King and Maxwell by David Baldacci

"King and Maxwell" by David Baldacci - Another adventure for POTUS!

This book is published by Pan Macmillan in 2014 and has 624 pages. This is Book 6 of 'Shane King' series.

Sam Wingo is on a mission in middle east. The mission goes wrong, he loses the cargo but he escapes. He is declared KIA (Killed in action). His son receives an email from him after he was declared dead. The son hires Shane King and Michelle Maxwell to investigate.

As King and Maxwell start investigating, they ruffle feathers of certain governmental agencies. The agencies warn them to stay away, create obstacles and are detained by Homeland Security. They are even attacked by gunmen. But King and Maxwell persevere. That associates them with POTUS. It's followed by kidnapping. 

It's a maze that King and Maxwell have to navigate. They have to coalesce tiny fragments of information and make sense out of them. The odds are stacked against King and Maxwell but they eventually succeed. 

There are two interesting characters, apart from King and Maxwell. One is Diana, Shane's ex-wife. Her presence is a help for the case and subtle threat to Michelle. She and Shane are going to same hospital for rehab at the end of story. So expect author to exploit this angle in next book. Another is Edgar, brilliant analyst, the one who solves King and Maxwell's hacking problems. He is humourless and takes an action at the end of book that leaves King and Maxwell perplexed. Expect author to lean on this in next book too.

Story is decent. Plot is interesting. Execution is good and interest is maintained. Story is fluid but tends to stagnate occasionally.

Shane and Michelle talk about Shane's ex-wife as if she never met her, never knew of her. But in previous book Michelle knew about her and probably even met her. 

Why did I read this book? Author

What I didn't like? Curtis Brown angle is semi- convincing. 

What did I like? Edgar.

Read if you have read the series and liked it.

Marauder by Clive Cussler and Boyd Morrison

"Marauder" by Clive Cussler and Boyd Morrison - Destination Australia!

This book was published by GP Putnam's Sons in 2020 and has 384 pages. This is Book 15 of 'Oregon files'.

April, Step daughter of a Chinese billionaire, and Angus, her husband, are tasked with a plot that will give China a clout over Australia. But the plot will be violent and lives will be lost. Newly built Oregon (after the old Oregon was sunk in previous book) is pressed into action before the outfitting of weapons is complete. The villains have a paralyzing agent. 

What is the plot? Can Oregon fight without all its weapons? What kind of paralyzing agent is it? Is there an antidote? What is at stake? Can Oregon and its crew led by Chairman Juan Cabrillo the day?

For those who don't know: Oregon, a spy ship disguised as tramp steamer, and it's occupants led by Chairman Juan Cabrillo are The Corporation. The Corporation takes secret assignments, mainly for CIA and friendly countries, and carries out the assignments with a combination of deception, technology, courage, planning and creativity.

The plot here is interesting. With a nerve gas that seemingly doesn't have an antidote, the discovery of a Roman ship in Australia before common era, China's ambition to rule the world possibly coming to fruition and other countries being none the wiser; the only obstacle and adversary is Oregon.

There are technological marvels like Rail gun, Missile killer laser gun, Plasma defense system, plasma canon, tilt rotor chopper etc. Then there are intelligent ideas to take down the enemy with minimum manpower and seemingly impossible ideas that succeed with immaculate execution. There is also great comradery, love and revenge to spice the things up. In short all ingredients are in place, so the recipe is savory.

Clive Cussler is a master story teller. He has good attention to detail, knowledge of advance technology and excellent grip on naval history. His books are hence enjoyable. This one is no exception. I especially like the 'Oregon files' series. 

I doubt if a rogue wave is possible near barrier reef. But I am not an expert. 

This book was published in 2020. Clive Cussler died the same year. So probably this is his last book of the series. The series may continue but there won't be Cussler. RIP Clive Cussler. 

Why did I read this book? Author and Series. 

What I didn't like? Rogue wave. 

What did I like? Everything else. 

Recommend reading. 

Zero hour by Clive Cussler and Graham Brown

"Zero hour" by Clive Cussler and Graham Brown - Unlimited energy!

