Winter Prey by John Sanford

"Winter Prey" is one of the prey novels by the bestselling author John Sanford. He is known as the Iceman. he is on a mission to keep his secret buried. He goes on a killing spree to get rid of everyone who may be able to expose him. He is skillful, intelligent, meticulous and deadly. The setting is Wisconsin during the winter.

Lucas Davenport has his hands full. The Iceman is about to throw false flares that direct the attention to others other than himself. He watches and positions himself to hear things that help him to be a step ahead. When Davenport and his team think that they have him he slips off. "Winter Prey"  is certainly a page turner, beautifully plotted and skillfully written. It is a first rate thriller and the characters are alive and interesting.

Roses Are Red by James Patterson

"Roses Are Red" is a great novel in all respects. The plot is very complicated and interesting. The Mastermind is masterminding some of the most audacious armed robberies and killing sprees that are totally mind-boggling. He also had a "great treat"  for his recruits after their job is done.

He is a dangerous psychopath  who is very brilliant, calculating and has a flair of remaining hidden. He is mysterious. You see his plan in action but he remains hidden. His modus operandi is different and totally unique.
Alex Cross and the FBI agent Betsy Cavalierre and the team of police investigators are puzzled. The mastermind watches all things. He can strike anyone. Even the Police and the FBI are not immune from his attack if he so wishes. Alex Cross and the FBI team led by Betsey Cavalierre are determined to nail him. He is actually having fun because he knows that he is on top of the game. He is in control.The Mastermind is indeed a mastermind pulling the strings.

"Roses Are Red" is indeed a masterpiece. It attest to James Patterson's pedigree as a great novelist. Patterson is imaginative and creates one of the most intelligent and dangerous psychopathic characters ever. It is a great thriller. It feels more like reading a Jeffrey Deaver.  Honestly I can't wait to read "Violets Are Blue".   

“The Road to Omaha” –A review

“The Road to Omaha” is a thriller novel by Robert Ludlum. He is nicknamed the Madman but his real name is General MacKenzie Lochinvar Hawkins. He is a former General in the United States army. He is bent on hitting back at the US government and fight for justice for the Wopotami Indians.

The Wopotami Indians signed a treaty with the US government but for over a hundred (100) years the terms of the treaty has not seen the light of day. General Hawkins aka Madman, self proclaimed fighter of the oppressed sets in motion a well thought out plan though dangerous but he remains undeterred, very characteristic of the Madman. He indeed shows his through courage and strategy that his title as General was earned.

There are forces within the US government who are bent on thwarting the plans of the General. They will use all means necessary to silence the Madman and his aides including the respected lawyer Aaron Pinkus, Sunrise Jennifer Redwing and Sam Lansing Devereaux.

This thriller is full of suspense and humour. “The Road to Omaha” cements Ludlum on a high pedestal as a Thriller King. The denouement is totally unexpected but realistic.

“Whiteout" by Ken Follett

It is Christmas Eve and one of the top pharmaceutical facilities, Oxenford Medical in Scotland is facing a crisis. Two doses of an experimental drug are missing. A lab technician is suffering from Madoba-2 an incurable form of viral disease. A group of professional thieves are determined to break into Oxenford’s BSL4 facility which is the most secure and heavily protected. It houses  viruses which has no antidote or vaccine like Madoba-2. It also contains experimental drugs and vaccines.

Antonia Gallo is the head of security. A shrewd and intelligent woman who is meticulous and will do anything to protect the Oxenford Medical. She is up against professional thugs and traitors of the worst kind who are determined to pull off the robbery come what may. They are ruthless and do not value human life.

The novel is thrilling, full of suspense. It is well researched and educative. The story is certainly one that can happen in a real world situation where terrorism and certainly bio-terrorism is not out of place.

The characters are well developed and certainly humanized. The characters by their actions and character flaws mirrors us and we can relate to them.  Follett displays a great knowledge of human psychology which reflects in the characters. You are made to feel part of the unfolding story.

