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Oracle Lake: A Deadly Race to Find the Next Dalai Lama
Oracle Lake (first published in the UK as Flash Point) is a tense, fast-paced adventure story, set amidst the stark beauty and brutal repression of occupied a first-class, full-throttle thriller that grips the reader from the first page to the last.
Fiery, fearless camerawoman Maggie Walsh has filmed everywhere from Bosnia to Afghanistan. But when she receives a tip-off from one of her Indian contacts, she knows she might be about to pull off the biggest scoop of her career. In McLeod Ganj, home of the Tibetan government in exile, the Dalai Lama is secretly dying. Smuggling herself into the compound, Maggie films the pictures she knows will make her fortune. But when her escape is thwarted by Tsering, an idealistic young monk, she finds herself captured and her footage confiscated. When she is finally released, the Dalai Lama’s death has been announced to the world. Maggie decides to head for his homeland, to capture the reaction of his people to the terrible news.
Tsering, too, is heading for Tibet. The reincarnation of the Dalai Lama has already been born, and at Lhamo Latso, the oracle lake high among the mountains, the visions in the water will reveal the location of the chosen child.
As Tsering and Maggie’s paths overlap, they find themselves drawn together in this most difficult and dangerous of quests. For once the Chinese Army discover who they are looking for, there is no way they’ll be allowed to leave Tibet alive…
Fiery, fearless camerawoman Maggie Walsh has filmed everywhere from Bosnia to Afghanistan. But when she receives a tip-off from one of her Indian contacts, she knows she might be about to pull off the biggest scoop of her career. In McLeod Ganj, home of the Tibetan government in exile, the Dalai Lama is secretly dying. Smuggling herself into the compound, Maggie films the pictures she knows will make her fortune. But when her escape is thwarted by Tsering, an idealistic young monk, she finds herself captured and her footage confiscated. When she is finally released, the Dalai Lama’s death has been announced to the world. Maggie decides to head for his homeland, to capture the reaction of his people to the terrible news.
Tsering, too, is heading for Tibet. The reincarnation of the Dalai Lama has already been born, and at Lhamo Latso, the oracle lake high among the mountains, the visions in the water will reveal the location of the chosen child.
As Tsering and Maggie’s paths overlap, they find themselves drawn together in this most difficult and dangerous of quests. For once the Chinese Army discover who they are looking for, there is no way they’ll be allowed to leave Tibet alive…
417 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2003
2 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
About the author
Paul Adam
269 books35 followersLibrarian's Note: There is more than one author with this name on Goodreads database.
- Paul Adam is an English writer of novels for both adults and younger readers. He studied law at Nottingham University, then began a career in journalism, working both in England, in his childhood town of Sheffield, and Rome. Since then he has written 11 critically acclaimed thrillers for adults and the Max Cassidy series of thrillers for younger readers about a teenage escapologist, the first of which, Escape from Shadow Island, won the Salford Children's Book Award. His books have sold widely around the world and have been translated into several foreign languages. He has also written film and television scripts. Adam lived in Nottingham for many years but now lives in Sheffield with his wife and two children.
- Paul Adam is an English writer of novels for both adults and younger readers. He studied law at Nottingham University, then began a career in journalism, working both in England, in his childhood town of Sheffield, and Rome. Since then he has written 11 critically acclaimed thrillers for adults and the Max Cassidy series of thrillers for younger readers about a teenage escapologist, the first of which, Escape from Shadow Island, won the Salford Children's Book Award. His books have sold widely around the world and have been translated into several foreign languages. He has also written film and television scripts. Adam lived in Nottingham for many years but now lives in Sheffield with his wife and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 10, 2018
I got so attached to this book. It took me long time to finish it, but it was worth each and every minute. Paul Adam is an amazing writer. He knows when to explain and when to leave the characters speak. He makes the reader VERY EXCITED to reach the final page. But when I reached it, I felt so sad that it is over, no more Maggie and Tsering, no more Lobsang and Jigmie. I loved the book very much. I really recommend it.
June 30, 2015
It felt weird to be reading about the death of a man who is still alive.
July 21, 2020
I am a big fan of Paul Adam. His two ‘history and mystery’ books in which the central mysteries concern Cremona violins are first rate. And I see he has recently released a third.
One of the great things about Adam is that he writes about all kinds of things – always thrillers of one kind or another, but what kind varies widely from book to book.
This time Adam posits that the Dalai Lama has died. Actually, that delightful personage (now 85) is still alive and well and living in Dharamsala, India. The book concerns the search for his reincarnation. And it is good stuff.
The title is hopeless: Flash Point – it tells you nothing about the content. The cover gives a hint. But really, unless you read a review (coughs modestly) there is no clue as to the good stuff within.*
Buddhist monks believe that when a lama dies he is reincarnated at once elsewhere in the world. When this happens they seek guidance from oracles, and go and find him. The reincarnated Dalai Lama is born in Tibet – where Buddhist monks are not welcome or safe. (Indeed, our current Dalai Lama has said that the next will ‘probably’ be born in India: much safer.) News of the death quickly leaks. The Chinese occupying forces in Tibet are eager to find the baby first, or to find a child of their own to impose on the Tibetans.
Four monks set out at once to search for the child. They start in Lhasa. Maggie Walsh, a photo-journalist, is there to see how the news of the death is received by Tibetans. The Chinese are expecting trouble and expelling all westerners. Maggie goes into hiding.
The monks from Dharamsala and Maggie gravitate towards the Tibetan resistance in Lhasa. Once together they find they need each other. There is a terrific story here, which Maggie is determined to document. The monks find that her contacts are necessary to get them out of Lhasa. Thereafter they travel together. The Chinese are close behind them. Winter is closing in. It is a breathless chase, the tension rising with each short chapter: from Maggie’s perspective, from that of the monks, from the Chinese Gong An Ju and PSB personnel involved.
Even if you are not enthralled by Buddhism, this is a pacy and unusual thriller which I recommend to you whole-heartedly.
There are some scenes of torture which you can skip.
* I see there is another edition of the book called 'Oracle Lake' which uses the cover design I have on 'Flash Point', rather than the one this review has become attached to. Confusing, isn't it? They are the same book. And I can't say 'Oracle Lake' gives much help to the reader as to content either.
One of the great things about Adam is that he writes about all kinds of things – always thrillers of one kind or another, but what kind varies widely from book to book.
This time Adam posits that the Dalai Lama has died. Actually, that delightful personage (now 85) is still alive and well and living in Dharamsala, India. The book concerns the search for his reincarnation. And it is good stuff.
The title is hopeless: Flash Point – it tells you nothing about the content. The cover gives a hint. But really, unless you read a review (coughs modestly) there is no clue as to the good stuff within.*
Buddhist monks believe that when a lama dies he is reincarnated at once elsewhere in the world. When this happens they seek guidance from oracles, and go and find him. The reincarnated Dalai Lama is born in Tibet – where Buddhist monks are not welcome or safe. (Indeed, our current Dalai Lama has said that the next will ‘probably’ be born in India: much safer.) News of the death quickly leaks. The Chinese occupying forces in Tibet are eager to find the baby first, or to find a child of their own to impose on the Tibetans.
Four monks set out at once to search for the child. They start in Lhasa. Maggie Walsh, a photo-journalist, is there to see how the news of the death is received by Tibetans. The Chinese are expecting trouble and expelling all westerners. Maggie goes into hiding.
The monks from Dharamsala and Maggie gravitate towards the Tibetan resistance in Lhasa. Once together they find they need each other. There is a terrific story here, which Maggie is determined to document. The monks find that her contacts are necessary to get them out of Lhasa. Thereafter they travel together. The Chinese are close behind them. Winter is closing in. It is a breathless chase, the tension rising with each short chapter: from Maggie’s perspective, from that of the monks, from the Chinese Gong An Ju and PSB personnel involved.
Even if you are not enthralled by Buddhism, this is a pacy and unusual thriller which I recommend to you whole-heartedly.
There are some scenes of torture which you can skip.
* I see there is another edition of the book called 'Oracle Lake' which uses the cover design I have on 'Flash Point', rather than the one this review has become attached to. Confusing, isn't it? They are the same book. And I can't say 'Oracle Lake' gives much help to the reader as to content either.
June 17, 2018
An intriguing tale of culture and courage, full of vivid descriptions of the landscape, people and history. Following the journey of two monks and a reporter searching for the reincarnated Dalai Lama, the author conveys an overview of the history of Tibet and the occupation by the Chinese along the way.
I’ve no idea how factually accurate some of the details are in relation to the history or the geopolitical state, however, based on at least some truths the plight of those involved is conveyed with often brutally vivid examples.
I found it a slow but interesting read. Perhaps a little excessive describing some things, and equally some time jumps without any detail, but it was an enjoyable story.
I’ve no idea how factually accurate some of the details are in relation to the history or the geopolitical state, however, based on at least some truths the plight of those involved is conveyed with often brutally vivid examples.
I found it a slow but interesting read. Perhaps a little excessive describing some things, and equally some time jumps without any detail, but it was an enjoyable story.
November 15, 2018
Very good. Enjoyed it a lot although the traveling part gets a bit drawn out. The information about Buddhism as practiced in Tibet is very interesting. Of course the 14th Dalai Lama is not death yet, and I hope His Holiness does not die any time soon. My hope and prayers is that more people will wake up (not governments, they will probably never wake up) and do something, however small, to help Tibet, that Tibet will be free in our life time... I sincerely hope that His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama will be alive to see that day.
September 14, 2019
I highly recommend this if you have any interest at all in Tibetan Buddhism or in the genocide of the Tibetan people under Chinese rule. I was living in India when the Dalai Lama was forced to flee Tibet and I have always felt an affinity for the Tibetan people. This is not "Seven Years in Tibet" but rather the harsh reality facing all Tibetans now.
September 18, 2020
An epic adventure on the Tibetan mountains, this book was difficult to put down. A real eye-opener on issues like ethnic cleansing and horrors inflicted by governments on minority groups by trying to systematically erase their culture, traditions and legacy. A narrative with very high stakes and heartbreaking moments of injustice, accurately depicting reality and provoking deep reflection on the state of the world today.
October 27, 2009
The book is about the hunt for the new Dalai Lama. Some journalist woman tags along and annoys on just about every page. She even tries to shag a monk but gets turned down (and never has LOL been more appropriate).
May 9, 2010
What a wonderful story!
Paul Adam has imagined what might happen when the Dalai Lama dies and is reborn. This story of political intrigue, betrayal, loyalty, and courage is heartwarming and moving as well as very informative about the plight of Tibet and her people.
Highly recommended.
Paul Adam has imagined what might happen when the Dalai Lama dies and is reborn. This story of political intrigue, betrayal, loyalty, and courage is heartwarming and moving as well as very informative about the plight of Tibet and her people.
Highly recommended.
November 19, 2007
I didn't really enjoy this book and probably won't pick up another by this author.
March 21, 2008
Tibet based. Good for Heinrich Herrer fans.
October 5, 2010
nicely written... enjoyed the ride
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews