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Spy in Amber
In the eerie silence of the Ragyabas monastery, nestled in the icy splendour of the Himalayas, a riveting drama unfolds. Fearing Chinese intrusion, the Head Lama of the monastery orders the transfer of the Panchen Lama’s priceless jewels to the Indian government for safe keeping. When the Chinese learn of the plan, they send to New Delhi two of their most ruthless spies—the deadly Chomo Jung, and the beautiful Pempem Kachin, who is well versed in the art of using her wiles to achieve her ends. As the adventure plays out in the vast emptiness of the Himalayas and the murky corridors of Lutyens’ Delhi, the seamiest sides of human nature are revealed.
Brimming with suspense and tension, Spy in Amber is an iconic espionage thriller from one of India’s most outstanding storytellers.
Brimming with suspense and tension, Spy in Amber is an iconic espionage thriller from one of India’s most outstanding storytellers.
- GenresFiction
130 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1971
10 people are currently reading
159 people want to read
About the author
Manohar Malgonkar
33 books53 followersManohar Malgonkar was an Indian author in the English language of both fiction and nonfiction.
Malgonkar was born in a royal family, and educated at Bombay University. He was an officer in the Maratha Light Infantry, a big game hunter, a civil servant, a mine owner and a farmer, and he also stood for parliament. Most of that activity was during the build up to Indian independence and its aftermath, often the settings for his works. The socio-historical milieu of those times form the backdrop of his novels, which are usually of action and adventure. He also wrote non-fiction, including biography and history.
Malgonkar lived in a remote bungalow, at some distance from the town of Belgaum, Karnataka. His only child Sunita (educated at the famous Lawrence School Sanawar) died at a young age.
Malgonkar was born in a royal family, and educated at Bombay University. He was an officer in the Maratha Light Infantry, a big game hunter, a civil servant, a mine owner and a farmer, and he also stood for parliament. Most of that activity was during the build up to Indian independence and its aftermath, often the settings for his works. The socio-historical milieu of those times form the backdrop of his novels, which are usually of action and adventure. He also wrote non-fiction, including biography and history.
Malgonkar lived in a remote bungalow, at some distance from the town of Belgaum, Karnataka. His only child Sunita (educated at the famous Lawrence School Sanawar) died at a young age.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 4, 2014
Full review on BookGeeks.in
There are many Indian authors who have made it big on the International stage; Rabindranath Tagore, R.K. Narayan, Salman Rushdie, Vikram Seth, Jhumpa Lahiri, Kiran Desai to name a few. Manohar Malgonkar, whom R.K. Narayan once referred to as his “favourite Indian novelist in English”, is a name which very few of us have heard of, despite his superior writing skills. In an era when Indian writing was mostly limited to socio-cultural themes, Malgonkar wrote chilling spy thrillers. Reading his books makes you wonder why he isn’t read as widely as he deserves. ‘A Bend in the Ganges’, ‘Distant Drum’, and ‘Spy in Amber’ are some of the best thrillers Indian writing in English has produced.
There are many Indian authors who have made it big on the International stage; Rabindranath Tagore, R.K. Narayan, Salman Rushdie, Vikram Seth, Jhumpa Lahiri, Kiran Desai to name a few. Manohar Malgonkar, whom R.K. Narayan once referred to as his “favourite Indian novelist in English”, is a name which very few of us have heard of, despite his superior writing skills. In an era when Indian writing was mostly limited to socio-cultural themes, Malgonkar wrote chilling spy thrillers. Reading his books makes you wonder why he isn’t read as widely as he deserves. ‘A Bend in the Ganges’, ‘Distant Drum’, and ‘Spy in Amber’ are some of the best thrillers Indian writing in English has produced.
September 25, 2014
(2.5*)
Wanted so hard for this to be at least a guilty pleasure if not more. And it was. Somewhat. I mean you have secret monastries here of even more secretive orders of Lamas, lying on top of mountains and beside river Indus with great treasure troves and secret paths. You have spies running around like mad men(and women), doing spy stuff. Like storing their codes in books, which are kept within hollow typewriters! or like hauling their adversaries off Qutub Minar and double crossing their bosses. Or in general 'hissing' or 'laughing' or humming the tunes that they hum on a mission. So good fun all around, though does get a little un-interesting at times, if I dare say.
Now Manohar Malgonkar was a writer of the time of RK Narayan, and I had never heard of him before this. So learned something new. Also, this was written as a supposed screenplay for a movie. And had that movie been made honest to the plot, it would have been a very enjoyable spy movie. I can almost imagine Jeet Mansingh being played by Dharmendra a la Aankhen. And the heroine by someone like Zeenat Aman. :) As a novel, it doesn't soar to the heights that it should have, though. Still pretty enjoyable, no less for the fact of being a slim novel.
