Prince of Fire (a Gabriel Allon thriller) by Daniel Silva

It is with a heavy heart that I read on the news today that Israeli commandos gunned down 19 international peace activists during the interception of a flotilla of Gaza ships carrying 10 000 tonnes of aid to Gaza.  As a result, hundreds of demonstrators gathered with banners and flags to voice their anger against the deplorable loss of life and the senseless attack on civilians on Whitehall in London today.  (It is reported that Swedish crime author, Henning Mankell, was also on board). 

For those of you who follow the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict which began in the late 19th century to the present, you might be interested in Silva's Prince of Fire which tells of this dispute as far back as the beginnning of the 20th century in a brilliant work of fiction incorporating his protagonist, the enigmatic Gabriel Allon. 

In his acknowledgements, Silva wrote that he has 'consulted hundreds of books, articles and Web sites' while writing Prince of Fire and one of the notable Israeli scholar he mentioned is Benny Morris (The Birth of the Palestinian Refugee Problem).

Here is a gist of what this book is all about taken from Silva's website:
Gabriel Allon is back in Venice after unmasking Erich Radek (A Death in Vienna), when a terrible explosion in Rome leads to a disturbing personal revelation: the existence of a dossier in terrorist hands that strips away his secrets, lays bare his history. Hastily recalled home, drawn once more into the heart of a service he had once forsaken, Gabriel finds himself stalking an elusive master-terrorist across a landscape drenched in generations of blood, the trail turning upon itself until, finally, he can no longer be certain who is stalking whom. And when at last the showdown comes, it will not be Gabriel alone who is threatened with destruction - for it is not his history alone that has been laid bare.

Also on his website, Silva tells of where the idea for this book came from and how he came up with the Gabriel Allon character and the others in the series.  It makes for an interesting read.  Just click on this 'Behind the Series' link to Silva's website to find out:  www.danielsilvabooks.com/books/prince_fire.asp?id=behind

This book is written intelligently and ingeniously.  It is especially delightful for those who are history buffs.  Also, in this book, we learn of Leah's (Allon's wife) awakening from her prisoned mental state and a whole albeit brief and poignant chapter is dedicated to her having an awareness of her surroundings for the very first time since the fateful bombing. 

I guarantee you will be hooked and entertained and probably lose some sleep over a night or two.  Silva just keeps getting better and better.  Do not miss it!

Ratings: 5/5 (Brilliant)

Extreme Measures by Michael Palmer, MD

Extreme Measures should be a bestseller.  It is totally unputdownable.  After reading the book, I found out it had been made into a fairly good movie starring Hugh Grant, Gene Hackman and Sarah Jessica Parker in 1996.  I prefer reading to watching a movie adaptation of a book but the movie trailer sounds just as exciting as the book.

It says it all here: 

I sometimes marvel at how the doctors in Palmer's books all turn out to be very competent sleuths when the situation calls for it.

Palmer is a truly diligent author as well as one who does his research well and I cannot praise him more than that.

Rating: 4/5 (Highly recommended read)

The First Patient by Michael Palmer, MD

May is Michael Palmer month!  I did say I am on a Michael Palmer journey and I am still on a roll.

The theme of this book is an obscure element in the field of medicine called nanotechnology which is 'the study of the controlling of matter on an atomic and molecular scale' (Wikipedia). 

The 25th Amendment (details Presidential succession due to resignation, disability, illness, removal or death) is another theme which adds intrigue to the story.

This book is a medicopolitical thriller.  It starts off with the POTUS (President of the United States) enlisting the help of his old college roomie, Dr Gabe Singleton, to help find his missing personal physician and to take the missing physician's place at the White House.  What the POTUS did not tell him is that he is suffering from a supposedly mental illness not due to natural causes and which is progressively worsening.  Secrets from the past are also haunting the friendship between Dr Singleton and the President. 

As Gabe settles into his new job, he becomes the target of two unexpected shootings and the more he learns, the more his life is in danger.  The White House is shrouded with so many secrets and protocols that he finds he cannot trust anyone. 

