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Mumbai Avengers
Five years after 26/11 - the siege of terror in Mumbai that brought the country to its knees - India still seeks justice. The terrorists who planned it have disappeared into the darkness they emerged from and Mumbai seethes with fury. All the Indian government has achieved is the establishment of counter-terrorism committees.
But one man will stop at nothing in his quest to avenge the dastardly act. Retired Lt Gen. Sayed Ali Waris of the Indian army masterminds a covert mission with a team of daredevil agents: a sharp policeman, a suave tech expert, a cerebral scientist and two battle-hardened army officers. They strike like lightning even as they are pursued by the Pakistani army and the ISI, combing through every land and possibility in pursuit of the deadly killers. From Sweden to Istanbul, through Dubai, Pakistan and Singapore, they annihilate the perpetrators with single-minded focus, veiling the deaths as natural ones to save the Indian government diplomatic and political embarrassment. The stakes have never been higher.
This is a nifty, edge-of-your seat thriller with an intricate plot and jaw-dropping twists. As Waris and his team navigate untold dangers towards a nail-biting climax, will Mumbai finally be avenged?
But one man will stop at nothing in his quest to avenge the dastardly act. Retired Lt Gen. Sayed Ali Waris of the Indian army masterminds a covert mission with a team of daredevil agents: a sharp policeman, a suave tech expert, a cerebral scientist and two battle-hardened army officers. They strike like lightning even as they are pursued by the Pakistani army and the ISI, combing through every land and possibility in pursuit of the deadly killers. From Sweden to Istanbul, through Dubai, Pakistan and Singapore, they annihilate the perpetrators with single-minded focus, veiling the deaths as natural ones to save the Indian government diplomatic and political embarrassment. The stakes have never been higher.
This is a nifty, edge-of-your seat thriller with an intricate plot and jaw-dropping twists. As Waris and his team navigate untold dangers towards a nail-biting climax, will Mumbai finally be avenged?
373 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2015
64 people are currently reading
680 people want to read
About the author
S. Hussain Zaidi
25 books571 followersS. Hussain Zaidi is a prominent Indian author, journalist, and screenwriter celebrated for his invaluable contributions to the world of crime reporting, investigative journalism, and storytelling. Born on February 28, 1962, in Mumbai, India, Zaidi has left an indelible mark on the literary and cinematic landscapes of India, particularly in the realm of crime and the Mumbai underworld.
S. Hussain Zaidi embarked on his career as a crime reporter, where he honed his skills in uncovering hidden truths and delving into the intricacies of organized crime in Mumbai. His early experiences as a journalist provided him with a deep understanding of the criminal world and its dynamics.
Over the years, Zaidi transitioned from journalism to writing and screenwriting, bringing his unparalleled insights and storytelling prowess to a wider audience. His unique ability to humanize the characters in his narratives, whether they are criminals or law enforcement officers, sets his work apart.
"Black Friday: The True Story of the Bombay Bomb Blasts" - Zaidi's book "Black Friday" is a compelling account of the 1993 Bombay bombings. It presents a factual and thorough examination of the events leading up to the blasts and their aftermath.
"Dongri to Dubai: Six Decades of the Mumbai Mafia" - This critically acclaimed book stands as one of Zaidi's most notable works. It meticulously traces the evolution of organized crime in Mumbai over six decades. The book offers a comprehensive and gripping account of the city's criminal history.
"Mafia Queens of Mumbai: Stories of Women from the Ganglands" - In this compelling book, Zaidi sheds light on the powerful and enigmatic women who played significant roles in Mumbai's underworld. He tells their stories with empathy and detail, providing a fresh perspective on the world of crime.
S. Hussain Zaidi's influential literary works have transcended the confines of the written word and made a powerful impact on the silver screen. Some noteworthy adaptations of his books include:
"Black Friday" (2007) - Directed by Anurag Kashyap.
"Shootout at Wadala" (2013) - Directed by Sanjay Gupta.
"Class of '83" (2020) - Directed by Atul Sabharwal.
"Gangubai Kathiawadi" (2022) - Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, among many others.
In addition to his contributions to the film industry, S. Hussain Zaidi has harnessed his creative prowess in the realm of film and web series production. His noteworthy productions encompass projects like "Bard of Blood" and "Scoop" on Netflix, as well as the recent addition "Bambai Meri Jaan," available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
S. Hussain Zaidi has played a pivotal role in nurturing emerging literary talents within the authorship realm. Notably, individuals such as Bilal Siddique, Neeraj Kumar (Commissioner of Delhi Police), Kashif Mashaikh, and many more have found their path to success as authors under his guidance. This mentoring initiative is facilitated through "Blue Salt Media," an imprint in collaboration with Penguin India.
S. Hussain Zaidi's work, both in literature and cinema, continues to captivate audiences with its gritty realism, engaging storytelling, and insights into the complex world of crime and law enforcement in India. His contributions have not only enriched the true crime genre but have also served as a source of inspiration for aspiring writers, journalists, and filmmakers.
S. Hussain Zaidi embarked on his career as a crime reporter, where he honed his skills in uncovering hidden truths and delving into the intricacies of organized crime in Mumbai. His early experiences as a journalist provided him with a deep understanding of the criminal world and its dynamics.
Over the years, Zaidi transitioned from journalism to writing and screenwriting, bringing his unparalleled insights and storytelling prowess to a wider audience. His unique ability to humanize the characters in his narratives, whether they are criminals or law enforcement officers, sets his work apart.
"Black Friday: The True Story of the Bombay Bomb Blasts" - Zaidi's book "Black Friday" is a compelling account of the 1993 Bombay bombings. It presents a factual and thorough examination of the events leading up to the blasts and their aftermath.
