Spies in Slovenia

Today's interesting news comes from Slovenia, where it is reported that the spies have gone on strike. I wonder how spies take revenge for low pay - do they reveal the secrets which they have accumulated over the years, put it out on public domain. Or perhaps spy on their masters, which I suspect they may be doing it anyways.  

The Island

Victoria Hislop has written a gut wrenching story about a family history that is full of tragedy, from having to deal with the incurable disease of leprosy, being confined to a separate leper's island, the scourge of the disease, its impact on family relationships, families torn asunder, distraught of the husband at having to visit his wife in a leper's island every week, in order to deliver supplies, yet not being able to embrace or touch each other, one family having two people suffering from that disease, one sister not being on good terms with the other one, one sister's engagement broken off, yet also of love, abundant love of the family to deal with the crises, the positive feelings of improving their own lives, friendships that last beyond anything, cures being found, redemption, catharsis. Goodreads 4/5

The Count of Monte Cristo

Finished reading a fascinating book by Alexandre Dumas "The Count of Monte Cristo" a book of love, deception, revenge and murder - tragic characters in the book - an absolute page turner - it is a timeless classic as relevant today as it was when it was written in 1844. It focuses on a man who is wrongfully imprisoned, escapes from jail, acquires a fortune, and then sets about getting revenge against those responsible for his wrongful confinement. Goodreads 5/5

Murder in Mesopotamia

Agatha Christie is on familiar ground when she covers murders in rural England which is her speciality - unfortunately "Murder in Mesopotamia" is a story based in Iraq on an archeological site - a murder takes place and Hercule Poirot is travelling some place nearby - so he comes in and solves the crime in his inimitable style - Christie maintains the suspense till the end in every book of hers - same is true of this one as well. Goodreads 4/5

Echoes in the Darkness

Just finished reading a true crime story by Joseph Wambaugh - "Echoes in the Darkness". This book is regarding the murder mystery of Susan Reinert a divorced school teacher and her two children Karen and Michael who were never found since that fateful day in June 1979. She was having a secret affair with another school teacher William Bradfield who was famous for his numerous flings with women. He was having another secret affair with another teacher Sue Myers and this after having two failed marriages in the past. Whilst he was juggling with the two teachers he started and successfully carried two more affairs both with students of the Upper Merion High School in Main Line, Philadelphia where they were all enrolled. One of the student was a minor when he started his affair, but all his women swore by his affections. The principal of the school was Jay Smith an ex-army officer and quite a character in himself with revelations of sexual escapades and fantasies, shoplifting and his own daughter Stephanie and son-in-law Eddie Hunsberger were never found – it was alleged that Smith had murdered his daughter and son-in-law but they just vanished from the face of earth and were never found to this day. The prosecution had to rely on circumstantial evidence in this case. Much of the book in the first half is devoted to the peccadilloes of William Bradfield and Jay Smith in conjuring up their images as crazy, demented individuals. Goodreads 5/5 

Just a Matter of Time

“Just a matter of time” by james Hadley chase is a book i picked up from the flea stall near churchgate station for rupees 20/- and i am a big fan of james Hadley chase. It is a short book of 190 pages which typically is the average size of chase books. Chase does not disappoint again. He is unarguably the best story teller with fast paced stories which typically involves crime, intrigue, suspense, blackmail, sex and he typically writes about the under dregs of society. Mrs. Morely Johnson is an almost blind widower with loads of money, jewellery, paintings, investments and only one heir, a nephew who is a good for nothing fella, so she disowns him in the will, most of which goes to charity a few to the investment banker who takes care of her investments. Assorted characters descend on the plot in the form of driver, nurse one of whom is a master forger and the other a sex bomb. The plot moves inextricably fast from one scheme gone good to another gone awry into an interesting climax. I would rate it 5/5 and chase fans don’t need a second recommendation at all – if they are like me, they would devour all of james Hadley chase books. 

Bear Island

Just finished reading “Bear Island” by Alistair Maclean my favourite author.  Dr. Marlowe is a doctor on board a fishing trawler Morning Rose which is headed towards Bear Island in Barents Sea for some film shooting of which nobody knows what the script is about. Enroute, the film crew start getting murdered one after another in mysterious circumstances. The plot gets murkier when the crew lands on the inhospitable and alien Bear Island and the murders continue. Written in first person narrative, Maclean gradually lets the suspense out one after another taking the story to some connection in post war Europe. A gripping enthralling book, a typically pot boiler by Alistair Maclean. Rating 5/5 – Highly Recommended