Review of Khanjar
Posted: 17 Jul 2023, 05:34
[Following is a volunteer review of "Khanjar" by Bob O'Brien.]
The Palestinian-Israeli conflict has raged for decades; it is complex to the rest of the world yet so simple to those affected by it. In Bob O'brien's riveting crime novel, we see the effects of it.
Dr. Nasir travels to America in the intention of serving his people. He lands there to learn more about their remarkable tunneling and boring techniques in the hopes of using them to build tunnels from Sinai to Gaza and eventually to the West Bank, bringing much-needed water to his oppressed people.
The plot thickens and spirals around this concept, aiding the Palestinians in their decades-long conflict with the Israeli. It becomes more complicated when several factions of the American and worldwide governments become involved, resulting in a chaotic, exhilarating, murder-filled journey for our doctor.
Khanjar by Bob O'brien has several threads and storylines running at the same time. This can be highly confusing for the reader, especially at the start when the first chapter exposes us to the harsh world with a murder and the second flips to our protagonist's arrival in America, slowing down the pace.
I was fascinated by the first chapter, but the couple that followed were unclear and full of questions that had yet to be proven relevant to the story. Around the quarter-way point, the plot picks up and we as readers are forced to pay closer attention.
Many of the people get caught up in the commotion and mystery of the ensuing crimes, but the plot seems to lack a sense of urgency. It appeared to be lacking in stakes. I believed in Nasir's mission and its importance, but it never appeared like his plan was in risk at any point during the many obstacles he faced, so I wasn't entirely engrossed.
I'll give this book a 4 out of 5 stars since it failed to immerse me in its world and make me feel strongly about Nasir's objective. It would have received all five stars if not for those two caveats.
It was carefully edited, and the errors that did appear were not as numerous or obtrusive.
Khanjar is best suited for fans of thrillers, crime, and mysteries. It satisfied those aches for me and made me think more about the world and the endless wars we are constantly starting.
******
Khanjar
View: on Bookshelves
The Palestinian-Israeli conflict has raged for decades; it is complex to the rest of the world yet so simple to those affected by it. In Bob O'brien's riveting crime novel, we see the effects of it.
Dr. Nasir travels to America in the intention of serving his people. He lands there to learn more about their remarkable tunneling and boring techniques in the hopes of using them to build tunnels from Sinai to Gaza and eventually to the West Bank, bringing much-needed water to his oppressed people.
The plot thickens and spirals around this concept, aiding the Palestinians in their decades-long conflict with the Israeli. It becomes more complicated when several factions of the American and worldwide governments become involved, resulting in a chaotic, exhilarating, murder-filled journey for our doctor.
Khanjar by Bob O'brien has several threads and storylines running at the same time. This can be highly confusing for the reader, especially at the start when the first chapter exposes us to the harsh world with a murder and the second flips to our protagonist's arrival in America, slowing down the pace.
I was fascinated by the first chapter, but the couple that followed were unclear and full of questions that had yet to be proven relevant to the story. Around the quarter-way point, the plot picks up and we as readers are forced to pay closer attention.
Many of the people get caught up in the commotion and mystery of the ensuing crimes, but the plot seems to lack a sense of urgency. It appeared to be lacking in stakes. I believed in Nasir's mission and its importance, but it never appeared like his plan was in risk at any point during the many obstacles he faced, so I wasn't entirely engrossed.
I'll give this book a 4 out of 5 stars since it failed to immerse me in its world and make me feel strongly about Nasir's objective. It would have received all five stars if not for those two caveats.
It was carefully edited, and the errors that did appear were not as numerous or obtrusive.
Khanjar is best suited for fans of thrillers, crime, and mysteries. It satisfied those aches for me and made me think more about the world and the endless wars we are constantly starting.
******
Khanjar
View: on Bookshelves