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The Colossus
A diffident catering company owner, Max Rosen, learns of the existence of a coded research document authored by her late scientist father. This research is linked to health pills that were unearthed from the site of the Indus Valley Civilization in ancient India. The pills were once the mainstay of German pharmaceutical giant Berliner that Max's grandfather worked for. And these pills were used in horrific Nazi era medical experiments.
When Max learns that the pills and the disturbing secret they hold may be the reason why her father may not have committed suicide as she has always believed, she embarks upon a whirlwind adventure to decode her father’s research and find his killers.
In a thrilling ride that takes her and Julian McIntosh, a history professor, across the world, she must keep her wits about her or face dire consequences at the hands of Berliner and other unknown forces, who will stop at nothing to keep the research from coming out. Even as she struggles with her feelings for Julian, Max must brace herself for startling discoveries— her father’s research may well reveal a frightening truth connecting Berliner, her grandfather, and perchance, all mankind. And the shocking reality about her father’s death is one she may never be able to face.
Colossus is a lightning paced, intelligent suspense drama, blending fact with fiction, thus making it frighteningly plausible. Iyer takes the reader on an electrifying journey through history and exotic locales from ancient India to Berlin in the Nazi era, weaving in present day Chicago, London and Pakistan. A scrumptious blend of thrills, twists, surprises, humor and a dollop of romance, Colossus will remain with the reader long after it has been read and put away.
When Max learns that the pills and the disturbing secret they hold may be the reason why her father may not have committed suicide as she has always believed, she embarks upon a whirlwind adventure to decode her father’s research and find his killers.
In a thrilling ride that takes her and Julian McIntosh, a history professor, across the world, she must keep her wits about her or face dire consequences at the hands of Berliner and other unknown forces, who will stop at nothing to keep the research from coming out. Even as she struggles with her feelings for Julian, Max must brace herself for startling discoveries— her father’s research may well reveal a frightening truth connecting Berliner, her grandfather, and perchance, all mankind. And the shocking reality about her father’s death is one she may never be able to face.
Colossus is a lightning paced, intelligent suspense drama, blending fact with fiction, thus making it frighteningly plausible. Iyer takes the reader on an electrifying journey through history and exotic locales from ancient India to Berlin in the Nazi era, weaving in present day Chicago, London and Pakistan. A scrumptious blend of thrills, twists, surprises, humor and a dollop of romance, Colossus will remain with the reader long after it has been read and put away.
254 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2014
465 people want to read
About the author
Ranjini Iyer
3 books11 followersRanjini Iyer is an entrepreneur and author based in suburban Chicago.
The Colossus is her first novel.
The Colossus is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
May 6, 2015
This was such a great thriller with some history and of course romance. I really enjoyed the book and am happy to give it 5 stars. It very much deserves it and this is the authors first book. I hope there are many more to come. I would like to see more books with Max and Jullian, too! Thanks for offering this book on goodreads where I won it.
April 25, 2021
For the Kirkus review of The Colossus please visit:
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-re...
Below is my review:
So I'm writing a review of my own book. It's sort of like asking someone to describe their child in an unbiased manner. Guffaw, guffaw.
Indeed.
Let's give it a shot anyway.
The Colossus is not the best piece of literature out there. Of course, it isn't. But it's not the worst either. Pithy beginning, eh?
This is how it came about. I wrote a much more literary book a few years before the Colossus was born. I thought it was pretty good. But it wasn't accepted by the publishing world. I didn't want to self publish it then so I set it aside.
Instead of drowning myself in drink, I started another book.
This time, I wanted it to be totally different than the one I had written before. It had to be the sort of movie I like to watch. World hopping, mixing of cultures, Nazi era German pharma (gotta have the Nazi era man), an Agatha Christie inspired mystery and a wee bit of code breaking.
I'd grown up on stories told to me by my father who worked for Bayer (the Aspirin people) in Germany. I had heard about their great position of power among the Nazis. How even up until the eighties, some of the top chaps at Bayer had Nazi links.
Then I read Jeffrey Diarmuid's fascinating book, Aspirin. Highly recommend BTW.
I thought, what if a Jewish scientist living in Nazi Germany (fact: many top Bayer scientists were Jewish) was driven to find an Aspirin of his own and instead found something quite different. Then I had to connect all this to India, ancient India and the Indus Valley (since it is still so shrouded in mystery).