"Dongri to Dubai: Six Decades of the Mumbai Mafia" - This critically acclaimed book stands as one of Zaidi's most notable works. It meticulously traces the evolution of organized crime in Mumbai over six decades. The book offers a comprehensive and gripping account of the city's criminal history.
"Mafia Queens of Mumbai: Stories of Women from the Ganglands" - In this compelling book, Zaidi sheds light on the powerful and enigmatic women who played significant roles in Mumbai's underworld. He tells their stories with empathy and detail, providing a fresh perspective on the world of crime.
S. Hussain Zaidi's influential literary works have transcended the confines of the written word and made a powerful impact on the silver screen. Some noteworthy adaptations of his books include:
"Black Friday" (2007) - Directed by Anurag Kashyap.
"Shootout at Wadala" (2013) - Directed by Sanjay Gupta.
"Class of '83" (2020) - Directed by Atul Sabharwal.
"Gangubai Kathiawadi" (2022) - Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, among many others.
In addition to his contributions to the film industry, S. Hussain Zaidi has harnessed his creative prowess in the realm of film and web series production. His noteworthy productions encompass projects like "Bard of Blood" and "Scoop" on Netflix, as well as the recent addition "Bambai Meri Jaan," available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
S. Hussain Zaidi has played a pivotal role in nurturing emerging literary talents within the authorship realm. Notably, individuals such as Bilal Siddique, Neeraj Kumar (Commissioner of Delhi Police), Kashif Mashaikh, and many more have found their path to success as authors under his guidance. This mentoring initiative is facilitated through "Blue Salt Media," an imprint in collaboration with Penguin India.
S. Hussain Zaidi's work, both in literature and cinema, continues to captivate audiences with its gritty realism, engaging storytelling, and insights into the complex world of crime and law enforcement in India. His contributions have not only enriched the true crime genre but have also served as a source of inspiration for aspiring writers, journalists, and filmmakers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
August 2, 2020
This novel has been penned by S. Hussain Zaidi, a Mumbai-based former investigative journalist, in collaboration with Gabriel Khan, a pseudonym for a veteran crime reporter from the same city. Zaidi is famous for his true crime bestsellers on the Mumbai underworld and this novel marked his foray into the realm of fiction.
The plot of the story is pretty straight forward and is also revealed by the book title – it’s a fictional story about India avenging the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai. In case you don’t know about the attack – On 26th November, 2008, 10 Pakistani terrorists had landed in Mumbai by a hijacked Indian fishing boat and unleashed a deadly carnage in the city. The perpetrators then split into groups and carried out attacks in 8 different locations. The siege lasted for 4 days before 9 terrorists were neutralized and one was captured alive. More than 160 people, including foreign nationals, had lost their lives and hundreds had been injured. But, the real masterminds behind the attack were never brought to justice.
Retired Lt Gen. Sayed Ali Waris of the Indian army would mastermind a covert mission to punish the masterminds and would choose a team comprising of two “battle-hardened” army officers, a “sharp” policeman, a “suave” tech expert – an attractive lady confident with her sexuality and a “cerebral” scientist – playing the stereotypical geek. Therefore, it’s a pretty standard team that you would normally expect in such military/ spy thrillers.
The novel will take you on a journey through Asia and Europe, and finally end in Pakistan. The story started out really well. There’s suspense, adventure and action. But, unfortunately, towards the end it became too much like an unrealistic action movie. Thriller readers do accept that in order to enjoy such works they need to suspend their disbelief and overlook logical inconsistencies. I wish the authors had kept the action a bit more palatable. A book with such a plot will try to leverage patriotic feelings, and this was expected. I do agree with those who felt that the title of the book could have been better. A writer of Zaidi’s calibre should have come up something more appropriate. This book is not in the same standard as Frederick Forsyth novels. I do believe that the authors can certainly improve their writing significantly.
Overall, a decent thriller to while away the time on lazy weekend afternoons or for me something to tackle the after-work fatigue. I do understand that this book won’t appeal to everybody. However, if you want to explore English action thrillers by Indian authors, then it could deserve a place in your list.
Zaidi’s excellent non-fiction books are already there in my TBR. I would also like to try out his other fiction thriller, Eleventh Hour.
Mumbai Avengers was also adapted into a Hindi movie entitled Phantom and released in 2015. I saw the movie after its release. I can assure you that the book is much better and this is not a biased book-lover speaking.
The plot of the story is pretty straight forward and is also revealed by the book title – it’s a fictional story about India avenging the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai. In case you don’t know about the attack – On 26th November, 2008, 10 Pakistani terrorists had landed in Mumbai by a hijacked Indian fishing boat and unleashed a deadly carnage in the city. The perpetrators then split into groups and carried out attacks in 8 different locations. The siege lasted for 4 days before 9 terrorists were neutralized and one was captured alive. More than 160 people, including foreign nationals, had lost their lives and hundreds had been injured. But, the real masterminds behind the attack were never brought to justice.
Retired Lt Gen. Sayed Ali Waris of the Indian army would mastermind a covert mission to punish the masterminds and would choose a team comprising of two “battle-hardened” army officers, a “sharp” policeman, a “suave” tech expert – an attractive lady confident with her sexuality and a “cerebral” scientist – playing the stereotypical geek. Therefore, it’s a pretty standard team that you would normally expect in such military/ spy thrillers.
The novel will take you on a journey through Asia and Europe, and finally end in Pakistan. The story started out really well. There’s suspense, adventure and action. But, unfortunately, towards the end it became too much like an unrealistic action movie. Thriller readers do accept that in order to enjoy such works they need to suspend their disbelief and overlook logical inconsistencies. I wish the authors had kept the action a bit more palatable. A book with such a plot will try to leverage patriotic feelings, and this was expected. I do agree with those who felt that the title of the book could have been better. A writer of Zaidi’s calibre should have come up something more appropriate. This book is not in the same standard as Frederick Forsyth novels. I do believe that the authors can certainly improve their writing significantly.
