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finitha's review against another edition
3.0
It's been a while since I had the taste of this unique adrenaline rush (attributed solely to mystery stories), so when BlogAdda offered a Sanghi & Patterson book there was no need to think twice. Ashwin Sanghi, the author of best selling books 'The Rozabal Line', 'Chanakya's Chant' and 'Krishna Key' needs no introduction, but sadly (thanks to the negative remarks of my friends who never got it to finish these) they never crossed my paths.
Patterson, on the other hand, is a different story. At least I know the romance section ('Sundays at Tiffany's' for sure); just don't forget to google him, you will be amazed at the list. Definitely a professional.
As for this particular book . . . The cover page, with its charming blue tinge, is amazing. And if you have any doubts on your reading speed, this is a confidence booster. Thanks to the reader friendly fonts, we will never know how we covered the 447 pages in one or two sittings.
Unfortunately the list of niceties ends there. A page turner I agree, but the habituated pleasure is derived from the predictable story line (oh, it's not easy to identify our culprit) which lacks the heart racing events that makes us rush back from the unavoidable breaks. A group of characters with psychologically traumatic lives is not something I would like to identify with and the part with Indian Mujahideen fails to stick with the current, though it gives some lime light to Jack Morgan. In this Nisha's role was a welcome relief, the pages I enjoyed with anxiety and pride.
Patterson, on the other hand, is a different story. At least I know the romance section ('Sundays at Tiffany's' for sure); just don't forget to google him, you will be amazed at the list. Definitely a professional.
As for this particular book . . . The cover page, with its charming blue tinge, is amazing. And if you have any doubts on your reading speed, this is a confidence booster. Thanks to the reader friendly fonts, we will never know how we covered the 447 pages in one or two sittings.
Unfortunately the list of niceties ends there. A page turner I agree, but the habituated pleasure is derived from the predictable story line (oh, it's not easy to identify our culprit) which lacks the heart racing events that makes us rush back from the unavoidable breaks. A group of characters with psychologically traumatic lives is not something I would like to identify with and the part with Indian Mujahideen fails to stick with the current, though it gives some lime light to Jack Morgan. In this Nisha's role was a welcome relief, the pages I enjoyed with anxiety and pride.
tamceltic's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
grazy's review against another edition
Dull, there are many other books I'd rather be reading than torture myself with this sub-par mess.
rakkuran_abyssrium's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book. If you have any doubt? Well don't.
Private India is such an amazing book, its fast-paced, helped me get out of a reading slump. I loved the setting, and the crime is so gripping, I couldn't stop reading. Literally. I could read this book over and over again, pull some all-nighters for this book.
Private India is such an amazing book, its fast-paced, helped me get out of a reading slump. I loved the setting, and the crime is so gripping, I couldn't stop reading. Literally. I could read this book over and over again, pull some all-nighters for this book.
lexlux's review against another edition
5.0
Riveting from the very first page. The pages seem to turn themselves!
nic_fish's review against another edition
3.0
Read it right after Private Down Under and there were some definite similarities like that Santosh & Craig were plagued by guilt after the death of their wife & child in a car accident. Both were still mourning and socially detached. There were former friends /colleagues who loved their wives and were now enemies.
Private India was a bit hard to follow at times because if the number of unfamiliar names introduced and the speed at which some of them were being killed off. Not the best Patterson book I have read!
Private India was a bit hard to follow at times because if the number of unfamiliar names introduced and the speed at which some of them were being killed off. Not the best Patterson book I have read!
baileybb's review against another edition
4.0
Only read this because it was the only thing available in the hostel in English / without the first 25 pages missing / other than the Costa Rican constitution but surprisingly really loved it. V quick read, short chapters, fast-paced, would read another.
beth_books_123's review against another edition
3.0
Private India- a disappointing addition to the ‘Private’ franchise (3*).
I think it is disappointing for a book when my favourite part is the teaser at the end for ‘Private Vegas’ which I am really looking forward to.