Nanotech being an obscure element, once you have read the book, you will find that the theme was only alluded to and there was no in-depth information about it.  I think it is a hard subject to write on and to extrapolate on.  However, Palmer has carried out an in-depth research into his theme and has written an ingenious story on the White House medicine helped by its interesting mix of characters, fast-paced plots, first-rate suspense and scary storylines. 

As former President Bill Clinton says of this book, "The First Patient is an exciting thriller that is full of surprises and captures the intense atmosphere of the White House, how the medical system works and how the 25th Amendment could be brought into play.  I thoroughly enjoyed it."

Well, Mr Clinton, I have thoroughly enjoyed it too. 

Rating: 3/5 (more a work of fun fiction than believable fiction)

Hell Gate (The Alexandra Cooper Series) by Linda Fairstein

Fairstein goes by the adage "write what you know."  In this book, she describes vividly her beloved New York City and its history of notable buildings such as Gracie Mansion (official residence of the mayor), City Hall (oldest building in the United States of America used for governmental functions) and High Bridge or officially the Aqueduct Bridge (oldest surviving bridge and presently unused bridge), among others.

In all her books, Fairstein uses her experience as an assistant district attorney in Manhattan to write about her heroine, Assistant DA Alex Cooper, the legal process and the investigative procedures involved in a district attorney's work.  Hell Gate is Fairstein's twelfth book in the Alexandra Cooper novels.

This time, Alex Cooper investigates a shipwreck of human cargo which has washed up on a treacherous stretch of waterway in New York known as Hell Gate and the death of a Jane Doe who, in turn, is connected to a political sex scandal involving a New York congressman and an ex-prostitute with their supposedly illegitimate child.  As always, Alex Cooper is not complete without her two sidekicks, Mercer Wallace and Mike Chapman, both NYPD detectives.

Unfortunately, I am not entirely satisfied with Hell Gate.  It did not make for an easy and interesting read as with her previous eleven books.  It took me longer than usual to finish the book.  Human trafficking in itself is a fascinating draw but somehow, this book did not captivate me as much as I would have expected.  However, Fairstein's narrative of Gracie Mansion and the history of New York is very interesting.  Sadly, they are not sufficient to keep me interested in the book as a whole. 

I have included a YouTube video link of Fairstein's introduction and background to this book:



Do pay a visit to the author's website at http://www.lindafairstein.com/ and if you haven't already read her other books, I highly recommend you start from Final Jeopardy.  Fairstein's books can be read as stand-alones as well. 

What do you think of Hell Gate?  Do you share the same opinion as me or otherwise?

Rating: 3/5 (Good)

The Desperate Diary of a Country Housewife by Daisy Waugh

Basically, this is an honest account/personal diary by Martha Mole, a desperate country housewife's move to the southwest of England and how she adapts to her new life. 

It is hilariously hilarious, wittily witty and wickedly wicked.

Unfortunately, there is no website for Waugh.  Her previous novels include The New You Survival Kit, Ten Steps to Happiness, Bed of Roses and Bordeaux Housewives.

Lesson learned from this book:  City vs Country - the grass is not always greener on the other side. 

Rating: 1/5 (light and easy)

The Kill Artist (a Gabriel Allon thriller) by Daniel Silva

"A master writer of espionage...[Silva's] writing is crisp, compelling and clean." - Cincinnati Enquirer

According to his website profile, this book is the book that changes the course of Daniel Silva's writing career even though his very first novel, The Unlikely Spy, went on to become an international bestseller.  This book is also the first in the Gabriel Allon series. 

As you may have recalled, I came across Moscow Rules (review: 2 May 2010) in the library and enjoyed it so much I thought I would start the series right from the beginning.  True to its word, Silva's works have not disappoint thus far.

In a nutshell, the story of The Kill Artist is about a spy who deceives a terrorist but who in turn is deceived by the very organisation whom he works for.  It is an elaborate deception indeed.