Wanted so hard for this to be at least a guilty pleasure if not more. And it was. Somewhat. I mean you have secret monastries here of even more secretive orders of Lamas, lying on top of mountains and beside river Indus with great treasure troves and secret paths. You have spies running around like mad men(and women), doing spy stuff. Like storing their codes in books, which are kept within hollow typewriters! or like hauling their adversaries off Qutub Minar and double crossing their bosses. Or in general 'hissing' or 'laughing' or humming the tunes that they hum on a mission. So good fun all around, though does get a little un-interesting at times, if I dare say.
Now Manohar Malgonkar was a writer of the time of RK Narayan, and I had never heard of him before this. So learned something new. Also, this was written as a supposed screenplay for a movie. And had that movie been made honest to the plot, it would have been a very enjoyable spy movie. I can almost imagine Jeet Mansingh being played by Dharmendra a la Aankhen. And the heroine by someone like Zeenat Aman. :) As a novel, it doesn't soar to the heights that it should have, though. Still pretty enjoyable, no less for the fact of being a slim novel.
May 31, 2020
Hmmm!
This is the longest time it took me to read a book of this length, the time it usually takes me to finish a 500+ pages book. Why was that, you might ask. That's because the narration is so choppy that it feels as if it is a poor translation. In a way it is, for it was a screenplay that has been adapted to a novel, hastily I believe. I hate to take a break while reading a book, but in this case I was putting off my kindle every other page. The only thing that made me read this was my weakness of completing the books I start (except for the anthologies).
I'm someone who has been reading 50+ books a year, and yet the narration was so bad that it took me almost 40% of the book for me to get into the groove. The story was okay, it would have been a good movie, I guess. But as a novel it just didn't work. Ohk, lemme conclude this since this is starting to look more like a rambling than a review, but, whatever.
You'd be better off skipping this.
This is the longest time it took me to read a book of this length, the time it usually takes me to finish a 500+ pages book. Why was that, you might ask. That's because the narration is so choppy that it feels as if it is a poor translation. In a way it is, for it was a screenplay that has been adapted to a novel, hastily I believe. I hate to take a break while reading a book, but in this case I was putting off my kindle every other page. The only thing that made me read this was my weakness of completing the books I start (except for the anthologies).
I'm someone who has been reading 50+ books a year, and yet the narration was so bad that it took me almost 40% of the book for me to get into the groove. The story was okay, it would have been a good movie, I guess. But as a novel it just didn't work. Ohk, lemme conclude this since this is starting to look more like a rambling than a review, but, whatever.
You'd be better off skipping this.
August 4, 2022
Spy thriller set in India.
Ruch in cultural description and following the usual plot and terminology of the time.
For a spy with special intensive training, Jeet was quite unobservant. The book was a tad patriarchal in the way women were treated as femme fatales or helpless maidens.
Generally, it was a light and interesting short read.
Ruch in cultural description and following the usual plot and terminology of the time.
For a spy with special intensive training, Jeet was quite unobservant. The book was a tad patriarchal in the way women were treated as femme fatales or helpless maidens.
Generally, it was a light and interesting short read.
January 8, 2023
A spy never kills wantonly, or in passion, but always in cold blood; only out of necessity.’
It was so good and engrossing. I love how the story begin. There is conspiracy, intrusion, and betrayal. It’s a must read if you enjoy mystery/thriller.
It was so good and engrossing. I love how the story begin. There is conspiracy, intrusion, and betrayal. It’s a must read if you enjoy mystery/thriller.
March 23, 2024
This book takes back to 70s, 80s days where the Chinese gang try to invade border of India and take away the valuables that is secretly maintained by Tibetan holy lamas. And Indian secret agent knows about this and stops the Chinese gang from heist.
Wonderful and easy to read novel that keeps you turning the pages till the last.
Wonderful and easy to read novel that keeps you turning the pages till the last.
December 28, 2022
A short, pacy spy thriller. But lacking in enough details to really care for the protagonists or the plot.
August 19, 2014
Malgonkar was a writer who could always be trusted to pen a taut, captivating tale - and performing especially well if a military/royal element was part of it as he could bring that to life from his own background. An incisive chronicler of life in the first few decades of free India as well as the first of the genuine Indian thriller writers, Malgonkar had sadly gone out of fashion.. perhaps the unavailability of his books could be a factor. It is great some of them - including this tight, racy thriller which could be as relevant today - have been reprinted... I hope the publishing firm will get other titles too.
February 10, 2015
Set in the Delhi of the 70s, Spy in Amber, is a readable novella that’s just 130 pages long, with numbered section breaks in every chapter, something that lends it the feel of a film script. Jeet, a Colonel working in the Military intelligence, is tasked by his boss to tail two suspicious Chinese spies. Even before his mission can start, he is attacked and lands up in a hospital. But without waiting to recover, he gets back in action with his nurse Rupa for an assistant.
January 15, 2015
An amazing thriller. Moves at such a pace that you just can't stop reading.
June 27, 2016
Loved the book. Tibetan treasure + chinese spies + indian agents = too much fun.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews