Review of Apricot Marmalade and the Sangsuwan Equation
Posted: 06 May 2023, 12:36
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Apricot Marmalade and the Sangsuwan Equation" by Lon Orey.]
The year 1968 was tragic in the United States with the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert F. Kennedy. During that year, in Vietnam, US soldiers were also being attacked by both the North Vietnamese and communist Viet Cong forces. Apricot Marmalade and the Sangsuwan Equation by Lon Orey is a fictional novel that occurred alongside these events in a neighbouring nation, Thailand.
Special Agents Reynolds, Bonner, Wilson, Dunn, and Cooper are agents assigned to the 187th Military Intelligence (MI) Detachment, operating in Bangkok. After a terrible incident in the north, Special Agent Irv Bonner is transferred to Chiang Mai to focus on the occurrences in the northern area of Thailand. Once there, Irv starts looking for answers and those responsible for what happened; however, he doesn't realise his life is imminently at risk. The communist insurgency attacks are also increasing in the area, and they are now being supported by China and the Soviets. Back in Bangkok, Special Agent Ed Reynolds became aware of another impending threat. A physics student threatens to detonate a nuclear device unless his demands are met. The Military Intelligence, CIA, and Thai armed forces will unite to fight and eliminate this threat and save thousands of people in the country. Will they be able to stop the student on time? Will Irv find out what happened in the North? Read this book to find out more about the communist terrorism movement in Thailand and what apricot marmalade means to our MI guys.
This six-part book is made up of small chapters, each of which focuses on different characters, locations, and/or contexts. This writing choice was appropriate, as this book doesn't have one hero but a team of them. There are also many side stories added for entertainment only. The author did an excellent job describing the Thai environment, such as its weather, the bargain, the tribes, the gardens, the animals, etc. I travelled there while reading the book, and I could almost feel its climate. Another remarkable detail is how well the author captures the essence of the epoch. I believe that Americans who were adults in 1968 will get nostalgic about those times. The author includes many US references to sports, music, cinematography, and politics.
Not being a romance book, it also describes a sweet love story between Darika and Irv. Irv's development as a result of being detached on his own to Chiang Mai is impressive, and I appreciate how solid his growth was. Doug and Marilyn's relationship also developed at a very good pace, from fun to love. I particularly liked knowing how the Vietnam War affected other countries. Lon Orey shows great knowledge about how military intelligence works. For instance, the three-vehicle surveillance was never so well explained or evidenced to me before.
On the negative side, the titles and other small details in the book gave away what was going to happen, and that took away the unpredictability the story needed to keep the readers on the edge of their seats. For example, the car explosion and its intentional victim were clear to me when Part III was labelled "The car bomb." Also, the faith of Kasem Rapaat, who was spying for the Americans, was evident when he was handed a recorder while the Americans were trying to rescue him.
I would rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. The author is extremely creative; hence, his work has a good plot but is also very realistic in its espionage operational side and historical context. The events anticipated as described before didn't keep me from enjoying this story, as many others were completely unforeseeable. Furthermore, this book is professionally edited, making its reading easy.
I would recommend this book to lovers of historical fiction, especially those looking for something out of the ordinary. This is also perfect for fans of espionage. Although this book can be read as a standalone, I believe the characters will have more depth if the prequel is read first. The book includes violent scenes that might affect sensitive readers.
******
Apricot Marmalade and the Sangsuwan Equation
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
The year 1968 was tragic in the United States with the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert F. Kennedy. During that year, in Vietnam, US soldiers were also being attacked by both the North Vietnamese and communist Viet Cong forces. Apricot Marmalade and the Sangsuwan Equation by Lon Orey is a fictional novel that occurred alongside these events in a neighbouring nation, Thailand.
Special Agents Reynolds, Bonner, Wilson, Dunn, and Cooper are agents assigned to the 187th Military Intelligence (MI) Detachment, operating in Bangkok. After a terrible incident in the north, Special Agent Irv Bonner is transferred to Chiang Mai to focus on the occurrences in the northern area of Thailand. Once there, Irv starts looking for answers and those responsible for what happened; however, he doesn't realise his life is imminently at risk. The communist insurgency attacks are also increasing in the area, and they are now being supported by China and the Soviets. Back in Bangkok, Special Agent Ed Reynolds became aware of another impending threat. A physics student threatens to detonate a nuclear device unless his demands are met. The Military Intelligence, CIA, and Thai armed forces will unite to fight and eliminate this threat and save thousands of people in the country. Will they be able to stop the student on time? Will Irv find out what happened in the North? Read this book to find out more about the communist terrorism movement in Thailand and what apricot marmalade means to our MI guys.
This six-part book is made up of small chapters, each of which focuses on different characters, locations, and/or contexts. This writing choice was appropriate, as this book doesn't have one hero but a team of them. There are also many side stories added for entertainment only. The author did an excellent job describing the Thai environment, such as its weather, the bargain, the tribes, the gardens, the animals, etc. I travelled there while reading the book, and I could almost feel its climate. Another remarkable detail is how well the author captures the essence of the epoch. I believe that Americans who were adults in 1968 will get nostalgic about those times. The author includes many US references to sports, music, cinematography, and politics.
Not being a romance book, it also describes a sweet love story between Darika and Irv. Irv's development as a result of being detached on his own to Chiang Mai is impressive, and I appreciate how solid his growth was. Doug and Marilyn's relationship also developed at a very good pace, from fun to love. I particularly liked knowing how the Vietnam War affected other countries. Lon Orey shows great knowledge about how military intelligence works. For instance, the three-vehicle surveillance was never so well explained or evidenced to me before.
On the negative side, the titles and other small details in the book gave away what was going to happen, and that took away the unpredictability the story needed to keep the readers on the edge of their seats. For example, the car explosion and its intentional victim were clear to me when Part III was labelled "The car bomb." Also, the faith of Kasem Rapaat, who was spying for the Americans, was evident when he was handed a recorder while the Americans were trying to rescue him.
I would rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. The author is extremely creative; hence, his work has a good plot but is also very realistic in its espionage operational side and historical context. The events anticipated as described before didn't keep me from enjoying this story, as many others were completely unforeseeable. Furthermore, this book is professionally edited, making its reading easy.
I would recommend this book to lovers of historical fiction, especially those looking for something out of the ordinary. This is also perfect for fans of espionage. Although this book can be read as a standalone, I believe the characters will have more depth if the prequel is read first. The book includes violent scenes that might affect sensitive readers.
******
Apricot Marmalade and the Sangsuwan Equation
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
. You explained the aspects of the book neatly and tidy. That I would like to read it a try one day.
thank you so much for your comment!