Next was to have an interesting protagonist. Someone real, someone identifiable. Maxine Rosen was born this way. She is anxious, has a weight problem, boyfriend problem and is a chef (gotta have food thrown in there, no?)
Her romantic interest had to be very non Jason Bourne like. More Bertie Wooster. This way this couple could go around making mistakes all the way as they attempted to do something they really oughtn't. My inspiration was James McAvoy for Professor Julian McIntosh. He was so easy to write, since I saw him in my head the whole time. Then Mr. McAvoy goes and does movies like Filth. I mean really, I understand expanding your repertoire..but...anyway, I digress.
So these two Max and Julian needed a mystery to solve with the background of German pharma, Nazi stuff etc. So Max has a scientist father and grandfather. And a coded research document.
It's a spicy masala curry with as many ingredients I could toss in that I liked.
In the end, its an interesting story. A quick read with a mystery that is not so straight forward (tip my hat to the genius of Ms. Christie).
What stands out in the novel though, above all, if I may say to myself, is Max. She is flawed, lovable and real. That might be my greatest triumph in this novel.
Please try it, dear reader.
I think you'd enjoy it. It's a great escape, a fun ride with two fun, unassuming, gawky, flawed protagonists that could easily be you or I.
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-re...
Below is my review:
So I'm writing a review of my own book. It's sort of like asking someone to describe their child in an unbiased manner. Guffaw, guffaw.
Indeed.
Let's give it a shot anyway.
The Colossus is not the best piece of literature out there. Of course, it isn't. But it's not the worst either. Pithy beginning, eh?
This is how it came about. I wrote a much more literary book a few years before the Colossus was born. I thought it was pretty good. But it wasn't accepted by the publishing world. I didn't want to self publish it then so I set it aside.
Instead of drowning myself in drink, I started another book.
This time, I wanted it to be totally different than the one I had written before. It had to be the sort of movie I like to watch. World hopping, mixing of cultures, Nazi era German pharma (gotta have the Nazi era man), an Agatha Christie inspired mystery and a wee bit of code breaking.
I'd grown up on stories told to me by my father who worked for Bayer (the Aspirin people) in Germany. I had heard about their great position of power among the Nazis. How even up until the eighties, some of the top chaps at Bayer had Nazi links.
Then I read Jeffrey Diarmuid's fascinating book, Aspirin. Highly recommend BTW.
I thought, what if a Jewish scientist living in Nazi Germany (fact: many top Bayer scientists were Jewish) was driven to find an Aspirin of his own and instead found something quite different. Then I had to connect all this to India, ancient India and the Indus Valley (since it is still so shrouded in mystery).
Next was to have an interesting protagonist. Someone real, someone identifiable. Maxine Rosen was born this way. She is anxious, has a weight problem, boyfriend problem and is a chef (gotta have food thrown in there, no?)
Her romantic interest had to be very non Jason Bourne like. More Bertie Wooster. This way this couple could go around making mistakes all the way as they attempted to do something they really oughtn't. My inspiration was James McAvoy for Professor Julian McIntosh. He was so easy to write, since I saw him in my head the whole time. Then Mr. McAvoy goes and does movies like Filth. I mean really, I understand expanding your repertoire..but...anyway, I digress.
So these two Max and Julian needed a mystery to solve with the background of German pharma, Nazi stuff etc. So Max has a scientist father and grandfather. And a coded research document.
It's a spicy masala curry with as many ingredients I could toss in that I liked.
In the end, its an interesting story. A quick read with a mystery that is not so straight forward (tip my hat to the genius of Ms. Christie).
What stands out in the novel though, above all, if I may say to myself, is Max. She is flawed, lovable and real. That might be my greatest triumph in this novel.
Please try it, dear reader.
I think you'd enjoy it. It's a great escape, a fun ride with two fun, unassuming, gawky, flawed protagonists that could easily be you or I.
March 20, 2015
I was looking forward to reading this book and I wasn't disappointed.
It was hard to put down at times. The end was a nice twist and I like
that in a book. I don't want to say too much about the story because
I don't want to give away the ending. It was well written and its her
first novel which surprises me. I hope it won't be her last. I did like
the Author's Note in the back of the book with the facts that the book
was based on. It was a nice addition.
It was hard to put down at times. The end was a nice twist and I like
that in a book. I don't want to say too much about the story because
I don't want to give away the ending. It was well written and its her
first novel which surprises me. I hope it won't be her last. I did like
the Author's Note in the back of the book with the facts that the book
was based on. It was a nice addition.
