The nameless relationship by Preeti Shenoy

"The nameless relationship" by Preeti Shenoy - Crisp!

This e-book is published by Westland in 2018. It's a single short story. 

Lithika is married to Neel and has two grown up kids. Their family is upper class Bangloreans. Lithika keeps up the appearance with her husband. She also has a relationship with Dheeraj, 17 years younger than her. 

What is the relationship? Why is it nameless?

It's a short story. But Preeti finds time to create the background and establish the relationship. A relationship that makes her feel alive. The story is crisp. 

It's a conundrum faced by many. A relationship that is important but can't be categorized into any known relationships. A nameless

relationship!

End of the story was expected to be a surprise, but it ends on expected lines and doesn't surprise the reader.

Book cover shows crumpled bed and pillows with hands and feet of a woman. It's apt for the story. 

Why did I read this book? Author. 

What did I like? Crispness.

What I didn't like? Expected end. 

A good quick read. 

Firekeepers of Jwalapuram by Vamsee Juluri

"Firekeepers of Jwalapuram" by Vamsee Juluri - Journey al the way!

This book is published by Westland in 2020 and has 328 pages. This is Book 2 of 'Kishkindha chronicles'. 

There is fire somewhere in the sea and there are big waves. People are forced to retreate. There is insistent rain that is making people and plants sick. Hanuman and Vishwamitra go in search of Sage Agastya. Vali is still missing. Riksharaja is executing a sinister plot. Vaishnavi's land is attacked by creatures without balances (tails). They eat 'Matter'. Kamadhenus are their only hope. 

What is Riksharaja planning? How will Sugreev respond? What will Hanuman do? How can Kamadhenus help?

This book is about journey. Hanuman and Vishwamitra journey in search of Sage Agastya towards Jwalapuram. Hanuman journeys in search of Kamadhenus. Vaishnavi and Vasishtha journey towards her home, then to fire temple.  Both of them and Jambavant journey to the temple of ruler of universe. Riksharaja journeys in search of something. The creatures journey towards south. Most of the story happens in journey. 

The story is slow. Very slow. It becomes boring. I felt like abandoning the book many times but I persevered. There is a hint of action. But action never happens. There isn't even resistance. Everything is left to Goddess Saraswati. Story ends with preamble for the next book. 

Hanuman is wise. Vaishnavi has a spark. Jambavant has restraint. Vasishtha is quirky.  Sugreev is utterly helpless. Riksharaja is scheming. Ruma is a survivor. Vali is Vali.

I was amazed when I read the first book 'Saraswati's intelligence' of the series. It heightened my expectations. But this book falls woefully short. Not sure if I will read third book. 

AVOID

Why did I read this book? First book was good. 

What I didn't like? Pace. 

What did I like? Umm.... 

Sniper's debt by Mainak Dhar

"Sniper's debt" by Mainak Dhar - Sniper continues!

This book is published by Tara Press in 2020. This is Book 2 in '7 even series'.

Ex para commando, Major Aaditya, and Zoya now have a baby, Aman. They are going for a vacation to Paris when their plane is hijacked by Daesh jihadis and diverted to Afghanistan. But something's amiss. These are sophisticated jihadis. Aaditya's wife and son are hostage. 

Why is the plane hijacked? Who are these jihadis? What can Aaditya do? What is the real play? What is Sniper's debt? What is Project Lotus?

In this second book of the series, story moves to Afghanistan. Here Aaditya reunites with Aman Karzai, Aaditya's terrorist nemesis turned friend from first book, and uncover a sinister plot. The story is about how they thwart it. This story has more action than the first one but less emotions. The flow of the story is not as smooth as the first one.

Apart from Aaditya's wife Zoya and Aman Karzai, characters like Ravi and Rekha Mathur, Police officer Ashutosh Phadke, MK Dhar, NSA Ajay Gopal make appearance and will continue to do so in subsequent books. 

In this book Aaditya appears bitter towards establishment, in general, and politicians and Generals, in particular. Sniper Aman pays his debt, but it's not over for him yet. A bigger plot is in the offing and would be uncovered as the series continues. Next book in the series is titled 'Sniper's quest' and is yet to be published. 

Why did I read this book?  Book-1 was decent.

What did I like? Different setup.

What I didn't like? Lack of flow.

Read if you intend to read the series. 

Phantom of Manhattan by Frederick Forsyth

"Phantom of Manhattan" by Frederick Forsyth - Why sequel?

This book is published by Corgi Books in 2000 and has 256 pages. 

Well this book claims that Eric Muhlheim, the famous Phantom of Opera did not die.  He survived with the help of a kind lady, Madam Giry, and reached America. There he succeeds. Now that lady has a dying wish. 

