Betrayal by Danielle Steele

​"Betrayal" by Danielle Steele -Too simple !

This book is Corgi in 2013 and has 416 pages. 

Tally Jones is a highly successful Hollywood movie director. She lives with Hunter, her boyfriend who’s a movie producer. Her long time best friend Bridgette is also her personal assistant. Her accounts are handled by her accountant Victor. There is a betrayal. No, two. Make it three. 

What are the betrayals? Who betrays Tally? How does Tally come to know? What will happen?

Tally is 39, she is beautiful but never bothers about her looks and always dresses shabbily. After two failed marriages, she now lives with Hunter, her boyfriend. Hunter is a Hollywood producer, loves Tally and is a very good cook. Max is Tally’s daughter. She is studying in New York. Brigette is Tally’s best friend and personal assistant. She looks very attractive, like a movie star, and has an active love life with a string of minor young movie stars. She is also very meticulous and protective about Tally. Victor Carson is Tally’s accountant. He has suffered from failed marriages and has an expensive, young, trophy wife. He doesn’t have money to  spend on her lifestyle but can’t leave her either. Brianna, his expensive trophy wife, half his age, is fleecing him. Jim is an FBI agent specializing in white collar crimes. 

Title of the book is Betrayal. So when the Betrayal is found and addressed the book should end. However, in this case the book continues, slows down, stretches with an objective to find love and Oscar.  But rather than ending on a high, it brings the graph down. Either that or the title should have been something else. 

Author doesn’t explain exactly how the money fraud was conducted, just that fraud happened. Is it not possible to check with the bank who withdrew the money?

The biggest flaw of the story is that it’s super predictable. Smart readers can see who betrays who. All three betrayals are easily seen before they are revealed. It’s also easy to guess who finds love with who. There are simply no surprises or twists in the tale. 

Danielle Steele plots are always simple. This, however, is too simple and straight forward. 

Why did I read this book? Author. 

What did I like? Simplicity. 

What I didn't like? Predictability. Length. 

Not a must read. 

The Hunt by Sourabh Mukherjee

​"The Hunt" by Sourabh Mukherjee - Quick!

This e-book is published by Shrishti publishers and distributors in 2018 and has 11 pages. This is a book in ‘It’s all about love’ series. 

A plainclothes policeman is standing on the road, watching a bank, waiting for Dibakar Roy. He wants to kill him. 

Why does the policeman want to kill a retired man? Will he really kill him? Who is the retired guy?

It’s an interesting style of narration. The policeman remembers events from his past. Author narrates the past and present to us. But the boundaries are not clear, they are blurred. Just like the mental condition of the policeman. This style is a novelty and that’s why it’s interesting. 

It’s a very small short story published as an ebook. 

Why did I read this book? Size. 

What did I like? Crispness. 

What I didn't like? Umm…

Good as a very quick read. 

The rogue spy by Kartika Sharma

​"The rogue spy" by Kartika Sharma - Unrealistic! 

This book is published by Kalamos Literary Services in 2022 and has 280 pages. This is ebook 1 of the series. 

Well the title tells you it’s a spy. It also tells you it’s a rogue spy. What it doesn’t say is that it’s a rouge female spy. She is Adhira Shekhawat. Ex military intelligence. Court marshaled. Dishonorable discharge. She heads the band of five international rogue spies. Adhira is the point of the rouge spies. She is master of disguises, beautiful, deadly at weapons and deadlier without them, doesn’t care for rules. She is hired by Rudhir Rajput, head of RAW on behalf of Government of India. They are also ex lovers. Someone has invented XRS, the deadliest radioactive weapon and it’s used against India. 

Why did Adhira and Rudhir breakup? Why does Rudhir hire Adhira? What is XRS? Can they unearth the plot? Will they come close again?

It’s a band of rogue spies, each one is the best one in his/her field. It includes: Patricia Myeres, a Canadian mafia heiress. She is in charge of logistics. Ava Paradis, a French. She is the best hacker in the world. Samuel Guttman, a weapons expert from Belgium. Frank Ivanek, a Slovak. He is the best analyst you can get. Then there’s Adhira, the leader. 

I know it’s a spy story and such a story will have seemingly impossible things, but this one breaks all boundaries. Either that or the author has created a fantasy in her zeal to create a fantastic story. Either way it appears artificial and hollow. Things like Ava hacking anything in minutes, Pakistani terrorists creating a parallel world in Iran, Adheera’s escape etc all look unreal. These are international hardened spies but loss of one team member devastates them and makes them lose hope like school kids. 