May 24, 2015
Are you a fan of the Stephanie Plum Series or Darynda Jone's Charley Davidson series ? Do you enjoy your mystery novels with a hint of light-heartedness and not too deep that you can often get a bit confused or on the dark side of life ? That's what I found when I was reading The Colossus as we meet Maxine aka Max Rosen who works by owning her own catering business - a real different career choice than those she grew up around in her family as we discover that her family's background was science. One day, while tidying up , Max comes across a coded document that she discover's was her fathers and links back to pharmecuticals that were used back in the Nazi era for medical experiments , even more so the drugs came from Ancient India. I quite liked this part as the author had connected all three different time periods together quite well as often some authors find it really difficult to join them together with a flow that readers can enjoy and not find to discomforting, but Ranjini Iyer managed to achieve this as I found that despite the book having that light-hearted mystery feel , it was very well written and researched. Of course what's a book without a romance interest blooming in the background and for Max Rosen , that romance interest comes in the form of the handsome professor Julian McIntosh whom she has hired to help her solve the mystery and of course stay one step or more which they would prefer to ahead of the German pharmaceutical company that want the files and Yes, they will kill anyone who gets in the way of their dastardly plans.
The other thing that likened this to the Stephanie Plum and Charley Davidson books was that Maxine has been thrust into this world of espionage and she is an ordinary size ten girl with her self-esteem flaws and she isn't all Lara Croft Tomb Raider like which often the girls who star in these adventure mystery novels are and this is what adds the humour to the book and makes it more realistic to the reader.
Readers, if you are in the mood for a mystery that isn't too deep but not fluffy at all , then check out "The Colossus" by Ranjini Iyer today as you will not be disappointed as you find yourself quickly immersed in the pages.
The other thing that likened this to the Stephanie Plum and Charley Davidson books was that Maxine has been thrust into this world of espionage and she is an ordinary size ten girl with her self-esteem flaws and she isn't all Lara Croft Tomb Raider like which often the girls who star in these adventure mystery novels are and this is what adds the humour to the book and makes it more realistic to the reader.
Readers, if you are in the mood for a mystery that isn't too deep but not fluffy at all , then check out "The Colossus" by Ranjini Iyer today as you will not be disappointed as you find yourself quickly immersed in the pages.
April 30, 2015
I'm a big winner! Won through the Goodreads, FirstReads program....it doesn't appear to be an ARC and came with a nice note and inscription from the author. Looking forward to it.
This offers the travel of The DaVinci Code without the clever mystery aspects. Maxine Rosen is a caterer, unwittingly drawn into the work of her father and grandfather, both researchers who dedicated their careers to pills found in a tomb in the ancient Indus Valley - now someone is out to get the pills and the research and is after Maxine. She enlists the help of a gorgeous (naturally) professor, Julian McIntosh and they fly around the world trying to protect the secrets from an evil German pharmaceutical company and a second set of thieves (some really interesting true stuff about Bayer here and their ties to the Nazis, though). Unfortunately there really isn't a whole lot of action, though.
I loved the references to the movie Sneakers (an underrated gem IMHO), but was so very disappointed in the portrayal of Maxine - she's so down on herself, because, GASP, she's a SIZE TEN (and that's why her husband left her?) and when there's a big reveal about the drug in question she immediately goes to her own minor weight issue? Ugh. And then there's her whole "science is hard" attitude when she grew up surrounded by research scientists. If Iyer meant to make her endearing, for me it made her only unlikeable.
So, things to likes, things to dislike, but I would be interested to see where Iyer goes from here.
This offers the travel of The DaVinci Code without the clever mystery aspects. Maxine Rosen is a caterer, unwittingly drawn into the work of her father and grandfather, both researchers who dedicated their careers to pills found in a tomb in the ancient Indus Valley - now someone is out to get the pills and the research and is after Maxine. She enlists the help of a gorgeous (naturally) professor, Julian McIntosh and they fly around the world trying to protect the secrets from an evil German pharmaceutical company and a second set of thieves (some really interesting true stuff about Bayer here and their ties to the Nazis, though). Unfortunately there really isn't a whole lot of action, though.
