The Year of the Locust by Terry Hayes

I was being punked by reading this book. It's more than just a spy thriller. My thoughts about this brilliantly written was the finest depictions of an epic journey. The book is narrated by a Denied Access Area spy under the codename Kane. He made numerous attempts to find the most dangerous terrorist, Roman Kazinsky. He was a military commander of a terrorist group called the Army of the Pure. He tracked him from Afghanistan to Russia until he ended up at Baikonur Cosmodrome. The mission was a bust and disaster. Kazinsky gone.

As a decent reader, this part gives one real-life insight into the world of espionage with all its twist. Ironically, after 500 pages miracle happened!

Cosmodrome had led the way into space and started to mine asteroids. Obviously the spore came from off-earth. All had collapsed and burnt out. Earth is in the middle of a war zone. In the same period, Kane had survived in a sunken submarine. To work in hybrid genres is an outrageous plan. But TH has made it. Yes, I love the outcome! 4.5 ⭐️

Thanks to @times.reads and @putrifariza for the review copy. My opinions are my own 💙

*Available at all major bookstores in Singapore and Malaysia and their online stores

Fearless by M. W. Craven

I was sceptical when he claimed that he had a rare recessive genetic disorder called Urbach-Wiethe disease. On rare occasions, the opposite happens making him immune to fear. Ben Koenig was a marshal. He was with the Special Operations Group of the government who hunted the bad guys. He'd survived an international contract for six years. His character is the perfect leading male. Pragmatic, dangerous and good at hand-to-hand combat.

But someone's gone to a great deal of trouble to find him. On doing a favour for a friend tracking down his missing daughter, he must stay low or the $5mil bounty on his head is still ongoing.

I've enjoyed this book so much. With Ben's witty humour, well-drawn characters, and suspenseful scenes, I think no one has ever done it quite like Fearless. The abduction is somehow linked to an illegal operation which completely cinematic thrill and no correct moral positions are needed. 4.5 ⭐️

Thanks to @definitelybooks #pansing for the review copy. Opinions are my own 💙

*Available at all major bookstores in Singapore and Malaysia and their online store

Argylle by Elly Conway

Argyle is a stunning debut spy thriller by Elly Conway. It is fast-paced and almost perfectly plotted. It brings readers into the colourful exploration of the undercover world of espionage and the world of betrayal.

Aubrey Argylle has been living in tropical backwater, Myanmar as a tour guide after the death of his parents. He accepted the CIA's offer and received intensive training as a secret agent. He is good at everything he does and is a consummate professional when it comes to fighting bad guys.

His first mission is to steal a priceless bracelet that belongs to Russian Presidential, Vasily Federor, a man who is known as the greatest threat to world stability. He travels around the world to stop the machinations of over-the-top villains. I do find the notion of period-set crime fiction captivating, especially during the rumour about the discovery of the Amber Room which inspired a series of treasure hunts. I love the idea of some shared universe between Bond and Jones embedded with today's world! 4.5 ⭐️

Thanks to @times.reads and @putrifariza for the review copy. My opinions are my own 💙 

*Available at all major bookstores in Singapore and Malaysia and their online stores 

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#donereading #Argylle by #EllyConway #igreads #igbooks #bookstagram #goodreads #emabaca #bookrecommendations #bookreview #malaysiamembaca 

The Final Curtain by Keigo Higashino

In this emotional and intertwined story, Detective Kaga and his cousin, Detective Mitsumiya once again worked together on an investigation of Michiko Oshitani who was found dead by strangled in an apartment. The tenant of the apartment was a man named Mutsua Koshikawa who had a previous identity as Sunichi Watabe. He had a long-term relationship with Kaga's mother. Several days before, there was a murder of a homeless man with the same method of killing before he was burned. They tried to establish a connection between the two crimes and look from different perspectives.

The perpetrator was a damaged character who chose to hurt people in retaliation yet so understandable.  While working on the hypothesis, Kaga was convinced that his mother's mysterious death sixteen years ago would put his mind at ease.

This is the fourth instalment of the Detective Saga series that can be read as standalone. For the most part, I finally get a picture of Kaga's private life. He has maintained the veracity of his past lives since childhood. He has had enough of life because he was just born that way, confronting his reticence. 5 ⭐️

Thanks to @definitelybooks #pansing for the review copy. My opinions are my own 💙

*Available at all major bookstores in Singapore and Malaysia and their online store

Brooklyn Crime Novel by Jonathan Lethem

Brooklyn is a borough of New York City. It is the home of iconic New York attractions like Coney Island, the Brooklyn Bridge and Prospect Park.

Brooklyn Crime Novel is a story about the dark side of Brooklyn that is synonymous with real-life crime. Petty theft, breaking and entering, drug use to name some of it. The narrative is well-presented ideas. Brief and funny in a way through small vignettes. After four decades, someone who used to live in the neighbourhood had written a novel about the time and place that they remember from their own coming-of-age.

It is a long read with a melancholy humour. Overall this was a fun, little slice-of-life story from a few quirky characters. Each vignette exists on its own, and there is no plot connecting them instead of creating a realistic depiction.

Thanks to @definitelybooks #pansing for the review copy. Opinions are my own 💙

*Available at all major bookstores in Singapore and Malaysia and their online store

The Apple in the Dark by Clarice Lispector

 

Martim had committed a crime. He believes he killed his wife and has been on the run since then. He takes refuge in Vila Baixa owned by a woman named Vitoria who lives with her cousin, Ermelinda.

His temporary stay seemed fascinating and established a relationship between them. Everything was a soft prolongation but he finally was free, quiet and stable. There was so little time left for him to cover and start in a new way though. Little by little Martim was caught on his feelings, perception, anxiety and act. He had been held prisoner within the structure of his past.

I enjoy reading about antiheroes because their brain is not confined by strict moral values. Even though the character is bad I get mixed with the passion and emotional turmoil of the story's flow.

Seeing how he justifies and explains even the most terrible actions is so 'different' to me. I always find that Martim's motivations are very complex and it’s impossible to predict.

At the end of the day, it’s hard to hate them (yes, three of them) when you have access to their most private thoughts and know all the events that led them to be the way they are. This novel is a modern classic that offers a slow-paced symbolism of realism and escapism and was originally published in 1961.

Thanks to @times.reads and @putrifariza for the review copy. Opinions are my own 💙 

*Available at all major bookstores in Singapore and Malaysia and their online stores 

The North Light by Hideo Yokoyama

I am a slow reader when it comes to a good story. It requires a lot of time and attention to gain a detailed understanding.

For someone who loves a thriller, the plot line of this book held my attention. The author's writing style is another reason for the high rating. I feel a connection between the characters. I expected something different with the ending - the combination of the whimsical but by the time I got to the end, my skeptical frown had long since given way to a grin of satisfaction. So I guess, this is my last book of 2023 that I proudly love and give 5 ⭐️ 😭😭 

Minoru Aose is an architect. A client has requested to build their new home. They requested the same design that featured The Best Design of the Year, the famous Y Residence. The owner of Y Residence is Touta Yoshino. The feeling of resistance to build a clone home overlapped with the disappearance of Yoshino's family without a trace. He believes his world and Yoshino's are intertwined. If someone were to able to solve the whole mystery, it's Aose. The whole point of the mystery is to learn more about atoning, Aose's childhood, a possible red herring and Bruno Taut, a German architect who took asylum in Japan in 1933. 

Thanks to @definitelybooks #pansing for the review copy. Opinions are my own 💙 

*Available at all major bookstores in Singapore and Malaysia and their online stores

I'm planning on reading other Hideo's work next year 🤞🤞

The Kamogawa Food Detectives by Hisashi Kashiwai

 

I adore the heartwarming story of Kamogawa Diner and Detective Agency. Mr Kamogawa and his daughter Koishi are such a dynamic duo, always going above and beyond to ensure their clients are satisfied. The way they recreate dishes to bring back memories is simply magical.

This story is a delightful reminder of the simple pleasures in life, and how they can bring us so much joy. Food is symbolic of love when words are inadequate. Nostalgia can be just as vital an ingredient that promotes a sense of self-identity, and belonging and reflects on difficult moments. The sentimental longing for the past can be a delightful feeling.

A brief fictional prose narrative. A gentle reminder, the author's style of writing is straightforward to read and follow. I've always imagined that the last chapter might leave my expectations in chaos but there's none. I did wonder why put Drowsy on the cover. So, yes, it is what it is.

Thanks to @definitelybooks #pansing for the review copy. Opinions are my own 💙 

*Available at all major bookstores in Singapore and Malaysia and their online stores

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#definitelybooks #donereading #TheKamogawaFoodDetectives by #HisashiKashiwai #igbooks #igreads #letsgetreading #emabaca #bookrecommendations #bookreview #malaysiamembaca