Fool me once by Harlan Coben

"Fool me once" by Harlan Coben - A whodunit!

This book is published by Random house in 2016 and has 352 pages. 

Maya, an ex military chopper pilot,  is widowed. Her husband, from an uber-rich family, is murdered, shot. But Maya survives. Maya's career is destroyed by a whistle blower earlier. Now she tries to come to terms with her husband's death and take care of her 2 year old daughter. One day she sees her dead husband Joe on the nanny cam.

Is Joe alive? But he was killed, how's that possible? What did the whistle blower have on Maya? Who killed Joe and why?

The story has a decent pace. Readers relate with Maya quickly and remain loyal to her.  She is widowed, she is strong, she is capable and she doesn't rest until she finds the truth. Except the truth is not what readers expect. The only support she has is of Shane, her good friend and colleague. The story starts with a bang. Then there are several surprises in the story to keep the audience interested. 

Maya is the central character. Bourquets are the rich family with their notions about right and wrong and family name. Keers is the detective. Shane is best friend of Maya. Readers keep wondering if he secretly loves Maya.

The climax is also kinda interesting. You feel sad. But you accept the climax. However, there is a time leap of 25 years after the climax and it appears completely unnecessary. An epilogue would have served better.

It took me more than 3 months to read this book. But blame it on lock down rather than book. 

Why did I read this book? It was on hand. 

What I didn't like? A bit slow.

What did I like? Readers keep guessing. 

Read if you have lot of time in lock down.

this let the Dork out by Sidin Vadukut

"Who let the Dork out?" by Sidin Vadukut - The graph comes down!

This book is published by Penguin Books in 2012 and has 260 pages. This is Book 3 of the Dork trilogy. 

Robin 'Einstein' Varghese is now Interim CEO of Ledermam India. He decides to venture in government contracts by getting involved in Allied games organized by Government of India. The games are running very very behind schedule. 

Will he get a contract? Can he make a headway? Will Einstein's "genius" work? Will he get fired or blamed or both?

The book follows the set formula where Robin lands in one trouble after another due to his ineptitude to somehow miraculously, not only, survive but also come out trumps. 

However, in this book Robin thinks more. He makes a few calculated moves. Towards end he is even decisive and manipulative. This is the difference between Robin of past and Robin of present. This is also the reason the book loses its USP. Robin becomes a normal man rather than exceptional character. As a result this book does not appeal, as much as, the previous two books. It also uses much more foul language than previous books. 

Author leaves a few things vague. Is it by design or does he give too much credit to the readers? How does Rajeev get hold of the documents? John knowing Colonel Kalbag, is too much of a coincidence. What exactly happens in marathon?

All in all, not as good as first two books. The graph comes down. 

Why did I read this book? Ravi recommended the trilogy.  

What did I like? The Tihar jail and Tihar Bala parody. 

What I didn't like? Predictably. 

Read if you have read Book 1 and 2.

One arranged murder by Chetan Bhagat

"One arranged murder by Chetan Bhagat -  Bland murder mystery!

This book is published by Westland in Sept 2020 and has 312 pages. This is sequel to 'The girl in room 105'.

Keshav and Saurabh solved their first murder in previous book. The two have fallen out and are not on speaking terms. Saurabh is in love with Prerana Malhotra and they are engaged. Prerana is fasting on Karva Chauth, even though she is not yet married to Saurabh. Saurabh reaches Malhotra residence to break Prerana's fast and discovers a death. 

Is it a murder? Who is murdered? Why? Will Saurabh and Keshav investigate? Will police cooperate? Can they solve the case?

It's a murder mystery in a joint family. Prerana lives in a huge kothi with her mom and dad on 2nd floor. Her unmarried Aditya Chachu, a failing musician, stays on 3rd floor.  Her grandmother,  Bindu bua and cousin Anjali (daughter of another bua from America) stay on 1st floor. Then there is house help Gopika and driver Anwar. Prerana's business partner is also a suspect. Add to it Saurabh and Keshav. Everyone is suspect and no one seems to be the murderer. Inspector Singh and Prerana's dad appear to be in hurry to declare it as an accident. Each has his own reason. But what is the motive for murder? Then there is second murder. 

The story is not exciting. It neither has pace nor is it interesting. Reader figuratively dozes off multiple times. There is no chase, little investigation and deduction. The story ambles on till it's concluded. Not a page Turner! Reason for murder appears like an after thought. Although there is confession at the end, the evidence is still circumstantial, not fool proof. Author has created a few red herrings too. I was able to guess the murderer as soon as the character appears in the story. 

At the end of the story, Keshav decides to quit his day job to become detective and starts preparing for IPS. So expect the series to continue. Hopefully new book will be better than this book. 

Chetan Bhagat is a celebrity and is credited for reviving reading culture in India (in general) and young generation (in particular). In this book and previous one he dabbles in murder mystery. I must say this genre is not his forte. 

This book is not in the league of Chetan Bhagat we know.

Why did I read this book? Author. 

What I didn't like? Narration. 

What did I like? Umm....

Give it a miss!

DareDreamers: A start-up of superheroes by Kartik Sharma and Ravi 'Nirmal' Sharma

"DareDreamers: A start-up of superheroes" by Kartik Sharma and Ravi 'Nirmal' Sharma -  Urban fantasy!

This book is published by Rupa publications in 2018 and has 288 pages. 

Rasiq, an IIT & IIM, is recruited in investment bank at enviable salary. He slogs like a machine and can't find enough time for his girlfriend Ruchika. Although he earns obscene salary, he is not happy. His heart is not in the job. So after a couple of years he resigns and starts a startup called Daredreamers, with a group of dreamers. What does the startup do? Emergency rescue. All kind of emergencies. 

