Predators and Prey By Abhinav Agarwal | Book Review

We love exploring books from various genres. And, well-paced thrillers have a special place in our hearts! Well, when they are embedded with Sci-Fi elements or when they get technically advanced, we love them even more.

Recently, we came across an interesting thriller written by Abhinav Agarwal, named Predators and Prey. The reading experience was amazing, so we’ve decided to share our review with you all.

Book Cover:

We strongly believe that “a book should not be judged by its cover”.

At the same time, we acknowledge the influence of the book cover in a remarkable number of purchase and/or read decisions.

The reason is pretty simple.

When we have a large number of books displayed on the shelves (digital or physical), we would be attracted to the one which looks more appealing. Of course, then we may check its review rating / blurb and other stuff, before making a decision to buy or borrow it. But, if the book fails to attract us, the chances of happening all these are pretty low.

Munisha Nanda, the cover designer has decided to use soft tones of dark colors for the cover. And, it works pretty much in favor of the book.

Storyline:

Let us take a bird’s eye view of the book plot.

An Indian origin software engineer – Venkat – working in the secret service of USA found some evidences that conclude a security threat of optimum level to many counties, including India (that is Bharat).

But, how can he warn the Indian authorities?

Without proof, no one is going to believe him, and bringing proof out of one of the most secure places in the world is almost impossible!

He, however, uses a prototype technology to smugle the proofs out with him and reach his homeland!

So, all good?

Well, of course not.

The data breach and missing software engineer wreak havoc in the secret agencies of the USA.

The authorities have put optimum resources at work using the latest and greatest technology to stop the threat. Switching on the mobile phone or passing in front of a security camera or using his bank account by him, is enough for them to track and neutralize Venkat.

Venkat approached a lady reporter, whom he think he can trust, and asked her to meet him.

Deva – Lt Col Devavrata Jatashankar Singh – is someone who can do unthinkable. Being the most trusted man of the NSA of India – Jaswant Singh Rathore – he was assigned the task that will connect him with Venkat and the lady reporter.

There are moles in India also, and they are at a very powerful position. They, for their self interest are hunting for Venkat and his secret.

It seems almost impossible for Deva, Venkat, the lady reporter and those who help them, to even survive.

As you can see, the cover page of Predators and Prey is quite attractive.

Will they be able to survive? Will India be able to overcome the awaited catastrophe?

Well, you need to read this thriller to get your answers. And, over the course, you will meet with: Venkat, Ms Riya Kaul, Deva (Lt Col Devavrata Jatashankar Singh, aka ‘Shaitan’, ex- Special Forces from 31 Rashtriya Rifles), Jaswant Singh Rathore (aka hathoda – hammer), Neeraj Kumar Mishra(head of NRMF – New Raisina Media Foundation), Wasim, Aabha, Brigadier Dheeraj Saxena, Vanja, Supradeep, Hemanga Kumar Raghuvanshi (SSP),Brigadier Kamal, Tyagi, Brigadier S.K. Ponappa, Major Rahul Kaul, Praveen Bhatia, Mukesh, Afroze, Saravannan T., Sonali Tyagi, Ambhi Kumar, Nitin Khandelwal, Chunnilal, Aruna Nair (Founder and CEO of Quantum Leap), Akhtar Rana, General Marcus Alexander Ambinder (Director of the National Security Agency), James R. Flaherty (Director of the Signals Intelligence Directorate) and others.

Storyline:

It is a nicely written gripping thriller. The large part of the story is setup in India, but it is an international thriller. And, it terms of quality also, it stands tall in front any international bestseller in the same genre.

If you like thrillers by Dan Brown, James Patterson, Jeffrey Archer and others, you will find this book interesting.

The author develops each characters with proper care. They grow steadily and eventually becomes what the author wanted them to be. Usually, jingoism and too much heroic stuff take over in such tales, and sometimes the thing gets a little unrealistic. In this book, the author took care of that. Even the NSA or his best confidante get low moments. That makes the characters humane and not weak. The author understands it quite well.
Here are some lines form the book in the same regards.

Neeraj had managed to stay one step ahead of him. JSR shook his head, annoyed with himself. He had dithered and delayed, indecisive.

Lutyens and its bungalows had made him soft.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
… he was like a boxer sent to the ring with both hands tied behind his back.

The book has well described scenes. While the author keeps using a simple language throughout the book, he also shows some interesting wordplays where needed. Eg:

Naked, low-wattage bulbs hung from fraying, sheathed wires in some places, while tube lights in some other hung lifelessly. Bulbs struggled vainly to illuminate the ground with their feeble, yellow light.

The author knows the art of conveying the message with a few words. Eg:

It would be a short flight in what had been a long night.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Lies people have no problems embracing. It is the truth that they fear.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Instinct trumped intellect.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
No first offer was ever accepted – the first rule of negotiations.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
…assumptions were the mother of screw-ups.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Those with money need power to retain their money.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
“How is he involved in all this?” “Deeply. Like a pig in mud.”

The book also embeds some tactics/life lessons we can learn from and use in our day to life. Eg:

… a good bluff always required a confident display of confidence and bravado, …
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
It is a question of ‘when’, not ‘if’.”
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
“I believe he is genuine.” Riya answered.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
“Belief is good enough in a temple, Riya, but in a news-room we go by facts,” Neeraj pressed on.

“If you believe he would know, then why tell him, sir?”“The Kumble model, Wasim. First a gentle off-break, and then the flipper.”

In order to show the abilities of a character, the author uses right words. Eg:

Words were his daal-roti, histrionics the aachaar.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Most people called him “Sir” to his face. A few unfortunate ones had learned the hard way what his nickname — hathoda (hammer) — meant. The nation knew JSR as India’s National Security Advisor,
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
It was a pro-forma exercise given it was JSR, but security protocol had to be seen to be followed diligently given the visitor was JSR.

The relationship between the NSA and Deva is elaborated at many places in the book.

The trust had been built through an impeccable record of quiet competence.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
JSR had a way of landing Deva in impossible situations.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
This is too difficult, sir. You can get difficult in Chandni Chowk with a plate of jalebis, Deva. Do I look like a halwai to you? What I have given you is impossible, Deva.

Yeah, and I am Agent Hunt.

Deva’s thought process is elaborated as:

Confusion was a luxury only civilians could afford, and lethargy was an elixir granted only to bureaucrats. Deva was neither.
He was a soldier, and to him, confusion meant indecision, indecision delay, and delay death.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
“I thought you could go without food for ten hours,” Venkat said. “I can. That doesn’t mean I should. A soldier should eat when he can, where he can, because he doesn’t know when and where the next meal may come. Add gur – jaggery – to these grams and a soldier can march on it from Ludhiana to Lahore.”
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
“Do you think anyone suspects we are here?” Venkat asked. “Maybe. Human eyes are finite. Digital eyes and ears are not. A sound, a face, a picture, is all they need.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Dr Ameen lives alone. Which means, three people landing at his house will be noticed and remembered by at least some people.”
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
“My blood is too precious to boil at the impotence of our leaders. I pick the battles worth fighting for, and where I know I can win, Deva. And so should you.”

The author also mentions, how the use (or say overuse) of mobile has impacted our lives.

“People also have this habit of fishing out their smartphones and snapping photos for no other reason than they can,” Deva muttered.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Every new smartphone advertised a battery big enough to power a city for an entire day and yet couldn’t provide even a full day’s charge.

The Bharatiya culture is evidently visible in the lifestyle of the characters.

He had silently chanted the Shanti mantra from the Mundaka Upanishada.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
The sun had appeared over the horizon, and Surya deva – the Sun god — locked eyes with Deva as they drove east.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
It is a thousand-headed Kaalia serpent, with no Krishna in sight.

The author takes a dig where many readers feel it right!

What data has this Venkat (he pronounced it ‘When-cat’) stolen?”

And with the same ease he wrote,

No one grieves forever. But grief lives forever; it never dies.

And, here is an interesting way to mention that someone is dead!

The room’s air-conditioning was set to a chilly 68 degrees Fahrenheit, but Jim’s body did not know the room was cold.

And, here is the truth of politics.

“Diplomatic promises are like words written on the sands of the shore and washed away when the tide changes.

Telling more will include spoilers, so, let us rest here.

These quotes must have given you a fair idea about the quality of writing you find in the book, and, you yourself can decide whether you would love reading such stuff.

Summary:

Overall, a complete masala thriller with Sci-Fi angle and contemporariness. If you love reading thrillers, this one is definitely a good choice. A book that can stand tall against any international bestseller in the same genre.

ThinkerViews Rating:

Around 8 stars out of 10

Quick Purchase Links:

• Buy - Predators and Prey by Abhinav Agarwal - Paperback - Amazon IN
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• Buy - Predators and Prey by Abhinav Agarwal - Paperback - Amazon US
• Buy - Predators and Prey by Abhinav Agarwal - Kindle EBook - Amazon US

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