The plot is well written and the suspense is intense. . It is never boring.You are unable to put the book aside for an instance. Follet shows us why he is the great master thriller . Follett knows how to write. His writing is concise and beautiful. It is a story that is interspersed with love and romance.It is certainly a must read.

The setting is Scotland over the Christmas festivities and the snow was indeed falling heavily. Perhaps informing the title and inspiring the cover.

PS. It is a thriller taking place over Christmas and I had the privilege of reading it over Christmas.

“The Flanders Panel” by Arturo Perez-Reverte

“The Flanders Panel” is a great thriller based on a painting by Pieter Van Huys. This painting which is called The Game of Chess which was painted by him in 1471. It shows two chess players battling it out on a chessboard.

Underlying the simplistic fairly routine game of chess depicted in the painting holds the key to solving an age old mystery or to be precise a murder case committed five centuries ago. Julia an art expert tasked with the restoration of the game of chess stumbles upon a secret imbedded in the painting. It seems that the unfinished chess game is still being played by a master chess player or players murdering people based on the chess moves.

The novel is deep, philosophical, educative, entertaining and thrilling. Arturo Perez -Reverte masterfully weaves the plot around a game of chess depicted in an old painting. It is only a great writer who can write a thrilling story around a chess game.

The Flanders Panel makes one remember another great writer Saramago whose extraordinary writing ability make it possible for him to write a master piece around the theme of blindness. “The Flanders Panel” shows an indebt knowledge of chess and extraordinary imagination. It is worth reading.

“Beach Road” by James Patterson and Peter de Jonge

“Beach Road” is a thriller by James Patterson and Peter de Jonge.  It tells the story of Dante Halleyville, a promising basketball player who has been implicatedin a triple murder case.  Tom Dunleavy believes in his innocence. He solicits the services of her former lover Kate Costello, an astute lawyer to help him prevent Dante from going to jail.

Most people believe that Dante is guilty. Acorrupt policeman is also bent on implicating Dante at all cost. He is bent on planting evidence in order to implicate him. The case against Dante is very strong and it will be a herculean task for Dunleavy and Costello to get him off the hook. The prosecutorial team is also determined to nail Dante Halleyville. They will leave no stone unturned. 

However, there is someone high at the top manipulating all others. The denouement will leave the reader shocked. The reader would not have expected such a climax.

The plot is thrilling in simple prose. Every character is made to tell his or her side of the story which is beautifully put together to develop the plot. This is certainly an uncommon form of plot development and storytelling style.

Patterson writes in an uncomplicated style and language. The movement from the perspective of one character to the other stalls the thrill a bit. There are parts of the novel that massacre reality for plot development expediency. To give concrete examples will be giving the story away.

In spite of my mild criticisms “Beach Road” is certainly a great novel worth reading. It is entertaining, thrilling. Thumbs up to  Pattterson and de jonge for a such great novel.

“Prince of Fire” by Daniel Silva

In the “Prince of Fire”  Israeli and Jewish establishments are being attacked across the world. An audacious attack on the Israeli embassy in Rome is the most recent. This devastating and sophisticated attack led to the recall of Gabriel Allon to Israel to lead the haunt for the perpetrators especially its ringleader.

The leader Khalid is an almost a mythical figure. Hidden in plain sight he is able to coordinate and mastermind hits on prominent Israeli and Jewish targets. He is intelligent as well as meticulous. 

He proves more than a worthy match for the Israeli intelligence. Khalid has a vendetta against Allon.  Attacking Israel and Allon will be killing two birds with one stone. All the resources of the state of Israel  is deployed to aid in Allon’s victory over Khalid led terrorist cell.

Khalid is determined not be the third prominent casualty unable to defeat the Israelis. He makes it a priority to live to see his crowning moment. Allon too is determined to live in order to defeat Khalid in his tracks. The stage is set for the confrontation and the great battle of survival and tactics.

Daniel Silva demonstrates great storytelling ability in the novel “Prince of Fire”. It is highly researched and has a journalistic flair for detail comparable to Frederick Forsyth’s novels. Silva thrills readers and then brings about twist and turns in the plot leaving the reader guessing and entertained.