Why does he leave his job? How does he get this startup idea? Will he succeed? Will he give up? Will they have competitors? What unconventional means will they deploy?

The idea of emergency rescue is interesting. Authors present various rescue missions ranging from failed breaks to sink hole to elephant poop. The rescue missions can make interesting thrilling scenes for a movie. The villain and his reasons for villainy are a bit lame. 

Rasiq the strategist and thinker, Natasha the daredevil, Nick the inventor, Halka the body builder, Arjun (you guessed it right) the archer & Vyom the doctor make the super heroes. They do not have super powers, just skills that they utilize with their quick thinking to rescue those in need. 

Authors spend half the book in Rasiq's life before start-up. That leaves little time for the venture and their rescue acts. The time Rasiq spends in France, though good, wasn't really necessary for the story. Another waste of page space. 

The sentence I liked most from this book is "Tomorrow will be the first day of the rest of my life." Full of positivity. One should really implement it. 

Book cover is interesting. It shows a corporate guy hanging by one hand to the landing gear of a flying chopper.

Authors are a father-son duo. A rare combination with generation gap and all that. This is their second book. 

Why did I read this book? Sub title of the book.

What I didn't like? Time before start up. 

What did I like? Idea, though impractical.

Recommend reading.

Present danger by Stella Remington

"Present danger" by Stella Remington - Northern Ireland backdrop!

This book is published by Quercus in 2010 and has 336 pages. 

Liz Carlyle works for MI5 at Thames House. She and her boss love each other but have never acknowledged it to each other. When wife of boss dies, MI5 decides to transfer Liz to head counter terrorism desk in Northern Ireland. An Irish-American called Sheamus Piggot is running an organization that hasn't accepted peace accord in Northern Ireland. A French arms dealer is involved. MI5 collaborates with French intelligence. But everything goes haywire.

Will there be a threat to Northern Ireland peace process? What is Piggot's ultimate objective? What went wrong? Will Liz acknowledge love?

The concept of splinter IRA groups not agreeing to the peace process is not often used for fictions. It's an interesting angle. An action taken in the heat of the moment turns out to be a costly mistake. British and French intelligence collaborate. 

Liz is the central and only important character. She heads counter terrorism and is a confident woman. She loves her boss but has never confessed it. She cares for her friends and colleagues and doesn't mind putting her life in danger for them. However, in the matter of heart she acts on hearsay. This particular action goes against the grain of her character built by the author. This action also opens up possibilities that position the story for a sequel.

The graph of the novel, however, is not ascending. When the story moves out of Northern Ireland, it loses its USP and becomes like any other thriller. 

Why did I read this book? It was on hand. 

What I didn't like? Liz's acting on hearsay. 

What did I like? Northern Ireland backdrop.  

Not a must read.

Sniper's eye by Mainak Dhar

"Sniper's eye' by Mainak Dhar - Corporate, intelligence, action!

This book is published by 4 Hour Book in 2018 and has 225 pages. This book is Book 1 of 7even series.

Aaditya Ghosh is roaming in the R-city mall with his girlfriend, Zoya, when a man in front of him is assassinated by a sniper. Aaditya goes after the killer and kills his accomplice. This is just the first of the series of killings and now Aaditya's name is on the list.

Who is Aaditya? Why are ex servicemen being killed? How to stop the sniper? Who is the sniper?

The story starts with a bang. Aaditya appears enigmatic until his past is revealed. Series of killings adds to the mystery. Entry of IB thickens the plot. A solid twist turns the story around. The story has a flow and relatively small size of book makes it tidy. 

Character of Aaditya is hero. He becomes center of attraction. Zoya plays his love interest. Ravi and his wife are his friends and only family he has. Phadke is a rare honest cop. Thapa is typical bureaucrat. Aman, the sniper is a very interesting character. 

However, it's not then end. This is first book of 7even series. So it appears that 6 more are to come. If this book is the benchmark, subsequent books should be readable. Mainak is a well known author of reputation. 

Book cover of view through sniper's scope supports the title. However, the title is not an apt one. Yes, there is a sniper. But his eye is not exactly the subject of the story. 

A large part of the story happens in Powai. So there are many familiar landmarks. 

The sentence I liked most from this book is "Bleeding heart activists who crawl out of the woodworks at every opportunity, talking of how evil our forces are, and in the same breath not hesitating to glorify terrorists as innocents"

Why did I read this book? Author, title.     

What did I like? Story, twist.  

What I didn't like? Title. 

Recommend reading. 

Field of fire by Mark Cameron

"Field of fire" by Mark Cameron - Should have been field of snow!

This book was published by Pinnacle in 2016 and has 448 pages. This is Book 7 of Jericho Quinn series. 

Jericho Quinn and Veronica (Ronnie) Garcia, now a couple, are travelling through Alaska. Jericoh's plans to propose Ronnie goes for a toss when a deadly nerve gas called 'New archangel' goes missing from Russia and is used by Islamist terrorists in America, twice. Multiple casualties. The Russian scientist, who invented it, and his daughter run away from Russia and land in Alaska. 

Two teams are formed. Quinn and Tibido's cousin FBI agent go after the Russian scientist and his daughter who go missing in Alaska. Tibido, Ronnie and August Bowen go after son of the Russian scientist, who is a cage fighter in America. 

Quinn almost dies of hypothermia in cold Alaskan landscape. There is another party after the Russian scientist. Quinn has to fight on multiple fronts. Other team does not have it easy either. 

The story starts well, develops nicely. Backdrop of Alaskan landscape is a novelty. Readers expect the climax to too take them higher.  But the climax is not good. It's abrupt, lacks action, lacks tension and doesn't heighten the graph.

Why did I read this book? Author. 

What did I like? Alaska. 

What I didn't like? Climax. 

Read, if you have spare time.