The other woman by Daniel Silva

"The other woman" by Daniel Silva -  Kim Philby?

This book is published by HarperCollins in 2018 and has 400 pages. This is Book 18 of Gabriel Allon series. 

Israel has a low level mole in SVR (former KGB). While trying to exfiltrate him from Vienna in collaboration with British, he is assassinated and the needle of suspicion is wrongly on Gabriel Allon. There has to be a mole in British or Israeli intelligence for this operation to blow. Someone very high. Gabriel and his British counterpart dig deep into half a century old files and find out that the legendary British defector Kim Philby had a love interest in Beirut and the association might have led to birth of an illegitimate child. A child who has treachery in the blood.

Was the child born? Is it a boy or a girl? Where was this child raised? Is this child the mole? Who is this child?

Author has taken a leap of imagination. With the revival of Russia as the arch enemy, Kim Philby and his offspring make a mouth watering idea. What if it was possible? Is this Philby's revenge from his grave?

So Gabriel unearths the ultimate mole in British system. A mole very high, with access to almost all the secrets. Onus is on him to catch the mole to clear his name. The story thus becomes interesting. But with such a seed,  author has refrained from making it a high octane thriller. Rather, he has adopted Forsyth type writing style for this book. 

Most of the book is good. In attempt to catch the mole, Allon takes a leap of faith. This is too coincidental. End of book is very interesting. Although the mole is caught,  it's not over. The snake will rear it's head in one of the subsequent books,  probably even the next one. 

Why did I read this book? Author.  

What did I like?  Idea.  

What I didn't like?  Allon's leap of faith. 

Recommend if you have read books in the series. Don't bother,  if not. 

Aryavir by Anita Shirodkar

"Aryavir" by Anita Shirodkar -  A new old world!

This book was published by The Write Place in 2017 and has 346 pages. This is Book 1 of 'The guardians of the blue lotus' trilogy. 

Kamalkunda, a kingdom blessed by and home of a huge indestructible blue lotus called Indivara, is ruled by Kamalakshi clan. Aryavir is the Crown Prince and Sitanshu is his best friend. Jabali tribes from west are trying to avenge Kamalkund. Step brothers of current king Chiraksh and their neighbouring kingdom of Chandraketu's have decided to wage a war with Kamalakund as their children (2 princesses and a pair of twins) have escaped from their respective parents to go to Kamalkund for various reasons. There is a curse that will kill Aryavir at 18. Keshkutas must be awaken before the completion of their sleep cycle. 

What is the curse? Will Indivara protect Kamalkund? Why do Jabali's want revenge? Who are Keshakutas? Will the run away children reach Kamalkunda? What will the evil Mayakari do?

Author has created a new 'old world'. Kamalkund is the kingdom of Kamalakshi clan, who have blue lotus eyes. Indivara is the humongous blue lotus in existence for 999 years and Lord Padmaksha is believed to reside in it. Chiraksh, despite being born out of wedlock, is made king by queen mother thereby distancing her own three sons. All people in the Old World pray to Ishv, the formless one. 

Chandraketus rule adjoining kingdom of Kalipur. Chandrabha, the queen mother of Kamalkund, comes from this family. But her decision to make Chiraksh king had estranged the two kingdoms again. 

Jabali are wandering tribes from Drakkar, desert in the west. They have flaming red hair and pray to The blazing one. 

A number of children run towards Kamalkund. Eshan and Eshwari, seven year old twins, run from their Mayakari mother. Princess Reva runs from her tyrant maternal grandfather who is trying to marry her to an old prince. Chitrangada and Ahren run from Chitrangada's irascible father King.

The story is interesting. A lot of background had to be created and the story also had to be narrated. It was a tough task. Author tries to do both but she has to hurry through a lot of things briefly. I believe she should have increased the number of pages in this book and taken more time to establish the characters,  history,  inter relations and to let the story blossom. 

Characters are good. They have human touch and mysticism attached to it. Maheshwari masters are all enigma. Aryavir and Sitanshu are the main protagonists. The colour them of the series is blue. Indivara is blue lotus. Kamalakshis have blue eyes. There is blue energy. Aryavir has a blue bead around his neck. The palace is called Neelmahal. The throne is a sapphire throne and so on.

Author has given three family trees (Kamal akshis, Chandraketus and Jabalis) and map of old world at the beginning of the book. This was a much needed accessory to correlate all the names,  their relations and the geography. 

Nevertheless, she has created a good story. The book is interesting. It is poised at an interesting moment when it ends. Book 2 'Sitanshu' is already published. 

Why did I read this book? Blurb. 

What I didn't like? Length of book.  

What did I like? Author's imagination. 

Recommend reading.

The President is missing by Bill Clinton & James Patterson

""The President is missing" by Bill Clinton & James Patterson - President Vs Virus.

This book is published by Century in 2018 and has 528 pages. 

Book starts with American President, Jonathan Duncan, facing a congressional committee hearing that can refer him to the judiciary committee to impeach him for aiding and abetting a terrorist. A young lady utters most secret code words in the ears of President's daughter. President goes missing.

Is President in the wrong? How does the lady know the secret code words? Why is the president missing? Is he running from impeachment? Is he dying? Is he trying to save America?

'Sons of Jihad', a non Islamic, anti west organization specializing in computer hacking, led by declared terrorist Suliman Cindoruk has done something that will bring America to it's knees.

The story is not about assassination or espionage. It's about hacking and computer virus that will take America literally to dark ages. Authors paint a very grim picture of 'Dark Ages'. On one hand President is fighting a war to save the country, on other hand there is a traitor within his circle of elite and he is also fighting failing health due to blood condition. To add to it all,  there is an assassin called Bach who is trying to kill the defected hacker. 

