I have been on a reading spree the last few months, now that I have some time in my hands. Thought I would share the noteworthy ones (putting my 1-5* rating, with 5 being the best).
To be followed hopefully soon by another post on non-fiction.
Scott Turow - Presumed Innocent (4.5*)
A legal drama/murder mystery with heavy emphasis on the former. Really high quality writing and arguably among the all time greats as crime/legal dramas go. Works well at multiple levels; a public prosecutor is indicted for murder of a woman who he has had an affair with. Turow focuses with poignant empathy, the anguish the prosecutor and his family go through as the trial progresses. Not to mention the fact that it is a well crafted murder mystery. Will say no more. Read to find out why.
John Le-Carre A Most Wanted Man (4.5*), The Mission Song (4.0*)
John Le Carre writes authentic spy novels with British Intelligence protagonists. Over the years, like many spy novelists, Le Carre has moved on from MI6 butting heads with the KGB and the Russians to combating middle-eastern terrorists in his later novels. I have always liked his writing style. His narrative moves at a velocity that is Pujara-like than say Sehwag, but his recent novels are a bit more pacy. His writing has a lot of humanity (or bleeding heart sentimentality depending on your perspective). His protagonists are extremely noble, often naive, trying to do the right thing fighting domestic obstacles - such as the doddering British bureaucracy and outright moral corruption of politicians - more than the actual villains. Among the many I read recently (Our kind of traitor, A Most wanted man, Our Game and now reading The Delicate Truth), I highly recommend A Most Wanted Man which captures this fine author at his best. A Most Wanted Man has also been made into a critically acclaimed movie. The other book I liked is The Mission Song.
Daniel Silva (Gabriel Allon series) (3.0-4.0*)
I read every Gabriel Allon the Israeli agent book except the latest one. It was the reading equivalent of binge-watching a TV show. If you have a (grudging or otherwise) respect for Mossad as a highly effective Intelligence Service, you might enjoy sampling this series. I would not recommend reading the entire series like I did; it does get repetitive with a certain plot and story structure that almost all the novels have. However I found the characters likable, especially the middle aged hero Gabriel Allon, complete with supreme ability at what he does, a tormented past and the works and Ari Shamron, his petulant boss, also once a super agent.
Daniel Silva - An Unlikely Spy (4.0*)
A good old-fashioned spy vs. spy yarn set in the second world war where British and German Intelligence agencies are engaged in endless deception and counter deception as to the time and location of the allied invasion of France.
I also read Ken Follett's Triple (3.5*) (another Israel vs. Enemies spy novel) and Jackdaws. Triple is not bad, but nowhere close to Ken Follett's best novels (such as Eye of the Needle). Jackdaws is below average (2.75*) and can be given a miss.
I dusted up my copy of Nancy Pearl's More Book Lust to find some recommendations when I was running out of ideas. In addition to leading to Scott Turow's Presumed Innocent, Nancy led me to some non-English authors:
Batya Gur (Murder in Jerusalem) (4.0*)
High marks for this taut murder mystery set in a Television Station in Jeruasalem, where the tension seems to never let up. You get this feeling that this is how Israelis actually live, in constant tension. Not a book to read if you're looking to relieve some stress.
Henning Mankell (original Swedish - Firewall) (3.75*)
A solid police procedural starring Kurt Wallander who features in a number of Mankell's books. True to a vaguely melancholic atmosphere I associate with all places up in the temperate/Arctic zone, Wallander seems to be battling inner demons and has a miserable personal life while solving crime.
- Balaji
To be followed hopefully soon by another post on non-fiction.
Scott Turow - Presumed Innocent (4.5*)
A legal drama/murder mystery with heavy emphasis on the former. Really high quality writing and arguably among the all time greats as crime/legal dramas go. Works well at multiple levels; a public prosecutor is indicted for murder of a woman who he has had an affair with. Turow focuses with poignant empathy, the anguish the prosecutor and his family go through as the trial progresses. Not to mention the fact that it is a well crafted murder mystery. Will say no more. Read to find out why.
John Le-Carre A Most Wanted Man (4.5*), The Mission Song (4.0*)
John Le Carre writes authentic spy novels with British Intelligence protagonists. Over the years, like many spy novelists, Le Carre has moved on from MI6 butting heads with the KGB and the Russians to combating middle-eastern terrorists in his later novels. I have always liked his writing style. His narrative moves at a velocity that is Pujara-like than say Sehwag, but his recent novels are a bit more pacy. His writing has a lot of humanity (or bleeding heart sentimentality depending on your perspective). His protagonists are extremely noble, often naive, trying to do the right thing fighting domestic obstacles - such as the doddering British bureaucracy and outright moral corruption of politicians - more than the actual villains. Among the many I read recently (Our kind of traitor, A Most wanted man, Our Game and now reading The Delicate Truth), I highly recommend A Most Wanted Man which captures this fine author at his best. A Most Wanted Man has also been made into a critically acclaimed movie. The other book I liked is The Mission Song.
Daniel Silva (Gabriel Allon series) (3.0-4.0*)
I read every Gabriel Allon the Israeli agent book except the latest one. It was the reading equivalent of binge-watching a TV show. If you have a (grudging or otherwise) respect for Mossad as a highly effective Intelligence Service, you might enjoy sampling this series. I would not recommend reading the entire series like I did; it does get repetitive with a certain plot and story structure that almost all the novels have. However I found the characters likable, especially the middle aged hero Gabriel Allon, complete with supreme ability at what he does, a tormented past and the works and Ari Shamron, his petulant boss, also once a super agent.
Daniel Silva - An Unlikely Spy (4.0*)
A good old-fashioned spy vs. spy yarn set in the second world war where British and German Intelligence agencies are engaged in endless deception and counter deception as to the time and location of the allied invasion of France.
I also read Ken Follett's Triple (3.5*) (another Israel vs. Enemies spy novel) and Jackdaws. Triple is not bad, but nowhere close to Ken Follett's best novels (such as Eye of the Needle). Jackdaws is below average (2.75*) and can be given a miss.
I dusted up my copy of Nancy Pearl's More Book Lust to find some recommendations when I was running out of ideas. In addition to leading to Scott Turow's Presumed Innocent, Nancy led me to some non-English authors:
Batya Gur (Murder in Jerusalem) (4.0*)
High marks for this taut murder mystery set in a Television Station in Jeruasalem, where the tension seems to never let up. You get this feeling that this is how Israelis actually live, in constant tension. Not a book to read if you're looking to relieve some stress.
Henning Mankell (original Swedish - Firewall) (3.75*)
A solid police procedural starring Kurt Wallander who features in a number of Mankell's books. True to a vaguely melancholic atmosphere I associate with all places up in the temperate/Arctic zone, Wallander seems to be battling inner demons and has a miserable personal life while solving crime.
- Balaji
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