The problem with a series is often that you can’t help it but you end up comparing it to other books in the series. The problem with the ‘Private’ Series and I don’t know if it is because of the different ghost writers or it’s the different scenarios or the new characters but sometimes they don’t work as good. Now my favourite Private books are: ‘Private: #1 suspect’, ‘Private Berlin’ (is the best one!), ‘Private London’, ‘Private’ and ‘Private Games’. So that’s five out of eight that are the better quality of the series than the rest and that’s the main reason why I keep on reading the series. Personally, I think a character like Jack Morgan works well for the series and those are the ones that I am most excited about. I also think it is exciting when there is an original and thrilling plot that keeps you turning those pages. I quickly turned the pages in ‘Private India’ so I could get to the end to find out the murder was- there was no excitement, no heart racing moments or moments that made me cry.
Plot and characters
I enjoyed the addition of cultural and religious insights from ‘Private India’ with the ritualised murder but for the rest of it, the crime could have happened anywhere. I think what it is important in the ‘Private Offices’ section of the series is that the crime shows off the uniqueness of the area and why this book should be set there and not just in America where the agency originates.
I didn’t contact with the protagonist Santosh and I don’t know why. I didn’t feel empathy for the loss of his family and maybe it was because there wasn’t enough time spent on that loss. I don’t know why but to me he was just some alcoholic who was dependent on the booze. Not something I can relate to, to be dependent on booze.
Also the ideas of Rupesh and Muneen were unoriginal and they were quite stereotypical of the area.
I thought this was the same as the bombing attacks and incidents. For me, I have read many books that have portrayed the reality of bombing but in this book it was brushed over and was just added in there for a circumstance. Personally, I think to add bombing into a story, there needs to be a sensitive and appropriate way to approach this. This was really disappointing especially with the threat of bomb then that could have been a potential for a further story line. Instead it was over in a couple of pages and I don’t think that gives the act of bombing any credit.
Overall, I will continue to read the ‘Private’ series because I love Jack Morgan as the protagonist but for me this book did not fulfil my expectations. There was so much potential in situating ‘Private’ and unfortunately this book just left me wanting more.
I think it is disappointing for a book when my favourite part is the teaser at the end for ‘Private Vegas’ which I am really looking forward to.
The problem with a series is often that you can’t help it but you end up comparing it to other books in the series. The problem with the ‘Private’ Series and I don’t know if it is because of the different ghost writers or it’s the different scenarios or the new characters but sometimes they don’t work as good. Now my favourite Private books are: ‘Private: #1 suspect’, ‘Private Berlin’ (is the best one!), ‘Private London’, ‘Private’ and ‘Private Games’. So that’s five out of eight that are the better quality of the series than the rest and that’s the main reason why I keep on reading the series. Personally, I think a character like Jack Morgan works well for the series and those are the ones that I am most excited about. I also think it is exciting when there is an original and thrilling plot that keeps you turning those pages. I quickly turned the pages in ‘Private India’ so I could get to the end to find out the murder was- there was no excitement, no heart racing moments or moments that made me cry.
Plot and characters
I enjoyed the addition of cultural and religious insights from ‘Private India’ with the ritualised murder but for the rest of it, the crime could have happened anywhere. I think what it is important in the ‘Private Offices’ section of the series is that the crime shows off the uniqueness of the area and why this book should be set there and not just in America where the agency originates.
I didn’t contact with the protagonist Santosh and I don’t know why. I didn’t feel empathy for the loss of his family and maybe it was because there wasn’t enough time spent on that loss. I don’t know why but to me he was just some alcoholic who was dependent on the booze. Not something I can relate to, to be dependent on booze.
Also the ideas of Rupesh and Muneen were unoriginal and they were quite stereotypical of the area.
I thought this was the same as the bombing attacks and incidents. For me, I have read many books that have portrayed the reality of bombing but in this book it was brushed over and was just added in there for a circumstance. Personally, I think to add bombing into a story, there needs to be a sensitive and appropriate way to approach this. This was really disappointing especially with the threat of bomb then that could have been a potential for a further story line. Instead it was over in a couple of pages and I don’t think that gives the act of bombing any credit.
Overall, I will continue to read the ‘Private’ series because I love Jack Morgan as the protagonist but for me this book did not fulfil my expectations. There was so much potential in situating ‘Private’ and unfortunately this book just left me wanting more.