It appears as if it's a fight between President and terrorists instead of America and terrorists. Book portrays the impression that what no agency could do, President did. America comes to know about this deadly virus only because Nina and Oggy defect from the virus team. Otherwise America would not have known what hit them. 

The story is interesting and retains reader's interest for most part. It's narrated in first person by the President. The mitigating actions, in case the virus detonates, are sweeping and severe.

Jonathan Duncan is a good President who puts his country above himself. Caroline is his chief of staff and epitome of efficiency with political acumen, Catherine is his Vice President who he beat to presidential nomination. Oggy is the hacker who does not want the intended devastation. Bach is the pregnant assassin who intends to retire after this assignment. 

Who is the traitor in President's inner circle? Although it becomes a moot point in the end, I was able to guess the traitor. Formula of the least doubted being the traitor applies here. 

I thought that the Saudi angle appeared brought be brought forcefully and unnecessarily. End of the book is dragged a lot. All the loose ends could have been tied through presidential speech. That would have made the end crispy. 

There are typical statements of American arrogance like 'If America is vulnerable, so is every other country'. But that's ok.

In such books,  it's hard to know the contribution of individual authors. James Patterson writes almost all his books with a co-author. So contribution of Bill Clinton is unknown. But we can assume that the presidential inputs came from him. 

Why did I read this book? Bill Clinton. 

What I didn't like? Dragged end, President is the lone fighter.  

What did I like?  Story 

Read you have time. 

The fox by Frederick Forsyth

"The fox" by Frederick Forsyth - Short of author's standard.

This book is published by Corgi in 2018 and has 352 pages. 

A hacker has penetrated Fort Mead database, most secure database of America, but hasn't changed or stolen anything. The hacker is difficult to trace and good at hiding and is hence dubbed as The Fox.  A long pursuit leads to detention of a British teenager with Asperger Syndrome. Russia's president is controlling government, oligarchs and mafia. He wants to restore Russia as superpower. A plot is hatched. 

What are Russian ambitions? How will UK teach Russia a lesson? What weapon is at their disposal? What role will The Fox play? Is there a traitor?

Sir Ardian, retired Deputy chief of MI6 and now adviser to British PM, leads the British initiative. Yevgeny Crilov, head of SVR (Russian intelligence), leads the Russian initiative. The story takes place in 20129Mar future, in year 2019.

They play a battle of wits, hacking,  sabotage, assassination and international politics. Russia, Iran and North Korea are the rogue states that need to be warned and nowadays the war is not fought on ground, sea or sky. It's fought in cyberspace. 

The story is decent but not exciting. There is limited action and very limited emotions. Cyber war and it's impact on international politics is the main theme. Russia's attempts to regain the status of super power are central to the story.  Russia is the new villain. Character of President of Russia is based on Putin and made darker and vicious. 

How would one end the story? By making The Fox invincible? Na! By killing him? No! Then how? Well you will have to read the book to know it. 

Frederick Forsyth is a master of thrillers but somehow this one, though good of looked at absolutely, falls short of his own standards. 

Year's ago all the western thriller authors had communist USSR as enemy. Later on Islamic terrorists became favourite villains. It was China's turn next for a brief period. Recently Russia is re-emerging as favourite antagonist again. Is this an indication of changing political scenario in world politics?

Why did I read this book? Frederick Forsyth,  bas naam hi kaafi.

What I didn't like? Lack of thrill. 

What did I like? Use of The Fox.

Not a must read, but you can read. 

Kashi by Vineet Bajpai

"Kashi" by Vineet Bajpai - Something's missing!

This book is published by TreeShade books in 2018 and has 407 pages. This is part 3 of Harappa series. 

This book starts where previous book 'Pralay' ended. 1700 BCE, Manu is constructing the largest ark ever built by human beings, a technological wonder, with an objective to preserve all life forms. Present day, New World Order wants to obtain the secret of Black Temple. They have sent Maschera Bianka to Banaras. Dwarka Shastri is explaining the history and prophecy to Vidyut. Vidyut has to unfurl the secret of Black Temple. Final showdown is about to begin.

Is Pralay the only threat to Manu? What does New World Order want? How can Vidyut fight an international organization? Where is Black Temple? What is the secret of Black Temple? Where is Ratna Maru?

Like the previous two books author narrates two stories. One of Satyavrat Manu in past and another of Vidyut in present. The former is fascinating. The Ark, it's construction,  the team work, threat posed by carnivores led by Nara-Munda, battle for the Ark,  Pralay, Matsya  etc. is depicted vividly. Uprightness of Manu is exemplary. 

Story of Vidyut is also interesting. The start of Rohini nakshatra, arrival of designated hour, the last Black Temple, secret of Black Temple, Maschera Bianca's arrival and the showdown is good,  but the much awaited final showdown between New World Order and Dev Rakshas math does not happen. The series ends with the showdown between Vidyut and Maschera Bianca.

Author has saved the final showdown between Dev Rakshas math & New World Order, Light and Dark,  God and Bad for a new series. This leaves the readers with a feeling of betrayal. A feeling that something's missing. 

Sometimes the book uses the word statue instead of idol of God. Strange!

I completed the book with single unanswered question in mind. Why is it necessary for the Devata to know the secret of Black Temple? If it was not known to anyone, there would be no bloodshed to protect or reveal it and destiny would have been fulfilled anyway. 

Why did I read this book? 1st and 2nd books were good. 

What I didn't like? Final showdown between two organizations doesn't happen. 

What did I like? Manu's story.

   

Read of you have read first two books.