Description (taken from Silva's website):
Once a key operative in secret Israeli-intelligence missions, Gabriel Allon is on the run from his past, assuming a quiet life as a meticulous restorer of priceless works of art. But now he is being called back into the game. The agent with whom he is teamed hides behind her own beautiful mask-as a French fashion model. Their target: a cunning terrorist on one last killing spree, a Palestinian zealot named Tariq who played a dark part in Gabriel's past. What begins as a manhunt turns into a globe-spanning duel fueled by political intrigue and deep personal passions. In a world where secrecy and duplicity are absolute, revenge is a luxury no man can afford-and the greatest masterpiece of all.

Silva writes smoothly and simply and yet, is able to put across intricate and conflicting schemes, credible characters and elaborate and non-stop plots in the most believable fashion.  He brings the story to life beginning with a quiet exile in a rural village in a little corner of England and ending on an evocative climax at the end of an apartment corridor in New York City. 

Yet again, Silva likens the craft of espionage to the craft of art restoration by interfacing one on to the other with a methodology: strip the varnish, dissolve the paint until the underdrawing is laid bare, then begin building it back up layer by layer in tone and texture until the painting is once again restored. 

I especially love Silva's imaginative descriptions of the people and places involved in the story which can be hilarious at times and perhaps true to form.  As with Moscow Rules, some parts can be predictable but I have been converted once again. 

Any book with an interesting fiction and fact combination is a winner for me.  Don't miss it!

Rating: 4/5 (Hooked)

Daddy's Girl by Lisa Scottoline

I remember reading the Nancy Drew series in my teens and the books were so full of a sense of mystery and adventure that I can honestly say that they were the very first books that addicted me to crime fiction.  The famous Nancy Drew was created by Edward Stratemeyer and first appeared in 1930. 

On 28 April 2010, in celebration of Nancy Drew's 80th anniversary, the original publisher Grosset and Dunlap has released an 80th anniversary edition of the first book, The Secret of the Old Clock. 

Now, what is the connection between Nancy Drew and Lisa Scottoline, you wonder?

Well, the reason I mentioned Nancy Drew is because the author has made a few references to the famous female sleuth in the story.  Daddy's Girl is about Natalie Greco, a University of Pennsylvania assistant law professor, who cannot quite fit into her boisterous Italian family because of her love of books and who cannot quite get her students' attention in class.  When her colleague, Angus Holt, invites her to teach a class at a local prison in Chester County, she reluctantly agrees.  Unfortunately, her mundane and peaceful life is shattered when a violent prison riot breaks out and a corrections officer is seriously injured.  Before he dies, he asks Natalie to deliver a message to his wife.  Suddenly, Natalie finds herself on the lam; a law professor turned fugitive.  Besides being a suspect in a brutal murder and an attempted shooting, her life is threatened by people who do not want her to uncover the plot that first turned her life upside down.  An unexpected plot twist at the end finally brings the story to a triumphant end.

I am proud to say this is my first Lisa Scottoline book.  I find the book riveting although it makes for slow reading in the beginning.  However, once the prison riot breaks out, the speed begins to pick up and reveal itself in a breathtaking way.  I thought the plot twist at the end is a total surprise.  The story is well constructed, interesting, action-packed and a delight to read.  I will be going on to read more of Scottoline's books for sure. 

Recommended.  To find out more about the author and her works, do visit her official website on http://www.scottoline.com/ 

Rating: 5/5 (because of the shocking twist at the conclusion)

The Society by Michael Palmer, MD

Two Michael Palmers in a row!  This time, Michael Palmer brings up the issue of the policies of health maintenance organisation (HMO) and its effects on the medical profession, gratifying or otherwise.

Greed, money and power were the underlying factors in the biggest healthcare industry takeover to take place in 21st century America.  When wealthy and high-powered CEOs from large healthcare companies were murdered one by one, Dr Will Grant found himself right in the middle of it.  A member of the Boston chapter of the Hippocrates Society, Dr Grant was determined to fight for the life and death issues of patients than to allow managed health care companies to control the decisions that affect the delivery of care.  Suddenly, in one horrible moment, his personal and professional lives were destroyed and he fought against time to track down the killers before the killers could get to him.  With the help of rookie detective Patty Moriarity, he set out to decipher a cryptic message left by the killers on the victims' bodies.  Who could he trust?  Who was his enemy and who was his friend?  Who turned out to be the vigilante? 

