Review: Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS

Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS by Joby Warrick
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The moment I saw this book on GR, I put it on my list. I was always intrigued by the growth of this terrorist organisation and its origins. This is a definitive and exhaustive account of the origins and rise of ISIS and its most famous leader, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and some background on his successor, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

The book also delves on the political scenario in the Middle East especially Jordan and its neighbouring countries, Syria and Iraq and how the ISIS laid its foundation in these countries exploiting the strife of the Shia-Sunni sects. Fantastically written and thoroughly engrossing.

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Review: Bottle of Lies : Ranbaxy and the Dark Side of Indian Pharma

Bottle of Lies : Ranbaxy and the Dark Side of Indian Pharma by Katherine Eban
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

After a long time I read a book that was captivating and enthralling right till the end. Katherine Eban has done full justice to her years of painstaking research on the pharma industry. This book has brought to light the various malpractices the pharma industry indulges in to pass the muster in FDA books and the key to US markets. The book highlights the lax drug controls in developing countries like India and China to manufacture generic versions of branded expensive drugs. It has detailed how Ranbaxy flouted good manufacturing practices and permeated a system of corruption and record manipulation in their company. It took a whistleblower like Dinesh Thakur to bring out the malpractices to the attention of FDA. To compound his problems, including living in constant fear for his family, the FDA also took its own time (around eight years) to finally take action against Ranbaxy. This was only because of a few officials' dogged persistence to pursue justice. The FDA is also not spared with questionable practices, high pressure lobbying by the US govt in cahoots with the drug industry and corrupt officials walking its corridors.

This book brings out the fact that poor, inferior quality drugs are pushed to African, Eastern European and South American countries where the drug controls are lax and corruption is more widespread. Kudos to the author, this book definitely is an eye-opener and a mindblowing read.

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Review: Timeline

Timeline by Michael Crichton
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book is about time travel. Crichton is one of my favourite writers as he researches the subject of his work thoroughly before writing it. Here this is just pure fiction about time travel undertaken by a group of historians contracted by a greedy and rich entrepreneur to bring back a professor stuck up in the 1300s medieval France and England. The first 200 pages was slow and boring and I almost gave it up. Then the action started once they travelled back in time to the 1300s and it became a page turner.

I would rate this as 3 star due to the slow start and a flimsy plot although the action is macabre and thrilling.

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Review: Liar's Poker

Liar's Poker by Michael Lewis
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is the author's narrative of his experience working at Salomon Brothers, at one time the biggest investment bank on Wall Street and probably the world. The book is a sarcastic look into the world of high finance with wit and humor laced in the narrative. Investment banks are generally known as the hotbed of high net worth employees who sell products (equities, debt, bonds and mortgages here) to gullible, often clueless, investors at huge profits to satisfy their ever-increasing appetite for humongous profits. Corporate greed is the underlying message of the book and the cast of characters are the unscrupulous traders dotting the landscape.

The author is actually an art history student who somehow stumbles onto to the investment banking job, mainly just because every smart ivy League graduate seemed to be joining one. Somewhere down the years he is somewhat disillusioned by the profession and quits. The book is definitely insightful and educative. Some terms like CMOs, junk bonds etc are so lucidly explained that even a layman will be able to understand. Reading this book 30 years after it was first published. So many changes have taken place and so many firms have ceased to exist since. The book is funny at places but monotony of the narrative gets to you after a point of time.

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Review: Shout at the Devil

Shout at the Devil by Wilbur Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a very good book about a story set in the first world war between the Germans and the Englishmen. Wilbur Smith has forayed into an adventure by an Irish bandit, Flynn Patrick O'Flynn helped by his daughter Rosa and son-in-law and aide Sebastian Oldsmith in the jungles, rivers and the African coast. Surprisingly he has stayed away from his familiar poaching territory in the jungles of Africa with little or no mention about the teeming wildlife. This is a refreshing take about how the bandit and his family helped by local natives overcome a German plot to destroy the English navy in pursuit of selfish gains.

The book also has its elements of humour and a wonderful cast of characters, especially Flynn who is characterised as a lovable and cunning yet a doting father and a loyal friend. Totally entertaining and extremely fast faced. Loved the action-at-sea moments and the scheming ways of Flynn to loot the Germans. A fabulous work by Wilbur Smith.

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Review: Certain Prey

Certain Prey by John Sandford
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is my first Sandford and it was pretty much just about ok. I was expecting a lot more given the fantastic average rating of above 4. The plot starts off with the murder of Barbara Allen, wife of a property dealer Hale Allen. The killer is a professional hit-woman Clara Rinker hired by a hot-shot criminal lawyer Carmel Loan. The plot gets murky with more mindless killings. The protagonist is a cop Lucas Davenport who is assigned the job of solving the crime. In fact, this is not a whodunnit but howdunnit as the cop tries to piece together evidence to tie in the suspects to the crime, often by means bordering on illegal.

Purely for the fact that the book is about how the cop crosses the line for trapping the suspects put me off. Moreover, I felt that too many coincidences, like finding the slug in the suspect's room, spoilt the joy of reading a thriller.




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Review: Mr. Mercedes

Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An excellent crime-thriller, Stephen King charts into new territory and shines. An unlikely trio of a detective, a teenager and a mentally unstable woman cracks the case of a psychotic serial killer out on a rampage killing innocent youngsters at job fairs and music concerts.

Initially the first 100 pages starts off at a slow pace and gradually builds builds the tension in the plot. The last 100 pages were a nerve-wracking and nail-biting page turner. Thoroughly enjoyed this. Have great expectations from the next two in the series. The only reason it cost a star in this review was that the story was so straightforward, without too many twists and turns, which is my type of a crime-thriller..

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Review: Eagle in the Sky

Eagle in the Sky by Wilbur Smith
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is an emotional and heartbreaking roller coaster ride. It is a story of love, friendship and trust between three characters, David, Joe and Debra. David, a rich multimillionaire Jew, falls in love with Debra, daughter of an Israeli brigadier in the Israeli air force. His love for flying takes him to Israel where he joins the air force, joins the war against its enemies. As tragedy unfolds, both David and Debra are caught in a life fraught with danger. The author then takes us to Africa in the wild bushes where the story progresses and ends with a tragic climax.

The only drawback is the story becomes predictable and too mushy for my liking. This would be apt for romance fanatics who wouldn't mind shedding a tear or two.

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Review: The Kite Runner

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I had wanted to read this book for a long time ever since I read "A Thousand Splendid Suns" but never gotten around it. Finally I got hold of this and completed it. This is one book which is written straight from the heart. I believe this is one of the most beautiful book ever written and should be up there in the list of greatest books ever written.

This is about a tale of friendship between the rich kid Amir and his servant's son Hassan. They spend most of their time together in Kabul which was beautiful and untouched by war once upon a time. But this friendship is betrayed by one which creates a rift between the two and eventually they have to get separated from one another. Amir and his father has to flee Afghanistan after the Russians capture Afghanistan. This is an extremely emotional heart-rending story of how both lives turn out to be during those tumultuous ensuing years.

People looking for a description of Afghani culture or a history of Taliban or Afghanistan would be disappointed. The author has not delved much into how the Afghanistan has turned into one of the most dangerous spots on the world map. The state of the country in 1990s is described so well that it almost brings tears to the eyes and you wonder how mankind could be so cruel to one another. This is a story of friendship, betrayal, guilt, remorse and redemption narrated beautifully in a prose which almost feels like poetry.

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Review: The Girl in the Ice

The Girl in the Ice by Robert Bryndza
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was one good book with all the right all elements of suspense and thrills. DCI Erika Foster is called upon to investigate a murder of a young rich girl from a politically connected family. What turns out to be a murder suddenly unravels into a sensational series of unsolved crimes and how she has to fight the system and bureaucracy to overcome obstacles in pursuit of the killer.

I liked the character of Erika Foster who comes with her own emotional baggage and troubled past. Her colleagues Moss and Peterson are equally likeable who supports her all the way through.

Good book for thriller lovers who want a fast paced and edgy narrative with a fine ending.



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Review: This Was a Man

This Was a Man by Jeffrey Archer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Finally I have completed the last installment of the Clifton Chronicles. This was much better than the previous book in terms of drama and emotions. The piece about how Lady Virginia Fenwick finally pays for her crookedness was lame and the end to her chapter should have been more wicked. Jessica's and Giles' story ended somewhat predictably. However the climax was highly emotional and moving and Archer's hand shone in the speech Giles gave at Harry's memorial service. Truly exceptional. In the entire series, the characters of Harry and Emma shone throughout. The author also subtly promotes his next project "Heads You Win" in this book. The only thing I have wondered was that if the protagonists were millionaires why were they moving around in cabs and trains in London instead of owning a fleet of cars. At places, I felt the characters or the story became a bit childish but overall, Archer's mastery takes precedence.

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Review: Cometh the Hour

Cometh the Hour by Jeffrey Archer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the sixth and the penultimate instalment of Clifton Chronicles. As usual there are twists and turns although i found this book a bit tepid compared to the other books. What i like about Archer is his writing style. It just flows so naturally that the reader is never bored.