This book was published by Penguin in 2014 and has 432 pages. This is Book 11 of 'NUMA files'.

A secret lab. Zero point energy. Unlimited! A whacko scientist. Nicola Tesla. A traitor. A threat. Russians in the mix. Kurt and Joe. Zero Hour approaching! Australia under threat. 

What is Tartarus? What is Zero point energy? How does Kurt and NUMA get involved? What's the threat? Who's behind it? Who's after it? Who's the traitor? What's zero hour?

Zero point energy - Drawing energy from background fields which are all around us. It's practically unlimited energy but it isn't easy to control.

Author has used interesting locations. A secret lab in one of the world's deepest lake (1000 feet deep) in an abandoned copper mine, full of toxic water, is where the story starts. A desolate glacier volcano island at the bottom of the world is where the climax happens.

There are some interesting characters. Maximilian Thero, a brilliant and whacko nuclear scientist, out to punish the world. His scientist son and voice of reason. A former student who breaks away with her mentor. A Russian assassin who is determined to wipe out his only professional failure. Kurt and Joe keep poking their noses in matters that don't concern them.

Although VP James Sandecker, Dirk Pitt, Paul and Gamy Trout also play part in the story, Trouts are marginalized in this book. Dirk plays a bigger role than usual.

There is a surprise at the end. There is the traitor in Villain's lair. Who's it? I did not see it coming. It's a good surprise. 

All in all, a typical Kurt Austin book. 

Why did I read this book? Author. 

What did I like? Villain's lairs. 

What I didn't like? The ease of capture of Russian ship. Final detonation. 

Read if you are reading the series. 

Devil's gate by Clive Cussler and Graham Brown

"Devil's gate" by Clive Cussler and Graham Brown - A Cussler thriller!

This book is published by Penguin in 2013 and has 496 pages. This is Book 9 of 'NUMA files'. 

Pirates use a strange weapon to down a freighter. Near Portugal, Kurt Austin and Joe Zhawala discover a natural rock formation on sea bottom, with strong but shifting magnetic field. It's named Devil's gate. An African Dictator, Gemma, is trying to perfect a WMD. Add to it a plane lost at sea in 1945 carrying a Russian defector and two trunks.

What was in those trunks? What WMD is Gemma developing? Why attack the freighter? What's in the natural rock formation, The Devil's gate?

 

Here the WMD is remote electromagnetic weapon. A weapon that can take out all electrical and instrumentation systems. The weapon requires super conductors. Devil's gate provides a natural super conductor that doesn't need super cooling. Or does it? The stage is set, the fight is on. Washington is under threat. 

The story has all the ingredients. Fight and rescue on a burning ship. A WMD. A crazy African dictator. A scientific discovery. Humanoid robot that can go to water depths human can't. Daring fight scenes. Plane landing in football field during ongoing match. Underwater facility. Battles of wits and tactics. A beautiful damsel in distress. A noble hero. All these ingredients ensure that the book is not disliked. Add to it Clive Cussler's gripping narration and you have a good thriller. 

We may see the beautiful Russian scientist, Katarina, in future book of the series. This story tests Kurt and Joe's friendship. It also revives an old rivalry. 

It's a Cussler thriller. The prologue happens only 50-60 years ago. Epilogue is a bit stretched. How America doesn't find out about Gemma's plans?

Why did I read this book? Author. 

What I didn't like? Epilogue. 

What did I like? Concept of Devil's gate. 

Read if you are reading the series. 

Insomnia by Ravi Subramanian and Jigs Asher

"Insomnia" by Ravi Subramanian and Jigs Asher - Not a murder mystery.

This book is published by Westland in 2020 and has 164 pages. 

Rohit and Tanvi are a well-off couple living in a bungalow at sea in Mumbai. Tanvi has lost her mind after her father's death and started sleep walking. She also tried to stab Rohit multiple times. He can't sleep. ACP Meera Dixit and SP Aditya Sachdev get involved. Aditya is also facing demons from his past. 

What happened to Tanvi? Why? Why can't Rohit sleep? What are Aditya's demons? Is there a spark between Aditya and Meera?

Meera is a beautiful, brilliant and determined officer. Aditya is a very capable and highly rated officer. Hemant Gokhale is the Commissioner, who likes them both. Rohit loves his wife and, despite danger to his life, won't let his wife be institutionalized. Tanvi has lost her mind. Chauhan is made acting MD of Tanvi's business by board after her illness. 

Although the story is mildly interesting, the plot is not convincing. Too many ifs and buts have to come together for it to succeed. It's weak. For a long time, readers wonder what's happening. In the end,  if the revelation of mystery answers all questions satisfactorily, it's worth it. But, in this book, that too doesn't happen. So at the end it appears like a novel written by a novice rather than an accomplished author. 

Some questions remain. Aditya is SP but he and others refer to him as Inspector. Why forensic analysis of SUV wasn't done? Etc.

This book consists of 56 small chapters in 164 pages. The story is delivered in small packets. So none of the detail is trivial. That is the clue to mystery. 

What is Shortz? It's series of short, plot oriented, fast paced novellas. Ravi will be co-authoring this series with various new author. The idea of Shortz sounds very similar to James Patterson's Bookshots series. 

Why did I read this book? Author and Shortz. 

What I didn't like? Weak plot. 

What did I like? Length.

Give it a miss. 

Operation camouflage by Amit Sidham

"Operation camouflage" by Amit Sidham - A breath of fresh air!

This book is published by Norton Press in 2019 and has 300 pages. 

A team of technologically advanced green revolutionaries determined to protect mother nature and if required, kill the ones destroying her, creates conglomerate called Galaxy. They are working anonymously until one day they are forced to reveal themselves. 

Who are they? What is their objective? What's operation camouflage? Why are they forced to reveal? How big and powerful is Galaxy?

It's a very interesting story. An all powerful organization envied by competitors, industry and government and loved by employees and public. It's a heady mix. Idealistic but exciting. 

Author spends a lot of time in bath, cleansing, prayer etc. in first half of the book, so the story is slow. But then it picks speed and keeps reader not just interested but intrigued too. 

It's a book of a different genre. Off the beaten path, breath of fresh air, feel good. Readers' initial apprehensions fall away once the reader accepts fantastical gadgetry like invisible robots, C blast, I field and vigilante Justice. 

Reader is better off not asking questions like Why operation reveal was necessary when the possibility of anonymity still existed? How was the high tech Galaxy head quarter built in secrecy? Is it justified to kill for a good cause? How do they not receive law enforcement backlash despite public acknowledgement of breaking the law of the land?

It's a complete story but the book ends with a preamble of a sequel. More to come.  I would read the sequel, when published.

Why did I read this book? Interesting title. 

What did I like? Idea

What I didn't like? Initial slowness. 

Recommend reading. 

Term limits by Vince Flynn

"Term limits" by Vince Flynn - Before Mitch Rapp... 

This book is published by Simon and Schuster in 2012 and has 656 pages. 

President of America, Jim Stevens, wants to get his budget approved. His Chief of Staff Stew Garrote and NSA Mike Nance explore unconventional means. Three prominent Senators and a Congressman are murdered. President is threatened and asked to change budget. Former CIA Director of Black Ops, Jack Higgins, is abducted and killed.

Who is behind the attacks? Are they terrorists? What do they demand? Can Irene Kennedy and Thomas Stansfield save the day?

 

This story is a prequel to Mitch Rapp series. So it features CIA Director Thomas Stansfield,  Irene Kennedy, FBI Director Roach, Jack Worch of Secret Service, Scott Coleman & President. These characters play an important role in the Mitch Rapp series later. Only Mitch is missing in this book. Congressman Michael Orork and Agent Skip McMahon are other important characters. 

The story is fast. Events unfold in quick succession. Readers remain with the story. The perpetrator's identity is not a secret. Those who have read Mitch Rapp series know the identity already because the reference has appeared multiple times. 

End is little unconvincing. It is not easily palatable. One wonders if it's the right end and how does the President go along. What were the motivations of Thomas Stansfield? Apart from that it's an enjoyable book. 

Why did I read this book? Author

What I didn't like? End.

What did I like? Everything else. 

Read, even if you don't or haven't read Mitch Rapp series.