Overall, a decent thriller to while away the time on lazy weekend afternoons or for me something to tackle the after-work fatigue. I do understand that this book won’t appeal to everybody. However, if you want to explore English action thrillers by Indian authors, then it could deserve a place in your list.
Zaidi’s excellent non-fiction books are already there in my TBR. I would also like to try out his other fiction thriller, Eleventh Hour.
Mumbai Avengers was also adapted into a Hindi movie entitled Phantom and released in 2015. I saw the movie after its release. I can assure you that the book is much better and this is not a biased book-lover speaking.
May 25, 2015
The terrorist attacks in Mumbai on the 26th of November 2008 shocked the world with the carnage it unleashed. The masterminds behind the plot were exposed with solid evidence to back it up and still pretty much nothing happened to them. There are still ongoing cases in Pakistan and the US but the clichéd ‘bringing the perpetrators to justice’ is a clamor that has almost died down. I have heard it repeated time and again in many a gathering that India should strike back at anyone who dares attack her. Many a person, time and again reiterates – ‘Look at Israel, anyone who touches them will pay for it. Why can’t we do this ?’ The general populace does not have the patience to understand the nuances of international diplomacy and all that they look forward to is swift, decisive action. The authors Hussain Zaidi and Gabriel Khan take a fictional shot at retaliation for 26/11 à la Mossad’s modus operandi following the Munich massacre. The story that results is what Mumbai Avengers is all about and it can be aptly summed up in one word : pathetic.
While telling a story, there is many a vein you can tap to get your reader’s sensitivities up and raging. The authors here pick one that sells heavily : patriotism. Pages upon pages is expounded on all the atrocities that Pakistan has done to India and enough hints as heavy as boulders are dropped which all boils down to one question : don’t you want revenge ? don’t you ? huh ? don’t you ? It is almost as if they want the reader to scream : yes, yes we want it. There is no need to explain that this is bad writing style.
Let me pick the core scenario from the book and recount it for the benefit of anyone reading this review : A retired military officer who is not too high on the pecking order calls for a meeting. The meeting is attended by the who’s who of the Indian defense establishment ( there is no explanation offered as to how this officer could get all these bureaucrats, politicians and military top brass into one room for this meeting). He buries them under statistics of terror attacks and lambasts the nation’s response to terrorism. Then he unveils his master plan – let’s go and kill all those who tried to mess with us (duh!). As expected his plan is rejected and he goes home a mumbling old man. Two days pass and there is an assassination attempt on one of the PM candidates. Suddenly the top gun of Indian intelligence picks up the phone, calls up the old soldier and gives him the go-ahead on his plan. His words and intent behind this mission reminded me of Tim Roth’s General Thade in Planet of the Apes - Find them, kill them all.
There, how easy was that ? No, there is no need of approvals from anyone in the machinery. No need to brief the PM or the defense/home ministers or anyone else. As easily as throwing a switch the mission is on. Interesting isn’t it ? Well it was just the start and I was in for a lot more. You are introduced to the team of crack experts from fields of special forces, cyber security and espionage and they are the avengers (of Mumbai !). There are a few moments of the team's lighthearted banter with each other and it all sounds like a group of fake teenagers from the 70's era Indian movies talking. The kind where 30 and 40 year old men and women impersonate 20 year old's and try talking in the most hep language possible. Yes, as awkward and cringe worthy as that !
The funniest parts come in when they start taking out the terrorist masterminds. Here is how it goes :
Let’s kill him.
Bang.He’s dead.
Oh look look, there is another one.
Bang bang.He’s dead too.Who's next huh ? Who's your daddy ?
and so on….
Hussain Zaidi’s non-fiction books are fast paced and extremely readable but his foray into fiction is nothing short of a disaster. I should have run far away after reading the cheesy title !
While telling a story, there is many a vein you can tap to get your reader’s sensitivities up and raging. The authors here pick one that sells heavily : patriotism. Pages upon pages is expounded on all the atrocities that Pakistan has done to India and enough hints as heavy as boulders are dropped which all boils down to one question : don’t you want revenge ? don’t you ? huh ? don’t you ? It is almost as if they want the reader to scream : yes, yes we want it. There is no need to explain that this is bad writing style.
Let me pick the core scenario from the book and recount it for the benefit of anyone reading this review : A retired military officer who is not too high on the pecking order calls for a meeting. The meeting is attended by the who’s who of the Indian defense establishment ( there is no explanation offered as to how this officer could get all these bureaucrats, politicians and military top brass into one room for this meeting). He buries them under statistics of terror attacks and lambasts the nation’s response to terrorism. Then he unveils his master plan – let’s go and kill all those who tried to mess with us (duh!). As expected his plan is rejected and he goes home a mumbling old man. Two days pass and there is an assassination attempt on one of the PM candidates. Suddenly the top gun of Indian intelligence picks up the phone, calls up the old soldier and gives him the go-ahead on his plan. His words and intent behind this mission reminded me of Tim Roth’s General Thade in Planet of the Apes - Find them, kill them all.
There, how easy was that ? No, there is no need of approvals from anyone in the machinery. No need to brief the PM or the defense/home ministers or anyone else. As easily as throwing a switch the mission is on. Interesting isn’t it ? Well it was just the start and I was in for a lot more. You are introduced to the team of crack experts from fields of special forces, cyber security and espionage and they are the avengers (of Mumbai !). There are a few moments of the team's lighthearted banter with each other and it all sounds like a group of fake teenagers from the 70's era Indian movies talking. The kind where 30 and 40 year old men and women impersonate 20 year old's and try talking in the most hep language possible. Yes, as awkward and cringe worthy as that !
The funniest parts come in when they start taking out the terrorist masterminds. Here is how it goes :
Let’s kill him.
Bang.He’s dead.
Oh look look, there is another one.
Bang bang.He’s dead too.Who's next huh ? Who's your daddy ?
and so on….
Hussain Zaidi’s non-fiction books are fast paced and extremely readable but his foray into fiction is nothing short of a disaster. I should have run far away after reading the cheesy title !
August 7, 2019
As Rakesh Maria, former Mumbai Police Commissioner writes on the cover, the novel is Gripping, intense and keeps you on the edge. The novel is so fast paced that once started, you just cannot keep it down. Brilliantly researched, it is a rare effort by any Indian writer to write such a narrative based on one of the worst terrorist attacks on India. Great read
June 26, 2015
A typical filmy story line. The moment I was done with the Prologue, I knew I am delving into a not-so-interesting and a total bollywood story line featuring Agent Vinod aka Saif Ali Khan or our best spy, Salman Khan. Still I hoped Mr. Zaidi wouldn't disappoint his readers and their love for his efforts. But, alas! it seems he has let down our expectations.
Six Indians want to avenge the 26/11 attacks on India and how they do is in a form of classified, covert operation. The mention of facts, ways of killing the targets is definitely interesting and mentioning of facts such as about Israel or China or ISIS is good but then these facts have not been used properly.
There were too much words used to hide the identity of the RAW chief for it shouldn't comeback to India, but then no words (I mean no paragraph) have been used to inform the reader as when his identity became a known fact to the avengers. In one paragraph the author mentioned bradley's real name, and then I fail to understand why use fictitious names for other terrorists but not for Maulana Masood Azhar, when all them are facing trials or free functioning terrorists and cases are open in international and Indian courts. At some places grammatical errors.
I didn't feel it was a book from Mr. Zaidi as am accustomed to reading his much investigated fact books. Every dialogue, situation, the way two characters communicated, their humor, everything was filmy. I feel it is a triumph moment for Mr. Zaidi and his gang like Kabir Khan, Zaidi has been able to write and sold a story which is just a bollywood film written in a form of book. While reading I was thinking which Indian actor would play the role of which character in the book and I have my list ready :).
I wanted to give only one star but then second is for the facts.
Six Indians want to avenge the 26/11 attacks on India and how they do is in a form of classified, covert operation. The mention of facts, ways of killing the targets is definitely interesting and mentioning of facts such as about Israel or China or ISIS is good but then these facts have not been used properly.
There were too much words used to hide the identity of the RAW chief for it shouldn't comeback to India, but then no words (I mean no paragraph) have been used to inform the reader as when his identity became a known fact to the avengers. In one paragraph the author mentioned bradley's real name, and then I fail to understand why use fictitious names for other terrorists but not for Maulana Masood Azhar, when all them are facing trials or free functioning terrorists and cases are open in international and Indian courts. At some places grammatical errors.
I didn't feel it was a book from Mr. Zaidi as am accustomed to reading his much investigated fact books. Every dialogue, situation, the way two characters communicated, their humor, everything was filmy. I feel it is a triumph moment for Mr. Zaidi and his gang like Kabir Khan, Zaidi has been able to write and sold a story which is just a bollywood film written in a form of book. While reading I was thinking which Indian actor would play the role of which character in the book and I have my list ready :).
I wanted to give only one star but then second is for the facts.
August 19, 2019
It's like a Masala bollywood story (though a movie already made based on this book and trust me this book is way better than that). Where we can see fighting against terrorism, patriotism, and courage. It's good one time read.
May 9, 2015
Having read and liked Dongri to Dubai, I picked up this book.
Dongri to Dubai had a lot of content, and was published at a time when the inner workings of Mumbai's Mafia was not common knowledge. It had therefore grabbed my attention despite the writing being indifferent.
In Mumbai Avengers, the writing remains as indifferent but the content is missing. Instead of good content, we have a filmy story. The prologue and the first couple of chapters gives you a sense of what is to come.
Credibility too is a problem in the book. Take the first chapter for instance. Lacing a man's meal when the room service person is taking it to the room won't be as easy as the writer makes it out.
Guess the Hussain Zaidi brand is being milked.
Dongri to Dubai had a lot of content, and was published at a time when the inner workings of Mumbai's Mafia was not common knowledge. It had therefore grabbed my attention despite the writing being indifferent.
In Mumbai Avengers, the writing remains as indifferent but the content is missing. Instead of good content, we have a filmy story. The prologue and the first couple of chapters gives you a sense of what is to come.
Credibility too is a problem in the book. Take the first chapter for instance. Lacing a man's meal when the room service person is taking it to the room won't be as easy as the writer makes it out.
Guess the Hussain Zaidi brand is being milked.
April 1, 2015
The tagline on the cover "Soon to be a major motion picture "PHANTOM" *ing SAIF ALI KHAN & KATRINA KAIF" describes the book in an apt way. The plot is filmy and gives the impression that even before starting to write the book, S. Hussain Zaidi had sold book's rights to be made into a movie. No regrets on reading just about an ok fictional book, but I would like to see Zaidi writing more of non fictions.
February 6, 2021
Kabir Khan film Phantom, starring Saif Ali Khan and Katrina Kaif, is an adaptation of Zaidi's book Mumbai Avengers; the screenplay was written in conjunction with the author.
But in my opinion, it's better than the movie, I didn't feel it was a book from Mr Zaidi as am acquainted with perusing his much-examined fact books. Each exchange, circumstance, the manner in which two characters imparted, their humour, everything was dim.
But in my opinion, it's better than the movie, I didn't feel it was a book from Mr Zaidi as am acquainted with perusing his much-examined fact books. Each exchange, circumstance, the manner in which two characters imparted, their humour, everything was dim.
