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The Dust Will Never Settle
When terror strikes Jerusalem again, the international community persuades the Israelis and the Palestinians to resume their long-stalled peace talks. A dozen negotiators converge on Delhi to try and wrest peace for a land torn apart by centuries of strife and mistrust.
Lashkar-e-Toiba, struggling to fill the leadership void created by the killing of Osama bin Laden, will not allow these talks to proceed. Enter Ruby Gill, an MI6 agent manipulated by the Lashkar and the Qassam Brigades to disrupt the summit.
Caught in the crossfire is her father Ravinder Singh Gill, head of the Indian Anti-Terrorist Task Force, who is in charge of securing the Peace Summit. His work is immensely complicated by the Commonwealth Games being hosted simultaneously in Delhi.
No one could have foreseen how explosively Ravinders past and Ruby's destiny would collide.
Will peace finally find these strife-torn countries? Or will the dust never settle in the Promised Land? In this pacy fusion of fact and fiction by Indias literary stormtrooper Mukul Deva, the private tragedy of the Gill family unravels against a high-stakes backdrop of international politics and deadly intrigue.
Lashkar-e-Toiba, struggling to fill the leadership void created by the killing of Osama bin Laden, will not allow these talks to proceed. Enter Ruby Gill, an MI6 agent manipulated by the Lashkar and the Qassam Brigades to disrupt the summit.
Caught in the crossfire is her father Ravinder Singh Gill, head of the Indian Anti-Terrorist Task Force, who is in charge of securing the Peace Summit. His work is immensely complicated by the Commonwealth Games being hosted simultaneously in Delhi.
No one could have foreseen how explosively Ravinders past and Ruby's destiny would collide.
Will peace finally find these strife-torn countries? Or will the dust never settle in the Promised Land? In this pacy fusion of fact and fiction by Indias literary stormtrooper Mukul Deva, the private tragedy of the Gill family unravels against a high-stakes backdrop of international politics and deadly intrigue.
380 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2012
2 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
About the author
Mukul Deva
29 books50 followersMajor Mukul Deva (Retd.) (born 29 January) is an Indian polymath. He is a motivational keynote speaker, executive coach, business mentor and bestselling author based in Singapore. He writes spy-military thrillers on terrorism, action, crime, and business and self-help books.
An alumnus of La Martiniere College, Lucknow, the National Defence Academy, Khadakvasla and the Indian Military Academy, Dehradoon, Mukul, an ex-Indian Army officer, is the founder-director of a professional security company, MSD Security Pvt Ltd, India, and a learning & organisational development company, Influence Solutions Pte Ltd, Singapore.
An alumnus of La Martiniere College, Lucknow, the National Defence Academy, Khadakvasla and the Indian Military Academy, Dehradoon, Mukul, an ex-Indian Army officer, is the founder-director of a professional security company, MSD Security Pvt Ltd, India, and a learning & organisational development company, Influence Solutions Pte Ltd, Singapore.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 26, 2012
a spy thriller with a tinge of family drama... recently there has been a new breed of Indian writers who could write at par with international thriller writers... Mukul Deva is one of them. Some other writers include Manreet Sodhi, Ashwin Sanghvi, etc. What puts them apart in a differenet league is that their novels are well researched and entertaining... something rarely seen in Indian thrillers until a few years back. "The dust will never settle" also dwells on one interesting concept... a peace summit for the Israel-Palestine saga. Infact, the quote written at the beginning of the novel is quite captivating - "Negotiate as if there is no war, fight as if there is no negotiation". A well written novel... I guess I shall try some earlier novels of Mukul as well and see how they fare...
April 13, 2014
Ruby has been assigned by all on her maternal side a task very important to them, interrupting a peace talk between the Jews and the Palestinians. Meanwhile she also uncovers many secrets about her past and family. She is very confused. In the middle of preparing for the task she finds out many things like why her parents separated and her beloved mother lied to her.
This book is filled with suspicions, surprises, mystery, excitement and many mixed emotions.
This book is filled with suspicions, surprises, mystery, excitement and many mixed emotions.
June 15, 2016
Picked up this book because I liked the author's book Lashkar. Although this book has some really good scenes with details about the operations of police and terrorists, the plot is bit too unreal. Some of the scenes look like they belong to the Bollywood movies of the 80's. The pace of the novel is brisk to keep you riveted though.
