The Templar’s Quest by C. M. Palov

As I started to read I realised this was the first book in the series written by this author. The main character Caedmon Asquith is being introduced in this book. The story begins in America where a former black ops soldier, Finn is now working a desk job. He gets visited by CID officers who are making inquiries about the murders of his old team mates who were tortured and killed. The weapon found was his combat knife. While being interviewed in his office he gets a text message telling him to go to the French Embassy party and await a meeting which could clear him off the potential murder charge. He has no choice but to evade the officers and rush out to keep this appointment. He wants to find out and avenge the murder of his friends and teams mates.

Since he cannot take his car he gets into a car which stopped to drop someone. This is a young lady, Kate, he has seen around the department and feels he should be able to get a lift. In fact he invites her to go with him to the French Embassy party in return for the lift. The man he meets there tells him he wants the artefact that Finn took from Afghanistan on his last black ops mission. In return they would provide him with the proof that he was innocent of the murders and be handsomely paid for the artefact. What is the artefact and why is it so important? Who are the people behind this Frenchman willing to go to such lengths to get their hands on this particular artefact? But before Finn can get any useful information, except that the Dark Angel killed his friends, out of the Frenchman, he commits suicide. At the same time, Kate who had followed him walks in and thinks Finn has something to do with the death.

They run from the embassy and Kate insists she is going home and keep out of whatever is going on with Finn. But it seems that someone is bent on silencing her and uses this threat to get the artefact from Finn. The information they get from pinching the Frenchman’s laptop send them surreptitiously racing to France. The artefact has some symbols on it and Kate suggests that they go see an old friend Caedmon Asquith for a translation. It seems this artefact is an important map to unearth a grail stone from the Knights Templars’ treasure. It is hold the key to the lost science of the ancient Egyptians. There is a lot of historical information regarding the Knights Templars and their fascination with the Egyptian science. It can get very intense and trifle dry reading this history. It is very tempting to skim through it rather than concentrate on the details; however, the detail is necessary to understand the importance of the artefact and what the so called treasure is about. The people after it are attempting to harness the powers of the lost science to change the world as we know it. Yes, it did seem fanciful but not entirely impossible when the final details of what they intend to do are revealed.

The assassin is now after all three and to this end kidnap Kate. Finn is very disheartened and offers to give the artefact in return for Kate…but now it appears they are not willing to negotiate. How are the two men going to save Kate? How are they going to stop the potential from happening? Will Caedmon manage to keep it together without the regular gin and tonics that he has been consuming? They do not have any weapons to help them. The team of Caedmon and Finn appears to be a good one as Finn’s strength is his skills of fighting and Caedmon’s strength is knowledge. Some may consider the plot to be very farfetched but the story moves well and the action is more or less constant. A thought comes to mind that how come in movies and books the main character manages the feat, be it finding an artefact hidden for centuries or a murderer from a cold case, with such ease? It was an enjoyable read and I am eager to read the third book of the series. I will see if I can find any more books by this author.

Force 10 from Navarone by Alistair MacLean

This is the sequel to Guns of Navarone and also been made into a movie. As usual I must say that the book is so much more exciting to read. It is still set in the time of the World War 2 but in the region of former Yugoslavia. Just as Mallory, Miller and Andrea finish the mission to blow up the guns of Navarone and are on the ship for the return journey they get a message from their boss saying they are urgently needed. This means returning to the island of Navarone to pick up Andrea who they had left behind.

They are to be parachuted into Yugoslavia on the side of the Partisans who were fighting for liberation from the Germans. The politics of the place as well as its geography always leave me feeling lost for some reason but the idea is that Mallory, Miller and Andrea along with 3 commandos are to go and rescue the 4 people sent in earlier and to find out where the leak was as the Germans got hold of the information of their arrival and captured them as they landed. Along with that they had to convince the Germans that the Partisans were expecting an attack from a certain place. Mallory however has been briefed separately and so it leaves one wondering what the real agenda is?

They land and are immediately picked up by a group of soldiers and after going some way they find that it is the Germans who have captured them. Mallory and his group immediately pretend that they were happy as they were runaways from Italy. They would help the Germans in getting the information they want from the Partisans. The young commandos are not entirely happy as they have not been given any information and keep questioning their orders. They trek through the snow and mountainous terrain to reach the partisans and return with the information. Their guides are a blind man and his sister who move about without any fear as people are generally fearful of this blind singing minstrel.

They have found out where the men they have come to rescue are being held and capture the German commander and his next in command to help them reach the prisoners. So how will they escape from the country? The story seems to be coming to an end and you are still midway through the novel. It is then you find out what exactly is the mission. Will the impossible task ever be achieved? But then if anyone can achieve the impossible it is this team. I think the phrase ‘mission impossible’ actually applies to the Guns of Navarone and Force 10 from Navarone. How will they cope with the enemy chasing behind them and need for speed as well as highly difficult task in the dead of night and occasional bright moonlight which is not really helpful? Will they be able to save the boxed Partisans from the German tank and artillery divisions’ assault?

This is a wonderful story and as per usual the writing of Alistair MacLean is superb. The story grips you and does not give you a chance to breathe. It rushes headlong but has lighter moments with the usual dry humour to stop it being too intense. The wonderful description allows you to ‘see’ the places in your mind’s eye clearly. The central characters are heroes of this war and they are modest just doing their job which just elevates them into a league of their own. I would thoroughly recommend this book to anyone who loves to read thrillers and mysteries.

Murder in the Raw by C S Challinor

This is the second book in the series of Rex Graves Mysteries. Since I was impressed by the first book I was eager to read the second one. This time the setting is in a Caribbean island. Rex has been asked to go over by a couple who had bought that hotel where the first book was set. They want him to solve the mystery of the disappearance of a young woman they knew.

There were a few people staying at this resort of the rich and this lady was an actress and wife of a wealthy older man who was also managing her career. There was no trace of her and the police were not doing much except for just initial inquiries. There is a good thread of humour as Rex finds out that this is a naturist resort only when he is in flight. The vision of his musing of what it would be to try remembering the French grammar while in the buff were certainly amusing. It a small island and easy to travel around in borrowed jeep or resort vehicles. He spent a fair amount of time in the day gathering information from all the guests and also doing some sightseeing. The only evidence found was a gold anklet and a torn piece of white wrap with a little blood on it. Most of the people think she has been drowned or eaten by sharks or abducted.  However, there has been no word for ransom if she has been kidnapped.

There was also the mobile phone of the husband found on the beach where the anklet and the scrap of cloth were found. The hotel manager has been hiding something which eventually he shows to Rex – a photograph from that mobile phone showing one of the guests. What was that person doing on the beach at that time of the night? He also sets up a meeting with the owner of the resort and finds he does not like the man at all. He says he was at his club on the day the lady disappeared and so while flowing that alibi up Rex find that the reputation of the owner is not totally pristine.

He gets a friend to dig up more information about this owner and look into his links to a series of murders in Amsterdam. One family had a good alibi and another couple who had been out the whole day and spent the evening in their cabin, while others all identify they were at the birthday bash of one of the guests. One of the guests used to be seen going riding with the lady in question and there was some talk that they might be having an affair although he denies it. He is helpful to Rex by lending his jeep or picking him up from another island when he needs to get back in a hurry.  The husband has no alibi and no explanation as to how his mobile was on the beach. The others while having opportunity appeared to have no motive. If the body was not found then there was no crime.

So where was the young lady? Did her husband kill her in a jealous rage? Did that owner actually manage to kill this young lady even though he had an alibi? Who was killing young ladies in a similar fashion to those murders in Europe? Amidst all this investigation Rex is worrying about what has happened to his girlfriend who was out in Iraq. How was he going to handle meeting up with Helen who he had shared some chemistry with in the last investigation? The romance will blossom or not?

Another easy read and enjoyable as it is a good mix of humour, mystery and romance. It is not a heavy tomb and so the story moves on but still gives the impression of being leisurely progress. There are a couple of totally unexpected turns in the plot which add to the interest and the element of mystery.

Christmas is Murder by C S Challinor

C S Challinor is another new author for me. I liked the synopsis and decided to read the book. A murder mystery by a new author sounded just right when I was getting a little bored. I had a quick look on the internet and found that this is the first book by this author in her series called Rex Graves Mysteries.

The central character is of course Rex Graves who is a QC in Scotland. He is invited to spend Christmas at a hotel owned by his mother’s friend. This is a small hotel and the people staying her during the Christmas holiday are few. In the first chapter one of the guest, an old gentleman, dies and authorities cannot come as the snow is coming down fast and this is a remote place. However, there is nothing suspicious at the time and so while the rest of the guests are sad they are more concerned about being snowed in. Rex arrives after walking 2 miles from the station in the snow. One of the guests takes him aside after being introduced and informs him that the death of the old man was suspicious as there was frothing around his mouth.

This information and after talking to the owner Rex feels he has to investigate as the police will not be able to reach the hotel yet. The next day there is yet another death, this time seemingly by accident. What can this mean? Is there a killer loose and if so who is it from among them? Will there be more people dying? What is the connection between the people who have died? Why would anyone want to kill these people? The snow does not stop Rex from skiing over to the village and visiting the police station and the pub. Does this mean someone from outside could have come and committed the murder? But how can that be possible as no stranger was seen in the vicinity. Also will anything come of this instant attraction between Rex and a fellow guest?

The momentum of the story is well maintained and the time span covered by the story is of around 4 days. Mighty fine sleuthing by Rex to solve the mystery in such a short time. It has the shades of Agatha Christie and the author is well aware of this as the characters in the story refer to their situation as akin to that in ‘And then There Were None’. There is also an oblique reference to Murder on the Orient Express. However, the writing style is easy to read and not too similar to that of Agatha Christie. I would say that Agatha Christie is more of an inspiration for the author. I certainly will read the rest of her books and put up reviews as well. Enjoy reading this author with mysteries set in  modern times.

Overheard

It is always funny when you over hear snippets of conversations between people who are strangers to you. Some make you smile as you catch their drift while others leave you wondering what that was all about where as some just make you double up. I overhead some such strange conversations and decided that maybe someone else will find them funny if not at least amusing.

I was waiting at the outpatients department and this one is particularly a large one. The doctors were running late and the people waiting were beyond that initial restlessness. Some were flicking through the heap of old magazines that is always found at the waiting rooms of various health establishments doing its contractual work of passing on germs. There were a couple of young women sitting in the row behind me and this is what they were talking about…..

Lady in jeans – you mean sling backs?

Lady with short hair - It's the ones without backs that have the elastic band or strip of shoe with a buckle at the back of the foot holding them on

This was not very interesting and so I tuned out from that conversation and tuned into the other two ladies in front of me. Both were young and I wondered what was wrong since I was at a rheumatology clinic. One was wearing baggy trousers and a tank top while the other was in a skirt and a red jumper.

Skirt (giggling): ‘I am using a disability placard as leverage to continue working.’

Trousers (with a tongue in cheek manner):  ‘Well you can... I am just happy being a lazy cow..’

Skirt explaining: ‘No before when I was teaching. It was at top of this stupid hill. And there was never parking. I told the doctor to sign this form or I'll quit my job. I can't walk up that hill and be awake to teach the class. So she signed a permanent one.’  She laughed as she finished speaking.

Trousers laughingly agreed: ‘Yes that’s good. I used that to get myself a permanent desk.. as part timers were supposed to hot desk and I said I canna carry my laptop home every day and back…’

Skirt: ‘There ya go!’

Trousers: hahahaha…. See we have so many positives to use.. and we should make up a guide for it.’

Skirt: ‘Oh yeah. I have to come up with more though. Those are the only ones I got right now.’

Sadly I shall never find out the end of that conversation and more tips to make disability work for you as I got called to see the doctor.

Then on the way back home in the bus … another good place to overhear interesting conversations… there was this boy and girl sitting behind me. I could hear them and assumed they were friends and on their way to some party.

Boy: ‘You wouldn't happen to know how to get wax out of a tshirt?’

Girl: ‘Put it on the fire..?’ and giggled

Girl: ‘What kinda wax?’

Boy: ‘It was a Yankee candle wax tart for Warmers’

Girl: ‘should come out if you put it in the freezer then.’

Boy: ‘The warmer had been on for 2 hours and I realized it still looked solid. So I pulled it down to touch it and my fingers weren't holding it as tight as I thought and the bottom melted but top didn’t so it burst through the top down the front of my brand new shirt.’ He did sound cross.

Boy: ‘I had it under hot water to melt it off, then a toothbrush to make sure the wax was off but apparently there was also some oil. I am gonna try to buy a new one tomorrow.’

Girl: ‘Awww put it in the freezer.. and it should be ok.. my gran’s advice.. but just in case it does not work.. I take myself off the blame list.’

Boy: ‘Nice. We always blame whoever isn't here to defend themselves.’

Girl: ‘Oh for oil you have to use something like vanish..’

Boy: ‘I did colour safe bleach soaked it, toothbrushes that then washed it again. I've washed it 3 times. Dried only 1 time when I didn't see anything. But there is still a stain.’

Girl: ‘Well then you will just have to admit to people you have been a mucky pup.. when u wear it.’

Boy: ‘I tried ice the very first thing I did. But the wax had gone thru the shirt and later I found wax on my skin. So the ice help the part that didn’t go all the way through.’

Girl: ‘oh well google it.. answers to everything is supposed to be there na?’

Boy: ‘Yeah. I was just wondering. Needless to say I yelled at the object and it just sat there looking dumb.’ With a chuckle

Girl: ‘Now would it not have been more shocking if it had answered you back.. you are the clumsy one and yelling at me?’

Boy laughed: ‘Oh I would've gone to the ER and asked for Valium if that'd happened.’

Girl: ‘Only valium? I would want to be on anti-hallucinogenic too!’

Boy: ‘Well they would decide once I told them "I hear voices from objects". I am sure Valium would be the tip of the iceberg!’

Girl: ‘Yep the men in white coats would come marching in pretty rapidly put you in a strait jacket and cart you away on a trolley... you know the one which is used to move boxes.’

Both laughed and I had to stop myself from joining them.

Girl: ‘Oh yea the jacket has to match the shoes or else...

Boy: “Well white goes with everything.’

Girl: ‘Aha I see you are using blocks of colour.. white with red I presume?’

Boy: ‘After all fashion has to be upheld not matter what gaga land you are in.’

Girl: ‘hahaha oh white with black and nude shoes or green or grey?’

Boy: ‘No no I like red.. bit of a statement. Like I might be nutty but I know my fashion.. kinda statement.’

Hahahahahha both laughed.

Girl: ‘Heck yes. I may be nutty but I can walk in heels! Also a statement.’

Boy: ‘Now we are assuming that you would be wearing something more than a d jacket.. cos after all you arenot gonna go to ER in just your shoes...’

Girl: ‘True. I would even go to the ER in heels in all honesty. But red shoes require silver or light grey pants’

Boy: ‘Nah light would get dirty in ER.. go with your black and white theme.. go for black pants and a skimpy sequined black top…. then the white jacket would be perfect and so would the red shoes…..so now we have a uniform to go to ER in..’

Girl: ‘Oh nice. That would be nice. I just bought a cream and gold tank top to go with a dark pair of jeans and the black and nude shoes. It's perfect!!!

Boy: ‘After all we visit it often.. and so no need to go as slovenly whingers..’