September 1, 2016
First Abu Salem and now this, Mr Zaidi has really managed to keep me glued to his books so much that I can't wait to grab another one from his kitty. Mumbai Avenger's plot is based on true events but the story has been given a fictional touch. And having said that, not even once you will feel that all the characters are fictional and nothing of this has happened or can happen in reality. High tech master plans to counter terrorism, crossing borders, creating multiple identities, exploding bombs, finishing the enemies, this book has it all. A-team is a bunch of experienced under cover officers and techies who make a plan to avenge the 26/11 Mumbai attacks by killing enemies/terrorists behind it. And they succeed in doing so that too by entering the lion's den. Read it to experience all the action that follows. Crisply written and entertaining. Go for it!!!
September 1, 2016
First Abu Salem and now this, Mr Zaidi has really managed to keep me glued to his books so much that I can't wait to grab another one from his kitty. Mumbai Avenger's plot is based on true events but the story has been given a fictional touch. And having said that, not even once you will feel that all the characters are fictional and nothing of this has happened or can happen in reality. High tech master plans to counter terrorism, crossing borders, creating multiple identities, exploding bombs, finishing the enemies, this book has it all. A-team is a bunch of experienced under cover officers and techies who make a plan to avenge the 26/11 Mumbai attacks by killing enemies/terrorists behind it. And they succeed in doing so that too by entering the lion's den. Read it to experience all the action that follows. Crisply written and entertaining. Go for it!!!
December 19, 2021
nice book but i wish my friends wood read it
November 22, 2024
Sort of disappointing but still better than the movie Phantom.
Seems that this book has been written keeping in mind that a movie can be made on it.
What is fiction and what is reality , no one can say.
The scenes seemed like they have been cut short to be covered under written language. Sketchy work. Unsatisfactory.
Seems that this book has been written keeping in mind that a movie can be made on it.
What is fiction and what is reality , no one can say.
The scenes seemed like they have been cut short to be covered under written language. Sketchy work. Unsatisfactory.
November 3, 2021
I was sooo excited to start this book because I've loved many previous Zaidi works. The concept of this is so intriguing and fuels the embers of frustration borne out of the inaction of our government after 26/11. It has sensational claims and appeals to the Indian mass. I'm not sure if this is his first forray into fiction but Zaidi's writing style is pretty dry, as usual, even in 'fiction' and lacks personality seeming like an accumulation of clinical statements and haphazardly inserts the feel of a typical bollywood/hollywood thriller movie script. There are countless mistakes in editing the manuscript which irritated me while reading it. Once or twice theauthor also slips up as the original names of the people appear rather provocatively. Zaidi,obviously is armed with a heavy chunk of information about the Indian administrative machinery. His research is pretty thorough in many avenues but there are places where he hurries to just get his plot over with or move on certain gears to suit his own desires and those lack logic. These places are pretty easy to spot and there're so many of them.
The main sestet of our Mumbai Avengers is eclectic- Rtd. Lt. Gen Sayed Ali Waris, a hero of Kargil, heads this unit of Iqbal Singh Kang- a diligent sharp policeman, Brijesh Singh, a retired colonel haunted by the Kargil war, Vikrant Singh, a young daredevil quick-witted army man, Subhrata Ray, a Bengali biotechnologist and geniticist, Laila Borges, the technical expert of this team. I particularly relished the rich background of Waris, Kang, Brijesh. Vikrant is embossed very well- a fleshed out character. Ray has his moments too. Laila is paper thin and I couldn't identify with her as a team member. This was another problem with Zaidi's writing, he fleshed out only half the charcters of the main team and even the main antagonist Afridi but never gave time to the others. Zaidi writes the pace of the plot in classic thriller mode and this is pretty exhausting in itself which leaves little time for anything else. The sensationalist fast pace, though, starts after heavy introductions of Waris, Brijesh and Kang. Zaidi takes great pains to transport us into this terrifyling world of cyber-terrorism, espionage, the Chinese, Israeli, American and Russian intelligences, a glimpse into the gigantic web of their networks, strengths and tactics and the double standards of these various intelligence agencies. So much is happening in every chapter that you have to pay your fullest attention to every sentence. Three-quarters of the book flies away without your notice. Then the problem starts. Because you start to realize that there are a lot of unrealistic situations - you can see through each of them. The pace is still pretty fast but I felt a nagging feeling as all the plot twists occured. One of the most illogical twists was Anyway, as the chase finally reached it's climax, it was a scary moment. And all of a sudden the book loses it's momentum and hits a final blow slyly.
The thing is this felt like a vent of the anger and frustration over the 'impotence' of our government. Most of India feels wronged and that proper steps to punish the perpetrators have not been taken after such a hideous attack. This might be a temporary 'feel-good' but it becomes harder to accept that in reality there will never be such 'Mumbai Avengers'.
Applaud the research in making this feel real but could've been a lot better. Won't bother with the film...
The main sestet of our Mumbai Avengers is eclectic- Rtd. Lt. Gen Sayed Ali Waris, a hero of Kargil, heads this unit of Iqbal Singh Kang- a diligent sharp policeman, Brijesh Singh, a retired colonel haunted by the Kargil war, Vikrant Singh, a young daredevil quick-witted army man, Subhrata Ray, a Bengali biotechnologist and geniticist, Laila Borges, the technical expert of this team. I particularly relished the rich background of Waris, Kang, Brijesh. Vikrant is embossed very well- a fleshed out character. Ray has his moments too. Laila is paper thin and I couldn't identify with her as a team member. This was another problem with Zaidi's writing, he fleshed out only half the charcters of the main team and even the main antagonist Afridi but never gave time to the others. Zaidi writes the pace of the plot in classic thriller mode and this is pretty exhausting in itself which leaves little time for anything else. The sensationalist fast pace, though, starts after heavy introductions of Waris, Brijesh and Kang. Zaidi takes great pains to transport us into this terrifyling world of cyber-terrorism, espionage, the Chinese, Israeli, American and Russian intelligences, a glimpse into the gigantic web of their networks, strengths and tactics and the double standards of these various intelligence agencies. So much is happening in every chapter that you have to pay your fullest attention to every sentence. Three-quarters of the book flies away without your notice. Then the problem starts. Because you start to realize that there are a lot of unrealistic situations - you can see through each of them. The pace is still pretty fast but I felt a nagging feeling as all the plot twists occured. One of the most illogical twists was Anyway, as the chase finally reached it's climax, it was a scary moment. And all of a sudden the book loses it's momentum and hits a final blow slyly.
The thing is this felt like a vent of the anger and frustration over the 'impotence' of our government. Most of India feels wronged and that proper steps to punish the perpetrators have not been taken after such a hideous attack. This might be a temporary 'feel-good' but it becomes harder to accept that in reality there will never be such 'Mumbai Avengers'.
Applaud the research in making this feel real but could've been a lot better. Won't bother with the film...
August 6, 2015
Thriller with Economical Car Pace !
MUMBAI AVENGERS as described has been a sentiment , a dream and an ambition especially in the post 26/11 scenario . After US Intrusion deep inside pakistan to assasinate Osama Bin Laden who's responsible for thousands of innocent killings , every single Indian Citizen wants same from their Government to go inside the enemy territory and avenge the death of Indians in 2611 . Plot hatched with the JPC Meet headed by Retired Lt. Syed Ali Waris who is strongly in favour to avenge Mumbai to seek justice by dispatching the masterminds of 2611 to hell but as happens in India , the meet ended with politics of we-are-not-a-peaceful-nation . But the scenario of an assassination attempt on PM Designate pull the strings in Secretary R's brain to carry out the operation of eliminating the terrorist to give a message that India can retaliate well and with that the Journey of Mumbai avenger begins extending from Karachi to Stockholm , Dubai to Istanbul and even includes 7 RCR . The illustrious and patriotic lineage accorded Waris a meritorious position in the army and he has been tasked to carry out the covert operation with a team including a police officer , a suave tech expert , a scientist and two battle hardened army officers . They annihilate the perpetrators with single minded focus , veiling the death as natural ones to save the Indian government from diplomatic and political embarrassment . Every assassination leaves the threads which let the avengers being pursued by ISI .
No doubt the story line is the dream of every single citizen of India . With the book , author tried to patch a message to the government to carry out such surgical strike to eliminate those who are a direct threat to Nation . a message that why can't India act as Israel . Why can't an act of violence to Indian citizen is considered as an act of war against the Nation as US & Israel does . The failure of the will power of government is considered as the inability to carry ant assault of Our Agencies . Author with the characters , their acts and with their sense of patriotism , shows how there are many unnamed soldiers who works in the dark to protect this nation from any ill , Soldiers who can never be medaled , True Heroes of Nation whom existence is denied by the government in case they are caught .I bought this book with the hope to read a pacy thriller , cliffhanger one which keeps me sit on the edge but the narration shattered all the attempts . plot line is good but the way of narration is very poor , words which let the adrenaline rush aren't bolted well . Lines which let any defense enthusiast to glued with the book are missing ! So That's why the book is a thriller but with a middle-class /economical class car's speed .
MUMBAI AVENGERS as described has been a sentiment , a dream and an ambition especially in the post 26/11 scenario . After US Intrusion deep inside pakistan to assasinate Osama Bin Laden who's responsible for thousands of innocent killings , every single Indian Citizen wants same from their Government to go inside the enemy territory and avenge the death of Indians in 2611 . Plot hatched with the JPC Meet headed by Retired Lt. Syed Ali Waris who is strongly in favour to avenge Mumbai to seek justice by dispatching the masterminds of 2611 to hell but as happens in India , the meet ended with politics of we-are-not-a-peaceful-nation . But the scenario of an assassination attempt on PM Designate pull the strings in Secretary R's brain to carry out the operation of eliminating the terrorist to give a message that India can retaliate well and with that the Journey of Mumbai avenger begins extending from Karachi to Stockholm , Dubai to Istanbul and even includes 7 RCR . The illustrious and patriotic lineage accorded Waris a meritorious position in the army and he has been tasked to carry out the covert operation with a team including a police officer , a suave tech expert , a scientist and two battle hardened army officers . They annihilate the perpetrators with single minded focus , veiling the death as natural ones to save the Indian government from diplomatic and political embarrassment . Every assassination leaves the threads which let the avengers being pursued by ISI .
No doubt the story line is the dream of every single citizen of India . With the book , author tried to patch a message to the government to carry out such surgical strike to eliminate those who are a direct threat to Nation . a message that why can't India act as Israel . Why can't an act of violence to Indian citizen is considered as an act of war against the Nation as US & Israel does . The failure of the will power of government is considered as the inability to carry ant assault of Our Agencies . Author with the characters , their acts and with their sense of patriotism , shows how there are many unnamed soldiers who works in the dark to protect this nation from any ill , Soldiers who can never be medaled , True Heroes of Nation whom existence is denied by the government in case they are caught .I bought this book with the hope to read a pacy thriller , cliffhanger one which keeps me sit on the edge but the narration shattered all the attempts . plot line is good but the way of narration is very poor , words which let the adrenaline rush aren't bolted well . Lines which let any defense enthusiast to glued with the book are missing ! So That's why the book is a thriller but with a middle-class /economical class car's speed .
