Book Review: Beyond the Ice Limit by Preston And Child

Beyond the Ice Limit by Douglas Preston

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A much wanted sequel to a story that went full fledged downhill for all important characters.

I was hooked to the first part Ice Limit and its climax was an absolute banger. All important characters were simply tossed into the plot and played about mercilessly.

This sequel was good, well-researched and fast-paced as well.

The first 50 pages of theme setting and introducing some new characters were a dull drag. None of the new characters played a pivotal role to leave imprints in the readers’ minds.

As Gideon Crew became more involved with the story, it felt again like Eli Glinn is the actual protagonist and rest are all supporting characters. Gideon didn’t do anything remarkable or jaw-opening throughout the book.

The Baobab or the alien entity was the only character development intensely researched and put forward. The entity threatened us with every single scene it came into picture. It exuded enigmatic and an eerie presence and the fear of the unknown was always creeping steadily inside our heads.

The worm subplot causing complete mayhem inside the ship was up to a certain level entertaining, but I felt it was bit overdone and simply used to kill off all the supporting characters.

Climax was a complete let-down in the whole novel. The authors simply got tired with the plot that they decided to bring it to an abrupt good end. The nuke idea and the destruction of the Baobab, survival of the important characters like Gideon, Sam, Glinn, Garza was a bit far-fetched. A good read, overall.



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Book Review: Ice Limit by Douglas Preston

The Ice Limit by Douglas Preston

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The theme was classic “Douglas-Preston” style. A meteorite in a faraway island and a billionaire wants to have it. What could go wrong?

Everything!

The characters were all brilliantly developed – Lloyd, perfect billionaire energy who thinks anything and everything has a price; Glinn the elusive know-it-all, who was the key driver of the plot, McFarlane, the scientist to give the plot the required sci-fi angle, then the supporting characters like Sally, Rachel, the sudden rise of villainy with Vellanar all did justice.

Coming to the story, it was neatly written and enough research was done into the naval commands and theme. It was really good to read a fresh suspense thriller. I was unable to guess till the end whether the meteorite or so that seemed, will go to destination or not. The authors went berserk near the last 50 pages where, the sabotaged the whole character arcs and the complete buildup of the ship Rolvaag and the meteorite as the mission was going hopelessly sideways. Nature was too powerful and everything went as per its wishes.

Although my mind was ready for a twist in the climax, the way authors dropped it on me, was surreal. I enjoyed the blunt way in which whole novel collapsed into a kind of “anti-climax” and the shock from Sam’s dialogues invoked dread inside.



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புத்தக விமர்சனம்: சு.வெங்கடேசனின் வேள்பாரி 2

வீரயுக நாயகன் வேள்பாரி by Su.Venkatesan (Author) by சு.வெங்கடேசன் (Author)

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


இது போன்றதொரு அதிசிறந்த படைப்பை என் வாழ்நாளில் நான் வாசித்ததில்லை. ஒவ்வொரு பக்கமும் மயிர்க் கூச்செரியும் வண்ணம் சு.வெ அவர்களால் வடிக்கப் பட்டுள்ளது.

முதல் பாகத்தில் நிறைய “குல” விளக்கங்கள் இருந்தன. ஆனால், இதில், முதல் பக்கம் பற்றி எரிய ஆரம்பிக்கும் கதை இறுதி வரை தொடர்ந்தது.

போர்க் காட்சிகள் மட்டுமே முக்கால் பாகம் கொண்ட ஒரு புத்தகம் இதுவே. அதையும் மிகச் சிறப்பாக கையாண்டுள்ளார் ஆசிரியர். அவரது புனைவுக்கும் தமிழ் ஆளுமைக்கும் இனி நான் அடிமை. எவ்வளவு நுட்பமான கதை, நம்பகமான பாத்திரங்கள்!

பாரி, கபிலர், தேக்கன், முடியன், உதிரன், நீலன், பொற்சுவை, காலம்பன், கொற்றன், கீதானி, இராவதன் – இவர்களை எல்லாம் விட்டு மனம் எதார்த்த வாழ்விற்கு வருவதே பெரும் பாடு!

வேள்பாரி வாசிக்க அனைவருக்கும் கொடுத்து வைத்திருக்க வேண்டும்.

This is the first time in my life I am struggling with the deficiency of stars. This book deserves 10/5 stars if I have to be honest and the writer deserves all the literary awards this world has.

A brilliant thriller. An epic saga! Velpari and the people in this book are going to haunt anybody who reads for years to come!



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Book Review: Zero Day by David Baldacci

Zero Day by David Baldacci

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Baldacci at it again! Among his different series, I have read reviews on John Puller ones are really good. So, I thought of buying the first one – Zero Day.

How was it? Well, a brilliant narrative first of all. Unlike other Baldacci novels, this one has a plotline that mostly sits on suspense rather than thriller. I loved the way he built the suspense enough to get to the final part.

Yet again an all powerful protagonist John Puller – his character portrayal was really impressive because this novel is mostly about him. He is left all alone to dig and solve a murder case which turns out to be a much bigger issue. Samantha Cole was a realistic character developed as the female lead and Baldacci builds romantic tension at places with very subtle and nuance writings that I adored it.

Coming to the plot – a terrorist tragedy unfolding in the final chapters which also goes for a twist at the end. Well researched and written. Choice of premise and the background of the place added more credibility to the plot. The people at higher echelons in the Pentagon simply dusting Puller away sounded more convincing of the politics in this field.

Suspense was well handled and broken once, twice and then at the last as well. The main culprit behind the whole issue was hated by me when the author revealed and though it was a cinematic showdown, I liked the climax. There is a nail biting sequence which made me hold my breath, only to realise that a beloved character tragically dies. It was heart-breaking arc.

Overall a great read for the year end.



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Book Review: Bloodline by Sidney Sheldon

Bloodline by Sidney Sheldon

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Another stunning write up by Sheldon! Loved it so much.

It has been sometime of a break between me and Sidney Sheldon and I love the man for his brilliant writing style and ability to spin thrillers with ease.

This particular plot was absolutely amazing. The beginning 50 pages were blah! to be frank. The theme set up with so much of adult theme, typical of Sidney Sheldon, no stronghold on the main plot.

Then enter Elizabeth Roffe, our pivotal character. The heiress plunged into a nightmare following her father’s mysterious death. Her enemy was unknown. Friends were foes. Her flashback and old Samuel’s story were topnotch! Sheldon weaved a masterful storyline.

Coming to the present, the Roffe and Sons facing so much adverse actions and unbelievable amount of problems with Liz trying to solve them, struggling to do so. Rhys Williams was a mystery throughout the plot.

I personally loved the new arrival after half the book, Detective Max Hornung, his character development receives special mention! Brilliant work.

The final 100 pages were a rollercoaster ride and my fingers were burning through the pages. The climax revelation was tastefully handled but, being seasoned reader, I deduced it at the starting itself.

Climax was tension filled and neatly written. Bravo!



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Book Review: Deal Breaker by Harlan Coben

Deal Breaker by Harlan Coben

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Ok, a good one from Coben after few ruins that I read last year.

This one is an interesting read mainly because of characters and the literary juggling between sarcasm and subdued seriousness.

Myron and Win were awesome. I personally loved them both. Although it felt more fiction-like, meaning they were all-powerful and extremely resourceful, but, I enjoyed them.

The plot felt exactly similar to his other book – Runaway. A girl losing her way and getting caught up in an awful scandal leading to her disappearance.

His writing was good and flow was unperturbed. The humour deserves a special mention. I laughed out loud at many places, to be frank.

The plot was neatly written and executed with complete adult world colliding into crime. Kathy’s arc was suspenseful and even though the revelations were not jaw-dropping to me, I loved the execution style.

Good one!



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Book Review: The Simple Truth by David Baldacci

The Simple Truth by David Baldacci

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Baldacci did it again! I simply loved this book.

The first 50 or so pages were boring, and I wondered if made a mistake with this one. But, then the plot picked up its usual pace and Baldacci’s brilliant narrative style made me turn pages after another.

Characters involved in this novel are neatly written and very much realistically developed with all their arcs and backstories tying up with the plot flow. Especially, John Fiske, Michael Fiske, Sara Evans, Warren McKenna, Rufus and Josh Harms.

Baldacci’s idea to involve Mike in the starting, thereby leading to the entry of John into the plot as the main lead was beautiful. John’s style of working and thinking, Sara’s involvement and her character flow were very much justifiable. I liked Rufus and Josh’s subplots. The author’s undertaking of Brothers’ love is truly worthy of special mention. Warren McKenna can be that irritating character in the novel and well developed with nice suspense throughout.

The plot theme in itself is actually simple. Maybe why the title. But, the development of the theme into a full fledged novel with no lags is laudable. The court system and legal metrics were touched alongside the story and not overdone. John saving them all with some quick thinking to elude the villains in advocate’s office was a really good scene. Josh and Rufus’s forest fight scenes with the villains involved palpable tension. The revelation of the “simple truth” was not that big or heart stopping but the character twist with the people involved in that crime – that was like chef’s kiss.

Final sequences on the funeral were heart touching and the exchange between Rufus and John was so moving! A fabulous summer read!



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Book Review: Strangers by Dean Koontz

Strangers by Dean Koontz

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Oh, whoa! Where do I even start with this one?!

Ok, I was researching for some of Dean Koontz’s best thrillers and I came up against many. The gist behind the cover of “Strangers” was really simple yet intriguing beyond imagination. I decided to buy and read it.

First impression on receiving and opening the book – By God, it is huge and cramped like anything. The fonts were so small and congested that I wondered why they published like this. This was later justified from the author’s afterword at the end.

I started off the book and I got hooked with the start itself. Because of the practical difficulty in reading the small fonts and congested passages, I took time, but the book was brilliant.

The characters were all so realistically written and well-developed with all their arcs neatly carved out. Dom, Ginger, Jack, Ernie and Jorja/Marcie were all simply stunning and full of thrill and suspense.

The paranormal nightmares and events happening in a suspenseful and thrill manner were very neatly written. I have to appreciate the author for his literary skills. He weaves words that paint the emotions we are expected to feel as an audience.

The plot is ingenious and brave. I loved the the theme setting so much and was so hyped up that I was waiting for the inevitable downfall which usually comes with such a strong plot, but in vain.

Dean had written a perfect thriller with no elements missing. It was a thoroughly enjoyable read throughout and even though the book was bulky, the story was worth it.

I have to give it to Dean for pulling this off without any scrapes. The suspense never ceased to exist throughout the book. Every scene and character was thought off well and written with severe passion and I couldn’t point out any faults.

The running of all the characters to Tranquillity motel and assembling for the end invoked palpable tension. The showdown at the Depository hill was neatly written without any “anti-climax” which I thought it would be.

I am now an ardent fan of Dean Koontz, and to think that this book came out in 1988, made me worship him more.



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Book Review: Nothing lasts Forever by Sidney Sheldon

Nothing Lasts Forever by Sidney Sheldon

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


After finishing this book, my initial reaction was “How on Earth did I miss this one for so long?”.

I had completed most of my favourites of Sidney Sheldon’s works and was done with him in 2017, I guess.

Now, when I was researching for new collections – I have already maxed out most of my favourite authors, so, I was weaving back to old ones. That’s when I found this one.

Coming to this book “Nothing lasts Forever” – absolute rollercoaster ride! I finished this off in a couple of sittings. Such an intense page turner by Sheldon.

The hospital theme first captured my attention because I like it a lot. Then the initial murder trial was suspenseful and I was wondering how he was going to tie things up.

When the actual book starts, the three main leads were introduced and their past lives also delved into. I have to admit that only Paige was intriguing and realistic, I felt Kat was needed for the intense build-up of the story, but Honey was useless to be frank.

As usual in Sheldon’s narratives with women leads and in his world adult sequences are more concentrated and driven – this book is no exception, but it was bit of a stretch for me. How does every single person want that? With every single person out there? Honey’s storyline was there just to give us some erotica elements and nothing interesting – I can’t fathom how she just paraded down men just like that and nobody showed any integrity?

Paige’s storyline was awesome and too realistic. We can find so many real life characters going through her emotions and life. Jason love track was refreshing. The mind-numbing detailing of hospital residents’ life was fabulous and gritty.

The finale felt visibly rushed but that was fine when looking at the way he told the story.
Sheldon was a master in spinning nail-biting stories, no doubts!



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Book Review: The cabinet of curiosities by Preston & Child

The Cabinet of Curiosities by Douglas Preston

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Ever since I read Relic, the duo writers of pendergast series excited me. After reasearch for this year’s new reading collections, I found this one. The gist was pretty unique and catchy.

The cabinet of curiosities is a wonderful and riveting read!

The first half of the book was filled with so much suspense and dreadful thrill that it gave me chills down the spines whenever the unknown assailant comes into picture.

Other than the actual plot and the flow, rest all were pretty ok to decent form of work. The character portrayal of Pendergast was unimpressive – his ubiquitous presence and omniscience vanish after first half. Why the Sherlock vibes?

Nora and Bill were ok too. I loved the sergeant Patrick.

The second half was like a rambling medical drama interspersed with a psychopathic killer element.

The revelation of the killer and a slight twist were pretty unconvincing compared to weight of the theme in which the plot traversed.

Having written an apocalyptic thriller novella myself, I can say the motive behind such drastic themes are often not that interesting or justifiable. So, here also it was the same.

A good read overall. Kind of a page turner.



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