Twice Shy (Published in 1981) - Story in 2 parts, 14 years in between - Authored by Dick Francis

Twice Shy is narrated by John and William Derry, in two parts.

John Derry is head of the Physics Department at the West Ealing School, ‘with four masters and two technicians under my name.’ He follows innovative and somewhat unorthodox ways of teaching, which include getting an air gun into class to teach the students a lesson in speed! John has been married, eight years, to Sarah; they feel little attraction for each other and the marriage is like the many we see around us - for name sake’s only. For a young man of thirty three, Derry seems sounds dour, but is actually a solid, dependable guy. There are no offspring, but John has a much younger brother - William who is fifteen years old, tucked away at an expensive boarding school, thanks to a wealthy inheritance. Where is the trademark Francis horses? Well, William wants to be a jockey!
The teacher’s travails begin when his friend Peter hands over deceptively innocent audio music tapes - three of them, for safekeeping. Peter’s wife Donna is having psychological problems, serious ones - she’s stolen a baby - and to make all else worse, he is killed in an explosion! The tapes are far from musical, they are actually a coded computer language, used for betting by a gambler and criminal called Liam O’Rourke. After Peter’s sad demise, two low-lives land up at his doorstep - Angelo and Harry Gilbert, who demand that he handover the tapes to him - they want their hands on the tapes to find out details of the system that bets only on winning horses.




The first half of the book narrated by John Derry is and account of how he tries to safeguard the tapes, dodging the deadly duo and also multi tasking, i. e trying to unravel the secret behind the demand for the tapes. As luck would have it, time runs out for the criminals, and they are both sentenced to fourteen years in prison.
This is the second half of the book, narrated by William Derry, when the criminals have done time. Meanwhile, Jonathan migrates to the US, and takes up a teaching job there. Will, on the other hand, gives in to his love for horses and becomes a successful jockey, he retires when he gets a tad taller and heavier to ride. He then transitions to become a racing manager for a well to do horse owner. He also discovers that Angelo , for some reason believes it is Will who has been the thorn in his side, and the cause for all the bad stuff happening to him - therefore, obviously, Will deserves to die!
Twice Shy is written in the mystery form of Le Carre and PD James, it is Francis’s nineteenth novel. Although the plot is straightforward, the added dimension of the fourteen years works as an uplifting perspective. It is also the inspiration for a film by the same name, directed by Deirdre Friel and released in 1989. The screenplay was jointly written by Dick Francis and Miles Henderson. An interesting read, somewhat bumpy owing to the trappings of all mystery forms of writing and the aspect of technology in the ‘80s progressing towards the ‘90s - not a smooth transition there; even so, a good book on a rainy day.

The Second Lady (published in 1981) - Written by Irving Wallace

Irving Wallace was born in Chicago, to Jewish parents,Bessie and Alexander Wallace Who had emigrated from Russia. He completed his studies in California and started out as a journalist at a tender age of 15. He studied creative writing at the Williams Institute in Berkley and from the mid-30s he worked as a free-lance correspondent. In 1941 he married Sylvia Kahn; they had two children. Irving Wallace served in the air force during world war two and later collaborated in several movies as a writer. His first book "Sins of Peter Fleming" did not attract much attention. But his second book influenced by the Kinsey report was a best seller. He has been a prolific churner of best sellers and his books have been adapted as major movies. He died on June 29, 1990.
The best spy is the one who is the most closest to the center of power. In this story the most powerful man in the world, the president of the United States has to be manipulated and who better to do this than his own wife. So how easy can an enemy nation have if they can supplant the first lady with their own stooge. Thats the premise of "The Second Lady".
Billie Bradshaw is the wife of Andrew Bradshaw, the president of the United States who is one of the most popular women in the world. He beauty and poise makes her the most sought after and photographed lady. So the Soviets hatch a plan to put a look alike in her place. So Vera Vavilova, a small time actress gets a role of her life time to play the first lady due to her uncanny resemblance to Billie.