Rudhir is chief of RAW, in his forties. One would expect a person rising to such a position at young age to be an accomplished operator. But here he is shown almost like an idiot. He is surprised with technology, he is horrified with rule breaking, he is stunned by revelations. Very disparaging for a spy. The RAW chief goes to Islamabad on rescue mission. Naive. It gives an impression that Indian intelligence is full of buffoons. 

In short, it’s an attempt that doesn’t succeed. The story is artificial, unconvincing and unreal. And it’s not the end. A sequel or a series is in the offing. 

Why did I read this book? Interesting title. 

What I didn't like? Impossible things.

What did I like? Umm….

AVOID. 

Open Carry by Marc Cameron

​"Open Carry" by Marc Cameron - Lazy pace! 

This book is published by Pinnacle in 2020 and has 416 pages. This is Book 1 of 'Arliss Cutter series'. 

Arliss Cutter, 4 times divorced Afghan veteran and now US Marshal, takes up assignment in Alaska to take care of his widowed sister-in-law and her three children. He is an expert tracker and has elevated senses. Carmen Delgado is shooting a show in Alaska. Most wanted Drug Cartel boss Camacho is making a trip to Alaska, with his bodyguard Garza, for fishing in a mine he owns. Four people disappear. Cutter and his assistant Lola Fontaine investigate on the remote Prince of Wales island. 

The story is slow. Until the underwater climax it ambles along lazily but just about retains the reader. Life on remote sparsely populated island is slow.

Cutter is always ready for a fight. He is observant, has good senses and secretly likes his sister-in-law. Lola Fontain is divorcing a suspicious husband. January Cross, owner of boat ‘Tide Dancer’ studies whales. Carmen Delgado is shooting a TV show called Fish wives. The show has disturbed the island but has also brought business to it. 

Although the story concludes, it’s the start of Arliss Cutter series. Hopefully next book will be more exciting. 

Why did I read this book? Author

What I didn't like? Pace, lack of excitement . 

What did I like? Unique characters. 

Read if you plan to read the series, otherwise give it a miss. 

Operation Sudarshan chakra by Prabhakar Aloka

​"Operation Sudarshan chakra" by Prabhakar Aloka -Not a page turner!

This book is published by Penguin Random House India in 2022 and has 288 pages. This is sequel to ‘Operation Haygreeva’.

At the end of previous book, the mastermind of the terrorist plot has escaped to POK. Now he is plotting an operation on a very large scale. Operation K2. K2 for Kashmir and revival of Khalistan. Head of Central Counterterrorism Command (C3), Ravi Kumar gets a tip off from agent Takshak. Mihir, Cyrus and Jose are assigned separate tasks. Mihir is exposed, his cover is blown. 

What is K2? Exactly how will it be executed? Is Mihir expelled from IB for failure? Can Cyrus get his girl back? How is Operation Sudarshan Chakra executed?

The story starts well, becomes complex, increases in complexity. You start thinking that this is going to be a complex ending, a lot of entanglement, a lot of action. But nothing of the sort happens. The climax is anti climactic. The big plot fizzles out. Author couldn’t bring it to a grand conclusion. 

For major part it is IB Vs ISI. Buy at the end IB is happy with naming the mastermind from Kerala. They kind of avoid confrontation with ISI. Why?

A few threads are left loose. Why does Rukmini become Rukhsana? What happens to the Pakistani arms dealer? What happens to Pakistani diplomat? Author doesn’t conclude them. What about Sulu from previous book?

The story is not compact. It’s scattered and not very effective. Although readers don’t lose interest, it’s not a page turner either.  A little tucking, a little sewing would have given the story a face lift. 

Some attention to details was in order in this book too. This book was published after Osama Bin Laden was killed but the book mentions that Rauf is blue eyed boy of Osama. He is also summoned by Osama. Osama is mentioned to be alive. Ravi is shown as promoted over others to head of C3 in previous book but at the end of this book he refuses to accept position of head of IB over his seniors. Why?

Story has two surprises at the end. One is about a promotion. This one is on expected lines and isn’t really a surprise. Second is about Mihir. This one is a real surprise. I didn’t see it coming. 

Operation Sudarshan Chakra is named after weapon of Vishnu that can kill all the hidden enemies precisely without a single drop of innocent blood spilled. 

Usually authors narrate the story in past tense. This story, however, is narrated in simple present tense. Something different!

Why did I read this book? First book was good. 

What did I like? The seed. 

What I didn't like? The climax. 

Read if you plan to read the series, otherwise give it a miss. 

