. education field. Author has leveraged his home turf for his debut successfully. 

With this promising debut author has heightened expectations for next book. Now the responsibility resides with Nanavre sir to give us more.

Why did I read this book? Recommended by my father and Kaku. 

What I didn't like?  One or two stories are too simple.

What did I like? Observation, variety, potential.

Recommend reading.

Disclosure: Author is a family friend. 

The Medical examiner by James Patterson

"The Medical examiner" by James Patterson -  Haste makes waste.

This book is published by Random House UK in 2017 and has 144 pages. This is Book 16.5 of Women's murder club series. It's a Bookshots book.

Medical examiner Claire Washburn receives two bodies,  a double murder. The female corpse comes to life. Cindy Thomas,  the reporter, gets the scent. Richard Conclin, her husband, investigates. 

How did the dead Jone Murphy come alive? Who is the other murdered man? Who wanted to kill them? What role will the Women's murder club play?

Homicide inspector Lindsy Boxer and her husband Joe are on vacation and only make a guest appearance at the end. 

The story had an interesting start. A corpse waking up in a morgue is promising. But the promise peters out. The story is uninteresting. There is hardly any investigation. There is hardly any thrill. There's, even, hardly any story. 

It appears that the author wanted to go through paces to complete the story and he just does that. If there is a murder,  the murder weapon and stash is found easily,  no investigation,  no search,  no deductions. The killer is also revealed just like that. Again no investigation,  no deduction,  no proof and no evidence. 

I wonder what exactly author wanted to do. Just for making the book readable in a single sitting (that's the idea of Bookshots),  author has lost its soul.

Why did I read this book? James Patterson 

What I didn't like?  No story. 

What did I like? Umm.... 

  

 Don't waste your time. AVOID.