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ST ORANGE
, April 18, 2012
Corporate thrillers, unlike police /espionage /medical /legal thrillers, are uncommon. I was therefore intrigued and curious to find one written by a Singaporean. To my delight, the book proved to be exciting and a page-turner. The plot and sub-plots, though convoluted, fall in place towards the end.
The story starts with the childhood enmity between Edwin (the good guy) and Roy (the bad guy) and a murder.
Fast forward and Edwin, now an adult, loses his job" engineered by Roy.
Edwin goes into business and shady characters try to defraud him. Before long, we are on a roller coaster ride with Edwin racing to save his business by tapping questionable financial sources from India and Thailand" these scenes give the readers a peek into the practices of Asian business families.
The language evolves with the time and age of the characters and the author captures these well. He also slips in snippets like the secret society oaths of Chinese gangs.
The supporting characters are engaging and unforgettable. I found many scenes captivating and even hilarious "Edwin’s little bet with his Indian contact, Chandra Mohan; Edwin’s interactions with his Indian friend, “Jabbar the Hutt”. These episodes add depth and breadth to the storyline. Another interesting character is Laozi, the old underworld boss. Desmond, Roy’s godson, is a pathetic figure that would ordinarily evoke sympathy" but not when we witness how he brutalizes his wife and other women. His character is well developed" but I hate him. Edwin’s son, Shaun, and his protégé Srikanth are both adorable young men.
Compared to these characters, Edwin comes across as harsh, driven and lacking in charm" though we feel sympathetic, he is not exactly lovable. The antagonist, Roy, also comes up a little short" but another person I love to hate.
Overall, there is enough going in this novel to transform it into a tele series.
The work has a refreshing business idea, fantastic plot, good character development and a fast-paced plot. I plan to read more of Eric Alagan’s novels.
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