Review of Khanjar
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Ngozi Onyibor
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Review of Khanjar
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Khanjar" by Bob O'Brien.]
Khanjar by Bob O’Brien is a suspenseful crime thriller that follows a Palestinian engineer, Paul Shehadeh, who strives to bring access to clean water to the Palestinian people through his Living Water project in collaboration with China. He travels to America as a research fellow and guest lecturer at Columbia University. On the surface, he plans to spend his time in America learning about the country’s water infrastructure and pipeline tunneling system while garnering supporters for his project. However, he also has another motive. While in America, he soon learns he is not the only one with ulterior motives.
I enjoyed the execution of the plot. The book encompasses two storylines. Paul’s story intertwines with that of a pair of daggers called khanjars, which were stolen from Iraq during the removal of Saddam Hussein. Both storylines blend seamlessly.
Beyond being entertaining, I appreciate how the author used the story to draw attention to real-life issues, like the long-standing conflict between Israel and Palestine. Bob did a great job of highlighting the central issues between both countries. It is eye-opening how access to clean water—something many people in developed countries take for granted—can be used as a tool of control.
Another interesting aspect of the novel is the characters. I especially liked that there was equal representation of men and women in the plot. The characters were sufficiently developed as well. Lucy’s growth was by far the most impressive. For someone who started out as a self-absorbed, tantrum-throwing adult, by the end of the story, she matured into a smart, considerate, and confident woman. I attribute her growth to her harrowing ordeal with JJ. Still, her transformation was impressive nonetheless.
Furthermore, I enjoyed the dialogue in the story. It wasn’t complex, but it wasn’t superfluous either. Each interaction carried weight. I always looked forward to the exchanges between Musa and his work partner, Bec.
Overall, I rate the book 5 out of 5 stars. The story’s execution was masterful and packed with just the right amount of action and suspense. The book’s ending hints at a sequel, which I am excited about. I also didn’t notice any errors while reading, which made my reading experience all the more pleasant. I have no quibbles about the book.
The novel will most appeal to readers with a penchant for crime and suspense thrillers with geopolitical themes.
******
Khanjar
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Khanjar by Bob O’Brien is a suspenseful crime thriller that follows a Palestinian engineer, Paul Shehadeh, who strives to bring access to clean water to the Palestinian people through his Living Water project in collaboration with China. He travels to America as a research fellow and guest lecturer at Columbia University. On the surface, he plans to spend his time in America learning about the country’s water infrastructure and pipeline tunneling system while garnering supporters for his project. However, he also has another motive. While in America, he soon learns he is not the only one with ulterior motives.
I enjoyed the execution of the plot. The book encompasses two storylines. Paul’s story intertwines with that of a pair of daggers called khanjars, which were stolen from Iraq during the removal of Saddam Hussein. Both storylines blend seamlessly.
Beyond being entertaining, I appreciate how the author used the story to draw attention to real-life issues, like the long-standing conflict between Israel and Palestine. Bob did a great job of highlighting the central issues between both countries. It is eye-opening how access to clean water—something many people in developed countries take for granted—can be used as a tool of control.
Another interesting aspect of the novel is the characters. I especially liked that there was equal representation of men and women in the plot. The characters were sufficiently developed as well. Lucy’s growth was by far the most impressive. For someone who started out as a self-absorbed, tantrum-throwing adult, by the end of the story, she matured into a smart, considerate, and confident woman. I attribute her growth to her harrowing ordeal with JJ. Still, her transformation was impressive nonetheless.
Furthermore, I enjoyed the dialogue in the story. It wasn’t complex, but it wasn’t superfluous either. Each interaction carried weight. I always looked forward to the exchanges between Musa and his work partner, Bec.
Overall, I rate the book 5 out of 5 stars. The story’s execution was masterful and packed with just the right amount of action and suspense. The book’s ending hints at a sequel, which I am excited about. I also didn’t notice any errors while reading, which made my reading experience all the more pleasant. I have no quibbles about the book.
The novel will most appeal to readers with a penchant for crime and suspense thrillers with geopolitical themes.
******
Khanjar
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: In It Together by Eckhart Aurelius Hughes
