The Taj Conspiracy by Manreet Sodhi Someshwar

"The Taj Conspiracy", by Manreet Sodhi Someshwar.

Mehrunisa (Persian mother and Sikh father, now dead) lives with her godfather and Taj historian Mr. Kaul. She is fluent in 6 languages and a historian herself.

She goes to meet the curator of Taj Mahal, Arun Toor, & finds him dead between tombs of Mumtaz and Shahjahan. He is in a peculiar position and has written something in his blood. (Did this remind you of Da Vinci Code?). She finds that the caligraphy on tomb of Mumtaz is altered, thereby declaring it fake. A Pakistani terrorist is plotting to attack Taj. Mehrunisa is attacked but escapes miraculously. Mr. Kaul is loosing his mind to an illness.

What is the Taj conspiracy? Who is behind it? Hindu political party? Pakistani terrorist? Home grown terrorist? Someone else? Can Meherunisa solve the case? Does she get any help from the government agencies or the bald officer assigned for the case? Who is the real culprit?

Character of Shri Kriplani is a fusion of MM Joshi and LK Advani. All characters are properly developed. Almost everyone seems to be the culprit.  Story is gripping and keeps you interested. Mehrunisa and Pamposh, new age ladies are constructed in interesting manner. All the conspiracy theories and legends about Taj are used to create suspense and confusion.

Manreet seems to be India's answer to Dan Brown. She has heightned the expectations.

A good read.

Doomsday conspiracy by Sidney Sheldon

"Doomsday Conspiracy", a novel by Sidney Sheldon.
I have read 9-10 Sheldon books earlier and what I like most is that he doesn't write series books. Each book is a standalone book.
                                         
Commander Robert Bellamy is recruited from Navel Intelligence by CIA to find out the witnesses of a weather ballone crash. He later finds out that it was actually a UFO crash. Unknown to him a secret multinational oganization, headed by mysterious Janus, is killing the witnesses he found.

Why did CIA lie to him? Why the killings? Are there aliens? Things take a nasty turn and he is on a run. Police and intelligence agencies all round the world are hunting him. Who is behind this? Has it anything to do with his ex-wife, who he still loves. Who is Janus?

The story takes place in Europe and USA. Robert Bellamy is portrayed as emotional secret agent, but his past is shown as an efficient and hard sleuth. A bit of contradiction because sometimes he seems naive.

Since Bellamy is on run a large portion of book is dedicated in describing his travels. Story is not revetting, but one does not abandon the book either. The climax and end is abrupt.

The book promotes environmentalism. This book is not in the same class as some other Sheldon novels.