Operation Haygreeva by Prabhakar Aloka

​"Operation Haygreeva" by Prabhakar Aloka -Spy thriller!

This book is published by Penguin Random House India in 2021 and has 288 pages.  

Six bomb blasts in Mumbai locals. Another bomb blast. Responsibility taken by a new terrorist organization called Lashkar-e-Hind. Chief of IB assigns the case to Head of Central Counterterrorism Command (C3), Ravi Kumar. Ravi recruits three trainees. 

Who are the trainees? Who is Sullu? Who is the mole? What is the objective of the terrorists? What is Operation Haygreeva?

It’s a spy thriller. The story is free flowing. Ravi is tall, well built, intelligent and known for his unconventional ways. He was fast tracked as Head of C3 due to his achievements. Mihir Kaul from Delhi, is second generation spy. He is selected for his keen observation, awareness and intelligence. Cyrus Bandookwala is from Pune and is known to speak out his mind. Jose is from Kerala and is a computer Wiz kid. Sarita is IB chief and Ravi’s boss. Anil is Ravi’s senior and has a grudge against Ravi and his achievements. 

It’s a very critical Operation. The terrorists are many steps ahead. In such a situation, usually the experienced, tried and tested team should be assigned in the case. But assignment of 3 trainees in critical positions and assigning them important tasks is baffling. It’s ok for the story but won’t happen in reality. 

Ravi is shown as a smoker and smokes to clear his mind. Author even has the gall to suggest that when you are tensed, cigarette helps you feel light. No idea why the author glorifies smoking. Completely unnecessary!

There are a few open ends in the story. What happens to Anil? Who is the mole in IB? What happens to Mihir’s mom and Cyrus’ girlfriend? What happens to Tabrez, Iqbal and Rukhsana? That may be left open by design for the sequel. 

Some attention to details was in order. This book was published after Osama Bin Laden was killed but the book mentions that Bin Laden is still at large. He was at large when the book was written, but that should have been changed before publication.

The book starts with pregnant Sullu in prologue. Then Sullu disappears from the book. She reappears in epilogue giving birth to a baby boy. She must have an important role to play in the sequel. I have my guess as to who she is. Let’s wait till I read the sequel. 

Usually authors narrate the story in past tense. This story, however, is narrated in simple present tense. Something different!

So what is Haygreeva? It’s an avatar of Vishnu taken to sly a demon. It’s also name of this Operation. 

A sequel to this book titled ‘Operation Sudarshan Chakra’ is already released and is on my read list next. 

Why did I read this book? Title. Blurb. 

What did I like? Enigma of Sullu.

What I didn't like? Smoking, use of trainees.  

Read if you liked the review.

Eleventh commandment by Jeffrey Archer

​"The Eleventh commandment" by Jeffrey Archer - A good thriller!

This book is published by Pan in 2010 and has 352 pages. 

CIA Agent Connor Fitzgerald assassinates a drug cartel boss who is running for the post of President of Columbia. It’s rumored that successive Presidents of USA, including incumbent President Tom Lawrence, wanted CIA Director Helen Dexter out of her job, but no one has succeeded so far. Lawrence hatches a plot with his Chief of staff Andy Lloyd that will see ouster of Helen Dexter. Helen has her own agenda and devious plan of sending Connor to Russia to save her skin. Caught between rock and a hard place is Connor. 

Why does Helen send Connor to Russia? What is the price of returning from Russia? Who can help Connor? Will Fitzgerald violet eleventh commandment? What is eleventh commandment?

Connor is a family man. His wife, Maggie, knows he works for CIA as NOC but doesn’t know any further. Maggie is Dean of Admissions at university. She is a very balanced person. They are both dedicated to each other. Their daughter Tara is doing Ph D and has an Australian boyfriend, Stuart. Chris Jackson is former Dy Director of CIA, friend of Connor and has a score to settle with Helen. 

The story starts well. It’s interesting. There is a shock midway through the book. Connor has a lot riding on his shoulders. He has nowhere to go. Whichever side wins, Connor is going to lose. Whichever side wins, it’s bad for international politics. Snatch Operation of Connor’s family is very intelligent and good. The story reaches the peak but the final climax is not as exciting as the readers expect. 

So what is the eleventh commandment? Thou shall not get caught. But if you are, deny absolutely that you have anything to do with CIA. Don’t worry, the company will always take care of you. Except in this case the last part doesn’t come true. 

Why did I read this book? Author.

What did I like? Interesting story 

What I didn't like? Climax. 

Recommend reading.