The Karachi Deception – an intelligent thriller

The Karachi Deception

By Shatrujeet Nath

Genre: Spy Thriller

Available in different formats

Irshad Dilawar is an underworld don wanted in several countries including the country that protects him, Pakistan. Multiple operations are mounted to kill him in the city of Karachi simultaneously. Who will succeed in getting him or will the ISI manage to protect him or does he get away on his own? What exactly is the role of the ex-Intelligence officials of various countries in the war on terror? Shatrujeet Nath asks and answers this in his wonderful book, The Karachi Deception.

It has been a long time since I read a good spy thriller and that too based in the Indian subcontinent without involving US, Europe or Israeli players. The first 50 pages are what you would expect from most spy thrillers but after that, Nath is in a league of his own.

From a parking lot in Mali to an apartment in Amsterdam, from homes in India to safe houses in Pakistan, Nath spins a tale of double intrigue and triple betrayal.  I think this is probably the only spy thriller I have read that doesn’t have the main antagonist make an appearance except for two lines in the entire book but nevertheless doesn’t fail to thrill. It is a rare feat to pull off in fiction and especially in this genre and that too for a debut novel. The ending made me chuckle though Americans would be angered, especially the Democrats supporting Hillary.

The style of the author is crisp, engaging and easy to read as the reader is able to identify with this book on some personal level. To use a cliché, this book is a page turner.

It is a pity the author lives in India or this would have made the New York Best Seller list. To read it was like eating your favourite meal with all your favourite people in the world joining you.

Buy the book here and judge for yourself.

 

Amazing trailer, Amazing book

Chanakya's  Chant
by Ashwin Sanghi
Publishers : Westland
Genre : Fiction

Even after watching the trailer, you still aren't convinced here is my review.

Chanakya wrote the treatise, Arthashastra - the science of wealth. His political  ploys stopped Alexander the Great from entering India, let alone conquering the Indian subcontinent and sent him back. But was Chanakya a royal minister or a rishi/sage or someone with high position? The answer is no. Still he managed to unite the feuding kingdoms in the Indian subcontinent under an ordinary youth who was made king - Chandragupta Maurya. 

India is known for its poverty and extreme wealth. Is there a modern day Chanakya to kill off the corruption and bring in a new Prime Minister who has no political pedigree?

From today's India zapping back to Indian subcontinent 2300 years ago, Ashwin Sanghi weaves a story of  intrigue, politics, revenge, terrorism and the crowning of rulers because of the silent, intelligent, ruthless kingmakers who sacrifice their personal lives to bring to power people who they think are right.

The style is crisp, the narrative intelligent, the pace is fast and the story is too realistic that it almost scared me. Trust me, it takes a lot to scare me.

What is Suvasini's curse ? What is Chanakya's chant ? What relevance does it have in India today? Read the book to find out... :-)

You can buy the book here 

The Mahabharata Secret
by
Christopher Doyle
Genre: Fiction - Historical Thriller.
386 Pages, Om Books International.
Available in Different formats.


Most readers of my blog may be aware of the Indian epic,  Mahabharata. It is like 1000 stories in one, all inter connected and in which Bhagavad Gita is a part - the philosophical treatise which most Indians know about but do not follow. But then, this is India, so you cannot expect anything else!  So, what is the secret ? That is what I thought when I began this book. But I never expected Emperor Ashoka to make his appearance in the first few pages or that it would be a fast paced terrorist thriller that takes us through little known parts of India especially Bihar. I mean Rajasthan and Delhi where the author lives was okay but Bihar?

This book does two things. It flits back and fro through history, from Emperor Ashoka's times to the present and in between. It flits across South Asia and then inside India but more importantly, it reminds most people of South Asia about the Buddhist past of the region which lasted for around 2000 years, which is never taught in schools as if it never existed at all.

From the destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas in Afghanistan to the ramparts of Rajasthani forts, from scientists turned terrorists of the Lakshar -e- Taiba to the hunting for clues in Ashoka pillars in Bihar, the author masterfully weaves a story of intrigue, action, puzzles and reminders of the buried past.

I purposely read it in bits because I wanted to savour the feeling of eating a delicious meal  multiple times. The style is crisp and the tone is clear.The ending didn't leave me sated but Christopher Doyle, thank you for a much needed historical thriller.

To think this debut novel in 2013 has received so little attention was shocking.


If you feel I had still not told you what the secret is, I ask you to read the book. Buy it here


© Deepa Kandaswamy, All rights reserved.

The Immortals of Meluha

The Immortals of Meluha

 by Amish Tripathi

415 pages, Westland publishers.

Available in multiple formats.

Buy the book here

Skeptically, I picked up “The Immortals of Meluha” because the author was unknown to me and the title was nuts. Meluha? Huh? Also, there was so much hype about how great it was from friends and the fact that it is the first book in a "Shiva" trilogy, made me wonder - was this guy trying to sell religion as fiction? Dan Brown tactics ??? I was so wrong as this is the complete opposite of Dan Brown except for the fast paced action.

You have to know that I didn't read the book even when its sequels  were Indian bestsellers and especially since my relative stood in line, so she could buy the third and final book. I was a little distressed as this is the sort of madness I try to avoid.

But I was hooked from the first line. 

Spanning from the mountains in Tibet and Kashmir down to the forests in India, the author weaves a magical tale of a man named Shiva.The author, Amish Tripathi is not just imaginative but makes you think, why not? It is based on the simple premise that if so called Gods are truly men, how would they react to situations ? Why do we treat people who are unlike people we know, differently ? Is "culture" sacrosanct? Why do we call some disabled and treat them abnormally? Is it fair? To what extent can we go to create a meritorious society even though we completely ignore the economic circumstances that a person comes from? Why are people from developing countries always in awe of the developed world?

The author, using the ideal approach in fiction he brings to life – the places, situations and characters. Sound in physics and medicine, he makes you wonder if it is fact or fiction especially since it is fiction! The style is unique. I was so impressed, I read the sequels right away – The Secret of the Nagas and The Oath of the Vayuputras.

It is amazing Tripathi is able to write so well and still remain unknown to the rest of the world while truly silly books have made it to the NYT bestseller list! If you wish to curl up and read, this is one novel, you just cannot miss this summer. 

Turn of the Century

Turn of the Century 2100

By Charlie Pedersen

448 pages, Outskirts Press

Price varies depending on format

Genre: Fiction/ Sci-Fi Thriller

ISBN: 1-59800-329-1

This is not just another science fiction book. It is different for four reasons. One, the characters don’t follow stereotypes, are multidimensional and strong, especially the female characters. Two, it is a global thriller laced with humor which combines genres of romance, espionage, science, fantasy, adventure and suspense. Three, apart from being informative and inspiring, this brilliant book tries to address and attempt to provide real solutions to contemporary issues plaguing today’s society on a global scale. Four, it makes you  think about the state of affairs at the turn of our century ( 21^st) and wonder if we are squandering away the possibilities of a fabulous future, individually and globally because of our state of denial.

The story goes something like this – Alyson Higgs and her team who are particle physicists working in a Berkeley lab are visited by a photon probe from the year 2108. This happens simultaneously across 13 nations across the globe. The unmanned probe has a message from scientists from 2108 essentially from our great, great grandchildren. It contains warnings of our immediate future, and provides five oracles, which could save humanity from destroying itself and them (great, great grandchildren). What happens? Read to find out.  

Many readers might wonder, if the probe is from the future then humanity wasn’t exterminated, right? Then, why send a message at all?  This is where Pedersen proves he is a talented author. He manages to explain complex science concepts in simple language that even a child can understand. Pedersen has worked on the Apollo Lunar module and his career includes different fields like finance, aerospace and information technology. This is the first book to come with its own soundtracks, with lyrics and music composed by the author. The book is available in various formats like hardcover, paperback, e-book, CD, audio book and even on USB memory stick. 

This book is a necessary read for people from all professions. 

Support and Defend by Tom Clancy

Tom Clancy Support and Defend

By Tom Clancy with Mark Greaney

386 pages, varies with format, Putnam (Penguin) Publishers

Genre : Fiction (Action Thriller)

Are whistleblowers really the good guys or just idiots with a mistaken sense of doing good while they have no real idea of what they are doing? When there is a worldwide call for more transparency and people say no to unauthorized tapping of phone calls by the US govt. of allies, does it really help or hurt ordinary people? If terrorists caught hold of whistleblowers, what do we do? You’ll get answers to these and much more in this latest NYT bestseller.

An ex-IDF officer retired in India trains Dominic Caruso, a member of a shadowy American intelligence organization when the officer and his family are murdered by suicide bombers while Caruso escapes barely alive. Brimming with vengeance, Caruso returns to America only to be caught up in a bigger plot and every time the reader thinks they know the answer, the plot gets even more complicated. I would advise the reader to stop guessing and just go with the flow as the novel is like a delightfully tasty meal. Once you pick up this book, you cannot put it down.

From Kochi, India to the power corridors of the White House, from the jungles in Panama to the snowy mountains of Switzerland, the story moves across three continents and constantly reminds you of Edward Snowden. Greaney seems to have written the character Ethan Ross based on Edward Snowden while making readers wonder and speculate if Julian Assange is Gianna Bertoli, ITP is Transparency International, etc. It seems a little too familiar which would lead you to speculate about who is who. This is one aspect of the novel which all readers will be put through – a guessing game absent in all other novels of this genre by different authors.

After the untimely and mysterious death of Tom Clancy, this book keeps his memory alive and Dominic Caruso is a fantastic protagonist. Having co-authored a few books with the late Tom Clancy, Greaney has proved he is the official protégé of Tom Clancy,  with this wonderfully quick, fast paced, page turner that would be worthy of being a Tom Clancy original though this has been co-authored. Miss you Clancy and thanks Greaney.

Ensure you have enough uninterrupted time, curl up on a sofa with this book and enjoy.