Bombay Ice - Leslie Forbes
What happens when the glitzy world of moviemaking Bombay meets the gritty conventions of
... more
film noir? With luck, something like this dazzlingly ambitious novel from Canadian journalist Leslie Forbes. "I haven't seen the eunuch in almost four weeks. Ignore what I wrote you before. No need to come here and rescue me," Miranda Sharma writes her sister from Bombay, in a disconcertingly "schizophrenic" postcard that sends Rosalind Bengal across continents and deep into a world where nothing is what it seems. Part Scottish, part Indian, Roz is a crime journalist who can't help following a good lead when it appears, especially when her sister's welfare is at stake. Miranda recently married one of the Indian film industry's most prominent directors, Prosper Sharma, a man who's spent 20 years working on a movie version ofThe Tempestand who is rumoured to have murdered his first wife. After her postcard, four hijra--eunuchs or transvestites--are found drowned in an eight-week period, one of them with alleged connections to the film industry. Coincidence or not, Roz feels compelled to investigate.What follows is a most unusual thriller, and not just by virtue of its setting. Crackling with wordplay and allusion, and set against a city that resembles nothing so much as a stage set under construction, the hyper-literateBombay Icesports influences ranging from Shakespeare to Sunset Boulevard, chaos theory to Raymond Chandler. In between meditations on alchemy, entropy, and the science of weather, Forbes constructs an intricate story charged with all the tension of the coming monsoon. The result is never less than interesting, even when, as occasionally happens, the book's intellectual concerns threaten to overpower its plot. --Amazon.com
Advantages: Fast-paced, well-written and researched, great setting Disadvantages: Complicated plot, interspersed with unnecessary comments on scientific theory
...Introduction
I have always been interested in reading crime fiction based in other countries, so this seemed an ideal choice when I spotted it in my local library, despite the fact that I have never heard of this author. On the whole, I think I made a good choice - the setting is fabulous and has obviously been well-researched and the story is fast-moving. It is not a light read, however, much concentration is needed to follow the rather complicated plot and the unfamiliar names of the characters and places. The book is also a long one - some 400 pages larger than the size of an average paperback.
The author
LeslieForbes was born in Canada. She studied physics and politics in Canada and then film and design in London, but dropped out of both courses. Following this, she worked in fashion before working as a designer for BBC. She wrote...
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Advantages: Fast-paced, well-written and researched, great setting Disadvantages: Complicated plot, interspersed with unnecessary comments on scientific theory
...Introduction
I have always been interested in reading crime fiction based in other countries, so this seemed an ideal choice when I spotted it in my local library, despite the fact that I have never heard of this author. On the whole, I think I made a good choice - the setting is fabulous and has obviously been well-researched and the story is fast-moving. It is not a light read, however, much concentration is needed to follow the rather complicated plot and the unfamiliar names of the characters and places. The book is also a long one - some 400 pages larger than the size of an average paperback.
The author
LeslieForbes was born in Canada. She studied physics and politics in Canada and then film and design in London, but dropped out of both courses. Following this, she worked in fashion before working as a designer for BBC. She wrote...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: A good read with an interesting, if predictable plot Disadvantages: Coincidences in the book do sometimes stretch the realms of reality
...Colin Forbes once again plunges the reader into a headlong battle between Tweed & Co and the enemy (in this case "THE SISTERHOOD".
Along with other books written by Colin Forbes the book is fast moving and enjoyable - although somewhat predictable if you have read any of his other books.
Although the plot is quite good this book, like his others, involves a series of conicidences which are quite unbeleivable - no matter where the team go in europe they always meet the same group of people quite by chance.
Paula, again is supposed to be strong of mind and character but, unlike the male characters goes into a state of shock at everything.
There are many old fashioned ideas in the book regarding what women should or not should or wear and how they should behave.
Again anything foregin (except the police chiefs) are to be mistrusted...
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Advantages: Good Book, Interesting and somewhat believable Disadvantages: Story simularish to other Colin Forbes Books
...Technical Information:
Paperback 502 pages (December 10, 1999 Version)
Publisher: Pan
ISBN: 0330374893
Categories: Fiction , Crime, Thrillers & Mystery
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Colin Forbes has written now over 40 Books, both as Colin Forbes and other names, including Jay Bernard and Harold English. He wrote his first book published as Colin Forbes (Tramp in Armour) in 1969 and since then all of his books have been published with this name. His real name is apparently Raymond Sawkins.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Now this is a book about Tweed and his colleagues, including Paula Grey and Bob Newmann among others.
Right the basic story is that the British Prime Minister is assassinated and an attempt is made on the CIA Director's life.
British spies Tweed, Paula Grey and Bob Newman are called in and they discover a massive conspiracy.
Meanwhile...
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03.11.2005
11.07.2001
14.09.2005
