The Phoenix by Bilal Siddiqui

"The Phoenix" by Bilal Siddiqui - Unfulfilled potential! 

This book is published by Penguin eBury Press in 2020 and has 240 pages. 

An Indian intelligence official has set up a task force to undertake unsanctioned operations. One operation, two deaths, one suicide and one rigorous imprisonment as a result of an operation gone wrong, or does it? Time leap. An international plot, a story, a murder, imprisoned intelligence operative on loose,  apocalypse, Scorpion. What next?

What is Phoenix 5? What is the international plot? What is the threat? Who is behind it? Who is scorpion?

This is a spy thriller. Aryaman is the hero. Story has a promising start and develops nicely in the initial period. But as the story progresses, it starts to come off seam, then it slowly unravels and eventually becomes absurd.

Rather than using real names, author uses fictitious names for intelligence agencies. So ISI is PIA, RAW is IRW. Don't see a point in doing so.

Amarjyot's actions defy his character. Protagonist is a heavy smoker. His sidekick smokes. Ladies smoke. The villains smoke. In fact, every single character of importance smokes. Looks like author is advertising smoking. Why promote it?

The story has a number of irrational things. 

Why steal the formula? How does everyone know the name of the Israeli who is supposed to be nameless and faceless? How did Indian intelligence create digital reconstruction of Eymen and Asra? Why trap Aryaman? If Randhir came on bike, how come nobody heard him? Why code name is required at the end but not earlier? If Eymen doesn't know scorpion, how does he know about rendezvous? Eyman's decision to die is based on so little, it's perplexing. Then his decision to live is even more perplexing. These irregularities, at times, make the plot weak and at times, make it ridiculous. The high point of absurdity is the identity of Scorpion. How did he raise money? How did he create a world wide organization? Why did he do, what he did at the end? Everything absurd.

Book ends with precursor to a sequel or sequels. Expect more. Book cover is gaudy with combination of green and red. But conveys the message that it's a thriller. The title doesn't have a big significance to the story. 

Bilal Siddiqui is a young author of Bard of the blood, which was made into Netflix series (though book was better), and protégé of S. Hussain Zaidi. This is his 4th book. He doesn't live up to expectations. 

This could have been a good book. The seed had potential but application lacked finesse and execution isn't tidy. 

Why did I read this book? Author's showed promise in previous book. 

What I didn't like? Lot of things as enumerated above. 

What did I like? Plot.  

AVOID.