Book Review – The Zora Trigger by Priya Nayak-Gole

The Zora Trigger is primarily based on the experiences of Major Param, as he finds himself a victim of a dangerous betrayal. Battling physical and mental trauma, he attempts to decipher a deadly game threatening national security and protect the life of Shilpa Venkataraghavan, his true love.

The novel kicks off intensely with a terrorist attack, resulting in Param losing his best friends and his left leg getting amputated. Then, the book oscillates between the past and present, expertly narrating his backstory and the situation he finds himself in presently. After that, the narrative flows smoothly, with many well-executed twists and turns.

Param is a likable character, and his character arc is well-developed. I felt for him and wanted him to find happiness and peace. Shilpa is also a relatable, sympathetic character, although sometimes I found her a bit too tearful. Moreover, the secondary characters are well-etched and play pivotal roles in the story, which is worth appreciating.

The climax and ending are thrilling and well-executed, and I found myself rooting for Param and Shilpa. There are a few interesting surprises as well, and all loose ends are tried up brilliantly.

The author, Ms. Nayak-Gole, possesses a great vocabulary and her writing is simple and lucid, but unfortunately, I did find a few grammatical and punctuation errors here and there. One round of editing would have ironed them out. Also, I feel that some slang and cuss words could have been avoided, and the intimate scenes could have been written with a bit more subtlety.

Nevertheless, The Zora Trigger is an interesting, well-written novel. I recommend it to readers who enjoy fast-paced thrillers with a patriotic angle.