February 13, 2017
The plot is deceptively simple – go after the perpetrators, the planners of the 26/11 plot and bring them to justice, strike back at the monster and seek justice for the victims of the wanton murder and mayhem that happened from 26/11/2008 to 30/11/2008 in Mumbai, India. The book is, from the start to the finish,single-mindedly focussed on only one aspect : Justice. There are no subplots, no needless twists and turns, and no mandatory love angle anywhere. That is the beauty of the plot; it is a lovely taut narrative, completely focussed in its core task with no diversions at all.
The concept has been rolled out extremely well, and comes across as totally feasible and practical; that is its main power. The story starts with a presentation by a retired Army General with a proposal to hit back at Pakistan; one which immediately meets with scepticism and mistrust from the political powers that be. This General – Lt General Syed Waris Ali – is then approached by an old friend from his army days – now in RAW with a simple proposition : do it. But I don’t know you did it, and you don’t know or remember that I told you to do it.
Catch the entire review here : https://reflectionsvvk.blogspot.in/20...
The concept has been rolled out extremely well, and comes across as totally feasible and practical; that is its main power. The story starts with a presentation by a retired Army General with a proposal to hit back at Pakistan; one which immediately meets with scepticism and mistrust from the political powers that be. This General – Lt General Syed Waris Ali – is then approached by an old friend from his army days – now in RAW with a simple proposition : do it. But I don’t know you did it, and you don’t know or remember that I told you to do it.
Catch the entire review here : https://reflectionsvvk.blogspot.in/20...
June 27, 2015
Reading Mr Hussain Zaidi proves that he is that band of Muslims who proves all the conservatives wrong. Yes, this was the first book of this author i was reading, and guess what before completing it, i ordered other of his book 'dongri to dubai'. Really, he has a lots of courage. So much that he has written on the don dangerous as Dawood Ibrahim.
Coming onto this boo, the book starts with a topic. Hitting directly at the bulls eye, showing the weaknesses of our nation. Especially the beauraracy and the political class, which lacks courage to take decision and correct decisions. And its all about 26/11 and the better part of this fiction is that he has killed all the terrorist directly responsible for attacks and you won't believe, the soothing effect it gives you, even though Fiction but it feels wonderful to see those bloody rascals die.
Its really a great read. Worth read, especially those who love their country a lot. And it won't take you more than couple of days to read it if you read it at a stretch. Its a very swift writing and an effortless reading. Well done Hussain Bhai.
Coming onto this boo, the book starts with a topic. Hitting directly at the bulls eye, showing the weaknesses of our nation. Especially the beauraracy and the political class, which lacks courage to take decision and correct decisions. And its all about 26/11 and the better part of this fiction is that he has killed all the terrorist directly responsible for attacks and you won't believe, the soothing effect it gives you, even though Fiction but it feels wonderful to see those bloody rascals die.
Its really a great read. Worth read, especially those who love their country a lot. And it won't take you more than couple of days to read it if you read it at a stretch. Its a very swift writing and an effortless reading. Well done Hussain Bhai.
November 16, 2015
The biggest mistake I did was watching the movie Phantom, directed by Kabir Khan which was based on this novel before actually reading the book. As I had a pile of books which I had bought but yet to read, I postponed buying this book every time I spotted it online or in a book store. The Diwali sale on Amazon offered me the Kindle version of this book for a price much cheaper, I could not refuse it. The book finally made way to my Kindle and I started reading it. The film did not do any justice to the book in content or presentation. What could have been a multi starrer blockbuster ended up as an Indian Rambo version not hitting the mark. The book is about something that every Indian dream of. Paying off and bringing justice to the victims of 26/11 and the whole nation. The concept is something absurd and out of box thinking which none of Indian agencies would dare to think of. This time need people like Lt. General Waris and his A Team or the Mumbai Avengers who can spill the same terror make people think twice before they strike against our nation anymore.
This book is highly recommended for those who love spy thrillers and patriotic heroism. You won't be disappointed.
This book is highly recommended for those who love spy thrillers and patriotic heroism. You won't be disappointed.
May 30, 2015
It starts of well but losses it's plot the way India lost it's, after the independence, in terms of handling Pakistan from the day one. I wish ZAIDI and lot of we Indians, our dream to nail Pakistan comes true and hope India's top brass have the balls to do so. Why take an example from America, I think we should use the plethora of Indian intelligence. The only thing is we should have the political will that
America had in Osama's case. But then there is this vote bank which has to be taken care of, which America didn't have to. As a matter of fact Obama won by a fantastic margin. The bastards who are born and live in India still dream of Pakistani rule here in India someday... ATROCIOUS ISNT IT !!! ???
America had in Osama's case. But then there is this vote bank which has to be taken care of, which America didn't have to. As a matter of fact Obama won by a fantastic margin. The bastards who are born and live in India still dream of Pakistani rule here in India someday... ATROCIOUS ISNT IT !!! ???
April 5, 2015
A filmy thriller, but entertaining nonetheless. A book even though on fiction coming from Zaidi saheb has a set of expectation. He has tried to stay true to them, to the best of his abilities.
Story has some really convenient plot twists, which after once or twice starts to dilute the overall plot. If we have the expectation of a really good literature read, we might be disappointed. On the other hand, if the expectation is to read for fun, its much better than many of its peers!
Story has some really convenient plot twists, which after once or twice starts to dilute the overall plot. If we have the expectation of a really good literature read, we might be disappointed. On the other hand, if the expectation is to read for fun, its much better than many of its peers!
May 1, 2015
The characters and the background of the plot is too real, with just the names changed from Lakhvi to Umavi and Headley to Bradley (although the author slips at one place, at the beginning!). This is strictly movie material as the plot that begins with facts moves on to become too fantastic. You just end up wishing - if only this could become true.
August 20, 2016
The story line of a group of patriotic Indians taking revenge for 26/11 is good but the execution is not up to the expectation. Fictional plots to kill the terror masterminds does not sound practical in some cases. Overall pace of the story is good and it rides solely on the patriotic feeling of India.
September 26, 2015
apart from the last 50-60 pages which sound too good to be true, the rest of the book is perfecty researched, brilliantly written with emphasis on minute details. I find his writing reminiscent of Frederick Fordsyths books.
April 24, 2015
Easy quick read. Thriller with conspiracies involved with intelligence units. Though at times the pace is slow, but you won't lose interest.
December 5, 2025
I was predisposed positively towards this book even before picking it up. Nothing beats a clandestine assassination mission on foreign soil, that too of perpetrators of the 26/11 attack as far as plot points go.
The basic requirements of such a plot are all there. The team, the mission, the plan, the chase and the motivation. It is written in a dramatic Bollywood movie style, I give you that but the way the mission progresses, it is not boring at all. They take you around the world and back for these missions and each target is taken out in an interesting way.
However, if you are a spy thriller aficionado this will feel a little shallow. The expected attention to detail isn't there, the dialogues seem a bit too cheerful for serious situations. It doesn't give you any insight into that world, there isn't anything that a regular person would have to google to understand. I wanted that, it feels authentic if espionage related jargons are thrown our way. There are some plot holes there as well, some obvious things are conveniently overlooked, lot of loose ends.
I figured I would enjoy it better if I just went with the flow and the Flow is great and pretty satisfying. There is a movie based on this book called "Phantom" starring Saif Ali Khan and Katrina Kaif but it never registered in my head that it's the same story. Weird.
The basic requirements of such a plot are all there. The team, the mission, the plan, the chase and the motivation. It is written in a dramatic Bollywood movie style, I give you that but the way the mission progresses, it is not boring at all. They take you around the world and back for these missions and each target is taken out in an interesting way.
However, if you are a spy thriller aficionado this will feel a little shallow. The expected attention to detail isn't there, the dialogues seem a bit too cheerful for serious situations. It doesn't give you any insight into that world, there isn't anything that a regular person would have to google to understand. I wanted that, it feels authentic if espionage related jargons are thrown our way. There are some plot holes there as well, some obvious things are conveniently overlooked, lot of loose ends.
I figured I would enjoy it better if I just went with the flow and the Flow is great and pretty satisfying. There is a movie based on this book called "Phantom" starring Saif Ali Khan and Katrina Kaif but it never registered in my head that it's the same story. Weird.
October 21, 2018
Rated it 3, but it's more like 3.5 stars. The more pertinent question - should you read it?
If you are deciding between a TV series (unless it’s a Marvel series) and this book, then read the book. The book is a fictional account of how a team led by spies in India avenge the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai. It is a page turner, but only because of its plot and not because of the writing style.
Sometimes the writer repeats eye-catching phrases like ‘shitting stones’, which leaves you wondering whether he needs help finding better words. The scenes and characters are typical, coming straight out of spy movies. The ‘A team’ (as they call themselves) comprises one lady good with computers (and in looks), one science geek and 4 muscular men making the field team.
But still, did I enjoy it? Yes. Mainly because the story line is connected to finding justice for the Mumbai attacks and the patriot inside wants to read the story of a highly skilled team of agents brazenly avenging the attacks without regards for their life. It’s a story of heroes and who doesn’t like heroes?
If you are deciding between a TV series (unless it’s a Marvel series) and this book, then read the book. The book is a fictional account of how a team led by spies in India avenge the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai. It is a page turner, but only because of its plot and not because of the writing style.
Sometimes the writer repeats eye-catching phrases like ‘shitting stones’, which leaves you wondering whether he needs help finding better words. The scenes and characters are typical, coming straight out of spy movies. The ‘A team’ (as they call themselves) comprises one lady good with computers (and in looks), one science geek and 4 muscular men making the field team.
But still, did I enjoy it? Yes. Mainly because the story line is connected to finding justice for the Mumbai attacks and the patriot inside wants to read the story of a highly skilled team of agents brazenly avenging the attacks without regards for their life. It’s a story of heroes and who doesn’t like heroes?
August 3, 2018
Zaidi is a good author. Maybe some will find this book also great. Definitely the plot is good--to avenge the attack on Mumbai on 26/11. However, every incident and plot is too far stretched. Particularly in the second half Pakistan is shown to be full of imbeciles that just a handful of operatives can enter, stay, attack multiple targets and escape by the sea route.
More like a fairy tale. Couldn't wait to finish it.
More like a fairy tale. Couldn't wait to finish it.
January 8, 2019
Hussain Zaidi should really just focus all his energy and time on non fiction works.. Mafia Queens was so powerful because of all the investigative journalism that made it.
This book of fiction reads like a bad Bollywood movie, in a too good to be true format, and leaves zero learning/ thought/ ponderance for the reader once you put it down.
This book of fiction reads like a bad Bollywood movie, in a too good to be true format, and leaves zero learning/ thought/ ponderance for the reader once you put it down.
March 1, 2019
I picked up this book with high expectations since I loved the author's style in his non-fiction books. But it proved that a good journalist may not always be a good narrator of fiction. Too filmy, too contrived and too unrealistic. Might make for a masala bollywood movie. But utter disappointment as a fiction!
September 11, 2024
Mumbai Avengers is an excellent depiction of how a secret mission takes place and the journey of the agents to takeout India's most wanted criminals. The details and narration of the mission makes the readers appreciate the work done by special forces. I wish such missions were carried in today's time.
April 14, 2019
It's a commonly talked about plot in which the author has considered potential counter action against terrorists acting against India. There is a movie based on this book. After reading the book, I can say that the book is much better.
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