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Review: Tokyo Vice: An American Reporter on the Police Beat in Japan

Tokyo Vice: An American Reporter on the Police Beat in Japan by Jake Adelstein
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book is the author's description of his experiences as a crime reporter in a Japanese daily Yomiuri Shinbun. There is no plot as such. The book is divided into different chapters of the author's various assignments covering the crime beat in Tokyo. the narrative is not too captivating and one may either like it or hate it. The most interesting tidbits were about the workings of the Japanese sex industry and the sleazy nightlife description. Although there was a lot about the yakuza but nothing descriptive. One gets a bit overwhelmed when you read about the human trafficking aspect and the forced induction of women into the sex trade. Otherwise this is a strictly ok read.

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Review: The Cold Moon

The Cold Moon by Jeffery Deaver
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

My first Jeffery Deaver and I am not disappointed. The book has a wonderful plot with more twists and turns than a roller coaster. When you feel that the climax is near, you realise that only you have read only a third of the book and one-fourth is yet to be read. You find more twists in the plot. To reveal anything more is to give away the plot.

I loved the character of Kathryn Dance the kinesics expert and her interrogation method which delves deep into the psyche of the criminal. Apart from her, only Amelia Sachs' character is well formed. Even Lincoln Rhyme does not seem to contribute much compared to these two ladies.

The feeling you get after reading this is you either love this book or hate it.

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Review: Think of a Number

Think of a Number by John Verdon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fabulous thriller. This is one author to watch out for. This was his debut novel and it was engrossing right till the end. The title was intriguing and I was expecting a roller coaster of a book. i was not disappointed.

The story is about a retired cop Dave Gurney who is contacted by one of his classmates about letters / poems received from a stranger. Next thing you know, the friend drops dead and Dave is dragged into the murder investigation. More bodies fall and Dave is involved in a chase to hunt down the serial killer.

There are two main characters, Dave and Madeleine, his second wife. Dave's character is that of a troubled, guilt-ridden, workaholic cop who can't entirely get over the break-up of his first marriage and death of his first son. Madeleine's character is not fully developed, although interestingly, she helps solve the crime in a major way.

The book is fast paced and keeps one on tenter-hooks throughout although the setting feels gloomy in places.

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Review: Different Seasons

Different Seasons by Stephen King
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book contains four short stories (well not exactly short). I loved three out of four stories which prompted me to give 3.5 stars.

Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption - This is one of my favourite movies and I loved the plot, although I found the movie far more engrossing. The character Red is actually an Irish guy and I wonder what made Frank Darabont choose Morgan Freeman, an African American. I cannot picture Red as an Irish however much I try to. Morgan Freeman has done a commendable performance in the movie. To make it short, I give the book 5/5.

The Apt Pupil - This was a study of human behaviour in adverse circumstances and describes how a when a perfectly normal person can turn into a raging psychopath. I rate the story 5/5.

The Body - I really could make neither head nor tail of this story and had to really skip the entire tale halfway through. I rate it 1/5.

The Breathing Method - This is a macabre and horrific story and the shortest one in the book. The ending is extremely revolting and equally spooky.

All in all, a fabulous book if you discount the third novella.


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Review: Mother Teresa The Untold Story

Mother Teresa The Untold Story by Aroup Chatterjee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Like all people, I was also also enamoured by the persona of Mother Teresa when I was growing up. Her congregation Missionaries of Charity was always in the limelight when some dignitary, head of state or a celebrity visited Calcutta to meet her. I was elated when she was ordained a saint by the Vatican in 2015. After she died, her Missionaries of Charity was somewhat out of the "limelight". This book is an outright critical piece of her haloed persona and the way Calcutta was portrayed as a city teeming with beggars and diseased people. Like the author has mentioned, it aggravated the negative image of Calcutta as portrayed in the book and the film "City of Joy" and for a long time I too was influenced by the book and viewed Calcutta as a place where poverty thrived.

The protagonist in the book is the city of Kolkata (erstwhile Calcutta) and the antagonist is Mother Teresa. The author has taken pains to shatter every myth surrounding Mother and her Missionaries of Charity who are viewed as doing good deeds around the world. MT is portrayed as a self-centred individual and vociferous activist of anti-abortion practices, pushing her agenda of promoting religious conversion and anti-abortion around the world.

At one point, MT bashing becomes the whole narrative in the book and it gets too tedious to continue reading. However, with all the feel-good persona of MT ingrained in us, the book presents a counterpoint argument against the same.

With all this bashing, it cannot be denied that she has done things which a commoner would not dare do. The book has a strong anti-Catholic narrative and is a scathing attack on MT.

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