I loved the references to the movie Sneakers (an underrated gem IMHO), but was so very disappointed in the portrayal of Maxine - she's so down on herself, because, GASP, she's a SIZE TEN (and that's why her husband left her?) and when there's a big reveal about the drug in question she immediately goes to her own minor weight issue? Ugh. And then there's her whole "science is hard" attitude when she grew up surrounded by research scientists. If Iyer meant to make her endearing, for me it made her only unlikeable.
So, things to likes, things to dislike, but I would be interested to see where Iyer goes from here.
June 25, 2015
The cover again was what drew me to requesting this book from NetGalley and the intriguing plot of hidden pharmaceuticals and secret archaeological discoveries had me sold.
The book takes us through the journey of Maxine Rosen a chef who is contacted by a friend of her grandfathers and starts to learn about a discovery he made when still alive that was quickly covered up. The Indus Pills. A medicine that seemed to prolong life in a way that was not understood but that Max’s grandfather may have discovered leading to his suspicious suicide.
The story took me a while to get into but ultimately this was because of character development which I believe really aided your attachment to the characters as the final stages of the story became more chaotic. There is a love story also involved but I didn’t find it pushing its way in front of the main story so I enjoyed it.
The one thing I found a little annoying was pacing. There is a chapter where all is lost and then a certain phrase or number is looked at which leads to another which leads to another and I would have loved a few more chapters worth of this clue-finding and following but that’s a personal wish.
This story really felt like a lead up to a second book, there was a lot of history building which was enjoyable and if this characters were revisited by the author again I would not hesitate to go back to them and follow their further stories.
A fun read that doesn’t take itself too seriously and also presents an adventure that goes places you might not expect.
4 out of 5 Chai Teas
The book takes us through the journey of Maxine Rosen a chef who is contacted by a friend of her grandfathers and starts to learn about a discovery he made when still alive that was quickly covered up. The Indus Pills. A medicine that seemed to prolong life in a way that was not understood but that Max’s grandfather may have discovered leading to his suspicious suicide.
The story took me a while to get into but ultimately this was because of character development which I believe really aided your attachment to the characters as the final stages of the story became more chaotic. There is a love story also involved but I didn’t find it pushing its way in front of the main story so I enjoyed it.
The one thing I found a little annoying was pacing. There is a chapter where all is lost and then a certain phrase or number is looked at which leads to another which leads to another and I would have loved a few more chapters worth of this clue-finding and following but that’s a personal wish.
This story really felt like a lead up to a second book, there was a lot of history building which was enjoyable and if this characters were revisited by the author again I would not hesitate to go back to them and follow their further stories.
A fun read that doesn’t take itself too seriously and also presents an adventure that goes places you might not expect.
4 out of 5 Chai Teas
March 15, 2015
In The Colossus, an old friend of Maxine Rosen's father shows up in Chicago to give her information on her late father's research. Determined to find out the truth behind ancient Indus Valley "health" pills he was researching and her father's death, Max begins to do research of her own. With the help of professor Julian McIntosh, Max fights against a German pharmaceutical company to get to the bottom of the research first.
First, I would like to thank Goodreads First Reads and Ranjini Iyer for the opportunity to read The Colossus.
The Colossus was an interesting mystery filled with science and World War II history. My favorite parts were the diary of Max's grandfather. I loved reading about his discoveries and his experiences during the war. I wish there had been more included from his diary in the book. I found the mystery of her father's death and the pills to be fast paced and engaging. The twists and turns in the story were perfectly unexpected.
The only part of the story I didn't really care for was the Raquel storyline. I just felt like Julian and Max's love story would have been better without her. I understand why it was included. I just found it to distract from the rest of the story too much.
The Colossus is definitely a book I will be suggesting to my friends that love a good mystery involving science and history.
First, I would like to thank Goodreads First Reads and Ranjini Iyer for the opportunity to read The Colossus.
The Colossus was an interesting mystery filled with science and World War II history. My favorite parts were the diary of Max's grandfather. I loved reading about his discoveries and his experiences during the war. I wish there had been more included from his diary in the book. I found the mystery of her father's death and the pills to be fast paced and engaging. The twists and turns in the story were perfectly unexpected.
The only part of the story I didn't really care for was the Raquel storyline. I just felt like Julian and Max's love story would have been better without her. I understand why it was included. I just found it to distract from the rest of the story too much.
The Colossus is definitely a book I will be suggesting to my friends that love a good mystery involving science and history.
