As I was browsing Kindle Unlimited for new fiction books, I found The 5th Fanatic, the next book in the Unit 22 series of Mainak Dhar. Remember The 4th Traitor ? Maj Aaditya Sen is back for another round of non-stop action.
The 5th Fanatic – Summary
The book starts where The 4th Traitor left off with Malini still in the US and Aaditya Sen returning to India. The political landscape had changed completely when Aaditya was away. A new government is about to be sworn in and they have shunted off Sen’s boss Srini to some admin role. The new boss Mitra wants to shut down Unit 22 and the threat of court martial hangs over Major Sen’s head.
Maj Sen is told to go on leave and start looking for a job. In the course of finding a job, Maj Sen finds himself back in Kashmir and when he attends a high profile party, he ends up finding trouble. He intervenes in a terror attack and manages to capture one of the terrorist. Strangely enough, the new government tries to blame him…. his buddies come to Srinagar and ensure that he has enough backup. Srini and the NSA also help Maj Sen covertly.
This story, while set in Srinagar, closely resembles the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack. The terrorists from across the border shout “Jai Sri Ram” and the new government’s important minister calls it Hindu terror. We all know which party cozies upto China and Pakistan. Even if that party’s leader is portrayed as someone who is a “nice” person, right through, we realise there is a twist right at the end with Razia, the Pakistani spy who commits suicide in captivity.
It’s a page turner just like the others and the action sequences are believable because the protagonist is a decorated soldier.
It’s great to see Maj Sen’s relationship with Malini takes a more permanent route. I was very worried that she would also be bumped off, especially when she gets kidnapped. The ending is a nice touch of how the Indian Army separates the enemy soldiers, misguided youth posing as terrorists and the regular citizens. Very important for many of us to know. Also the price of war is steep… mothers lose their sons, wives lose their husbands, sisters lose their brothers and now with women entering the armed forces, children stand to lose their mother and father.
Can just hope that sense prevails and unnecessary war mongering stops. That being said, the just wars have to be fought !!!
For all those who are military thrill seekers, do read the book. Mainak Dhar has delivered yet another smash hit. My rating – 5/5.