Dead Simple by Peter James

Michael Harrison is quite a prankster. To get even with him, his best friends device a secret plan on his stag night. After a pub crawl, they place drunk Michael in a coffin and bury him with a bottle of whisky, a magazine, a flash light and a walkie-talkie. They decide to come back for him in a couple of hours. They all die in an accident. Only Michael's best man, Mark Warren, who was away knows where Michael is. But he decides to keep quite. Ashley Harper, Michael's fiancée, is not sure what happened to Michael and is completely broken.
Will Michael live? Will he be in time for his wedding? Roy Grace investigates Michael's disappearance. The repartee between Grace and Glenn Branson especially, the movie references is funny. Roy Grace believes in the paranormal and uses it in his investigation.
At one point, I was wondering how such a simple story line is developed into a gripping tale. After many twists and turns, I realised that it is not simple, but Dead Simple. Loved the book, I am ready for more Peter James. This is my first read for Mystery and Suspense Challenge 2011.

Mystery & Suspense Reading Challenge 2011

I am participating in the Mystery & Suspense Reading Challenge 2011. I love reading Crime fiction and I hope I am not late for this challenge. 12 books in 4 months may be difficult but not impossible. I already have got some books, so just need to start reading them.

The Marks of Cain by Tom Knox

David Martinez's grandfather dies leaving him a million dollars and a map making him promise to visit the churches in the map. David follows the map that takes him to Basque country in Spain and France. His journey and enquiries attract the Basque terrorist Miguel, who wants his blood. What is it that David finds? What is the secret that his parents died for? Who are Cagots? What did Nazis find during their hunan genetic experiments during world war two? While the adventure is interesting enough, one can't help feeling why all these murder? Is the secret really that huge that warrants such an adventure? I am not really sure.

A necessary end by Peter Robinson

PC Gill was killed in a demonstration. He was stabbed with a knife. There are nearly 100 demonstrators. Was the murder premeditated or was it spur if the moment. Inspector Banks investigates. An interesting read.

Another Chance by Ahmed Faiyaz

My first reaction on reading the book is "Thank god! It is not in present tense". I don't have anything against novels in present tense. I have read many, though I cannot name one offhand, that carry present tense very well, so much so that you don't notice the tense at all. Now, for the story. Aditya Sharma and Ruheen Oberoi's college romance ends in a jiffy, as Ruheen's ex who is obssessed with her will not let her go. The love birds part ways, Aditya still has feelings for Ruheen, Ruheen has moved on. In an impulse she gets married to London based Rohan and is thrown into a life of violence and abuse. Ruheen manages to escape this life and meets Aditya again. They live together. Their relationship faces lots of problem and finally they break up. Aditya wants Ruheen back, will he get another chance? Love, life etc was more interesting and engrossing than Anothet chance, probably because there were four protagnists, here it is mostly Aditya only. Will I give Ahmed Faiyaz another chance? No, mainly because it is not my genre. I am not the love story kind. I love crime fiction. I am drawn to this book because of the novelty of a love story set in contemporary India. But the novelty wears off. There should really be more substance to give it Another Chance.

Love, life and all that jazz by Ahmed Faiyaz

Ordered the book from indiaplaza along with Another Chance and Urban Shots. The book is supposed to be an easy- breezy read according to the comments on the book cover. On the contrary, the story written in present tense takes time to get used to. I wonder, what is with the present tense. The story is not an adventure or an action thriller for it to be in present tense. It is the story of four friends from college and their lives after college and how the decisions they make affect their life. A simple straight forward story. There is no reason for urgency or immediacy, it may as well be written in past tense and definetely read better. But once you get used to the tense the story flows by, even quite engaging. While there are no twists and turns and we know actually what is going to happen, it still holds enough interest that we want to finish it. I have one more grouse, that is, with the naming of characters, especially the two main female leads, they are called Naina and Tania. Thank god, he didn't name the other one Sania or Saina. While the names Tania and Naina don't sound simillar to the ear, to the eye they are simillar and most of the story I was confused mistaking one for the other. Also, wish the story was better edited. Indiaplaza promised an author signed copy but there was no signature anywhere in the book. I am just going to let it pass. Overall, the book is not profound or touching or earth shattering, ( it is not meant to be any of these), it is engaging and worth a read.

Jake Ransom and the Skull Kings Shadow by James Rollins

I like Reading Rollins' books. So when I saw this book in an online bookshop, I thought it was one of his action adventure thrillers and ordered it without Reading the review. it is a childrens book and part of a series. Well, the series starts with this book and is an adventure. So I am not disappointed. Following the fame of Harry Potter series I think Rollins wanted to try his hands at childrens adventure series.
Now for the story, Jake Ransom lives with his sister Kady, their parents have gone an archaelogical excavation and never returned. It is three years since they disapeared. They recieved a parcel shortly after their parents disappeared which contained two halves of a Mayan coin, their parents notebook with detailed sketches about Mayan artifacts. Jake and kady recieved an invitation from the british museum for the opeining of the exhibition of the artifacts their parents found in their final trip.
Jake and kady visit the museum and there begins their adventure into an unkown place habited by dinosaurus and other unimaginable creatures. A strange land inhabited by strange people. The strange land is under threat from the skull king. Will jake and kady help save the land? Will they find a way back to home? This form the rest of the story. It leaves many more questions unanswered. Will have to read the rest of the series to find them. Enjoyed reading it.