An innocent traitor by Satyapal Chandra

"An innocent traitor" by Satyapal Chandra. This book is published by Pigeon Books India in 2012 and has 219 pages.

This is the story of Rohit, who's trade name is Arman Ali. What's his trade? He is a contract killer. He works for the underworld.

Was he a criminal from his childhood? Was he dreaming like a normal man? What made him take a gun in his hand? Will he ever come out of it?

The story takes place in Delhi and Mumbai. It is semi interesting. At times author has struggled with continuity and consistency.

It's a story of mafia. It could have been very interesting. But it appears more like a patchwork than an easily following story.

The English in this book is bad. It is as if the sentence is thought in another language, translated in English and then written down. There are syntax errors, capitalization errors, typing errors and grammatical errors. Wrong words are regularly used like gate of car instead of door of car etc. You lose fun of reading as there errors keep popping up on every page. Instead of a reader you become 'proof reader'.

It's taxing to read this book. I did not like this book.

AVOID, even if someone pays you to read.

The intern's handbook a.k.a. Kill your boss by Shane Kuhn

"The intern's handbook" a.k.a. "Kill your boss", debut novel of Shane Kuhn. This book is published by  Simon & Schuster in 2014 and has 288 pages. Why there are two titles? Because this book is published in US as "The intern's handbook" and in UK as "Kill your boss.

John Lago is an orphan and works for HR Inc. run by Bob. What's their business? To place interns in various corporations. The interns are assigned to a boss. They earn his trust and then kill him. HR Inc. is an organization of contract killers disguised as interns.

John is assigned to kill one of the three partners of a Law firm. He has to identify the one who sells the identities from witness protection program and kill him. This would be his last assignment before he retirees at the age of 25. Here he meets Alice, a beautiful junior associate and decides to use her as an asset to gain entry where an intern is not allowed. He pretends to love her and she intern mobilizes help to find his biological father.

Can John identify and kill the partner? Who is Alice? Can she find his father? Does John retire? Is this his last assignment?

The book is written in first person narrative. John has written a handbook for other interns and told his story through it. It could have been a memoire instead of handbook and still would have made the same impact.

The idea of intern assassin is superb, full marks to the idea. The anonymity enjoyed by an intern, a free worker, is key to gaining confidence of boss without drawing attention and then killing him. Author has written very well. The start of book is engaging, middle portion drags a little bit and end is again interesting. Although you don't read it in one go you also don't abandon it.

Style of writing is different and a good change from usual. Narration is informative and entertaining but a little mechanical at times. Considering that this is the first novel of author, we can expect more good work from him in future.

The cover design and use of eye catching yellow color is very effective. I think the European title is more appropriate.

A good book. If you are a fan of thrillers and want to read something different, this book is for you.

Maut by Behram Ardeshir

"Maut" by Behram Ardeshir.

Maut is the  deadliest assassin in the world. He is an Indian. He could have become anything he wanted, a doctor, an engineer, a manager, an athlete. But fate has chosen this destiny for him.

Maut is tasked to kill a Russian mobster in Cyprus. He succeeds, encounters Groznetsky who is in charge of mobster's security. Both Maut and Groznetski escape Cyprus without killing each other.

Maut who is a ruthless assassin and cold blooded murderer, had started to show feelings. He had started to help people in distress. Deputy director of Indian intelligence bureau, who is trying to find Maut, is perplexed. Is he a good guy or a bad guy?

This is when he meets Charmaine, his love since his adolescence, who is now married. A number of events take place that put Charmaine in harms way and Maut has to fight the fight of his life to save her. What is the fight? Why Charmaine, who had married an accountant, is in danger? What does Maut do? Can he win? Can he save her? Will he get her?

Behram has created India's answer to Robin Hood, Jason Bourne and Mitch Rapp put together. He has succeeded in creating an interesting character who is supremely fit, trained in every martial art, can kill easily with bare hands, is master of disguise and speaks about 12 languages.

Although he describes Maut's fights in detail, readers fail to understand how exactly did he kill the guy. Characters are neatly developed although the reader wonders why the characters can not see what the reader can. There are also a few loop holes and incongruities that could have been avoided with better proof reading.

The author has  provided certain information in two or three chapters again and again, unnecessarily, as if they are different stories. This indicates lack of confidence in readers and becomes an irritation for the readers.

The book is titled 'Maut - The birth of death' and the last chapter explains how Maut became an assassin. Probably Behram wants to create a series and this is the first book. We can expect more from him.

A decent book. Recommend reading for a change.

Kill shot by Vince Flynn

"Kill Shot", a novel by Vince Flynn.
This book is a prequel to Mitch Rapp series. The story is set up mostly in France and tells us story of Mitch Rapp in his first year at CIA. This is second prequel of Flynn (after 'American assassin') and he has used these two prequels to bridge some gaps of Mitch's character, explain some interpersonal relations and bring in new characters and a love interest.

Mitch is sent to kill a person and result is 9 dead bodies including 3 innocents. Mitch has screwed up big time, or has he? His old enemy raises head. There is CIA politics to not let Thomas Stansfield become director. How do the 2 things relate? Is this a setup? Who is behind it all?

Flynn's writing style is dynamic, we live the story through his narrative. Pace is good and keeps us on the edge of chair. You do not get bored and do not loose interest.

Although there are a couple of loose ends, they may have been left intentionally for another prequel.

 Needless to say that I liked the book & recommend it. Now I have read all Vince Flynn books of Mitch Rapp series and have to wait for the release of new one.

The last man by Vince Flynn

"The last man", latest thriller by Vince Flynn (2012). This is his 13th book of 'Mitch Rapp' series and now I have read all but one.

Mitch Rapp is a top CIA operative who has little regard for authority & rules when national security is in question. He is difficult to manage but is best at what he does that is killing tge bad guys.

One important CIA operative (Rick) goes missing in Jalalabad. Rapp goes to find him and an assassination attempt is made on him by a killer from his past. In the fight for his life Rapp sustains head injuries and has a short term memory loss.

Will he find Rick? Is he alive? Is it the doing of intelligence agency of another country? Is there a bigger plot than what meets the eyes?

There are multiple layers of deception & misinformation is difficult to segregate from fact. The plot is full of subplots. Story takes place mainly in Afghanistan, USA and Pakistan. Its a real thriller.    
                             
Loss of nemory and recovery brings a new dimension to Rapp's personality. The end also sows seeds for the next book that is expected this year.

Vince Flynn's writing style is very good. It is very difficult to put the book down. Story is well paced and keeps you on tenterhook. (It is hard to believe that Vince Flynn was a dyslexic.)

All in all worth spending the time.

Those who like thrillers should read Vince Flynn.