Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Martini, Steve. Critical Mass. London: Headline Publishers. ISBN 0 7472 60621


Martini dedicates the book to, among others, ‘ the people of Russian Republic who have managed against impossible odds, to keep the deadly genie in the bottle’.

And yet, the tale begins with the Russians losing two nuclear devices which are intended to be used by Dean Belden paid to plant the nuclear bombs in Washington.

Involved in this nuclear fiasco is a burned-out lawyer Joss Cole. Enters Gideon van Ry, a blue-eyed Dutchman and also a nuclear fission expert.

Joss and Gideon embark on the trail of the bombs to find them before critical mass is reached. Joss is almost killed on two occasions. In one of those, she is sent to the depths of the ocean along with her car from a freight boat.

I found the action riveting, the descriptions graphic and the climax, interesting. What sets it apart from the others is this : Gideon dies of radioaction received during the rescue mission. He dies, but humankind lives on.



Patterson, James. Cradle and All. London: Headline Book Publishers. 2000.ISBN. 0 7472 66980

The beginning is extraordinary, just like the uncommon events it describes…several incidents take place all at once in different parts of the world. There is famine in India, ebola virus and polio virus outbreaks in other parts, all sudden, all devastating.

Then there are two virgin pregnancies reported…one in Ireland and the other in Rhode Island. Two unlikely protoganists, Anne Fitzgerald, a private detective and Justin, a Catholic priest from Vatican follow the lives of the two virgin mothers…

So, are these signs of the birth of the God or the Devil? That is what they try to find.

You will not believe the climax….the unexpected denouement…you can only say, WHAT!...


Finder, Joseph. Company Man. New York: St.Matrins Press. 2005. ISBN 0 312 93876 4

This book somehow reminds me of ‘The General’s Daughter’ – there is a murder on the lawn of a highly respected CEO, presently maligned because of the layoffs his company has effected and the unravelling of it brings out a spider’s web of betrayals, suspicion, mistrust and moral responsibility. It is the army in TGD and a business organisation in this.

Nick Conover, CEO of a large corporation, weighed down by the layoffs recommended by his CFO and Board, finds himself stalked by someone who even disembowers his dog…one night, he kills the intruder, Andrew Stadler, a man whose bipolar disorder makes him a danger to Stapler’s family. Dissuaded by his CFO, he does not surrender to the police and carries the guilt every day.

Befriending Cassie Stadler, he finds himself empathising with her. The sympathy and empathy turn into something more intimate soon. Even his truant teenage son and young daughter respond to her.

However, he soon finds that there is a dark past to his victim's daughter...the cost he pays for this is very high.

Every page a compulsive turner...entertaining and interesting.