But there are many hurdles for Vera to pass which includes extensive tutoring and training. She has to understand every nuances and behavior of the first lady, her likes, dislikes, friends, enemies and even sex life. She is coached by Alex Razin, a Soviet agent who slowly develops an intimacy due to close proximity. Every physical feature including a scar due to appendectomy is replicated by plastic surgeons in Vera's body. Wallace describes the training process very well in the book and bulk of the early material is devoted for this.
Anyways Billie is abducted and Vera is supplanted in the White House. She gets in to the skin of the character very soon except for small hurdles like when Billie's pet dog does not recognize her, or when she mistakes an old friend for another. But all in all Vera starts enjoying the power and plans to stay on.
Billie on the other hand is drugged and kept in a secret place. Soon she starts to develop a plan to escape and is aided by Alex Razin. After a lot of intrigue they manage to outwit the KGB and escape to America. They confront Vera and plan to thwart the Soviet plan. But Soviets are one step ahead of them and detonate bomb which kills Razin and one of them. Who survives to take the place next to the President is the million dollar question that the reader asks? This book is not one of Wallace's best works and has lot of loopholes and ambiguity around it. It is difficult to accept an ability of an actress to fool an entire security apparatus and a husband. But still, it is good enough for for a one time read.

River of Death (published in 1981) - Authored by Alistair Maclean - moving away from the cold and wet areas to the tropical jungle

Alistair MacLean is a Scottish writer who specialized in writing thrillers and crime stories. He was third son of a Scottish minister and joined the Royal Navy during the world war two. He was a senior torpedo operator at the height of his career. He was in the thick of the war theater during the world war and saw action on many fronts especially the arctic north. After retiring he started penning his novels based on the war he saw and many of them became best sellers. Maclean never looked back as a writer until his death in 1987.
River of Death is a thriller by Alistair Maclean which happens around the Amazonian jungle. Maclean has always placed his settings within the confines of the most inhospitable environments. Here the protagonists have to battle the jungle with insects, piranhas, crocodiles and hostile cannibal tribes. He says something for the preservation of the old civilizations and the environment itself.
The story opens with the fag end of world war two, where at the docks of Wihelmshaven, the SS soldiers are loading crates of gold and precious stones in the submarine. General Von Monteuffel and Colonel Spatz head overseeing the loading of the crates. Spatz leave to check on the operations along the border with the Russians and the general promises to wait for him. Spatz returns with Russians and allies hot on his heels and is betrayed by Von Monteuffel who leaves him stranded at the dock.



As the flash back settles in, the story moves in a different direction. John Hamilton, is the archaeologist who has discovered a lost city deep in the Amazonian Jungle. As soon as he has made the discovery public, Smith a German millionaire who has a mysterious shady connection makes him a proposal of funding the expedition to the lost city. Hamilton agrees and along with his trusted lieutenants, Ramon and Navarro, he sets off to the Jungle with Smith and his henchmen, Hiller and Tracy. In the group, Smith's secretary Maria is also present.
As soon as they set in to the Jungle they get easily lost. They fight huge crocodiles and insects. Maria who seems to have developed a soft corner for Hamilton is saved from the anaconda who has almost devoured her. Ramon and Navarro seem the happy go lucky people who crack jokes and are never afraid of anything. The whole group run for their lives from the cannibalistic tribes.
They soon reach the destination and the action hots up. They discover a German settlement which is headed by General Von Monteuffel. Smith is revealed to be Spatz who was seeking them to avenge his betrayal. Maria turns out to be the secret agent from the Mossad. As the action hots up many are killed and Von Monteuffel is captured. Hamilton reveals to him that his actions were also to avenge the killing of his wife by the general. Soon huge treasure and the murderers are captured and brought before the world.
Maclean has given an innovative setting for a thriller but fails to keep the reader riveted in his seat. The Action sequences are too predictable and many work in favor of the hero. So there is no adrenaline rush or a special affection for the characters. But the tale is short and one can finish it in two hours. So if you are in a mood for some flippant reading, take it up.