The Devil's alternative by Frederick Forsyth

"The Devil's alternative" by  Frederick Forsyth - An international political drama with action. 

This book is published by RHUK in 2011 and has 496 pages.

An English man, motivated by his Ukrainian father's hatred of Russia, decides to travel to Ukraine to do something spectacular. USSR is going to experience a massive food grain shortage. Only America and Canada can cover the deficit. An English spy is sent as leave replacement in USSR. But he has a secret. A captain working for one of the largest shipping companies is informed by the owner that he will be the captain of biggest commercial ship in the world. 

Will America use grain shortage as bargaining chip? What are Russia's plans? Does it tilt the balance at Kremlin?  Will the Englishman play spoil sport? What is the devil's alternative?

What is the devil's alternative? It is either to let the largest ecological disaster to occur or to let the power balance tilt perilously to push the world into a war. Who is facing it? How is it resolved?

International politics is ruthless. Whereas readers understand that what was done was necessary, they can't help but sympathize with Ukrainian nationalists. 

The plot is complex, a number of things happen in parallel. It's not easy to run parallel stories simultaneously, but author handles it with ease. There is a traitor. There is a hijack drama. There is international politics. There is power struggle. There is love angle. Narration is good. Characters are distinguished. 

Why someone else can't think what Munroe thinks? Why Rudin can't handle revolt in Politburo earlier? These questions linger in reader's mind. 

Why did I read this book? Frederick Forsyth

What I didn't like? Lingering questions. 

What did I like?  Drama.

 A good book. Recommend reading. 

"Harappa: Curse of the blood river by Vineet Bajpai

"Harappa: Curse of the blood river" by Vineet Bajpai - Interesting.

This book is published by VB Performance LLP. This edition was published in 2017 and has 316 pages.

In 1700 BCE Harappa, Vaivaswan Pujari - half man half God, decides to avenge Harappa. Saraswati river, the giver of life turns to blood river. In 2017 Vidyut Shastri, an entrepreneur, marital arts champion and a very handsome man, receives a phone call from Dev-Rakshas math of Benares. He must meet his great grand father. 'The Order' wants to kill 'The Aryan boy'.

What is' The Order'? Who is Romi? Why is Vidyut summoned? What is the impending battle? What is the curse of blood river? What secret of Harappa is being protected?

Story of Vaivaswan Pujari, his Son Manu, Wife Sanjana and dearest friend and brother in law Chandradhar in 1700 BCE Harappa is narrated alternately with story of Vidyut, his fiancee Damini, closest friend Bala, his childhood friend Naina, great grand father Dwarka Shastri and warrior monks of DevRakshas math in modern day Benares.

It's a clash of good and evil, light and dark, Dev Rakshas math and 'The order' from Rome. 

This book counters the theory purported by west that Harappans did not know horses and were defeated and displaced by horse riding, fair skinned, blue eyed Aryans from West. Author says that this was the theory propagated by British deliberately to subjugate Indian populace through psychological warfare to impress on Indian minds that Indian race was an inferior race and requires civilized and superior race for their salvation. That's why they destroyed the excavated Brahminnabad, before formal discovery of Harappa, and used it's baked bricks for constructing Lahore-Karachi railway line. Author says that Aryans were none other than local Harappans.

The section where Purohitji explains to Damini how, in Sanatan Dharma or Hindu Dharma there is male female equality or rather how female is considered superior, is very interesting.

Narration is interesting. Story is gripping, research is adequate, characterization is good, ancient mysticism is omnipresent, reader's interest is piqued but powers of Devta sound unreal. 

Cover depicts ancient ruins during thunder storm and flowing river against backdrop of sun. It serves the purpose of catching the eye of a potential buyer in a book shop. This book was predominantly displayed in Crossroad.

When I reached last page of the book I came to know that this is a Book 1 of the series and Book 2 'Pralay' will continue the story.  Author does not reveal this to the readers anywhere on the front page, blurb or introduction. I believe that reader should be the one who makes the decision if he wants to read a series or not and it's author's duty to inform potential readers that this book is first of a series. Not doing so is tantamount to cheating. Why would an author or publishing house do such a thing?

Why did I read this book? Harappa.

What I didn't like? Nowhere it says it's Part 1. 

What did I like?  Drama, narration. 

A good book. Recommend reading.

House of spies by Daniel Silva

"House of spies" by Daniel Silva.

This book is published by HarperCollins in 2017 and has 715 pages. This is Book 17 of Gabriel Allon series. 

Christopher Keller has become a good guy and is recruited by MI6. Gabriel is trying to balance as head of Israel's secret service and his family. When Gabriel and head of Alfa task-force of French DGSI investigate a French tycoon an attempt is made on Gabriel's life. Vengeance on Saladin is in order. 

Where is Saladin? What's the connection of French tycoon? Will Gabriel lead from front or from control room?

Saladin escaped in last book. He is wrecking terror in Europe with multiple bomb blasts. Gabriel hatches an elaborate plot, costing half a billion dollars, to snare JLM and reach Saladin.

The story takes place mainly in England, France and Morocco. Its a rare case of collaboration between Israeli, American, British and French intelligence agencies. A lot of emphasis is on humint (human intelligence) and sigint (signal or electronic intelligence).

Story is interesting.  Narration is good. Characterization is decent. When the main objective of the mission is achieved, a secondary threat, and a major one, is unleashed. Gabriel and Christopher deal with it. But would Britain allow as Israeli spy to operate on it's soil officially and agree that it does not have good agents, in reality? 

The book also fails to reveal who exploded the bombs to kill Gabriel, what the motive was and how did they pull it off? The title of this book has very little relevance to the story. The name could have been anything else.

It's typically Israeli philosophy of elimination without mercy. Remember the revenge of Munich Olympic killings? Gabriel has to get to Saladin to kill three birds in one stone. In reality he kills many birds in one stone. 

When the story ends, book doesn't end. It continues and drags on and on unnecessarily. This overshadows the effect of a good climax. Deleting these pages would have done a lot of good to this book.

Why did I read this book? Author. 

What I didn't like? Dragged end.

What did I like? Character of Gabriel, spy with a conscience. 

A very good book. Recommend reading.

In the name of God by Ravi Subramanian

"In the name of God" by Ravi Subramanian. 

This book is published by  Penguin Random House India in 2017 and has 405 pages. I pre-ordered this Book (prior to release).

A number of stories run in parallel. A robbery in Dubai. A court case against king of Travencore to relieve him of overseeing the affairs of Anantha Padmanabha swamy temple. Opening of temple vaults and assessment of wealth inside. Blasts in Mumbai. Acceptance of a boy, selected by his daughter, by an influential trader of Jhaveri bazar. But they quickly converge to theft and black market trade of idols of Gods from south India.

What is the conspiracy? Who runs the racket? Can ACP Kabir Khan solve the mystery? How much wealth is in the vaults?

The story is evidently inspired by the unbelievable wealth found in the vaults of Anantha Padmanabha swamy temple. Author has added black marketing in antiques, diamond bourse politics, murder and investigation to the mix and created an intriguing story.

Kabir Khan from CBI, Madhavan from Tamilnadu police and Krishnan from Kerala police try to wade through the tangle of mystery. At Times they seem lost, most of the time they are. But they don't give up. Suddenly a deadline arises that puts everyone on a time line.

This story is like a Banyan tree. A lot of offshoots, complex, reader doesn't know which of the story is the main story. Narration is mysterious, complicated and cumbersome. Author had juggled balls one too many this time. 

In  order to make the plot complex, author opens a lot of threads and leads. However while closing the book, a number of them remain unattended. Kannan's Swiss bank account, Dharmaraj Varma's real involvement, Construction site and secret passage, sand truck mastermind, why would a decent boy get involved in a heist? Etc. One would expect an author of Ravi's stature to plug all such things.

What I found objectionable was that instead of using the word "idol" of God author uses word "statue ". Why?

Why did I read this book? Ravi Subramanian. 

What I didn't like?  Complexity. 

What did I like? Same complexity 

 Not a must read. 

The pretender by James Patterson and Andrew Bourelle

"The pretender" by James Patterson and Andrew Bourelle. 

This book was published by BookShots in 2016 and has 98 pages.

Logan Bishop, an ex thief, is leading quiet life in Lake Tahoe basin. He meets a newspaper reporter, Hannah, and a beautiful blond, Claire, within a space of few days. He also gets unwanted publicity. Instead of retrieving his diamonds from lake Aloha and disappearing, he decides to stay. 

