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Ranjit Singh #1
The Caretaker
Who is the caretaker hiding in the shadows of the Martha's Vineyard mansions he tends?
Back in India, Ranjit Singh commanded an elite army squad. But that was years ago, before his Army career ended in dishonor, shattering his reputation. Driven from his homeland, he is now a caretaker on the exclusive resort island of Martha's Vineyard, looking after the vacation homes of the rich and powerful. One harsh winter, faced with no other choice, he secretly moves his family into the house of one of his clients, an African-American Senator. Here, his wife and daughter are happy, and he feels safe for the first time in ages. But Ranjit's idyll is shattered when mysterious men break into the house. Pursued and hunted, Ranjit is forced to enter the Senator's shadowy world, and his only ally is Anna, the Senator's beautiful wife, who has secrets of her own. Together, they uncover a trail of deception that leads from the calm shores of the Vineyard to countries half a world away. And when his investigation stirs up long forgotten events, the caretaker must finally face the one careless decision that ruined his life- and forced him to leave India.
A gripping tale of hidden histories, political intrigue and dangerous attractions, A. X. Ahmad's The Caretaker introduces a new hero for our an immigrant caught between two worlds and a man caught between two loves.
Back in India, Ranjit Singh commanded an elite army squad. But that was years ago, before his Army career ended in dishonor, shattering his reputation. Driven from his homeland, he is now a caretaker on the exclusive resort island of Martha's Vineyard, looking after the vacation homes of the rich and powerful. One harsh winter, faced with no other choice, he secretly moves his family into the house of one of his clients, an African-American Senator. Here, his wife and daughter are happy, and he feels safe for the first time in ages. But Ranjit's idyll is shattered when mysterious men break into the house. Pursued and hunted, Ranjit is forced to enter the Senator's shadowy world, and his only ally is Anna, the Senator's beautiful wife, who has secrets of her own. Together, they uncover a trail of deception that leads from the calm shores of the Vineyard to countries half a world away. And when his investigation stirs up long forgotten events, the caretaker must finally face the one careless decision that ruined his life- and forced him to leave India.
A gripping tale of hidden histories, political intrigue and dangerous attractions, A. X. Ahmad's The Caretaker introduces a new hero for our an immigrant caught between two worlds and a man caught between two loves.
306 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 21, 2013
29 people are currently reading
1209 people want to read
About the author
A.X. Ahmad
6 books55 followersA.X. Ahmad is the author of the Ranjit Singh trilogy. The first book, THE CARETAKER, was published in May 2013. The second book in the series, LAST TAXI RIDE, will be published in June 2014.
A.X. Ahmad grew up in India, was educated at Vassar College and MIT, and worked for many years as an international architect before taking up writing full time.
As Amin Ahmad, his short stories and essays on immigrant life have been published in The Missouri Review, The Harvard Review, The New England Review, Narrative Magazine and The Good Men Project. He's been a finalist for Glimmertrain's Short Story Award, and been listed in Best American Essays.
He currently teaches at The Bethesda Writer’s Center and lives in Washington, D.C.
More about him at axahmad.com.
A.X. Ahmad grew up in India, was educated at Vassar College and MIT, and worked for many years as an international architect before taking up writing full time.
As Amin Ahmad, his short stories and essays on immigrant life have been published in The Missouri Review, The Harvard Review, The New England Review, Narrative Magazine and The Good Men Project. He's been a finalist for Glimmertrain's Short Story Award, and been listed in Best American Essays.
He currently teaches at The Bethesda Writer’s Center and lives in Washington, D.C.
More about him at axahmad.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 230 reviews
March 22, 2013
3.5 stars
Well written debut thriller with great locales (India, Boston, Martha's Vineyard), lots of action, sharply drawn characters.
The protagonist, Ranjit Singh, is appealing. He's a Sikh and former member of the Indian military. Discharged from service due to scandal, Ranjit emigrates to the United States where he barely makes a living doing odd jobs on Martha's Vineyard. He's thrilled to land several jobs as winter caretaker for some of the expensive homes on the island. At least until he and his family find themselves running for their lives from mysterious men who want to steal something from one of the homes under Ranjit's care.
For me, one of Ranjit's most endearing qualities is his sense of right and wrong. He stubbornly insists on behaving honorably, even if it's not convenient, or worse yet, downright dangerous.
Which leads to why I gave a three, not a four star rating. The relationship that develops between Ranjit and another character, Anna, did not ring true for me. I understood Anna's motivation, but not Ranjit's.
Recommended. I look forward to more books by this author.
Well written debut thriller with great locales (India, Boston, Martha's Vineyard), lots of action, sharply drawn characters.
The protagonist, Ranjit Singh, is appealing. He's a Sikh and former member of the Indian military. Discharged from service due to scandal, Ranjit emigrates to the United States where he barely makes a living doing odd jobs on Martha's Vineyard. He's thrilled to land several jobs as winter caretaker for some of the expensive homes on the island. At least until he and his family find themselves running for their lives from mysterious men who want to steal something from one of the homes under Ranjit's care.
For me, one of Ranjit's most endearing qualities is his sense of right and wrong. He stubbornly insists on behaving honorably, even if it's not convenient, or worse yet, downright dangerous.
Which leads to why I gave a three, not a four star rating. The relationship that develops between Ranjit and another character, Anna, did not ring true for me. I understood Anna's motivation, but not Ranjit's.
Recommended. I look forward to more books by this author.
July 29, 2016
Feels to me like a something conceived of by an undergraduate writing student, or maybe I'm no the right audience for breezy political thrillers.
The characters are flat, and the plot is silly and too full of convenient coincidences. The stakes are neither convincing nor compelling.
If I have to read about the supposed romantic interest's "muscular body" one more time...
I abandoned the book 50 pages from the end. Was tired of rolling my eyes on every single page.
The characters are flat, and the plot is silly and too full of convenient coincidences. The stakes are neither convincing nor compelling.
If I have to read about the supposed romantic interest's "muscular body" one more time...
I abandoned the book 50 pages from the end. Was tired of rolling my eyes on every single page.
June 23, 2013
This gracefully written yet ingeniously plotted tale effectively intertwines compelling human stories with political intrigue. Ahmad has created a new sharp memorable voice in fiction with Ramjet Singh, a disgraced Indian army captain hoping to rebuild his life in the United States, while attempting to do the right thing is challenged by family expectations, preconceived prejudices, and dubious double-crossing. In what seems like random twists of fate the taut action and twists highlights the often unknown deadly consequences of the six-degree of separation. What makes this novel soar is a likable complex flawed hero, whose moral integrity is essential to his being and his grounding belief in his Sikh faith, not often presented in American literature. While some questions get answered, it is often the not the outcome Singh would like – opening the door for the next book in this trilogy which I look forward to reading.
March 30, 2013
This is an amazing literary thriller. I love fast-paced thrillers with plot twists and suspenseful mysteries/questions that drive the novel, but I find that most of those types of books are light on character development, beautiful prose, etc. On the other hand, I find that most literary novels can be a bit too slow. A.X. Ahmad’s book is one of the few books I can think of that combines the best of both worlds. It’s a fast-paced, exciting, and fun page-turner (I read the whole thing from cover to cover, at one point holding the book with one hand and reading while stir-frying dinner with the other) AND it’s written beautifully, with gorgeous descriptions and insightful social commentary sprinkled throughout. I cannot wait for books #2 and #3 in the series!
