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.

Operation Chaos by Himanshu Rasam

"Operation Chaos" by Himanshu Rasam. 

There is a blast in Rashtrapati bhavan. Chief of security is dead. Indian black cast commandos storm a terrorist base in India near Pakistan border. Hypersonic BrahMos missile, first of its kind in the world, project completes phase 1. Terrorists across the border, headed by an intelligent man, have infiltrated India.

What is operation chaos? How is it related to BrahMos? Why Rashtrapati bhavan? What do the terrorists want? Who are the players? What is the objective?

The book jumps straight into action right from the word go without much preamble. The action or actions set the readers pulse high within first 30 pages. The national security is at risk, situation is grave. Commander David D'costa has to save the day.

This story is a treasure hunt with clues, ciphers, references in the books, archeological structures and artefacts from Gautam Buddha's time. It involves a historian, a cryptographer, a hacker, set of commandos and a scientist (now President of India) who had worked on Pokhran nuclear blasts.

Authors writing style is good, very good. He manages to bait the readers and readers take the bait: hook, line and sinker. What is better is that author manages to keep the reader interested till the very end. It's a thriller out and out. The narration is vivid. Moreover author has provided some photographs and maps to understand the action better. It makes reading pleasurable.

The idea of a brilliant person, having a grudge at a particular person and nation, hiring terrorists across the border and forcing the Indian securities on a treasure hunt seems a bit far fetched. If the person can do all this planning why he can not hire a team of mercenaries for treasure hunt of his own is confounding. The explanation given is not convincing. If he can take over an ultra secure facility, effect blasts in Rashtrapati bhavan, plant his moles in India and had money why can he not do it himself or wait till the missile goes into production and gain access to many more to increase his bargaining power?

This is the fifth book, I read, based on the legend of Samrat Ashok's nine unknowns. Looks like this legend is getting crowded. Are there no other legends in Indian mythology and history?

A good thriller. Recommend reading.

The hunt for Kohinoor by Manreet Sodhi Someshwar

"The hunt for Kohinoor" by Manreet Sodhi Someshwar. This book is published by Westland Ltd in 2013 and has 432 pages. This is Book 2 of Mehrunisa Khosa series.

Mehrunisa has taken the post of her godfather at Archeological Survey of India. She is still haunted by nightmares; aftereffect of her father's disappearance when she was six.

President of Pakistan and Prime minister of India are in secret talks to establish peace when President of Pakistan is assassinated. The important documents he was going to hand over to India are also destroyed, but there is a copy somewhere. It's code named Kohinoor. Hunt for Kohinoor is on - in Pakistan. Babur Khan, a mysterious American soldier turned Islamic terrorist has surfaced.

Who is hunting for Kohinoor? Where is it? Who will get it? How is Mehrunisa involved?

As in the first book there are a lot of references to renaissance painters and their paintings and Mughal art. The story takes place in Pakistan and India.

The decision to send Mehrunisa, a civilian, to Pakistan in search of Kohinoor instead of her father does not make sense from logical and intelligence point of view. Especially when so much is dependent on the success of the mission, recruiting Mehrunisa seems to be far fetched. It's surprising that Pakistani intelligence can not find Mehrunisa, Raghav and RP Singh but Babur Khan can track them.

The author seems to be confused as to what should form the central theme of the story. Mehrunisa, Kohinoor documents, Agent Snow Leopard or the terrorist attack on Indian facility. In an attempt to cover all, she is all over the place and none of them is covered properly.

Manreet had raised my expectations after her first book. Her first book was profound. The second book however does not stand up to the reputation. It appears like a documentary. It's superficial. It disappoints.

Give it a miss.

Resonance by Ajay

"Resonance" by Ajay. This book is published by Westland Ltd. in 2014 and has 377 pages.

A group of corrupt officers from various Indian government agencies decides to collude with Pakistani terrorists and ISI to realize project Tupac II. Son of ex chief of ISI is in love with daughter of India's ambassador to USA.

What is the plot? What is Tupac II? What is the target? Who are the Indian traitors? Is there a mole? What would be the consequences?

It's a long & complex plot, one year in making, but the Indian intelligence agencies fail to unravel the plot almost for the entire duration. There are a number of actors like various Indian Intelligence agencies, ISI, LeT, Pakistan government, FBI, American intelligence, politicians etc.