March 3, 2015
A great debut by Ranjini Iyer. The story weaves a bit of history, science, humor, and romance into one fun, fast-paced mystery. Max stands out as the completely relateable and reluctant lead of the action. Too often, this genre is dominated by stereotypical hard-nosed detective-types or ultra-intelligent academics - professional chef Max and her insecurities make for a refreshing change. The science behind the story is completely believable from it's ancient origins to present-day. And although it's not dwelt upon in the book, it definitely stirs up many questions and musings about development and testing of new drugs and their moral implications.
This was definitely a book I didn't want to put down. Max jumps from one part of her frantic hunt to the next to uncover the truth behind her grandfather and father's research and her father's tragic suicide. The mystery kept me guessing until the end and as soon as I finished, I wanted to go back and reread it to try and find the clues that I missed. I'd love to see this one hit the big screen and I can't wait to see what she follows this up with! Maybe Max & Julian need some more adventures???
This was definitely a book I didn't want to put down. Max jumps from one part of her frantic hunt to the next to uncover the truth behind her grandfather and father's research and her father's tragic suicide. The mystery kept me guessing until the end and as soon as I finished, I wanted to go back and reread it to try and find the clues that I missed. I'd love to see this one hit the big screen and I can't wait to see what she follows this up with! Maybe Max & Julian need some more adventures???
October 25, 2014
I don��t usually read adventure novels, but this was a fun, fast-paced read. Max, the lead character, was real, flawed -- and lovable. Her romantic dilemma was woven into the adventure story beautifully. The exotic locales where Max ends up while she pursues the mystery of an ancient pill and a modern-day health risk were intriguing and took me right into those countries and their people. I also liked that I learned some things about modern science (the way one does when reading Michael Crichton’s novels) that tapped into some of the most recent discoveries in genetics. Overall, a good read!
October 28, 2014
A great first (published!) book by Ranjini. One of the rare books that got me going in one weekend stretch to complete :).
The plot builds up quite nicely, though, at times I thought it was too fast for my comfort. The scientific explanations were nicely fitting the mystery around the civilization. The end got me thinking about the Indus valley civilization!
All in all a very enjoyable read.
The plot builds up quite nicely, though, at times I thought it was too fast for my comfort. The scientific explanations were nicely fitting the mystery around the civilization. The end got me thinking about the Indus valley civilization!
All in all a very enjoyable read.
December 8, 2014
Riveting, fast paced and wonderfully written. I liked how the author developed Max, the central character, and also that the character did not stay static through the book, but instead kept adapting to changes in the story line. Different locales and story lines were nicely woven together, keeping the readed thoroughly interested.
This book had three of my favorite genres - popular sci-fi, historical fiction and mystery, and I am looking forward to more books from Ms. Iyer.
This book had three of my favorite genres - popular sci-fi, historical fiction and mystery, and I am looking forward to more books from Ms. Iyer.
February 8, 2015
I really enjoyed this book. The story was intriguing, fast paced and the vivid descriptions of the setting made me feel as if I were there. The characters were interesting and normal...they had strong and weak points (which is far more interesting to read than the completely awful characters in so many of the books I've recently read)! I liked that they were flawed but not weak and that Max wasn't a complete pushover!
September 15, 2016
Somewhere between 3 and 4 stars. A new (local!) author's book. It caught my attention early and was a quick, easy, engaging read. The story took some crazy turns and jumped ahead in pacing weirdly in places (hard to follow the plotline or predict/understand characters when everything the reader knows changes). Has a bit of a Stephanie Plum flair with a bumbling heroine and some ethically questionable romance. A cute, short book - I'm hoping for more from this author.
January 17, 2015
I really enjoyed this book. The author managed to seamlessly weave together all the best parts of several different genres - a fast paced adventure filled with interesting historical tidbits and a sprinkle of romance. It is not often I stay up late to keep reading. I read this one as fast as I could!
May 8, 2015
The story was interesting and the pacing was pretty good. The number of threads in the plot border on being ridiculous, but I think that's kind of the point - and once I went with the flow I enjoyed the ride. Unfortunately, I found the characters to be kind of dull and unoriginal and Max and Julian's budding romance wasn't my cup of tea.
April 18, 2015
This fun page-turner is so much more. It shines light on abuse in the pharmaceutical industry and the Nazi involvement. The main characters are lovable for their all too human ways. I look forward to more from this talented writer.