This book flows from one page to the next and is totally absorbable.  Some moments are over the top but one can expect that in fiction; it usually means the hero or protagonist is not killed off before she/he could come to a big finale.  I usually pride myself on knowing who the killer is before the end of the book but in this book, I was absolutely unprepared!  What do you think?  Were you able to figure out who the bad people were?  In conclusion, I feel that the debatable issue of managed healthcare is put across quite succintly and this issue is important to us all.  I always enjoy a book written by people who know what they are writing about and Michael Palmer undoubtedly falls into that category!

Rating: 3/5 (Enjoyable)

Fatal by Michael Palmer, MD

Michael Palmer has become one of my favourite authors to watch out for.  He writes fascinating and terrifying medical crime thrillers drawn from his career experiences as a practitioner of internal and emergency medicine and it is no wonder that reviewers have proclaimed him a master of medical suspense.  His books are all the more compelling to read because some of his dynamic story outlines are actually taken from true accounts of his readers.

In this stand alone book, he has taken two separate issues of 1) the effects of toxic dumps and 2) a new and potentially dangerous mass vaccine, and integrate them into a wholly gripping and non-stop read.  I must admit I was not able to get into the book in the beginning but I was not about to give up on a favourite author so, after the first couple of chapters, I found myself totally hooked and ended up spending most of my free time devouring it!

To extrapolate on the second point above, here is an excerpt taken from the book which hits the nail right on the head: "...What I can say is that as vaccination rates have climbed, there has been an alarming increase in the incidence of a number of so-called immune-mediated diseases and conditions such as asthma, allergies, juvenile diabetes, autism, ADD and other learning disabilities, whose classification as immune-mediated diseases remains to be established.  Is there a connection?  Do vaccinations in some instances disrupt the normal development of the body's immune system?  Until long-term, double blind studies are performed on vaccines, we may never know." 

Michael Palmer once said in an interview and which I now quote: "...we may be at the base of a dangerous pandemic. This is probably not the time to be doing the controlled research vaccines should undergo. We can only ask that all precautions be taken while a serious research design is developed..."

It gives one food for thought.

Palmer started off with three seemingly unassociated characters and storylines:

When Dr Matthew Rutledge's wife, Ginny, died from a rare form of cancer, he was convinced that it was the result of the local mining company dumping illegal toxins into the ground water.  He felt that the mining company might have contributed to his father's death too.  He then became suspicious when a recurrence of patients with unexplained paranoia and elephant-like symptoms began turning up at the hospital where he worked.  What does he do?  Set out to find irrefutable proof with the help of the Slocumb brothers, four endearing mountain-twang hermits without knowing there was more at stake.

At around the same time, a retired school teacher and a tireless consumer campaigner from Maryland, Ellen Croft, abstained from voting against the new Omnivax megavaccine which she suspected could be fatal in the long term, rather than risked her granddaughter's life to an unknown killer. 

Massachusetts coroner, Nikki Solari, came to Belinda in West Virginia to attend a close friend's funeral who had died of the same debilitating disease that Dr Rutledge saw in his treatment room.  On her way home, she was hijacked by two unsuspecting assailants which subsequently brought her under the radar of the doctor.

The author's all-rights-reserved website is at http://www.michaelpalmerbooks.com/  It is worth a visit.  I am now on a journey to read all of Michael Palmer's books.  I guarantee it will make you put on your thinking cap.  Highly recommended.

Rating: 5/5 (Unputdownable)

The Double Comfort Safari Club by Alexander Mccall Smith

I don't think I need to make any introduction to this author here.  Alexander McCall Smith.  I liken McCall Smith's books to life's little gems of wisdom because they simply are.  They are not so much books of light-hearted reading as books of life itself.  His books are thoughtful, witty, kind, helpful, compassionate and wise, much like the heroine Mma Precious Ramotswe herself.   In fact, McCall Smith's portrayal of each and every character is so fresh, candid and unvarnished as to be almost lifelike. 

The Double Comfort Safari Club is the eleventh book in the award-winning series The No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency set in Botswana, Southern Africa.  Do visit the author's website at  http://www.alexandermccallsmith.co.uk/ if you haven't already.  I have also had the pleasure of watching it on British television when it first premiered in 2009. 

Here is the trailer for The No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by HBO: 

I must say his books are an absolute joy to read.  Need I say that I am a huge fan too?

Rating: 5/5 (Pleasure to read)

Inspector Singh Investigates: The Singapore School of Villainy by Shamini Flint

This is the much awaited third instalment in the Inspector Singh Investigates series by Shamini Flint, a Malaysian lawyer turned author who now resides in Singapore. 

First line in the book:  Inspector Singh sipped his coffee. 

This time, the tubby turban wearing Old Spice fan inspector and his whiter than white sneakers are in his hometown of Singapore when a murder of a senior partner in an international law firm pulled him out of his easy rattan chair to crack a crime in a country where whoever commits murder shall be punished with death.  (Section 302, Singapore Penal Code, Chapter 224)

Every lawyer in the firm becomes a suspect as well as the victim's ex-wife and wife.  Unfortunately, one of the suspects, who happens to be Mrs Singh's distant relation, is invited by her to join the Singhs for dinner with the aim of choosing him a nice Sikh wife.  How is the old school Inspector Singh going to take to a suspect on his dinner table over a meal of delectable dhal and spicy potato and fenugreek?  As for the other suspects, what secrets are they hiding?  All of them seem to have a believable alibi.  All of them seem to be comfortable in their lifestyles.  Why would they commit murder and exchange a life of prestige and riches for the noose? 

Other characters:  Corporal Fong, diffident and servile, lends a helping hand to the investigation and does most of the tea boy job.  Superintendent Chen is the tyrant boss to whom Singh tries to avoid at all costs but, unfortunately, among a sea of unadorned heads, his two inch beehive stands out like a foghorn.  Action man Sergeant Eric Chung does most of the legwork.

Flint writes lightly and with humour.  She portrays the perfect blend of East and West in modern-day affluent westernised Singapore accurately.  With all the twists and turns, Flint has deftly kept me guessing till the end, although the mystery of the swipe card remains unsolved.  I am pleased to see a scattering of local words like kiasu (fear of losing or being second best) and Singlish (Singapore colloquial English) phrases like "What for they lie?"  Yes, I can speak like that! 

If you are interested in Flint's other books, do visit http://www.shaminiflint.com/ and in conclusion, I would like to say that I look forward to her upcoming books in this series and I guarantee you will warm to this kettle and teaspoon fellow! 

Rating: 4/5 (Entertained)

Moscow Rules (a Gabriel Allon thriller) by Daniel Silva

I came across Daniel Silva by chance when I was in the library on a blustery Saturday afternoon in April.

The story begins with a brutal death of a journalist in Courchevel, France.  Art-restorer, assassin, former spy and protagonist, Gabriel Allon, is summoned by the Israeli Special Ops to investigate.  What he uncovers is an impending missile sale by the Russians to al-Qaeda which coincides with a release of a new videotape by Osama bin Laden containing four denunciatory words: the arrows of Allah.

The investigation assisted by fellow superspies including Allon's second wife, Chiara, follows an international trek covering Rome, Moscow, Jerusalem and St Tropez, among other hotspots.  The main suspect is a former KGB colonel, Ivan Kharkov, who is elusive, dangerous and married to a woman who eventually gives his game up to the authorities. 

Moscow Rules is the eighth book in the Gabriel Allon series.  Written with pace and plenty of painfully brilliant action, it is a gripping read with believable characters and it is as satisfying as the many deceptions that the story is interspersed with, although, if you have read similar spy stories in the past, you would find this book a touch predictable. 

You can find out more about Daniel Silva on http://www.danielsilvabooks.com/ 

As this is my first Silva book, I have a lot of reading to do to find out how Allon gets to where he is in Moscow Rules.  What is for certain is that I will definitely be reading more of his work and I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did!

My rating:  3/5 (Enjoyable)