The story revolves around hydrology, fault lines, water body movement and resonance. The plot is elaborate, consequences are devastating & impact is far reaching. Is that really possible? Hope not.

Ajay has written a good, tech intensive, apocalyptic story however his noviceness is not masked, especially in the build up of the climax and the climax. Characterization is a bit sketchy. The oneupmanship between ISI and Pakistani government is harrowing. Will the real Prime minister of Pakistan do what he does in this book? Improbable though not impossible.

Book cover is good. The intensity in the eyes of the terrorist attracts you to it.

Recommend reading.

A most wanted man by John Le Carre

"A most wanted man" by John Le Carre. This book is published by Pocket books in 2010 and has 491 pages.

International intelligence community (German, British, American) targets a mysterious Chechen, a suspected terrorist, who appears out of nowhere, in Hamburg. This man Issa Karpov has inherited ill gotten wealth of his father but he doesn't want it.

Will he be arrested? Will he accept his inheritance? Will his lawyer, Annabel, and his banker, Tommy, help? Is Issa a terrorist? Who will win?

The book explains the international money laundering for espionage, in this case through Lipizena accounts. Lipizena Is a breed of horse that is black at birth and becomes completely white, gradually, as it grows up.

The story is slow. The narration is interesting in patches. For a long time reader does not understand where exactly is the story going. The climax, though realistic in today's world, appears incomplete.

Characterization is a bit confusing. It is not clear why Annabel is  attracted towards Issa and why Tony is attracted towards Annabel. Why the veteran devil Gunther becomes a lamb at the end. Why Americans trump Germans in their own country?

It would have been easy to abandon reading the book. I completed it because it was good in patches. Idea of using 'Lipizena' for special kind of accounts was brilliant.

Give it a miss.

Mumbai Avengers by S. Hussain Zaidi

"Mumbai Avengers" by S. Hussain Zaidi with Gabriel Khan. This book is published by Harper Collins publishers India in March 2015 and has 392 pages. This will soon be made into a major motion picture called 'Phantom'.

26/11 attack on Mumbai, by Pakistani terrorists, is itched deep on India's mind. Retired Lt. General Sayed Ali Waris devices a daredevil plan to eliminate four masterminds of this attack. No one from government wants to support. India is a democracy and can not act illegally. Waris puts together a team of six with tactical support of SKY (Chief of RAW).

Will this black ops team clear the bureaucratic and political hurdle? Will the team get a chance of revenge? Can India sustain pressure of world politics? Can the team enter Pakistan? Will India avenge?

The book is fast paced yet simple. The daredevil acts of Indian special agents are thrilling. Narration is dramatic. Cat and mouse game between Indian team and RAW is also thrilling. The book is written keeping in mind that it will be a motion picture soon.

Assassinations in Turkey, Sweden and Pakistan are interesting. Infiltration and exfiltration from Pakistan is also interesting. It includes disguise, deception, chases and lot of ammunition fire. I felt that the very end of book is wrapped up bit too fast.

S. Hussain Zaidi is a well known non fiction writer. This is his first first foray into fiction. Since he has written this fiction based on facts, the transition is smooth.

Any book that kindles patriotism has a good chance of being successful. If it also includes a good story, gripping narrative, daredevil thrills, secret agencies and avenging terrorists; it is a definite recipe of success.

A good thriller. Indians will love it.

Operation Fox-hunt by Siddhartha Thorat

"Operation Fox-hunt" a debut novel by Siddhartha Thorat. This book is published by Shrishti Publishers & Distributors in 2014 and has 188 pages.

ISI, Pakistani intelligence agency, plans a daredevil attack on a strategic target in India. The target is an airport and primary base for 3 squadrons of Air superiority fighter SU 30MKI & HQ of southern command of Indian army. Two teams are formed for attack lead by SSG commandos.

RAW, IB and Military Intelligence of India get the whiff of the attack. But where is it planned? What is the target? What will Pakistan gain? Can India stop the attack? The hunt begins.

This is a good thriller. Attack by Pakistani's on Indian territory and chase by Indian intelligence agencies is sure to entice the readers. Since it is also narrated in an interesting fashion without over dramatizing, you have a good book. Story is woven neatly around the central theme. Characterisation is apt. Author has been able to entice the audience.

Author had provided detailed information about various army and special forces units, their background and history. A lot of research must have gone into writing the book. Amount of support Pakistanis get in India is simultaneously unbelievable and saddening.

Why the attack team does not consider using sea route is inexplicable. Another thing that I did not like is that all the army, special services and bureaucrats are shown smoking. There are more than 20 smoking scenes. There are editorial mistakes in the book like mis-spelling. This could have and should have been avoided.

I purchased this book on impulse hoping that it would prove readable. It proved to be a good impulsive decision.

It's a  good book. Recommend reading.

Time of attack by Marc Cameron

"Time of attack", by Marc Cameron. This book is published by Pinnacle in Jan 2014 and has 448 pages. This is the 4th book of Jericho Quinn series.

Jericho Quinn is attending a wedding of his colleagues. His ex wife (Kimi), daughter, girl friend (Veronica Garcia) and best buddy (Jacque Tbido) are all present. A young Japanese girl tries to kill his daughter. His daughter moves at the last moment and his ex wife is shot in the leg, resulting in leg amputation. Emico Miyagi, Jericho's martial arts teacher, tells him story of her past and tells him that the girl who shot him is her daughter and arranges fake passport. He leaves for Japan.

A Pakistani terrorist procures a deadly plague virus from North Korea and unleashes it on America. A Japanese pharma company has developed vaccine for the plague. Governer of Oregon state and Speaker of Senate are working for terrorists.

Why did they shoot at Jericho's daughter and not him? What does he find in Japan? What kind of plague is it? Who is behind the Japanese pharma company? Are these two things related? Can Jericho Quinn find answers and save the world?

The story is fast paced. It takes place in USA and Japan. Emico Miyagi's character aquires a different dimension in this book. She blossoms into a main character from assisting character (in previous books) and provides vital skills and information to the hero. The book also tells us a lot about Japan and Japanese culture. It also shows the importance and significance of tatoo in Japan. This book too, like previous three books, has characteristic motorcycle chases.

Last 10% of the book is too fast to keep track. It is so fast that it appears to be wrapped in a hurry. However the book ends at a very interesting and tantalizing turn of events. The readers would feel the urge to wait for the next book in the series and know what happens next.

You can read this book even if you have not read the previous three books as there is very little reference to the past books.

An OK book. Read if you have time.

The Anza deception by P.R. Ganapathy

"The Anza deception" by P.R. Ganapathy. This book is published by Hachette in 2012 and has 373 pages.

India and Pakistan have worked out a peace deal. There is opposition from both sides. Mr. Kirmani, Pakistani prime minister who worked out the deal with Indian prime minister Mr. Singh, has won a landslide majority in general elections in Pakistan.

Major Anwar Islam is ex military and now works for Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), India's spy agency. His commanding officer in army,  Colonel Gupta, now heads RAW.

Islam is stationed at Indian embassy in Islamabad and runs a spy network. One day he gets a news that a very important cargo would be transported from Pakistani city to Afghanistan. Islam intercepts the cargo. He is shocked to see a catch of 55 Anza Mark III missiles. These are shoulder fired, heat seeking, surface to air missiles. Taliban or any other terrorist organization has never possessed such an advanced wepon system. India has never got hold of Anza missiles till date. This catch will allow them to study and device counter measures for these missiles.

Gupta informs PMO, that they have acquired 40 missiles. He instructs Islam to take remaining 15 to Xinjiang region of China and hand them over to Muslim Uighur rebels.

Will the Uighur's accept them? Will they use them? Will Kashmiri terrorists get them? Will they deploy them? Will they use them? Will they succeed?

Author has used names of Indian politicians which sounds very similar to real life politicians like Manmohan Singh, Jaswant Singh, Sonia and Rahul. I felt that this was unnecessary.

First half of novel is paced moderately. Once  the action moves back to India, the pace improves. Second half is written like a thriller. Ganapathy has displayed his knowledge of the working of intelligence agencies, bureaucracy and aircrafts.

The plot is good, but the narration is jerky. Some important events like change of prime minister or death of a Major are covered only in one sentence. Fate of Karandikar is left for the readers to imagine. The person who pulls strings from behind the curtain is revealed on the last page, but intelligent readers can guess him about 100 pages earlier.

Although it's a very good first attempt, the amateur style of writing is evident. Finess in writing is still not there but should come in subsequent books.

Full marks to the good cover design. It summarizes the book. Use of blue color is also very effective.

An OK book. Read if you have time.

Blowback by Mukul Deva

"Blowback" by Mukul Deva. The book is published by Harper Collins in 2010 and is 349 pages long. This is the third book in Lashkar series.

Last book ended with Indian Force 22 commandos escaping from Pakistan and Tanaz and injured Iqbal going towards dessert to a doctor. This book starts where the previous book left. Tanaz and Iqbal are confronted by Pakistani military and are shot. A terrorist group saves them. When they are fit again they return to India. Force 22 is happy to see them alive. Tanaz is pregnant. Force 22 trains them for an infiltration operation. Their target is Indian Mujahideen.

Can Iqbal and Tanaz infiltrate Indian Mujahideen? Can Iqbal save lives? Will his cover hold? Or will it be blown? What will be the blow back?

The story is nicely paced. The infiltration in Indian Mujahideen seemed a little too easy. Force 22 and Iqbal work very cohesively. The book shows how technology and human Intel can save lives and how a small failure can cost lives. Author also provides a comprehensive, expensive but effective solution to get rid of problem of terrorism once and for all that would not be implemented by rulers due to possible political repercussions.

Iqbal in this book is not a confused youth any more, neither is he mad because of death of his loved ones. He has firm opinions and thinks clearly. He is a true patriot. He risks his life for the country.

Mukul is a master story teller. He keeps you interested till the end. Author has ended the book at a turn that sets the tone for next book (Tanzeem) firmly, which is already published.

A good book. Recommend reading, but read the series in order.

A wanted man by Lee Chil

"A wanted man" by Lee Child. This book won "National Book Award" (An award for British writers) in 'Thriller and crime novel' category in 2012. More than a million copies of this novel have been sold.

This is the 17th book of Jack Reacher series but the first one I read. Jack, the protagonist, is ex-military police.

A man is murdered by two men. There is a eye witness. County sheriff starts the investigation. Soon FBI special agent Jessica Sorenson takes over the investigation. State department and CIA are also interested. Hunt for the killers begins. Eye witness goes missing.

Jack Reacher, a huge ex army police investigator, hitches a ride with 2 men and a women, who claim to be a team working together. Jacks finds discrepancies in their statements, that a common man would have easily missed. The women in the car communicates to Jack by blinking eyes while other two are asleep (don't know why she does not simply mouth the words) and tells him that the two men have hijacked her car.

Who are the two men? Who is the murdered man? What is the motive? These two guys seem to be resourceful, how come? Can FBI track them? What role does Jack play?

Lee Child has displayed amazing power of deduction. Identifying inconsistencies and drawing conclusions has been shown as Jack Reacher's forte. A lot of time is spent traveling on straight roads in the american dessert. Not much happens for long stretches of time in the book but you still do not get bored. Readers are hooked to the story. This, I think, is the key to success of this book.

The climax was supposed to be full of action, but turns our to be a low key affair.

Read if you have time. It's also OK to give it a miss.

Salim must die by Mukul Deva.

"Salim must die" by Mukul Deva. This is the second book of Lashkar series.

The book shows that Osama Bin Laden (without naming him) was captured in Hyderabad, Pakistan, but died of medical conditions within hours. Mind you this book was written before Osama was captured. Shows clairvoyance of the author.

Brigadier Murad Salim of ISI, whose death was faked in previous book (Lashkar), and his side kick Major Cheema are back in action. This time the plot is much bigger. Objective is to carry out multiple terror strikes at multiple locations simultaneously. The perpetrators, this time, are not misguided youth but sleeper agents from various countries of different races, age groups and backgrounds. The strike wepon is also very deadly and objective is to create a bang bigger than 9/11.

What is the plot? Who will execute it? What kind of weapons will be deployed? What is the role of a Chinese scientist in all this? What  are the targets? Do they succeed? Which intelligence agency will be pressed into action? Would they be able to act in time?

Author has spent a lot of pages to describe the preparatory work for the grand terror plot. The book is 415 pages long. By the time the preparatory work is over you are through half the book. This part does not make you sit on the edge of you chair. Then the story gains speed. Force 22 (the ultra secret Indian special operations group headed by Colonel Anbu) is pressed into action. A decision is made to kill Brigedier Murad Salim of ISI. However this decision comes after 250th page and leaves limited page space for the actual killing. Iqbal from previous books makes a vital contribution.

The breakthrough needed by the intelligence agencies to unearth the plot comes as a lucky break rather than fruit of hard intelligence. The story gains speed after the break and you enjoy the climax.

Although this book is sequel to Lashkar, it is not as good as the predecessor. This book is good as a standalone book but seems bland in comparison with Lashkar. The story is slow. It keeps you interested, you don't abandon it, but the heightened expectations after Lashkar are not met.

An OK book. Read if you plan to read the next two books in the series.

The edge of the machete by Abhisar Sharma

"The edge of the machete" by Abhisar Sharma, 2nd book of The Taliban Conundrum Trilogy.

All the terrorist organizations in Pakistan and Afghanistan have decided to come together, at a secrete facility called 'The Beast', to prepare & launch attacks against America and it's allies. This facility is so secret that it's not known to any government or intelligence organization.

CIA has infiltrated 'The Beast' with one of its operative called  Ed Gomez aka Sarfaraz Khan, whose friend has been executed by the terrorist Amir Sherzai. There is a white Muslim (Shaun Marsh aka Shahid Khan), whose mother was a Kashmiri, at The Beast; who wants to be a Jihadi but doesn't know if he can kill. An Indian journalist Rahul Sharma is a captive at The Beast.

How lives of Rahul and Shahid are intertwined? What is the big plan? Does Ed Gomez become Sarfaraz for a cause or has the raw power of Sarfaraz taken over Ed? Can he  avenge killing of his friend?

Author has taken a very big canvas for the book. The story moves between Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, England and America. There are a lot of characters. The nature of plot requires proper development of three main characters and author had to spend considerable space for that. Abhisar has used flash backs liberally to establish the story and relations of characters.

Converging three stories for the finale is a Herculean task and Abhisar has almost succeeded in it. There was a possibility of developing this seed into a fantastic tale. Although the story has come out good, it could have been better.

Abhisar had a fluid writing style and does not allow you to get bored. Portrayal of main characters is good. Sarfaraz and his dilemma of completing the task after infiltration or becoming a mighty terrorist, Shahid and his dilemma of whether his identity is white man or a Muslim, Rahul's state of mind in captivity and Aamir, a terrorist & killer of Ed's friend, who is cruel beyond imagination & who wants to be recognized as most feared terrorist.

The climax is slightly mellowed down and a bit abrupt. Author has created the preamble for the sequel in the end.

An OK read. Read if you have time.

The dust will never settle" by Mukul Deva

"The dust will never settle" by Mukul Deva.

India is hosting Commonwealth games when suddenly India is chosen to host peace talks between Israel and Palestine at the same time.

Chief of Anti terrorism task force, RS Gill, is incharge of security of both events. Pakistan based terrorists have declared that they will not let the games go smoothly. There is a plot to disrupt the peace talks by killing the delegates. This plot is lead by Ruby Gill, an MI6 agent and a double agent for Palestainian terrorist organization, who is also estranged daughter of RS Gill.

On one side there is Gill family story & on the other side terrorist threat that may make or break India's reputation. Add to the mix overenthusiastic politicians, officers who want to please politicians, western mercenaries, incompetent security apparatus, illegal arms, Israel, Palestenian terrorists & international conspiracy and you have a potent mixture of a thriller.

Ruby is torn between conflicting emotions and duty towards jihadi's. RS Gill is also torn between love for his daughter and duty and frustrated by incompetence of his second in command.

Mukul has been successful in portraying the emotional side powerfully without undermining the action. The plot is built meticulously. Use of some real life terrorists as characters lend credibility to the plot on one hand and make the plot tangible on the timeline on he other hand.

Although this book is  little short on action it is more than compensated by a strong undercurrent of violence and death.

Intelligent readers can guess the end of the book.

A good book. Recommend reading.