My favorite part of the book has to be Ranjit, the protagonist. He’s a complex character, with many facets, some of which contradict each other. I love his relationship with his daughter, his love for her and her safety and happiness that drives him. His relationships with his wife and the other woman in his novel are probably the side of him I least like – I found myself frustrated with some of his choices in the love department. But I liked that he’s a flawed hero, and that I care about him enough to get pissed off at some of the stupid things he does with respect to his wife.
The flashback scenes to the Siachen Glacier give another layer of depth to this novel. They were really interesting in their own right (of course, it helps that I’ve been on an Everest kick lately in my choice of books), but I really loved how this whole thread comes together with the present-day (main) plot at the end. It served two purposes: to help us understand Ranjit’s history, what drives him, etc., and also to affect the resolution of the conflict Ranjit faces.
I love good old-fashioned plot twists, and there were several throughout the book. I liked the sub-plot involving the Senator’s family (I won’t spoil it here) and the main plot involving Senator’s political life – it’s nice how A.X. Ahmad managed to weave those parts together.
Finally, as an Asian-American immigrant myself, I loved the peek we got into what it’s like for Ranjit and his family as immigrants in both Boston and Martha’s Vineyard. A fascinating look at the ethnic conflicts (both overt and subtle), the struggles of trying to fit in, etc. I think it’s interesting that the author chose an African-American senator and his wife as two of the main characters here, giving us a layered dynamic with respect to race relations. Also nice that we got to see some of the race-based stereotypes that Ranjit and his family themselves hold.
All in all, an excellent thriller. Ranjit is a character I want to follow. I can’t wait for the next in the series!
My favorite part of the book has to be Ranjit, the protagonist. He’s a complex character, with many facets, some of which contradict each other. I love his relationship with his daughter, his love for her and her safety and happiness that drives him. His relationships with his wife and the other woman in his novel are probably the side of him I least like – I found myself frustrated with some of his choices in the love department. But I liked that he’s a flawed hero, and that I care about him enough to get pissed off at some of the stupid things he does with respect to his wife.
The flashback scenes to the Siachen Glacier give another layer of depth to this novel. They were really interesting in their own right (of course, it helps that I’ve been on an Everest kick lately in my choice of books), but I really loved how this whole thread comes together with the present-day (main) plot at the end. It served two purposes: to help us understand Ranjit’s history, what drives him, etc., and also to affect the resolution of the conflict Ranjit faces.
I love good old-fashioned plot twists, and there were several throughout the book. I liked the sub-plot involving the Senator’s family (I won’t spoil it here) and the main plot involving Senator’s political life – it’s nice how A.X. Ahmad managed to weave those parts together.
Finally, as an Asian-American immigrant myself, I loved the peek we got into what it’s like for Ranjit and his family as immigrants in both Boston and Martha’s Vineyard. A fascinating look at the ethnic conflicts (both overt and subtle), the struggles of trying to fit in, etc. I think it’s interesting that the author chose an African-American senator and his wife as two of the main characters here, giving us a layered dynamic with respect to race relations. Also nice that we got to see some of the race-based stereotypes that Ranjit and his family themselves hold.
All in all, an excellent thriller. Ranjit is a character I want to follow. I can’t wait for the next in the series!
September 28, 2013
Elegant, concise writing makes it hard to believe this is A.X. Ahmad's first novel. The Caretaker features Ranjit Singh, a disgraced ex-military officer from India, who's finally out of prison and is trying to start a new life in Boston with his depressed wife Preetam and sweet young daughter Shanti. Ranjit is frustrated working in the grocery store owned by his oppressive brother-in-law, so he leaps at the chance to work independently as a caretaker for a few estates on posh Martha's Vineyard. There, at the home of a mysterious senator with a beautiful, lonely wife, he becomes the target of some very bad people who believe he has something important belonging to the senator. The truth of the matter lies in political secrets between India and the US, a situation Ranjit is perfectly equipped to investigate...if only he can survive.
The characters of Ranjit, all of his extended family, and a handicapped veteran who helps him, are all extremely compassionate and well-drawn. The twists and turns and political machinations are just what you'd expect from a classic international thriller. The level of violence and sexuality are also fitting for the genre. I highly recommend this book for lovers of suspense and thrillers, as well as those interested in fresh information about modern India and the challenges of immigration.
The characters of Ranjit, all of his extended family, and a handicapped veteran who helps him, are all extremely compassionate and well-drawn. The twists and turns and political machinations are just what you'd expect from a classic international thriller. The level of violence and sexuality are also fitting for the genre. I highly recommend this book for lovers of suspense and thrillers, as well as those interested in fresh information about modern India and the challenges of immigration.
December 9, 2016
Well, to begin with, this was a giveaway from Goodreads and I wasn't expecting it to be as good as it is! This is not the first book I have read with the backdrop of the Indian army but unlike the others this one is an easy read for anyone who has not lived that life. When I started reading this book, I had this feeling that it is just going to be an action packed plotless novel. But I was highly mistaken! By the time I came midway through the book I realised I have never read anything of this sort and the plot is so damn original. Well, thumbs up to the author on this one. I thoroughly relished the book till the very last page though there were a few pitfalls here and there. The last fifty or so pages just blew my mind! I mean the way the plot turns and all the new discoveries seemed to make my heart beat beat faster. And finally, god only knows how my pace with the last fifty pages was double of that of the first fifty pages! I am surely damn impressed by the writing style. Hats off to the author! Though, I guess we'll have even more mind blowing and flabbergasting works of literature from the author, hence, the deduction of one star. As for this one, truly a good read!
December 8, 2014
Outlandish plot - felt like I was reading a screenplay for an overhyped action film instead of a novel. And the affair with the Senator's wife was disgusting. I'm not a prude reader, but their scenes made me want to vom. Two stars though for the breezy entertainment, no matter how unrealistic it was.
September 14, 2020
This political thriller and debut novel delivers a page-turning and heart wrenching tale of a Sikh man and his family who have immigrated to the USA and landed in the wealthy enclave of Martha's Vineyard.
I don't believe I have ever encountered a Sikh character in literature. Readers will be fascinated by Ranjit’s strong Sikh faith. Ranjit is a character who is both a familiar man simply trying to do right by his wife and daughter, and he is a figure who may be foreign to many.
Ranjit had been a captain in India's military until a superior officer forced him to participate in a murderous excursion that sent him to prison for three years. Upon release, Ranjit no longer feels safe and his wife's family in Boston offers him a demeaning job there. Unable to take it any longer, he grasps at an estate caretaking job in the Vineyard where he finds a job working for esteemed U.S. Senator Neal.
With flashbacks to the desolate ice-clad Siachen glacier separating India and Pakistan, this culturally and religiously diverse story is poignant and educational. There is death, sex, immigration and deportation, loss of a child, and CIA chicanery. For a thriller, it is strangely moving.
Couple plot flaws involving technology; the senator's wife was just a bit too strange. Put that aside, and this is a fine novel.
I don't believe I have ever encountered a Sikh character in literature. Readers will be fascinated by Ranjit’s strong Sikh faith. Ranjit is a character who is both a familiar man simply trying to do right by his wife and daughter, and he is a figure who may be foreign to many.
Ranjit had been a captain in India's military until a superior officer forced him to participate in a murderous excursion that sent him to prison for three years. Upon release, Ranjit no longer feels safe and his wife's family in Boston offers him a demeaning job there. Unable to take it any longer, he grasps at an estate caretaking job in the Vineyard where he finds a job working for esteemed U.S. Senator Neal.
With flashbacks to the desolate ice-clad Siachen glacier separating India and Pakistan, this culturally and religiously diverse story is poignant and educational. There is death, sex, immigration and deportation, loss of a child, and CIA chicanery. For a thriller, it is strangely moving.
Couple plot flaws involving technology; the senator's wife was just a bit too strange. Put that aside, and this is a fine novel.
September 28, 2013
'At nineteen thousand feet on the Siachen Glacier, there is no longer earth and sky, just an endless mountain of snow.
In this infinity of white are six men, walking in line, moving in the drunken lockstep of the exhausted.'
The debut novel, "The Caretaker", by A.X. Ahmad starts on the high altitudes of the Siachen Glacier where Captain Ranjit Singh is leading his team of five on a covert operation into a gray zone with practically no information except a set of coordinates.
"This mission stinks, sir. We've been walking three days to reach a set of coordinates. Why couldn't they tell us what our target is?"
"This is how it's done these days, Sergeant. They dream up up these missions down in New Delhi, and we do the dirty work."
The mission goes horribly wrong when Ranjit finds that the soldiers they have killed are not from Pakistan but are Indian soldiers. Dishonorably discharged and after serving a three year jail sentence, Ranjit comes to America to start a new life and takes up landscaping and other odd jobs to survive. He, eventually becomes the caretaker to the homes of several rich and illustrious people in the island town of Martha's Vineyard.
Life is going uneventfully for him with his daughter settling comfortably in school and his wife, though restless, trying to adapt to living in the small shack they call home. Suddenly everything changes when one winter, after the heating in his meager flat gives out, they are forced to take shelter in the Senator's house which is lying vacant and for which Ranjit is the caretaker. But there idyll at this new shelter is shattered when mysterious men break into the house and it seems they are looking for a particular doll out of the many present at the Senator's house. Unknown to them, this particular doll is innocently taken away by Ranjit's daughter, Shanti when she flees with her family from the house.
As Ranjit is sucked into the Senator's shadowy world of politics, dark secrets and a high profile backdrop of war between India and Pakistan, he can trust no one. In a cat and mouse race with unknown forces its a race against time for Ranjit to save his family.
Who are these mysterious men?
What is so special about the doll?
Why do they want it?
Who is the mastermind behind these men?
Will Ranjit be able to unravel the mystery of the doll and save his family?
Can he confront his past that destroyed his career and subsequently his life?
'The past, long buried, seems to be coming alive, and there is nothing he can do to stop it.'
A flawed hero and a fast paced thriller setup with unexpected twists and turns and some pretty shocking revelations. Its the perfect recipe for a successful novel and A.X. Ahmad does not disappoint. The story is crisp and the writing interesting where the Author shows after only a few lines that he is knows fully what he wants to deliver and has done his research well!!
I loved the insight into the Sikh culture that the author provides and am highly impressed by his flawless technique of switching from the past to the present throughout the book. The past and the present scenes are woven so beautifully that they flow effortlessly and it seems like we are watching an entertaining movie except that this one is in our mind!
Ranjit's relationship with his daughter, Shanti is strong and loving. Their interactions with each other are entertaining and endearing. The life of an immigrant in the United States and the difficulties they face in trying to merge in with others particularly after the 9/11 attack is beautifully and sensitively explained and sketched. The unbiased and third party scrutiny of Indo-Pak relations also provides a fresh perspective and adds depth to the story. Several topics of deep thought are handled with finesse in the book like the arms race and the part that countries like North Korea, India, Pakistan, USA play in it, the freedom of speech and the efforts to curb the rising voice of reforms in third world countries, the plight of old people who are left by their loved ones and thus, forced to lead a lonely life and die with no one to even cremate them etc.
The characters are realistic and not the typical perfect people we encounter in books. Each character has made his/her share of mistakes and its their choices that pave their path in the story! :)
I was hooked from the start and read the book cover-to-cover. The supernatural touch to the story adds more spice to an already splendid plot. The only thing that frustrated me was the ending which though complete in terms of the mystery coming to a closure, still leaves some gaps which show that the author has a sequel in mind. Now I have to wait for the next book to come out and my curiosity to know is killing me. I will be awaiting the next Ranjit Singh adventure. :)
A shining 4.5 stars out of 5 to "The Caretaker" and a strong recommendation that you read and enjoy this book. A brilliant plot, beautifully sketched characters with many facets to their personality and a depth to their persona and an intelligent piece of writing that is sure to keep you on the edge of your seats. :)
I won this book as part of the "First Reads" competition on Goodreads and am thankful to Harper Collins India for sending me this awesome book.. :)
This review is also available on http://njkinny.blogspot.in/
Checkout the blog for more reviews.. :)
In this infinity of white are six men, walking in line, moving in the drunken lockstep of the exhausted.'
The debut novel, "The Caretaker", by A.X. Ahmad starts on the high altitudes of the Siachen Glacier where Captain Ranjit Singh is leading his team of five on a covert operation into a gray zone with practically no information except a set of coordinates.
"This mission stinks, sir. We've been walking three days to reach a set of coordinates. Why couldn't they tell us what our target is?"
"This is how it's done these days, Sergeant. They dream up up these missions down in New Delhi, and we do the dirty work."
The mission goes horribly wrong when Ranjit finds that the soldiers they have killed are not from Pakistan but are Indian soldiers. Dishonorably discharged and after serving a three year jail sentence, Ranjit comes to America to start a new life and takes up landscaping and other odd jobs to survive. He, eventually becomes the caretaker to the homes of several rich and illustrious people in the island town of Martha's Vineyard.
Life is going uneventfully for him with his daughter settling comfortably in school and his wife, though restless, trying to adapt to living in the small shack they call home. Suddenly everything changes when one winter, after the heating in his meager flat gives out, they are forced to take shelter in the Senator's house which is lying vacant and for which Ranjit is the caretaker. But there idyll at this new shelter is shattered when mysterious men break into the house and it seems they are looking for a particular doll out of the many present at the Senator's house. Unknown to them, this particular doll is innocently taken away by Ranjit's daughter, Shanti when she flees with her family from the house.
As Ranjit is sucked into the Senator's shadowy world of politics, dark secrets and a high profile backdrop of war between India and Pakistan, he can trust no one. In a cat and mouse race with unknown forces its a race against time for Ranjit to save his family.
Who are these mysterious men?
What is so special about the doll?
Why do they want it?
Who is the mastermind behind these men?
Will Ranjit be able to unravel the mystery of the doll and save his family?
Can he confront his past that destroyed his career and subsequently his life?
'The past, long buried, seems to be coming alive, and there is nothing he can do to stop it.'
A flawed hero and a fast paced thriller setup with unexpected twists and turns and some pretty shocking revelations. Its the perfect recipe for a successful novel and A.X. Ahmad does not disappoint. The story is crisp and the writing interesting where the Author shows after only a few lines that he is knows fully what he wants to deliver and has done his research well!!
I loved the insight into the Sikh culture that the author provides and am highly impressed by his flawless technique of switching from the past to the present throughout the book. The past and the present scenes are woven so beautifully that they flow effortlessly and it seems like we are watching an entertaining movie except that this one is in our mind!
Ranjit's relationship with his daughter, Shanti is strong and loving. Their interactions with each other are entertaining and endearing. The life of an immigrant in the United States and the difficulties they face in trying to merge in with others particularly after the 9/11 attack is beautifully and sensitively explained and sketched. The unbiased and third party scrutiny of Indo-Pak relations also provides a fresh perspective and adds depth to the story. Several topics of deep thought are handled with finesse in the book like the arms race and the part that countries like North Korea, India, Pakistan, USA play in it, the freedom of speech and the efforts to curb the rising voice of reforms in third world countries, the plight of old people who are left by their loved ones and thus, forced to lead a lonely life and die with no one to even cremate them etc.
The characters are realistic and not the typical perfect people we encounter in books. Each character has made his/her share of mistakes and its their choices that pave their path in the story! :)
I was hooked from the start and read the book cover-to-cover. The supernatural touch to the story adds more spice to an already splendid plot. The only thing that frustrated me was the ending which though complete in terms of the mystery coming to a closure, still leaves some gaps which show that the author has a sequel in mind. Now I have to wait for the next book to come out and my curiosity to know is killing me. I will be awaiting the next Ranjit Singh adventure. :)
A shining 4.5 stars out of 5 to "The Caretaker" and a strong recommendation that you read and enjoy this book. A brilliant plot, beautifully sketched characters with many facets to their personality and a depth to their persona and an intelligent piece of writing that is sure to keep you on the edge of your seats. :)
I won this book as part of the "First Reads" competition on Goodreads and am thankful to Harper Collins India for sending me this awesome book.. :)
This review is also available on http://njkinny.blogspot.in/
Checkout the blog for more reviews.. :)
September 4, 2013
I am pretty happy with this debut novel. I have some issues but overall they are small, especially taking into account that this is the author's debut novel.
Our protagonist and flawed hero is Ranjit Singh, a disgraced Sikh former army captain now living as an undocumented worker struggling to make ends meet as a landscaper on Martha's Vineyard. Things are not going well but begin to look up a bit when he is offered the opportunity to work as caretaker during the off season for a famous senator and a list of other well off folk looking for someone to watch over their summer homes. But then in desperation he makes a bad choice and what follows is a pretty good standard thriller as he tries to figure out and resolve the mess he find himself and his family entangled in.
The plot rips along (most of the time) but the things I most enjoyed were the views into Ranjit's Sikh religion and lifestyle, life as an undocumented immigrant trying to fit in - especially in our post 9/11 world, the under-the-average-American's-radar look at relations between India and Pakistan and the the political power brokering scene. I loved Ranjit's relationship with his daughter and I very much enjoyed some of the secondary characters.
Some things I loved less were some of his personal, ok, one of his personal choices. Did not ring quite true to the honorable man he seems to be, but then again, things are not going well for him at.all. And on top of that I did not particularly like or feel connected to Anna at all. And then the whole "driven mad by grief" thing, reminded me of Victorian "brain fevers," ugh. Things turn out mostly alright in the end but there is definitely room for subsequent adventures of Ranjit Singh and despite my general bad attitude towards sequels I am ok with that, quite a turn around from my feelings of the last couple of years. A good debut can restore faith and I'm hoping for even better from A.X. Ahmad.
Our protagonist and flawed hero is Ranjit Singh, a disgraced Sikh former army captain now living as an undocumented worker struggling to make ends meet as a landscaper on Martha's Vineyard. Things are not going well but begin to look up a bit when he is offered the opportunity to work as caretaker during the off season for a famous senator and a list of other well off folk looking for someone to watch over their summer homes. But then in desperation he makes a bad choice and what follows is a pretty good standard thriller as he tries to figure out and resolve the mess he find himself and his family entangled in.
The plot rips along (most of the time) but the things I most enjoyed were the views into Ranjit's Sikh religion and lifestyle, life as an undocumented immigrant trying to fit in - especially in our post 9/11 world, the under-the-average-American's-radar look at relations between India and Pakistan and the the political power brokering scene. I loved Ranjit's relationship with his daughter and I very much enjoyed some of the secondary characters.
Some things I loved less were some of his personal, ok, one of his personal choices. Did not ring quite true to the honorable man he seems to be, but then again, things are not going well for him at.all. And on top of that I did not particularly like or feel connected to Anna at all. And then the whole "driven mad by grief" thing, reminded me of Victorian "brain fevers," ugh. Things turn out mostly alright in the end but there is definitely room for subsequent adventures of Ranjit Singh and despite my general bad attitude towards sequels I am ok with that, quite a turn around from my feelings of the last couple of years. A good debut can restore faith and I'm hoping for even better from A.X. Ahmad.
May 11, 2013
Ranjit Singh was a respected army captain in India, scaling the highest mountains with his troops. When a disaster occurs he is court-martialed and placed in jail for three years. Once he gets out of jail he takes his wife and daughter to the United States where he settles into Cape Cod and becomes a caretaker for the wealthy estates during the winter. He is penniless except for the minimal money he makes from his job.
One of his caretaking jobs is for a United States Senator. He also does some stone work for them. He gets involved with Anna, the Senator’s wife, and is torn between his family and Anna. Without knowing exactly how it happens, he realizes that he has come into possession of a highly secret document. From there, all hell breaks loose and he is a wanted man with a stake on his life.
Ranjit is a religious Sikh and prays to his guru often. However, his guru can’t get him out of this mess. He suspects that the people after him have to do with the senator but nothing is sure. The Senator was involved in some high stakes negotiations with India and North Korea and Ranjit has some idea of what is involved.
Ranjit is a good man, honest and courageous. However, he is losing his family. His wife is falling into a deep depression and wants to return to India. There is nothing for him in the United States. His daughter, Shanti, whom he loves desperately would have to go with his wife if she leaves.
As Ranjit sorts out the players in this game of hunting and stalking him, the pages fly by. This is a very well-written and page-turning thriller, the best kind of its genre. I enjoyed it thoroughly.
One of his caretaking jobs is for a United States Senator. He also does some stone work for them. He gets involved with Anna, the Senator’s wife, and is torn between his family and Anna. Without knowing exactly how it happens, he realizes that he has come into possession of a highly secret document. From there, all hell breaks loose and he is a wanted man with a stake on his life.
Ranjit is a religious Sikh and prays to his guru often. However, his guru can’t get him out of this mess. He suspects that the people after him have to do with the senator but nothing is sure. The Senator was involved in some high stakes negotiations with India and North Korea and Ranjit has some idea of what is involved.
Ranjit is a good man, honest and courageous. However, he is losing his family. His wife is falling into a deep depression and wants to return to India. There is nothing for him in the United States. His daughter, Shanti, whom he loves desperately would have to go with his wife if she leaves.
As Ranjit sorts out the players in this game of hunting and stalking him, the pages fly by. This is a very well-written and page-turning thriller, the best kind of its genre. I enjoyed it thoroughly.
May 30, 2013
PROTAGONIST: Ranjit Singh, former elite Army Squad (India0
SETTING: Martha's Vineyard
SERIES: #1
RATING: 4.25
WHY: Ranjit Singh is a Sikh from India who came to America after being disgraced in an incident that occurred during his time in the elite Army Squad. He is serving as a caretaker for several homes in Martha's Vineyard. When his leased home loses heat, he illegally moves his wife and daughter into the home of one of his clients, a US Senator. The Senator and his wife have some secrets, and Ranjit and his family are in danger as a result, with his family ending up in a deportation situation. An engrossing book which has Ranjit dealing with relationship issues as well as dangerous criminals. The narrative frequently shifts to his time in India. There's a major twist around that. An excellent debut, with my major issue being around how cooperative the Senator is with Ranjit despite the interest that he has shown in the Senator's wife.
SETTING: Martha's Vineyard
SERIES: #1
RATING: 4.25
WHY: Ranjit Singh is a Sikh from India who came to America after being disgraced in an incident that occurred during his time in the elite Army Squad. He is serving as a caretaker for several homes in Martha's Vineyard. When his leased home loses heat, he illegally moves his wife and daughter into the home of one of his clients, a US Senator. The Senator and his wife have some secrets, and Ranjit and his family are in danger as a result, with his family ending up in a deportation situation. An engrossing book which has Ranjit dealing with relationship issues as well as dangerous criminals. The narrative frequently shifts to his time in India. There's a major twist around that. An excellent debut, with my major issue being around how cooperative the Senator is with Ranjit despite the interest that he has shown in the Senator's wife.
August 14, 2015
The author should have taken better care of details. The story isn't bad until our Sikh gets shot. Sure, we know who will betray him but we allow for that, even feel smug. I quibble when a guy recovering from a gunshot wound drifts in and out of consciousness for two days, rouses to have vigorous sex, falls back into sleep, rouses to knockout and abduct a 6'4" giant of a man. Why does the bad guy with the dislocated shoulder--he is carrying a menacing revolver in his good hand--need to take and carry a shotgun? And when this same CIA trained bad guy forces our injured Sikh to dig, why does he guard his work with the shotgun in the bad arm rather than the handgun in the good arm? Don't even bring up the casual drive over fresh snow covered roads in the Mercedes. Details. The bad guy is still loose, which is convenient if you want to write a second book.
October 2, 2017
The bad news first: I felt like this story left some loose ends and had some fairly hard to believe aspects such as: The Anna character and her relationship with Ranjit was barely plausible and out of character. Senators can make murders go away and grant green cards like Gods? Not that believable.
The good: I enjoyed the fact that it was set in Boston and Martha's Vineyard. The scenes from the the Siachen glacier and the little known "war" on this glacier between Pakistan & India were the most fascinating aspects of this novel. The scenes in India were well written and interesting.
The good: I enjoyed the fact that it was set in Boston and Martha's Vineyard. The scenes from the the Siachen glacier and the little known "war" on this glacier between Pakistan & India were the most fascinating aspects of this novel. The scenes in India were well written and interesting.
November 8, 2014
More like a 2.5. Not a genre I typically read, but it was fun to mix it up a bit. I liked the way that so many different worlds were brought together (a Sikh man who was in the Indian army, a rich Senator from Massachusetts, poor immigrants working on Martha's Vineyard during the off-season, a Vietnam veteran in Boston, etc.). Unfortunately, parts of this book were just so unrealistic and the main character's relationship with the Senator's wife drove me absolutely nuts. Overall, though, the writing was solid and I thought this was a good first novel by Amin Ahmad.
Read
October 16, 2020This political thriller and debut novel delivers a page-turning and heart wrenching tale of a Sikh man and his family who have immigrated to the USA and landed in the wealthy enclave of Martha's Vineyard. Ranjit Singh is a character who is both a familiar man simply trying to do right by his wife and daughter, and he is a figure who may be foreign to many.
Ranjit had been a captain in India's military until a superior officer forced him to participate in a murderous excursion that sent him to prison for three years. Upon release, Ranjit no longer feels safe and his wife's family in Boston offers him a demeaning job there. Unable to take it any longer, he grasps at an estate caretaking opportunity in the Vineyard where he finds a landscaping job working for esteemed U.S. Senator Neal. He believes life is finally improving, but then the senator's home is broken into by his own security personnel where they are searching for a doll, a doll with a secret.
With flashbacks to the desolate ice-clad Siachen glacier separating India and Pakistan, this culturally and religiously diverse story is poignant and educational. Readers will be fascinated by Ranjit’s strong Sikh faith. There is death, sex, immigration and deportation, loss of a child, and CIA chicanery. For a thriller, it is strangely moving. -GD
Click here to place a hold on The Caretaker .
Another compelling political thriller is found in The Lie by Hesh Kestin.
Ranjit had been a captain in India's military until a superior officer forced him to participate in a murderous excursion that sent him to prison for three years. Upon release, Ranjit no longer feels safe and his wife's family in Boston offers him a demeaning job there. Unable to take it any longer, he grasps at an estate caretaking opportunity in the Vineyard where he finds a landscaping job working for esteemed U.S. Senator Neal. He believes life is finally improving, but then the senator's home is broken into by his own security personnel where they are searching for a doll, a doll with a secret.
With flashbacks to the desolate ice-clad Siachen glacier separating India and Pakistan, this culturally and religiously diverse story is poignant and educational. Readers will be fascinated by Ranjit’s strong Sikh faith. There is death, sex, immigration and deportation, loss of a child, and CIA chicanery. For a thriller, it is strangely moving. -GD
Click here to place a hold on The Caretaker .
Another compelling political thriller is found in The Lie by Hesh Kestin.
September 12, 2022
Intresting to hear a diffrent main charecter.... with good human flaws. story was dragged out a little and perdictable at times... but not a bad read...not by far
October 11, 2017
A top notch literary thriller.
March 22, 2013
Disclaimer: I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway from Minotaur Books.
Thrillers really aren't my usual reads; they always turn out to be the same thing, just with different characters and scenarilos--at least that's how they always seem to me. So the story of a former Indian Army Captain trying to escape his shameful past by relocating his family to America and working as a landscaper/caretaker on Martha's Vineyardwho gets involved in international espionage didn't strike me as anything more than a remotely-interesting time-waster when I entered the giveaway. But since I won it, I stepped out of the box and decided to read it.
I found the story itself not particularly out of the ordinary (the protagonist never seem to connect the dots as quickly as I do), but I was surprised to find the character of Ranjit Signh refreshing and unique. He is an illegal alien simply trying to provide for his family when his nine-year-old daughter Shanti unwittingly pulls him into an international affair involving India, Pakistan, North Korea, and the United States. Ranjit is incredibly well-conceived and developed for these times and lends an urgency and immediacy to the story. The interludes of his time in the army on patrol on the Siachen Glacier (the frozen No Man's Land between Pakistan and India where no true borders exist) are breathtaking in their simplicity.
This is actaully a rather complex story of culture clash and political intriuge, but it's told in a very simple and eloguently straightforward 2nd-person narration that allows the story to unfold at a rapid pace. The first half of the book is exciting and suspenseful; but the second half becomes a forbidden fantasy scenario that threatens to take over the story while wrapping most issues up too patly (leaving enough open for a sequel as a trilogy is planned)--here the author's prose really helps to get through the latter stages of the book.
Very few books are perfect in their copy-editing, but the ones in this book I found more distracting than others. One was a reference to an Indian movie that was said to be from 1965 when it was from 1956 (I'd seen it and knew the error right away--something that very few readers would probably catch, but it bothered me); "If" used instead of "It"; a few sentences that appear have been rewritten, that the author did not erase completely. But the most glaring mistake was the inconsistent use of an overriding password for a company's home security system: BLUESKY, used as BLUE SKY on a couple of occasions.
Still, The Caretaker (a apt, but unimaginative title), is a fast, exciting, suspenseful read that I would recommend to fans of the thriller genre.
Thrillers really aren't my usual reads; they always turn out to be the same thing, just with different characters and scenarilos--at least that's how they always seem to me. So the story of a former Indian Army Captain trying to escape his shameful past by relocating his family to America and working as a landscaper/caretaker on Martha's Vineyardwho gets involved in international espionage didn't strike me as anything more than a remotely-interesting time-waster when I entered the giveaway. But since I won it, I stepped out of the box and decided to read it.
I found the story itself not particularly out of the ordinary (the protagonist never seem to connect the dots as quickly as I do), but I was surprised to find the character of Ranjit Signh refreshing and unique. He is an illegal alien simply trying to provide for his family when his nine-year-old daughter Shanti unwittingly pulls him into an international affair involving India, Pakistan, North Korea, and the United States. Ranjit is incredibly well-conceived and developed for these times and lends an urgency and immediacy to the story. The interludes of his time in the army on patrol on the Siachen Glacier (the frozen No Man's Land between Pakistan and India where no true borders exist) are breathtaking in their simplicity.
This is actaully a rather complex story of culture clash and political intriuge, but it's told in a very simple and eloguently straightforward 2nd-person narration that allows the story to unfold at a rapid pace. The first half of the book is exciting and suspenseful; but the second half becomes a forbidden fantasy scenario that threatens to take over the story while wrapping most issues up too patly (leaving enough open for a sequel as a trilogy is planned)--here the author's prose really helps to get through the latter stages of the book.
Very few books are perfect in their copy-editing, but the ones in this book I found more distracting than others. One was a reference to an Indian movie that was said to be from 1965 when it was from 1956 (I'd seen it and knew the error right away--something that very few readers would probably catch, but it bothered me); "If" used instead of "It"; a few sentences that appear have been rewritten, that the author did not erase completely. But the most glaring mistake was the inconsistent use of an overriding password for a company's home security system: BLUESKY, used as BLUE SKY on a couple of occasions.
Still, The Caretaker (a apt, but unimaginative title), is a fast, exciting, suspenseful read that I would recommend to fans of the thriller genre.
June 3, 2013
Interesting and engaging mystery/thriller without much explicit blood or gore. The main character, Ranjit, is an Indian immigrant to the USA whose visa has expired. He has moved his family to Martha's Vineyard to break away from his overbearing brother-in-law in Cambridge, Mass. He soon becomes unwittingly embroiled in a plot that involves a US Senator, nuclear weapons and a couple of foreign governments. He has no idea what is going on at first, and he slowly pieces things together and takes the reader along with him.
Like most books of this genre, there are several plot devices that are far-fetched. However, the writing drew me in so much that I didn't care. I felt like I truly knew the main character and understood his thought-processes and the actions of someone who doesn't have much power over his own situation.
Ranjit was a Captain in the Indian army. His own story slowly unfolds. He led a crew on the glaciers between India and Pakistan, trying to defend the border. Although the sections describing his time in India moved more slowly for me, I also found them the most interesting because they took place in an area and time period that I am not very familiar with.
I did not much care for the love scenes and felt them unconvincing. I feel the author could have easily told the story without them. I also thought the character of Anna, the Senator's wife, was the weakest. Her role is pivotal in the book, but she seems like a caricature of someone who has undergone a horrible tragedy, rather than a realistic, multi-dimensional character.
I grew up in Boston, spent a lot of time in Cambridge, visited Cape Cod a lot (although I've only been to Martha's Vineyard once) - all places that figure prominently in the book. When you know a real life place that is described in a novel it can be distracting because the author takes liberties, and you (or at least I - maybe others are better than this) just keep saying to yourself, "It's not really like that." "The subway doesn't let out there." And so forth. In this book, however, the author did a marvelous job of keeping the details accurate. The setting of the book, for me, was like spending wonderful time with an old friend. Which perhaps may have made me like this book better than if it were set in a place I am not so familiar with.
In any case, a page turner that I finished quickly. Although the ending was realistic, I didn't like it. I wanted to know what happened next!
Like most books of this genre, there are several plot devices that are far-fetched. However, the writing drew me in so much that I didn't care. I felt like I truly knew the main character and understood his thought-processes and the actions of someone who doesn't have much power over his own situation.
Ranjit was a Captain in the Indian army. His own story slowly unfolds. He led a crew on the glaciers between India and Pakistan, trying to defend the border. Although the sections describing his time in India moved more slowly for me, I also found them the most interesting because they took place in an area and time period that I am not very familiar with.
I did not much care for the love scenes and felt them unconvincing. I feel the author could have easily told the story without them. I also thought the character of Anna, the Senator's wife, was the weakest. Her role is pivotal in the book, but she seems like a caricature of someone who has undergone a horrible tragedy, rather than a realistic, multi-dimensional character.
I grew up in Boston, spent a lot of time in Cambridge, visited Cape Cod a lot (although I've only been to Martha's Vineyard once) - all places that figure prominently in the book. When you know a real life place that is described in a novel it can be distracting because the author takes liberties, and you (or at least I - maybe others are better than this) just keep saying to yourself, "It's not really like that." "The subway doesn't let out there." And so forth. In this book, however, the author did a marvelous job of keeping the details accurate. The setting of the book, for me, was like spending wonderful time with an old friend. Which perhaps may have made me like this book better than if it were set in a place I am not so familiar with.
In any case, a page turner that I finished quickly. Although the ending was realistic, I didn't like it. I wanted to know what happened next!
January 31, 2013
I have really enjoyed this debut novel featuring a disgraced sikh named Ranjit living in Martha's Vineyard trying to make ends meet and do what's best for his family. While living in the house of his boss Congressman Neal, a duo of masked entruders break in looking for an antique doll. The contents of the doll is so important that Ranjit's family and life and are threatened until it's return.
I really don't know where to start with this novel. It is very well-written. I could not tell that I was reading a debut novel (except maybe towards the end). It's evident that Ahmad was aware of pacing, character development, and believeable actions and reactions. The characters were well developed and the conversations between those characters were not forced or stilted.
Throughout the novel, Ranjit has flashbacks or dreams of his life in India. The life he led as a captain in India's military. These flashbacks happen frequently in the story but are used to tie in with the happenings of his present situations. Believe me, he gets into plenty of situations where the reader will be biting their nails wondering how he will escape. Luckily, Ranjit is a character that you hope will survive. Although he has flaws. He's damaged goods. It is because of his flaws and the hard life he has led that the reader will find him worthy of their sympathy.
The last thing I will point out that I really enjoyed about this novel is that it touches subjects such as race, class, religion, perceptions, and social issues that some thriller/mysteries lack. The ensemble of characters are all people of color except maybe a few of the bad guys (which I admit is kinda cliche). Ahmad brings to the surface issues that some Indian immigrants have to deal with regarding prejudism or racism. Ahmad also allows Ranjit to have prejudices against the people he comes across. This helps with balance and proving no race is more superior than the other. We are all human and all have our flaws.
Overall, this debut novel is written well and will be enjoyed by readers of thrillers, suspense, and mysteries. I really see a good character in Ranjit. He isn't perfect and that's why he should resonate with readers. Although the ending was wrapped up a little too perfectly and easily, I still look forward to reading what's next from this author. His writing can only get better.
I really don't know where to start with this novel. It is very well-written. I could not tell that I was reading a debut novel (except maybe towards the end). It's evident that Ahmad was aware of pacing, character development, and believeable actions and reactions. The characters were well developed and the conversations between those characters were not forced or stilted.
Throughout the novel, Ranjit has flashbacks or dreams of his life in India. The life he led as a captain in India's military. These flashbacks happen frequently in the story but are used to tie in with the happenings of his present situations. Believe me, he gets into plenty of situations where the reader will be biting their nails wondering how he will escape. Luckily, Ranjit is a character that you hope will survive. Although he has flaws. He's damaged goods. It is because of his flaws and the hard life he has led that the reader will find him worthy of their sympathy.
The last thing I will point out that I really enjoyed about this novel is that it touches subjects such as race, class, religion, perceptions, and social issues that some thriller/mysteries lack. The ensemble of characters are all people of color except maybe a few of the bad guys (which I admit is kinda cliche). Ahmad brings to the surface issues that some Indian immigrants have to deal with regarding prejudism or racism. Ahmad also allows Ranjit to have prejudices against the people he comes across. This helps with balance and proving no race is more superior than the other. We are all human and all have our flaws.
Overall, this debut novel is written well and will be enjoyed by readers of thrillers, suspense, and mysteries. I really see a good character in Ranjit. He isn't perfect and that's why he should resonate with readers. Although the ending was wrapped up a little too perfectly and easily, I still look forward to reading what's next from this author. His writing can only get better.
August 13, 2013
The Caretaker by A.X.Ahmad is a compelling read about a man who is trying to run away from the ghosts of his past but they keep following him, no matter how far he runs. In his debut work, the author has given us our very own desi yet exotic hero in the form of Ranjit Singh, who is – a Sikh, a respected and brave former captain in the Indian Army, a fallen soldier, an illegal immigrant & a landscaper trying to pass off as a common brown man in America, in exactly that order.
Ranjit Singh is a tormented man, tormented by the demons of his past. A former captain in the Indian Army, an awry mission force him to flee from his motherland and settle down in the quiet confines of an island of Martha’s Vineyards near Boston in America. The narrative runs in two parallel tracks - one in the present where running away from a past life and trying to come to terms with his present, Ranjit is trying his best to create a comfortable life for his wife and daughter in the unknown land. However, deep down he knows that all his attempts at normalcy are failing as miserably as his relationship with his wife. The other narrative takes us in the past to Ranjit Singh’s glorious military career days where he was appointed as the commander of a squad in the Indian Army for a Top-Secret Mission. However, the mission goes horribly wrong & since then Ranjit is on the run with his family. Fading away into anonymity, he becomes a part-time landscape worker on Martha’s Vineyard. Opportunity comes knocking to Ranjit in the form of a caretaker’s job for the house of a famous senator one winter. But what seems to be like a boon at first glance turns out to be a horrible nightmare in disguise as Ranjit realizes that there are dark secrets hidden in the Senator’s house and when he uncovers them, all that he has ever believed in his life will change forever.
Read complete review at : http://poojareviewer.blogspot.in/2013...
Ranjit Singh is a tormented man, tormented by the demons of his past. A former captain in the Indian Army, an awry mission force him to flee from his motherland and settle down in the quiet confines of an island of Martha’s Vineyards near Boston in America. The narrative runs in two parallel tracks - one in the present where running away from a past life and trying to come to terms with his present, Ranjit is trying his best to create a comfortable life for his wife and daughter in the unknown land. However, deep down he knows that all his attempts at normalcy are failing as miserably as his relationship with his wife. The other narrative takes us in the past to Ranjit Singh’s glorious military career days where he was appointed as the commander of a squad in the Indian Army for a Top-Secret Mission. However, the mission goes horribly wrong & since then Ranjit is on the run with his family. Fading away into anonymity, he becomes a part-time landscape worker on Martha’s Vineyard. Opportunity comes knocking to Ranjit in the form of a caretaker’s job for the house of a famous senator one winter. But what seems to be like a boon at first glance turns out to be a horrible nightmare in disguise as Ranjit realizes that there are dark secrets hidden in the Senator’s house and when he uncovers them, all that he has ever believed in his life will change forever.
Read complete review at : http://poojareviewer.blogspot.in/2013...
May 10, 2013
THE CARETAKER was a wonderful suspense novel that was so well-written that I didn't even notice the prose because I was so involved in the story. Ranjit Singh is a Sikh and a disgraced army officer who has brought his family to the US to make a new life for them. But, after working unhappily in his wife's uncle's store, he has moved his family to Martha's Vineyard and become a landscaper. However, winter is coming, the jobs are ending, the house they are renting is falling apart, and his wife is sinking into depression.
When the wife of a Senator he worked for during the summer offers him a caretaking job and leads to other jobs, he feels confident that they will survive the winter. But a series of break-ins makes the area dangerous. When the furnace in their rental house dies, he moves his family into the Senator's house. Then armed men break in searching for something and start a string of events that involve international politics and Singh's own past as a soldier in the Indian Army.
The story has a marriage that is breaking, an affair that has no future, clashes with Homeland Security and all sorts of dangers. Through it all Singh holds fast to the plan to save his family and shows both strength and honor. Singh is a well-rounded character. We learn about his past through the dreams and sometimes hallucinations he still has about the events that ended his army career.
Fans of suspense novels with unique main characters will really enjoy THE CARETAKER.
When the wife of a Senator he worked for during the summer offers him a caretaking job and leads to other jobs, he feels confident that they will survive the winter. But a series of break-ins makes the area dangerous. When the furnace in their rental house dies, he moves his family into the Senator's house. Then armed men break in searching for something and start a string of events that involve international politics and Singh's own past as a soldier in the Indian Army.
The story has a marriage that is breaking, an affair that has no future, clashes with Homeland Security and all sorts of dangers. Through it all Singh holds fast to the plan to save his family and shows both strength and honor. Singh is a well-rounded character. We learn about his past through the dreams and sometimes hallucinations he still has about the events that ended his army career.
Fans of suspense novels with unique main characters will really enjoy THE CARETAKER.
May 21, 2013
The Caretaker was an intriguing book about a former Sikh army officer whose career ended in disgrace and prison. The storyline kept me in suspense, and wondering what would happen to Ranjit and his family next.
When he tries to start a new life with his family in the United States, Ranjit finds his job and his family's situation unbearable. He gains some contentment when he begins landscaping for residents of Martha's Vineyard. As winter sets in, difficulties amount for his family, and he takes his family to stay in one of the homes where he is acting as caretaker. He does this without the owner's knowledge, and soon finds himself unwittingly embroiled in a political scheme that puts he and his family in immense danger.
I found the main character, Ranjit Singh, to be complicated and interesting. There were some fascinating secondary characters as well. The book held my attention, and was very quick and easy to read.
When he tries to start a new life with his family in the United States, Ranjit finds his job and his family's situation unbearable. He gains some contentment when he begins landscaping for residents of Martha's Vineyard. As winter sets in, difficulties amount for his family, and he takes his family to stay in one of the homes where he is acting as caretaker. He does this without the owner's knowledge, and soon finds himself unwittingly embroiled in a political scheme that puts he and his family in immense danger.
I found the main character, Ranjit Singh, to be complicated and interesting. There were some fascinating secondary characters as well. The book held my attention, and was very quick and easy to read.
June 21, 2013
Thrillers have to have a believable hook that also has some relevance. In today's world, the material usually stems from Iraq or Afghanistan, although there re many other events in the world that could provide a stepping stone for a satisfactory thriller. This is one example, which utilizes a unique prospective of an illegal immigrant in the United States, a disgraced Sikh member of the Indian special forces, who encounters disaster on a disputed glacier on the Pakistani border. In attempting to forge a new life for his family, he finds himself performing landscaping chores on Martha's Vineyard in the offseason. That is the set up. To give away any more of the fast moving plot would spoil it for another reader. There are many characters, most quite original. The plot is convoluted, and the reader has the rug pulled out from under his feet on more than one occasion. But if you're looking for a better than average literary thriller, this is a fine one to chose.
October 8, 2014
I liked some things about the book. The descriptions of the failed military mission in the mountains between India and Pakistan where Ranjit and his men are betrayed by their superiors are well done. As is his experience trying to make a new life in Boston under the thumb of his wife's uncle. The descriptions of life on Martha's Vineyard and the Portuguese immigrant community there are also very good, as is the understandable build up of tension between Ranjit and his wife as they struggle in their new life.
What I did not like - Ranjit starts out as an interesting character with integrity, fighting to preserve, it and then in a flash he crumbles, betraying his values and his wife. The subsequent romance with the Senator's wife takes over a large part of the story and is a pretty silly downward spiral. The whole business with the microfilm and the Senator's aide is also pretty far fetched.
What I did not like - Ranjit starts out as an interesting character with integrity, fighting to preserve, it and then in a flash he crumbles, betraying his values and his wife. The subsequent romance with the Senator's wife takes over a large part of the story and is a pretty silly downward spiral. The whole business with the microfilm and the Senator's aide is also pretty far fetched.
June 1, 2013
I loved this book. It was well written with a sympathetic lead character, Ranjit Singh, a Sikh Indian captain forced to emigrate to America with his wife and daughter. He ends up on Martha's Vineyard, as a caretaker during the winter of several wealthy homeowners, including a U.S. Senator and his lovely wife, when he ends up targeted by several killers. The story was well plotted and moved along quickly. It was the kind of book you don't want to put down, and if you do, you find yourself thinking about the story and eager to return to it.
The book's settings include Boston, Martha's Vineyard and a glacier in India. I've been to none of these places, but I learned more about them from the author's descriptions than anything else I've read (which, admittedly, is not much).
I found the book to be a satisfying and thoroughly enjoyable read.
The book's settings include Boston, Martha's Vineyard and a glacier in India. I've been to none of these places, but I learned more about them from the author's descriptions than anything else I've read (which, admittedly, is not much).
I found the book to be a satisfying and thoroughly enjoyable read.
July 14, 2013
The first 150 pages or so are fast paced and a nice change of scenery from your usual cast of characters. Ranjit is a veteran with PTSD issues. He's also a Sikh and an illegal immigrant working on Martha's Vineyard as a handyman and soon to be caretaker for the moneyed classes. A US senator's wife hires him for a job and before he knows it he's taking care of their house during the off season. Ranjit can never assimilate into the island because of his color and his attire and there's always that tension there. The middle of the book has some plot issues I didn't get into like an illicit romance and plenty of juggling around who exactly the bad guy is-something that started irritating me. Ahmad though wraps it up nicely and one is left wondering if this is a stand alone novel or a springboard for a series.
July 13, 2013
Billed as a literary thriller, I found this no more exquisite than a typical Robert Ludlum, the undisputed master of the genre. While the main character is a Sikh from India which allows the author to explore aspects of the immigrant experience in this "War on Terror" paradigm the U.S. perpetrates, in the end the story doesn't deviate from a typical, male-dominated thriller.
Spoilers. Seriously.
I found it disturbing that one of the "bad guys" is a woman grieving the loss of her daughter and the author pulls out the old "she's crazed with grief, this hysterical woman who manipulates the men around her." The linked series of sex scenes between her and the married, male protagonist were ridiculous, unnecessary, and--how convenient--mere preludes to her death because the man won't abandon his wife and daughter for her.
Sigh, bullshit.
Spoilers. Seriously.
I found it disturbing that one of the "bad guys" is a woman grieving the loss of her daughter and the author pulls out the old "she's crazed with grief, this hysterical woman who manipulates the men around her." The linked series of sex scenes between her and the married, male protagonist were ridiculous, unnecessary, and--how convenient--mere preludes to her death because the man won't abandon his wife and daughter for her.
Sigh, bullshit.
November 3, 2015
This had a a terrific premise: a South Asian immigrant struggling to provide for his family becomes a caretaker for a congressman's summer home on Martha's Vineyard.
I think Ahmad did a great job with the immigrant family but lost it somewhere when describing the congressman and his wife. This is fiction, I know, but I was unable to effectively suspend disbelief when the FBI muscled in.
Too much other stuff captured my attention, like the very real stuff happening in the Muslim world that we don't know enough about. Wish Ahmad would take a chance that readers like it closer to truth than not.
Listened to the audio of this, and just couldn't finish because it was just...so...unreal.
I think Ahmad did a great job with the immigrant family but lost it somewhere when describing the congressman and his wife. This is fiction, I know, but I was unable to effectively suspend disbelief when the FBI muscled in.
Too much other stuff captured my attention, like the very real stuff happening in the Muslim world that we don't know enough about. Wish Ahmad would take a chance that readers like it closer to truth than not.
Listened to the audio of this, and just couldn't finish because it was just...so...unreal.
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