October 27, 2014
From the first chapters this book was a delight! easy read and yet an intriguing story line. I loved Maxine (the heroine of the book) from the first pages. I enjoyed following her in the adventure in discovering the secrets about the ancient pill! I would like to see a movie inspired by this book!
March 3, 2015
A real page turner that keeps you engrossed till the very end! Strong and well developed characters (I loved Max!) that grow on you as you read the book. A fascinating tale spread across continents, cultures, and time - highly recommended!
May 11, 2015
The Colossus by Ranjini Iyer falls somewhere between romantic suspense and mystery. I enjoyed both the inventive mystery and the international settings.
I received a free copy of The Colossus through Goodreads First Reads.
December 8, 2014
Excellent read! Smart and exciting all at the same time. I didn't want to put it down! The main character is so lovable. She could be you sister or your best friend. Highly recommend this book.
January 9, 2015
an exciting read! a book that takes the reader around the world, dabbles in ancient history and science, with down to earth characters you really root for! very enjoyable read!
November 12, 2022
Imagine a wonder drug, the Colossus, found in remote Indus River Valley. A small disc with a reverse swastika imprint that prolongs the aging process, well over 100 years. Unfortunately, the story never get to the end of efforts to mass produce the drugs. Twenty first century Nazis rule the most profitable companies. Some of the characters are aging survivors of concentration camps where experiments benefitted men and women whose aging process proved the effectiveness of some drugs, while those who did not survive the trials died in gas chambers.
Enjoy the love story. Follow the criminals across the world. Plenty of red herrings.
Enjoy the love story. Follow the criminals across the world. Plenty of red herrings.
February 20, 2019
This is a great read! Mystery to the characters, with unexpected revelations about them pulls you and and keeps you guessing. I loved how the author blended ancient lore with modern science while providing fascinating historical tidbits. Very enjoyable!
November 26, 2017
I finished this book a very long time ago and never updated my progress!! Enjoyed the book :)
December 29, 2014
Four chapters in after one night of reading and I do not want to put this book down! There is so much more that I must find out after reading the initial pages. I have met several of the characters, each with a distinct and unique personality that I can relate to. I am starting to tie the clues together but know that there is great suspense right around the corner. If you are looking for a book that latches you in, this is the one. There is no idling or drawn out story line with this novel. Every chapter is filled with shocking new details of Max's life. I feel that I am on this journey with Max, since this is the first that she is learning about her family's past. I cannot wait to indulge in more and watch how the unveiling of Max's father's secret research will change her life forever. More thoughts to come!
Now to chapter 17 after only 2 days. I struggle to set this novel down at night because I want/need to know more. Every chapter reveals vital clues that Max depends on to solve this great mystery. This book has a little bit of everything and is an appropriate read for all interests (history, romance, action). Is this new man in Max's life here for other reasons or could a romance spiral out of this project that they are starting together? Can Max trust him with the dangerous information that she has stumbled upon? Are people watching her every move? How do the distinct cultures of Germany, India, and now Max's life in Chicago tie together? So many unanswered questions that I must get to the bottom of.
I have now finished reading The Colossus and let me start with, wow! This was one of the most enticing novels that I have had the pleasure of reading this year. Every detail of the novel had meaning. The author did not waste time with unnecessary information. I was yearning to decipher the connections myself but I had to continue with the novel in order to find out the final situations of each character. This piece of art connected several genres. I was able to connect with Maxine's romantic, spunky attitude while simultaneously experiencing a historical plot warped into an action packed novel. What I am most satisfied with is the conclusion of the novel. All of my questions were answered, which I appreciate most. I was able to admire the amount of extensive research that went into the art of The Colossus. But do not take my word for it, please relax this break and give it a read!
Now to chapter 17 after only 2 days. I struggle to set this novel down at night because I want/need to know more. Every chapter reveals vital clues that Max depends on to solve this great mystery. This book has a little bit of everything and is an appropriate read for all interests (history, romance, action). Is this new man in Max's life here for other reasons or could a romance spiral out of this project that they are starting together? Can Max trust him with the dangerous information that she has stumbled upon? Are people watching her every move? How do the distinct cultures of Germany, India, and now Max's life in Chicago tie together? So many unanswered questions that I must get to the bottom of.