January 1, 2019
A well written book about the attack on Indian soil to sabotage the Israel Palestine peace summit. The emotional conflicts of the DG antiterrorism squad due to the involvement of his estranged daughter is a good side angle. Fast paced, gripping narrative. The author has subsequently written many more books in this genre and can be added to one's reading list.
January 2, 2024
This is one of the best thrillers I have read. Elegantly crafted characters and a superb plot. It especially resonated with me given the ongoing Israeli offensive on Gaza.
I especially loved Ruby Gill and how intricately her character has been portrayed.
A must read.
I especially loved Ruby Gill and how intricately her character has been portrayed.
A must read.
December 19, 2014
The plot is based on an inadmissible premise : that India plays host to a Middle-Eastern peace conference between Israel and Palestine given their proximity to both. As a result of this ill-conceived idea {Ill-conceived as per me; not a direct part of the plot} , the two warring parties head for Indian soil for a negotiation. This isn't a bad idea, as you will understand in due course of the story. Wont say more : read the book! A hint : We can learn from this, why invite trouble? Furthermore, why invite them despite a massive terror attack that was bloody effective? What are you - rank idiots, or what? Bhaiyya, Aa Bail Mujhe Maar kahaavat suni hai?????
Enter the Prime Minister, The should-have-stayed-at-Home Minister, IG Ravinder Singh Gill and DGP Loll - oops - idio - double oops - Mohite. Also enter the snobby and snooty American "Ms. Its Classified" {Already forgotten the name, with no intention of looking it up! That name I gave her - Its Classified - is so perfect} and less snobby and less snooty Englishman Chance Spillman. And of, by the way, some rank idiot and first class moron has - aah, how shall I put it - announced in "disinterested public of the wrong kind" that the meeting and peace conference is to take place. Even better, the same geniuses also announce the venue.
Well, it so happens that this - aah - "disinterested public of the wrong kind" decide that they want a part of this peace conference. And these ladies and gentlemen spell peace as w-a-r, with a synonym of t-e-r-r-o-r. Enter Ms Gill, estranged daughter of the redoubtable IGP, now an MI6 agent, who has been turned into a terrorist due to her mother and family's bad experience, and a nice little fib...
The lady gets to know her Dad is the IGP and in charge of security; the Dad gets to know his little princess for the first time since she was 3 years old. Perfect, wouldn't you say? At least, perfect from the lady's point of view, especially with a fool and an idiot in close proximity. The Dad and the Kid Sister aren't either, by the way. But did they wise up fast enough? Read the book for that!
The plot races along, as the terrorists build their capabilities, weapons and plans, and the police forces prepare the security, in full view of both the fool and the idiot-who-should-have-his-mouth-taped. The complicating factor is the proximity of the key terrorist to her Dad and his family, which begins to build bridges through the perceptive Jasmine. And critically, Ravinder tells Ruby the true story of her past... does she believe Ravinder? {Why should I tell you? Come on!}
The buildup is, in classic Mukul Deva fashion, filled with action and stunning combat scenes of the Jerusalam attack, and Ruby's escapades, skillfully recreated with awesome skill - you can almost smell the gunpowder, and visualise the scene. This sets the tone for the riveting climax, and the story is set for a thundering finish... this is not a book that you should miss. An absolute stunner, it stands as his best book, his best book by far. In fact, this book is the best action thriller I have read in my entire life.
The author is himself on record calling this book as the one closest to his heart in the preface. He has put his heart and soul into it, and it shows. This book is just plain brilliant, and sets a gold standard for fiction thrillers. It is also a lesson in terrorism, diplomacy, and plain common sense. A racy, fast, believable and stunningly realistic book, this is one that belongs in your collection...
Enter the Prime Minister, The should-have-stayed-at-Home Minister, IG Ravinder Singh Gill and DGP Loll - oops - idio - double oops - Mohite. Also enter the snobby and snooty American "Ms. Its Classified" {Already forgotten the name, with no intention of looking it up! That name I gave her - Its Classified - is so perfect} and less snobby and less snooty Englishman Chance Spillman. And of, by the way, some rank idiot and first class moron has - aah, how shall I put it - announced in "disinterested public of the wrong kind" that the meeting and peace conference is to take place. Even better, the same geniuses also announce the venue.