Sadly I had to leave this amusing couple to get off at my stop but it did leave me wondering as to whether the young man managed to get the wax off his t-shirt or not?

A fee days ago I went to have a look at the department store in the local shopping mall and was browsing through the clothes hoping to pick up some nice tops in the sales. There were nice ones that I liked and so went to try them on and yes you have guessed it the conversations in the fitting rooms are equally entertaining. I got so carried away that I nearly forgot to try my tops.

Girl 1: it seems there r sales all year round and there is no actual discount in any store anyways

Girl 2: Ok weird question. Would you consider wearing jeans to church if you were leading the singing portion?

Girl 1: Of course why not? you are fully covered.. not as if you gonna go in revealing stuff. Just get a decent top and not t shirt to go with it.. should be fine

Girl 2: I was gonna wear the new tank top with a sweat over it, the jeans, and the black on nude shoes. They keep saying I dress up too much

Girl 1: That should do.. trial run at the church is a good idea.. hehehe

Girl 2 Lol. It just feels weird and just wrong. Always a good trial run….. Church is much more judgmental than anywhere else.

Girl 1: Well jeans r like any other trousers now a days...

Girl 2: I know. I kinda hate that though….

Girl 1: Why?

Girl 2: I never wear jeans often ever. I wore a pair of jeans in 2008…. that was the last time. I like my business pants, skirts, khakis, jeans. Not my fav and it seems wrong for church

Girl 1: Heheheheh I like jeans there was a time I lived in them.. but when I put on a lot of weight I did not buy any.. too embarrassing.. in fact getting clothes was bad. I have some Indian gear which I used to bring out in summer while in winter I used to buy those cotton or denim legging kind.. T shirts and large jumpers or fleece..

Girl 2: See I've got the chunky going on but I am also oddly shaped. No hips or butt, skinny legs, but a gut! So I tried on a pair and I could've used the hips to fly somewhere

Both burst out laughing.

Girl 1: I know what you mean I find that the other way round get something big enough for the hips and butt and you can fit another person at the waist

Girl 2: I tried on the skinny jeans and I had two extra folds in the butt and legs even though I have a fat tummy…

Again they giggled and I was like sitting on the small bench in there and trying not to laugh loudly.

Girl 1: heheheh so you must then look like a lollipop..

Girl 2: Yeah. I have a fat tummy and below the hips looks like it belongs to a different person! I kind do look like a lollipop!!

Girl 1: so there is someone out there with a small upper body and fat lower one.. ahahahahah

Girl 2: Oh yes. There is.

Girl 1: I donna discriminate in my body parts... fat is distributed equally

Girl 2: And I'd like the top half back!!! hahahahaa

Girl 1: Well u gotta to go hunting? Give an ad in the papers?

Girl 2: Lol something

Girl 1: How about a vid on youtube.. cos strange things go viral on it …..   instant celeb.. then one would have to stand in a queue to speak to ya

Girl 2:  I don't know if that's what I want to be a celeb for. A skinny bottom half!!

Girl 1: Well that’s the fastest way.. am sure there is someone out there who wants just like you to be reunited with half their fat self

Girl 2: Lol. True

Girl 1: ……might be hankering.. sitting in a burger joint and stuffing themselves in order to get the balance right

Girl 2: as I starve myself for balance

Girl 1: that’s it…. you can appeal to the sense of balance in people. You sing well so maybe a catchy tune and a jog like the Gangham style

Girl 2: With my luck the skinny top half would belong to a man!!!! LOL……No hips butt or boobs

Girl 1: hehe nothing to be sneezed at….. you can get a boob job..

Girl 2 starts laughing.

Girl 1: a 36 c... big but not too big.. give a nice cleavage….. go well in the new tank top... see there you are built you a nice body.. and got you kitted out for church..

Girl 2: Lol!!! Oh dang. I'm all set up now!

At this point I burst out laughing and there was sudden silence in the fitting rooms. I quickly picked my things and crept out before the girls came out and saw who was eavesdropping.