I have now finished reading The Colossus and let me start with, wow! This was one of the most enticing novels that I have had the pleasure of reading this year. Every detail of the novel had meaning. The author did not waste time with unnecessary information. I was yearning to decipher the connections myself but I had to continue with the novel in order to find out the final situations of each character. This piece of art connected several genres. I was able to connect with Maxine's romantic, spunky attitude while simultaneously experiencing a historical plot warped into an action packed novel. What I am most satisfied with is the conclusion of the novel. All of my questions were answered, which I appreciate most. I was able to admire the amount of extensive research that went into the art of The Colossus. But do not take my word for it, please relax this break and give it a read!
September 3, 2017
Initially, the story had grabbed my attention. Ancient pills with the power of extending life that might possibly be cursed and are also possibly linked to the Nazi's? It felt very much like an adventure Indiana Jones might find himself caught up in. The twist at the end of the book was also definitely not what I had predicted, so I do give the author kudos on how the story was wrapped up.
However, around the time the love interest, Julian, enters the story my enthusiasm started to wan. I was really enjoying the main character, but when Julian appears she turns into a completely different person. She came off way too strong for just having met him and a bit desperate. From than on their scenes together were a bit cringe-worthy. Julian hardly seems interested and than changes his tune halfway through the book, all the while Maxine is making goo goo eyes at him. The romance aside, the plot never felt particularly thrilling. The bad guys were predictable and the good guys just sort of wandered around helplessly searching for clues. And for so much globetrotting, I expected to feel more like I was traversing the world with Maxine and her hunky professor. Other then mentioning that they were catching a flight to one country or the next, I never would have been able to tell the two main characters had gone anywhere new. It's not just the characters that make a thriller, but the setting, especially one that takes readers to other countries, is just as important.
There was so much potential in this story; I love the premise. With a little more attention to the relationship development between Maxine and Julian, and a more mentally stimulating delivery of the plot, this could have been a really great book. Unfortunately, I'd suggest skipping this one.
*I received a free copy of this book for this review from the author.
However, around the time the love interest, Julian, enters the story my enthusiasm started to wan. I was really enjoying the main character, but when Julian appears she turns into a completely different person. She came off way too strong for just having met him and a bit desperate. From than on their scenes together were a bit cringe-worthy. Julian hardly seems interested and than changes his tune halfway through the book, all the while Maxine is making goo goo eyes at him. The romance aside, the plot never felt particularly thrilling. The bad guys were predictable and the good guys just sort of wandered around helplessly searching for clues. And for so much globetrotting, I expected to feel more like I was traversing the world with Maxine and her hunky professor. Other then mentioning that they were catching a flight to one country or the next, I never would have been able to tell the two main characters had gone anywhere new. It's not just the characters that make a thriller, but the setting, especially one that takes readers to other countries, is just as important.
There was so much potential in this story; I love the premise. With a little more attention to the relationship development between Maxine and Julian, and a more mentally stimulating delivery of the plot, this could have been a really great book. Unfortunately, I'd suggest skipping this one.
*I received a free copy of this book for this review from the author.
December 14, 2014
This is my first book review. A friend recommended this book to me. Being a history buff, I have always liked books that weave ancient history into something more current. There is so much knowledge that the ancient peoples of earth possessed and so much of it has been lost! What if… just what if this lost ancient truth in “The Colossus” is true?! Most such books tend to be tied to Egyptian history, I liked Fingerprints of the Gods. But I haven’t seen many about the other two major ancient civilizations — Indian and Chinese. I am happy to see one of those in this book.
The book starts off in Chicago — my home town and a city I love — with my favorite character in the book, Max. She is so easy to fall in love with. Her partner in crime, Julian, reminded me a lot of James McAvoy. I tend to picture books as movies and it was fun to follow McAvoy and — admittedly a somewhat more plump -- Emily Blunt on their adventure. I am a man, but I love romances. At the end, this book is a love story and a good one at that. So many movies I have watched and liked, “Source Code”, “National Treasure” and “Live. Die. Repeat” come to mind, are essentially love stories with a thriller wrapped around them. This book is similar. A globe trotting adventure made throughly enjoyable by Max and Julian.
This is great book to read on your commute. Fast-paced and easy. I am going to recommend it to my fellow Metra commuters.