Well, it so happens that this - aah - "disinterested public of the wrong kind" decide that they want a part of this peace conference. And these ladies and gentlemen spell peace as w-a-r, with a synonym of t-e-r-r-o-r. Enter Ms Gill, estranged daughter of the redoubtable IGP, now an MI6 agent, who has been turned into a terrorist due to her mother and family's bad experience, and a nice little fib...
The lady gets to know her Dad is the IGP and in charge of security; the Dad gets to know his little princess for the first time since she was 3 years old. Perfect, wouldn't you say? At least, perfect from the lady's point of view, especially with a fool and an idiot in close proximity. The Dad and the Kid Sister aren't either, by the way. But did they wise up fast enough? Read the book for that!
The plot races along, as the terrorists build their capabilities, weapons and plans, and the police forces prepare the security, in full view of both the fool and the idiot-who-should-have-his-mouth-taped. The complicating factor is the proximity of the key terrorist to her Dad and his family, which begins to build bridges through the perceptive Jasmine. And critically, Ravinder tells Ruby the true story of her past... does she believe Ravinder? {Why should I tell you? Come on!}
The buildup is, in classic Mukul Deva fashion, filled with action and stunning combat scenes of the Jerusalam attack, and Ruby's escapades, skillfully recreated with awesome skill - you can almost smell the gunpowder, and visualise the scene. This sets the tone for the riveting climax, and the story is set for a thundering finish... this is not a book that you should miss. An absolute stunner, it stands as his best book, his best book by far. In fact, this book is the best action thriller I have read in my entire life.
The author is himself on record calling this book as the one closest to his heart in the preface. He has put his heart and soul into it, and it shows. This book is just plain brilliant, and sets a gold standard for fiction thrillers. It is also a lesson in terrorism, diplomacy, and plain common sense. A racy, fast, believable and stunningly realistic book, this is one that belongs in your collection...
February 11, 2017
For those who don't seem to find books by Indian authors and complain all the time, kindly read everything by Mukul. He's hell of a thriller writer.
Coming to the book, this was an execllent read. The pace, the thrill and the characters binds you like one of Forsythe's novel but unlike Forsythe's complex plots, this book doesn't have a complex plot per say. But it have a brilliant story. Though few things I wasn't able to digest like how Ruby was hired by MI6 despite her mother being the extremist? But apart from that everything is good, top notch cop eyeing for boss's job, licking minister's ass, politics, sucide bombers etc. I was expecting that Ravinder would be able to stop the attack but then surprise, surprise.
Coming to the book, this was an execllent read. The pace, the thrill and the characters binds you like one of Forsythe's novel but unlike Forsythe's complex plots, this book doesn't have a complex plot per say. But it have a brilliant story. Though few things I wasn't able to digest like how Ruby was hired by MI6 despite her mother being the extremist? But apart from that everything is good, top notch cop eyeing for boss's job, licking minister's ass, politics, sucide bombers etc. I was expecting that Ravinder would be able to stop the attack but then surprise, surprise.
April 16, 2014
This book is a investigative action book. The usual politics in Indian security agencies, involvement of politicians in national security matters etc is very well presented in this book. This book is about Ruby, a rogue MI6 agent who was brought up in an environment of hatred and supporting cause of Palestine as a nation. But she is always confused and emotionally broken and never able to understand as to why their parents separated and why her mother lied to her about the separation.
A very interesting read especially for Indians as it would give them a different perspective about their security forces and perhaps help them understand the issues the political mass and "yes minister" concept creates.
A very interesting read especially for Indians as it would give them a different perspective about their security forces and perhaps help them understand the issues the political mass and "yes minister" concept creates.
May 10, 2014
Its ok to give a miss to this book I guess. The attempt to expose the bureaucracy of high profile security agencies but goes in vain with the plot weaving around family connections. Basic logic rubs off the plot like - Ruby Gill is MI6 agent and her mother belongs to an extremist group .. leaving alone hiring her as a top agent, wouldn't the agency keep a track of her?
November 12, 2015
I just completed reading The Dust Will Never Settle. It's very grippy. Some of the action sequences made my heart race and those emotional scenes between Gill family members made me cry(especially the last one on day 11). I particularly liked the way he wrote different perceptions of same incident in some scenes. He have done an elegant job.
December 25, 2013
It started well ... but once u flip through some 50+ pages all those flash back and family drama and stuff drags the novel,still once the stage was set its really a page turner never slows down.. can give a try
November 21, 2014
Thrilling. AS you read this book, you would feel as if you are part the story and events unfolding in front of your eyes!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews