Nefertiti by Nick Drake

Basic plot

Rahotep, a young Medjay detective from Thebes is summoned to the new capital Akhetaten. In essence, it was a death sentence for if he failed to complete his assignment, he and his beautiful family would be killed. The Great Changes have plunged the whole of Egypt in turmoil as the old Gods were banished to make way for the Sun God. At the helm of this new religion was the most famous and beautiful woman of the ancient world, Nefertiti, and her husband Akhenaten. However, Nefertiti vanishes just days before the biggest celebration of the new capital is about to take place. Rahotep has only ten days to find her or be sent on a one way trip to the Otherworld.

My full review here.

Rating: 4/5

The Mission Song by John Le Carre

 

 

Basic plot 

Bruno Salvador is a zebra. Born from an errant white missionary and a black tribe chieftain's daughter, his very existence is miraculous. Working in London as a world-class interpreter with a flair for the numerous African languages and married to a high-born, successful journalist, he has almost shed his stripes. An unexpected call for an assignment for the British government soon finds him re-considering his life and loyalties. Thrown into the world of espionage, mystery, adultery and clandestine operations, he soon finds out whether zebras have the stripes to save Africa.

 

Rating: 3.5/5

 

My full review here.

The Magicians by Lev Grossman || Review by Dr Yati

After recieving an e-mail from my friend Dr Yati, I realized that in setting up my virtual library (of real books), I had left one out. Last week I lent her this book because she asked me to choose a book I liked but was slightly different. When she gave me her review and mentioned she could not find mine, I also started searching for it only to find that.. I can't find it anywhere. So here is Dr Yati's review of the book. 

lev grossman has written a typical current fantasy story of a coexisting world of magicians in which brakebills is the ivy league equivalent. BUT he inserted within an edgier and punky-gothic adult theme. oh. but wat pains me is its thin-veiled reference to the chronicles of narnia. fillory is essentially narnia,  from the adventres of the chatwins. water as the medium of transfer to the next world. the netherlands sounds like the wood between the worlds in Narnia. i feel like lev grossman has tainted my childhood fantasy story, beautiful narnia becomes 'inky dark'. the protagonists dabbled with wine and free sex, no exploring of sunshine lit forests.... no innocence in this story. it is a harry potter for adults.

 

but then again as the dean puts it quite reasonably: “Can a man who can cast a spell ever really grow up?”  

I enjoyed the book too. Rating: 4/5

Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger

 

Basic Plot 

Juliana and Valentina Poole are mirror twins who have lived their whole lives in USA together, doing basically nothing. With no real plans for the future, their lives were suddenly changed forever when an aunt they never knew existed leaves them an apartment in London after her death. For want of anything better to do the girls travel half-way across the globe to settle in their apartment which overlooks the Highgate Cemetery in London. With an agrophobic obsessive-compulsive recluse and the heart-broken lover of their aunt for neighbours, things only get stranger when they realize that the apartment was not all that was left of their aunt.

Rating: 3.5/5

My full review here.

I, Alex Cross by James Patterson

 

Basic Plot

After the shocking news of his estranged niece's horrific murder, on his birthday no less, Detective Alex Cross vows to find her killer. The investigation leads him into the elite party scene, where every fantasy is possible as long as you're important enough to make the guest list. Can money and power buy everything? Even the life of another human being? When the shadow of suspicion falls over the highest of places, unmasking a murderer may lead to unimaginable consequences.

 

My full review here.

Rating: 3/5

The Six Suspects by Vikas Swarup

Basic Plot

A powerful man has been murdered and 6 people with motive and means (namely a gun) are detained as a suspect. Despicable as the dead man was alive, his death demands answers. Whom amongst the six pulled the trigger? Was it the corrupt beaurocrat possesed by the ghost of Mahatma Ghandi? A simple American tourist who travelled half-way across the world to meet his Indian bride? A tribesman on a perilous quest to retrieve what was stolen from his tribe? The hottest Bollywood artist desperate to protect a dirty secret? A slumdog thief with a vendetta? Or the politician aspiring to the greatest heights at any costs?

My review here. 

Rating: 4.5/5

This review is part of Cym Lowell's Wednesday Book Review Party:

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larson

Basic plot

Mikael Blomkovist, a financial journalist convicted of libel finds himself roped into solving the mystery of Harriet Vanger, a member of one of Sweden's wealthiest families, disappearence. The fourty year old clues have gone ice cold but with the help of a young pierced and tattooed hacker/PI, Lisbeth Sander, they uncover more than they bargain for. True evil.

My review here.

Rating: 3.5/5

False Impression by Jeffrey Archer

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

The Charlemange Pursuit by Steve Berry

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon