Sonal Singh On Sonal's Table
Priya Nayak Gole’s ‘The Zora Trigger’ is a fast-paced thriller that takes one on a ride into the machinations and workings of the Indian military. Being a thriller, the book is replete with suspense, deception, a race to find elusive answers and also an edge of the seat expectation. You want to flip through the pages faster in order to reach the end, to reach the resolution of the plotline.
Some things that I found noteworthy in the book
1. Language – the language is fast-paced, with short sentence structuring in keeping with the genre, and that helps to build an aura of intrigue in the storyline. The language is sans any unnecessary metaphors or frills and I appreciated that.
2. Story – I appreciated the backdrop of the armed forces juxtaposed with ISRO. The story felt like a Bollywood movie and I believe can become one too.
3. Book cover – the cover of the book also holds the theme of thrill and intrigue and attracts attention.
4. Characterization – The characters exhibit depth. Complicated and flawed backstories give the characters an interesting mix of quirks, habits, and inclinations. Their stark contrast explodes emotions into the story and that really worked for me. I liked Paramjeet’s character a lot. His resilience in the face of abject defeat, his gumption to clear his name; all resonated deeply with me.
5. Research – I applaud Priya for the depth of research that she must have done to write this story. The lives of defence personnel, their discipline, and their selfless willingness to die for their country are depicted well.
Things that could be food for thought
1. The backstory sequences in the beginning of the book (for Major Paramjeet) could have been slightly more spread out in the story or could have had a little more ‘show’. But it’s a minor thing and does not really detract from the book’s essence.
All in all, I enjoyed reading this book and I hope others pick it up too.
