Blood song by Juggi Bhasin

"Blood song" by Juggi Bhasin. This book is published by Penguin Metro Reads in 2014 and has 440 pages. This third novel of Suvir Suri series.

Simran is a Sikh girl living in London with her ultra conservative family. Her brother commits suicide. She is deceived in love and brutally gang raped in London. Her family packs her away to Punjab. Here she first meets an enigmatic middle aged woman and then eventually meets Suvir.

Will Simran accept the rape as her destiny? Will Khalistan movement resurrect? What are the designs of corrupt chief minister? What has Suvir got to do with all of it? Will Simran avenge her violators?

Author has decided to bump off the character of Kalpana from Suvir's life. None of the characters from previous two books make an appearance.

Character of Baba Santok Singh was created with a lot of promise but makes a hasty exit. Character of Avjeet is seriously underdeveloped. It's not clear why Aranjit does, what she does. In short the characterization is not good.

Suvir enters the story at about 50% of the book and meets Simran for the first time at around 60% of the book. The real story starts only after that. Author has lost to much page space in developing background and preamble leaving little time for the real story.

Author has created a seed for next book that should have a showdown between Suvir and Simran.

This book is not in the league of first one, not even second one. Give it a miss.

The Avenger by Juggi Bhasin

"The Avenger" by Juggi Bhasin. This book is published by Penguin India in 2013 and has 508 pages. This is Book 2 of Suvir Suri series.

Sikandar Khan, a dreaded Pakistani terrorist, executes a horrific terrorist attack in Delhi and manages to escape. A group of grieving industrialists, fed up with the impotence of government, decide to take the situation in their hands and commission a mission to find and eliminate Sikandar. Person chosen for the task is Suvir Suri.

Why is Suvir hiding in forest with Kalpana? Will Suvir accept?  Who will help him? Will he succeed? Will he be released from pain?

This book takes Suvir to Pakistan. Not once, not twice, not thrice but four times. Start of the book is very interesting but after Suvir's entry the story drifts in the general direction of conclusion without a purpose or conviction. It stays that way till the mother of all terrorist attack against India is launched by Sikandar in Pakistan. Here onwards the story picks up pace and becomes interesting again.

The climax is thrilling, action packed and interesting. A thrilling movie can be made out of this book. Author has used the trick of 'revival of incapacitated' twice. It was avoidable.

There are a few incongruencies and deficiencies in the story. They raise certain unanswered questions. Why snipers were not deployed when NSG commandos attacked the plane? How can Suvir fall in love again? Why does the journalist Ipshita decides to help Suvir? Why Nazish, a low level surveillance officer, is allowed to talk to an Indian asset. How Sikandar musters support of armed forces and all the terrorist organizations?

The book might have become more interesting had it been a few pages shorter and had the middle portion been crispy. Even without it, it's a good thriller.

If you have read first book, read this. Third one is already released.

The Terrorist by Juggi Bhasin

"The Terrorist" by Juggi Bhasin. This book is published by Penguin India in 2012 and has 512 pages. This is Juggi's debut novel.

The story starts with investigation of Capt. Suvir Suri that may result into eventual court martial. It goes into flashback to tell us what Suvir is made up of and comes back in present with an imminent terrorist attack by Pakistan trained terrorists in Delhi.

Who is the terrorist? Who will defend India? What role does ISI play? Will the plot succeed?

This is a thriller written by a first time author. But author displays a finess in writing, developing the story, racy narration and good climax. It's a big book. First half is the story of making of Suri and the terrorist and second half is the terrorist attack.

The memo prepared by ISI officer Mir, justifying major terrorist attack, about socio-political situation in India aptly describes the situation, though the conclusion is proven wrong in every terrorist attack on India so far. Every attack has united India.

Transition of the character of Murad from a normal human being to a hate filled individual begs more work on author's part. That part appears shallow and bit too easy. Author also tells us that Murad turns into a ruthless, brave and brilliant strategist and terrorist. How does it happen remains unexplained. His past does not indicate these personality traits.

The elaborate plot of terrorist attack is laid out in great detail. Author has gone into minute details and explained how preparations were done, how big the plot was and what could have been the repercussions. The plan is huge and would cost many lives. (Recent Pathankot terrorist attack seems to be lifted from this book).

It's a very well paced thriller. You sit on the edge of chair, especially, in second half. Sequels starring Suvir Suri are already published.

A very good thriller. Recommend reading.