Will his real identity become known? Will he be interested in either of the two ladies? Where had he hidden the diamonds? Can he keep pretending?

It's a BookShot book. So the story is short, fast and book can be read in one sitting. It's a focused story. 

Old enmity is revived when Logan becomes famous. The diamonds are a strong attraction for his old partner. Two beautiful ladies form integral part of the story.

Logan is a thief but wants tho leave that life behind and start a new life. He is good looking, well built, fit but an introvert. He does not seem female company due to this shyness. But he is decisive, intelligent and has nerves of steel. 

Narration is good. Story is crisp. Plot is limited and hence focused. However, why Logan does not change his name when he is in hiding is incomprehensible. End of the story is predictable.

Why did I read this book?  BookShot.

What I didn't like?  Predictability. 

What did I like?  Focus.

Read it, forget it. 

Agniputr: When Agni first spoke by Vadhan.

"Agniputr: When Agni first spoke" by Vadhan.

This book is published by  Bloomsbury India in 2016 and has 364 pages.

An aghori tantrik has released Sutram, God of agony, in Gudem village in Andhra Pradesh, when it was the seat of Surya dynasty. Last Surya descendant is now an advocate in Delhi. Home minister of India is after unlimited power. Scientist Sheila from CISR has found something that science can't explain. Sutram has to be destroyed. Raghuram Surya has to wield Agniputr, it's the only way. 

Who is God of Agony? Why is it dormant? What is the specialty of Surya dynasty? What is Agniputr?

The story is scientific and mystical at the same time. Quantum physics and meta physics go hand in hand. An anomaly is born. It's contained, but not for long. Onus is on Raghu and Sheila with the help of mysterious P. Eshwar. They have to fight the Home Minister of India and his Tantrik guru, who are in search of Sutram for unlimited power. 

The story is narrated in an interesting manner. The build up is good. Pace is good. Climax is good but with lesser excitement. There is a big twist towards the end of story. It brings alternative reality and parallel universe into play. But it's not over, there's more to come. Next book is in the offing.

Author puts forth a theory of how the universe was created. It was not the big bang but a syllable, a sound, a vibration that shattered the silence, the nothingness and created the universe. The theory sounds plausible.

Some questions remain unanswered. How come the villains don't know location of Sutram despite the powers of Tantrik? What's special in Govind as a sacrifice? Who killed Rathaya and Shastri?

Why did I read this book?  Good rating by Goodreads. 

What I didn't like?  Blunt tip of climax. 

What did I like?  Final twist. 

Read if you have time.

Maelstrom rising by Major General G. D. Bakshi

"Maelstrom rising" by Major General G. D. Bakshi.

This book is published by HarperCollins in  2016 and has 229 pages. 

Major Dushyant (Dusty) Bharadwaj has now become Colonel. He heads special force unit and has a legendary record of success. An Indian passenger jet goes missing. Ayesha is on it. There is a broken arrow.

What Will be Dusty's assignment? Will he meet Ayesha? Does he have feelings for her? Why was the plane hijacked? Who stole the nuke? Can Dusty save the day?

This story analyses an emerging reality. A new front opened by terrorists against India when the Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal routes were plugged. Attack from south. Maldives is an easy base. More than a thousand islands, many uninhibited. Small country. Muslim population. Limited army. It's a dream for terrorist organisations like ISIS.

Terrorists work on radicalization of Maldives with Drugs and jihadi indoctrination. Dusty is trying to find out what's happening in Maldives posing as an arms dealer. He unearths a terrorist camp there. At the same time a broken arrow is on the loose. A Pakistani nuclear war head goes missing. What will the target be?

Author has delivered the story with conviction. It is supported by sound logic and deduction. The terror plot converges with hijacked airliner. The story has pace. Its interesting. Author's knowledge of war on terror is apparent and he leverages it well. However, the story stretches a bit too long after the climax. 

Terrorist leader intending to marry Ayesha sounds far fetched. So does the survival of Dusty in gun fight without cover when everyone in his team is hit.

1st chapter gives a recap of what happened in previous book 'Siege of Warwan'. Those who read this Book first will not enjoy previous one because they would already know the story. 

Why did I read this book?  First book of the author was good.

What I didn't like? Terrorist leader intending to marry Ayesha. 

What did I like?  Probability of use of Maldives.

A good book. Recommend reading.