What does he succeeded in? Is he still attracted to Opera? Why Phantom of Manhattan? What is the dying wish?

Phantom of Opera is a novel by French author Gaston Leroux, published in 1909-1910. It's the story of a very ugly man who lives in the basement of Paris Opera House anonymously and is dubbed as ghost. He coaches and loves a beautiful soprano, who loves someone else. Then he becomes obsessive and abducts her and eventually dies. Or does he?

Eric has a disfigured face and wears mask.  He is described as Fearsome genius and frighteningly ugly. He succeeds in America with the help of his front man, Darius, who worships and is servant of Mammon, Syrian God of wealth. 

A meeting between the soprano, Christine De Chagne and Eric has to happen and an Opera has to be the backdrop. This time the setting is Manhattan. Despite becoming financially successful, Eric's obsession with Opera and his inability to show his face to anyone are the defining factors of this story. 

Frederick Forsyth writes a sequel to the classic here. What would have inspired him?

He provides a long prologue about the original story. Story of this book is relatively short. Its narrated mostly as a report. 

I really wonder what was the reason to write this sequel? Fredrick Forsyth is known to be a very good author, then why borrow from existing story?

Why did I read this book? Sequel to Phantom of Opera. 

What I didn't like? Eric and Christine meet only twice. 

What did I like? The Opera.

Read if the story line interests you. 

Six graves to Munich by Mario Puzo

"Six graves to Munich" by Mario Puzo. This book is published by MacLehose Press in 2010 and has 256 pages.

Michael Rogan, a US intelligence officer, was tortured by 7 German Gestapo in 1945 and shot. But he miraculously survived. Now, 10 years on, there is a plate at the back of his skull. He has always been super intelligent and had eidetic memory. Now he wants to kill them all. 

How will he find the identity of the seven? Why does he want to kill them? For his torture or there is something else? Who is mysterious Rosie? If seven Gestapo tortured him, why six graves?

The story happens around 1955, so a lot of modern techniques and tools are not available to the author. It's a story of revenge. Pure and simple!

The atmosphere of the story is gloomy and dull. In a thriller the most important part is excitement and its anticipation. That is missing in this story. As a result the narration is a bit drab. The 'what next' factor is missing. Things appear too easy. 

This book was written a year before Puzo completed The Godfather (1967-68) and was published under a pseudonym. Only very recently it was brought to light.

This book is definitely not in the league of Godfather or Omerta.

Why did I read this book? Author.

What did I like? Umm..

What I didn't like? Drabness

A brutal hand by Ravi Subramanian and Jigs Ashar

"A brutal hand" by  Ravi Subramanian and Jigs Ashar - Shortz whodunit. 

This book is published by Westland in 2020 and has 186 pages. This is one of the first two books of Shortz series. 

Two murders. A diamond merchant. A jail superintendent. Same modus operandi. A post-it note saying sorry. Victims and suspects are unrelated or are they?

Is there any connection between the two murders? What is the motive? Whodunnit?

It's a small book, so it's a fast story. Authors don't spend much time in background creation. Something is happening all the time. Authors give small surprises. All characters are relevant to the story, except one. A clue that it's the killer or is it a red herring? The needle of doubt moves to various characters, some bluffs, some red herrings and finally revelation. 

Entry of Shital should have happened earlier. Late entry gives readers a clue of what is coming next. 

This book consists of 76 small chapters in 186 pages. The story is delivered in small packets. 

What is Shortz? It's series of short, plot oriented, fast paced novellas. Ravi will be co-authoring this series with various new author. The idea of Shortz sounds very similar to James Patterson's Bookshots series. 

Why did I read this book? Author

What I didn't like? Late entry of Shital.

What did I like? Pace.

Good book to read during journey. 

Amavas by RV Raman

"Amavas" by RV Raman - Quick read!

This book is published in 2017. It consists of two stories. 

Amavas

Minal, army doctor, fervently hopes-not but suspects that her depressed husband Harith, Commando Captain, is a serial killer who kills only on Amavas.

What will she do?

The story is good and had a potential to become more interesting if author had allowed few more pages, but he chose to keep it very short. 

Gulshan Pandey

Abhinav, a reporter, decides to experience jail stay as part of jail initiative. He wants to stay in a jail with real criminals. Gulshan Pandey, a serial killer, is in next cell. 

What experience will Abhinav gain?

This story is a good, end is good but the execution of climax is not good. 

It's a booklet, not even a book. Why only two stories? Doesn't give satisfaction of reading a book and doesn't sound like money's worth. It could have been a collection of at least 6 stories. Sense of dissatisfaction!

Why did I read this book? Few pages.

What did I like? Seed. 

What I didn't like? Climax of second. 

It's a good quick read.