Lashkar

by Mukul Deva

Iqbal, a simple Muslim boy from Aligarh, is lured across the border into Pakistan to join the ranks of the notorious Lashkar-e-Toiba, one of the most dreaded Islamist militant organizations in the world. Six months later, a series of bomb blasts rip through a busy market in New Delhi, killing dozens of innocent people. As the police swing into action, itbecomes clear that it isn't just a terror attack they are dealing with, but a larger conspiracy to unseat the government. It is up to the Indian Army now, to wait out events, or plot its own lethal revenge.A military thriller that moves from New Delhi to the Line of Control toLahore, Lashkar is a gripping tale of insurgency and counterinsurgency,and the terrible fallout of the games governments play.

325 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 28, 2013

About the author

Major Mukul Deva (Retd.) (born 29 January) is an Indian polymath. He is a motivational keynote speaker, executive coach, business mentor and bestselling author based in Singapore. He writes spy-military thrillers on terrorism, action, crime, and business and self-help books.

An alumnus of La Martiniere College, Lucknow, the National Defence Academy, Khadakvasla and the Indian Military Academy, Dehradoon, Mukul, an ex-Indian Army officer, is the founder-director of a professional security company, MSD Security Pvt Ltd, India, and a learning & organisational development company, Influence Solutions Pte Ltd, Singapore.

Reviews

[Tushar · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'll be blunt in my review. This book is bad. There is absolutely no element of literature of story building in it. When I picked up the book, I was told that the writing style was inspired by Tom Clancy. Now, TC's books have been sold over the years for their brilliant plots and cheekiness. This book, however, has none of it. You just don't relate to the characters. There is no effort to give any respectable space to any character. The description of weapons and other specifics has been done so badly that one goes back to Wikipedia. Starting with the plot, within the first 5 pages, the secret to the next 100 pages is contained. There is repetition, a lot many times, and then there is this distraught Iqbal who comes across as so confused and lost. However, the most confused aspect of this book is the writing itself. The dialogue writing is pathetic and makes up for just a percent of the writing. The plotis decent, but suffers a ruthless carnage at the hands of an author who was just trying to grab some eyeballs. The book manages to grab your attention, but for all the bad reasons. Sadly, I picked up this book at the recommendation of the book-store owner and I also have the sequel to it. Few bucks and hours of my life that are never going to come back. Getting a surgery is less painful than going through the pages of this book. The one-star rating has been given because there is no option to rate it at 0. Don't waste your time on this one.

[Anil Dhingra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, written in 2008 , the beginning of the author's series of books about Force 22 , Col Anbu and his team tackling the Pakistani terror machine.
I like the human angle brought about in a terrorist when he loses his mother and sister to one attack carried out by his colleagues.
It is fun to read about the manouvres of the armies, intelligence agencies and the lashkar camps.
This author is a must read. His subsequent books are even better.

[Sounak Ghosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is quite a rivetting story set amidst the terror backdrop in the subcontinent.

[Sudhanshu Sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read, though a piece of fiction yet it details about so many aspects of human psychology, the defence setup.

[Hitesh Verma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lashkar doesn't deliver as a novel when seen in totality but 5 stars are given for its bold start as a novel with a new style.

[Naveen Verma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book takes you beyond the less discovered world of terrorist camps across the border and since it is written by ex-army man, there's harldy anything left to imagination. The book tells you how lethal Indian forces could be, given they get support form the government.
The good part about the book is how Mukul described the vengeance of Indian government. Although it's fiction, but i am sure, if everything continues the way it is across the border, soon the patience of Indian government will run out and we may get to see this action described in book.;)

'Lashkar' is very well written and well paced that keeps the page turning. Although there are details about guns, grenade, missile and what not, which aren't required. And plus there is repetition but nonetheless, i enjoyed reading it, finished in one day.:)

One thing that i liked most about the book is the way Mukul talks about the terrorist without taking any names, yet you know exactly about whom he is talking about. Plus the way Americans use everyone for their own purpose.

[Saurabh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one fast paced novel that would take you through spine chilling moments and high adrenaline rushes.I was hooked to it till I completely gobbled it.It won't be wrong to call Mukul Deva the Indian James Patterson+Alistair Maclean.I don't mind spending another 10 days reading all that he has written till date.If you like combat novels this is it.

[Richa · Rating 3 out of 5]

i wish this could actually happen...

[Rishin Kalra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

Fictionalised reality. Wish India takes a hard stand. I don't know what stops us. We have the proof, we have the means.