The book starts off in Chicago — my home town and a city I love — with my favorite character in the book, Max. She is so easy to fall in love with. Her partner in crime, Julian, reminded me a lot of James McAvoy. I tend to picture books as movies and it was fun to follow McAvoy and — admittedly a somewhat more plump -- Emily Blunt on their adventure. I am a man, but I love romances. At the end, this book is a love story and a good one at that. So many movies I have watched and liked, “Source Code”, “National Treasure” and “Live. Die. Repeat” come to mind, are essentially love stories with a thriller wrapped around them. This book is similar. A globe trotting adventure made throughly enjoyable by Max and Julian.
This is great book to read on your commute. Fast-paced and easy. I am going to recommend it to my fellow Metra commuters.
October 1, 2015
Max Rosen great up in a family of scientists but she has become the owner of a catering company. Then she discovers some documents that link her father and grandfather to Nazi era medical experiments. Then she discovers that the story goes farther back to some pills that were discovered in a tomb in the Indus Valley. This leads Max to think that he father may not have committed suicide years ago.
Max partners up with history professor Julian McIntosh to find out the truth about Berliner and her father’s involvement with them. But as Max and Julian start digging, Berliner wants to keep that information secret and sends out people to keep Max and Julian quiet.
I really liked this story. There was a great connection between the three time periods, the story line was well put together, and just enough romance to make this story sweet. I really like all the information you get when it comes to testing new drugs. My only complaint is that Max thinks less about herself because she is bigger than the average stick model. I understand some insecurities but it did start to grate a little.
Overall this is a really good book. I can see other books in the future from Ranjini Iyer and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.
I received The Colossus for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Max partners up with history professor Julian McIntosh to find out the truth about Berliner and her father’s involvement with them. But as Max and Julian start digging, Berliner wants to keep that information secret and sends out people to keep Max and Julian quiet.
I really liked this story. There was a great connection between the three time periods, the story line was well put together, and just enough romance to make this story sweet. I really like all the information you get when it comes to testing new drugs. My only complaint is that Max thinks less about herself because she is bigger than the average stick model. I understand some insecurities but it did start to grate a little.
Overall this is a really good book. I can see other books in the future from Ranjini Iyer and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.
I received The Colossus for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
November 17, 2015
Maxine Rosen runs a small catering business in Chicago. Her life is simple, but she is relatively happy. And then an old friend of her father’s comes into her life and brings with him a mystery. Max has long thought that her father committed suicide, but now she is not so sure; she’s not even sure she really wants to know the truth. The friend, Lars, brings Max news about the long-lost research of her father, research on a mysterious pill that originated in the Indus Valley. An ill that may bring longer life… or may be cursed. With the assistance of professor Julian McIntosh, Max sets out to unravel the mystery, but circumstances get stranger and scarier every step of the way. Can they uncode the research and find another sample of the Indus pills to discover the truth?
It’s hard not to enjoy the main character, Max, in Ranjini Iyer’s fantastic novel "The Colossus" (so named because the Indus pills were originally discovered in the tomb of a figure with that nickname). She’s shy and impulsive and a bit bumbling, but she’s real, and readers will love how she works through the fear surrounding the entire situation to ultimately discover the truth. Julian, being indecisive and unwilling to fully open up to Max about himself, is somewhat less likable, but readers will no doubt be rooting for their romance anyway.
Originally written for San Francisco Book Review.
It’s hard not to enjoy the main character, Max, in Ranjini Iyer’s fantastic novel "The Colossus" (so named because the Indus pills were originally discovered in the tomb of a figure with that nickname). She’s shy and impulsive and a bit bumbling, but she’s real, and readers will love how she works through the fear surrounding the entire situation to ultimately discover the truth. Julian, being indecisive and unwilling to fully open up to Max about himself, is somewhat less likable, but readers will no doubt be rooting for their romance anyway.
Originally written for San Francisco Book Review.
November 7, 2014
I got the book as a pre-release copy from the publisher and am glad I got to read the book before it is broadly available. I truly loved the "Colossus". It is a very gripping novel. At the start it seemed like Colossus would be an Indus valley based "Da Vinci Code". However this story was completely different and very interesting in its own unique way. Once I started I could not wait to find out what happened next! The characters are brought to life through the words of the author especially Maxine Rosen (Max) the heroine of this story. You are then swept up in the whirlwind journey along with Max and Dr. Julian McIntosh, the expert who works with her, to unravel the mystery of the Indus pills that increase life span. I thought the story would have a familiar end but the twist at the end made the book memorable. Overall I thought it was an amazing book done with a lot of thought and research. I definitely recommend it for your collection. I cannot wait to read additional books from Ranjini the author of this book.
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