My first impression of The Mahabharata Secret were great. A single look into the cover and I was completely dragged. The blurb at the back also made a equal haul and hence I happily picked it up.
Read further to know my musings on “The Mahabharata Secret” and why you should and should not pick this book up.
Readability, cover, styling, font and page quality
I read The Mahabharata Secret on Paperback where the font style and font size is well and good. So the book is quiet readable. Further, I absolutely love the cover of the book, It is beautiful, symbolic and just attractive.
The story as it goes
Vijay is a Indian origin boy currently living in San Jose, California, USA. He is running a tech company along with his partner and college-mate Colin. His only relative in India remains to be his uncle Vikram, who took care of him after his parents died of an unfortunate car accident. Vikram is a nuclear scientist with a significant contribution to India’s first nuclear explosion at Pokhran in 1974. He lives in Jaungarh Fort, New Delhi which he bought years ago and renewed for his personal motives.
Vijay receives five obscure emails from his uncle which he later realizes that they were the final words of his uncle before his murder. During his visit to India for Vikram’s funeral, he and his friend Colin is attacked and held captives by group of terrorist who are led by a man name Farooq Siddique.
After escaping from the capturer, Vijay becomes aware of Farooq Siddque’s hand in his uncles murder. With just five emails in his hand and few friends with his side he tries to unlock the hidden message from his uncles final words, which later brings him to the one of the deepest secret of Indian history The Nine Unknown Men.
The story has many plots as it goes including the timeline around 244 BC which deals with Ashoka and his men, around 2000 AD and Current plot where Vikram and his friends are in search of the secret hidden by nine unknown men ages ago. To know more about the Vijay’s treasure hunt, you will have to read “The Mahabharata Secret” yourself.
The main drawback of “The Mahabharata Secret” would be its title. Most of the story’s parts are placed around Ashoka and his edicts which are built around his empire including modern day Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. As far as I think, the word Mahabharata is used just to pull people around it.
How good are the Characters?
One of the best part in this book will be the usage of characters. Even though the main story is around Vijay, every character in this story hold equal amount of significance till the last line of the novel. The main character Vijay will surely burst the explorer in you. But one thing which I feel so outmatching with the story line is Vijay’s knowledge. His character more or less depicts the Robert Langdon character in Dan Brown’s series. The ability of a businessman to solve the 2000 year old secret seems to be so unrealistic.
Colin, Vijay’s friend plays a humorist character till the end of the book. Colin was there at every hustle Vijay faced during his journey. His character depicts how a good friend would assist you in all your highs and lows. Being a foreigner, Colin’s reaction to the history of India is well painted by the author.
Then comes Shukla, a childhood friend of Vikram and a linguist. His knowledge of ancient India and ability to polyglot ancient scripts makes him one of the main characters of the theme.
Talking about other characters in “The Mahabharata Secret”. It is Radha, daughter of Shukla who touched my heart. She is the only female character in the book. Her silent love towards Vijay will give ecstatic feel once in a while around you. I personally thank Doyle for depicting Radha such a way.
What about Author’s writing style?
The Mahabharata Secret starts with introducing Vikram in his ancestral fort where he later gets killed by the men of worlds famous terrorist group.
If I talk about the plot, the book is lengthy and tedious here and there. I like the way Doyle handled the different timelines. There isn’t munch happenings in terms of dialogues and events become monotonous after some times. The Mahabharata Secret tells us a adventure that is dragged a lot and the book flops its stride easily.
And every now and then you can easily predict the forthcoming twists also.
What I liked about Doyle’s writing style is that he is easily able to make his characters relatable. Through his story, he purely shown his desire to dig deep into the ancient Indian history and legends around it.
Was the Climax worth it?
Having 2000 year old secret in his hand, Doyle should have made a better climax. It was one of the worst part of the book. The secret which Ashoka and his men secured for last 2000 years is just as simple as any one can predict.
What could have been better?
There are many things that are left to be desired in this book. There is the issue with poor editing. Another thing that could have been better was the length of the book. The repetitive and dramatic episodes could have been cut short.
Entertainment Quotient of The Mahabharata Secret
In the end, the entire review reduces to this only parameter. This story tells us a decent story and has some good characters to look forward to but, it surely doesn’t deliver in terms of entertainment quotient.
Final Verdict
Should?
Reach The Mahabharata Secret if you are someone who loves mythic stories. This book would give you a basic tour to the history of ancient India and some of its remains around the region. It would be a nice pick if you want to explore about Ashoka’s edicts for the first time.
Shouldn’t?
Since the adventure only revolves around Ashoka’s edicts, I would suggest my readers to skip this book if someone doesn’t enjoy repetitive concepts.
PLOT: 7/10
CHARACTERS:8/10
WRITING STYLE: 7/10
CLIMAX: 5/10
ENTERTAINMENT QUOTIENT: 6/10
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![The Mahabharata Secret by [Christopher C. Doyle]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51sUkS1yebL._SY346_.jpg)
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The Mahabharata Secret Kindle Edition
by
Christopher C. Doyle
(Author)
Format: Kindle Edition
Christopher C. Doyle
(Author)
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LanguageEnglish
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PublisherOm Books International
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Publication date1 September 2013
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File size607 KB
Customers who bought this item also bought
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Product description
Review
The story surprised me with something intriguing each time and it goes on till the end page. A very good book and I recommend you all to read it once because sometimes all you need is to have an eye of a person through which you can see a different world, a different Mahabharata. Watch out for the second part of this series. --Team WordBite Oct 20, 2014
The book is an average read. In the same mould as Ashwin Sanghi's The Krishna Key, which I think is still the best in its genre. The basic story idea is good as is the plot. The author begins well, but midway loses control of the plot and the ending is a damp squib. But what salvages the book is the fact that the English is at least good and the author has taken care to see that the characters have some depth. I would still rate Navin's "The Tenth Unknown" a better book when compared to the Mahabharata secret. A little more care in crafting the plot and improving the climax would have helped make it better. On the whole, a not so bad read after all, especially if you are travelling or need to while away your time. But be warned, this book is strictly a one time read only... --Santosh Mohan Rao K Dec 10, 2013
Just completed reading the novel. Definitely should appreciate the work by Doyle, really a great debut novel. But if you forget its a debut novel and write a review, then i think i can give it a 3 star. Reason, is i felt the pace getting slow down many a times because of lot of breakages while starting a conversation and after ending a conversation; even sometimes, conversation seemed sloppy; while solving the clues, the people seemed solving easily rather than with hard thinking, atleast the conversation in the novel seemed like that; i can give example, but i dont want to reveal a part of story, so keeping in general words. Even the very end didnt seem very excited. I felt many a times to compare the story with Dan Brown's novels, even the end tempted me to compare with Da Vinci Code, if compared, definitely Dan Brown is way way way ahead. But overall, i am giving it a four star as it is a debut novel and wonderful research has been done and clues and puzzles were keep coming till very end. Good luck Doyle, will definitely read your second book --Avinash K R Dec 23, 2013 --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.
The book is an average read. In the same mould as Ashwin Sanghi's The Krishna Key, which I think is still the best in its genre. The basic story idea is good as is the plot. The author begins well, but midway loses control of the plot and the ending is a damp squib. But what salvages the book is the fact that the English is at least good and the author has taken care to see that the characters have some depth. I would still rate Navin's "The Tenth Unknown" a better book when compared to the Mahabharata secret. A little more care in crafting the plot and improving the climax would have helped make it better. On the whole, a not so bad read after all, especially if you are travelling or need to while away your time. But be warned, this book is strictly a one time read only... --Santosh Mohan Rao K Dec 10, 2013
Just completed reading the novel. Definitely should appreciate the work by Doyle, really a great debut novel. But if you forget its a debut novel and write a review, then i think i can give it a 3 star. Reason, is i felt the pace getting slow down many a times because of lot of breakages while starting a conversation and after ending a conversation; even sometimes, conversation seemed sloppy; while solving the clues, the people seemed solving easily rather than with hard thinking, atleast the conversation in the novel seemed like that; i can give example, but i dont want to reveal a part of story, so keeping in general words. Even the very end didnt seem very excited. I felt many a times to compare the story with Dan Brown's novels, even the end tempted me to compare with Da Vinci Code, if compared, definitely Dan Brown is way way way ahead. But overall, i am giving it a four star as it is a debut novel and wonderful research has been done and clues and puzzles were keep coming till very end. Good luck Doyle, will definitely read your second book --Avinash K R Dec 23, 2013 --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.
About the Author
क्रिस्टोफर सी. डॉयल यांनी दिल्लीच्या सेंट स्टिफन्स कॉलेजमधून अर्थशास्त्राची पदवी मिळवली असून, कोलकात्याच्या आरआरएममधून बिझनेस मॅनेजमेंटचा अभ्यास केला आहे. व्यवस्थापन आणि व्यापार या विषयांवर अनेक ठिकाणी व्याख्याने देण्यासाठी क्रिस्टोफर यांना आमंत्रित केले जाते. एका अमेरिकन कंपनीच्या भागीदारीत त्यांनी भारतात एका स्ट्रॅटेजिक कन्सल्टन्सीची स्थापना केली. ते एक मान्यताप्राप्त ‘एक्झिक्युटिव्ह कोच’ म्हणूनही ओळखले जातात.
--This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.
Product details
- ASIN : B01H38SA9O
- Publisher : Om Books International; 1st edition (1 September 2013)
- Language : English
- File size : 607 KB
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Not Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Print length : 301 pages
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Best Sellers Rank:
#339 in Myths, Legends & Sagas
- #820 in Fantasy (Books)
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Reviewed in India on 9 August 2018
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Reviewed in India on 2 September 2018
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NOT Everyday you come across a book, which will keep you guessing till the very end. Neither, you always come across a book, reading of which does not bore you. Well, this is such type of a book. A perfect blend of Thriller, Mythology, History, Travel Documentary and Fiction. The writing of the book is so perfect that it kept me glued to it till the very end, forgetting about time and day. I can perfectly say that not anyone but this author is the Indian Dan Brown.
The book is completely based on the great Indian Epic, The Mahabharata. It begins with the murder of a retired Nuclear Scientist, Vikram Singh. But before dying he left some clues for his nephew, about the location of a great secret from the days of the Mahabharata, hidden by King Ashoka the Great in the 244 BC. Then starts the awesome tale of deciphering the clues by Vijay, the nephew, along with some of his friends. Also, a dangerous enemy, a terrorist group is after the secret, getting of which may make them World Superpower. We journeyed through different parts of the country with the characters to see and decipher the clues, riddles left on the Ashokan Edicts and Sculptures and relics, to follow the trail of the Secret of the Nine, and at the end revealing the secret. Also during the journey, we also come to know that a pleasant Love Story is growing between two of the characters. We come across the level of the friendship between Colin and Vijay.
During reading the book, I was always finding it like the Movie, Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. The experience was similar. But one drawback I want to point out that, so many bloodsheds might not be required at the end. Anyhow, this book is awesome. The Writing style, the use of words are so good and so easy that anyone who is not familiar with typical English writing, can read this book without putting down.
The book is completely based on the great Indian Epic, The Mahabharata. It begins with the murder of a retired Nuclear Scientist, Vikram Singh. But before dying he left some clues for his nephew, about the location of a great secret from the days of the Mahabharata, hidden by King Ashoka the Great in the 244 BC. Then starts the awesome tale of deciphering the clues by Vijay, the nephew, along with some of his friends. Also, a dangerous enemy, a terrorist group is after the secret, getting of which may make them World Superpower. We journeyed through different parts of the country with the characters to see and decipher the clues, riddles left on the Ashokan Edicts and Sculptures and relics, to follow the trail of the Secret of the Nine, and at the end revealing the secret. Also during the journey, we also come to know that a pleasant Love Story is growing between two of the characters. We come across the level of the friendship between Colin and Vijay.
During reading the book, I was always finding it like the Movie, Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. The experience was similar. But one drawback I want to point out that, so many bloodsheds might not be required at the end. Anyhow, this book is awesome. The Writing style, the use of words are so good and so easy that anyone who is not familiar with typical English writing, can read this book without putting down.
9 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in India on 24 July 2018
A GREAT BOOK !! PLEASE DO READ
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This is a great book. I am basically interested in Mahabharata technology. I always believed them they were true. This book is extraordinary. My interest in this book as I was reading kept on increasing. A good research is made and that is well shown in the book. The language is good. I am not a regular reader. I normally read romantics because they are simple in understanding but this book really changed my thinking, my thought now is what, do I want to return to romantic. When I read this book it really made me grow up interest in researching on them.
A GREAT BOOK !! PLEASE DO READ
A GREAT BOOK !! PLEASE DO READ

5.0 out of 5 stars
A GREAT BOOK !! PLEASE DO READ
By Abihail Venra on 24 July 2018
This is a great book. I am basically interested in Mahabharata technology. I always believed them they were true. This book is extraordinary. My interest in this book as I was reading kept on increasing. A good research is made and that is well shown in the book. The language is good. I am not a regular reader. I normally read romantics because they are simple in understanding but this book really changed my thinking, my thought now is what, do I want to return to romantic. When I read this book it really made me grow up interest in researching on them.By Abihail Venra on 24 July 2018
A GREAT BOOK !! PLEASE DO READ
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6 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in India on 18 February 2021
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Ok so the book is bought by me after 8yrs from its first publishing. Which means I read this one after reading Dan Brown, Ashwin Sanghi and Amish. The plot is quite a mythological thriller, the subject of my interest, however the book tries too hard to make the impact. The facts comes nicely strewn in the story for the first few pages, also the cat and mouse chase part initially kept me hooked. Later on the chase becomes so repeatitive and disinteresting, I just turned off the pages, scanning them to come to the crux of every scene, read few again, then scan again. The reason for this is the characters are so loosely described that made me loose my interest in the story. The English used is not of the novels that I read and find of, for eg. the word "suddenly" comes as atleast four times in the book, try to get some exciting word for that. No matter however great the plot is, the novel keeps going on only around those loosely defined characters, at some point it's gets so frustrating when same kind of escapades keeps on happening. There should have been more mythological references in between instead of the repeatitive chases. I sincerely don't recommend this one to those who are gripped by those authors I mentioned in beginning. This was a bummer an unexpected one for me, hard part is I got this together with Alexander's Quest the next in the series....which I had to bear next.

2.0 out of 5 stars
Not a gripping one
By AmazonCustomer on 18 February 2021
Ok so the book is bought by me after 8yrs from its first publishing. Which means I read this one after reading Dan Brown, Ashwin Sanghi and Amish. The plot is quite a mythological thriller, the subject of my interest, however the book tries too hard to make the impact. The facts comes nicely strewn in the story for the first few pages, also the cat and mouse chase part initially kept me hooked. Later on the chase becomes so repeatitive and disinteresting, I just turned off the pages, scanning them to come to the crux of every scene, read few again, then scan again. The reason for this is the characters are so loosely described that made me loose my interest in the story. The English used is not of the novels that I read and find of, for eg. the word "suddenly" comes as atleast four times in the book, try to get some exciting word for that. No matter however great the plot is, the novel keeps going on only around those loosely defined characters, at some point it's gets so frustrating when same kind of escapades keeps on happening. There should have been more mythological references in between instead of the repeatitive chases. I sincerely don't recommend this one to those who are gripped by those authors I mentioned in beginning. This was a bummer an unexpected one for me, hard part is I got this together with Alexander's Quest the next in the series....which I had to bear next.
By AmazonCustomer on 18 February 2021
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Top reviews from other countries

Kindle Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good story
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 March 2017Verified Purchase
Using Indian mythology makes this novel different from the usual David Vinci type stories; a very good boys own adventure

Goddess110
5.0 out of 5 stars
great read!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 May 2014Verified Purchase
lovely interesting, and well written. The book holds ones attention and has been written elegantly. I would recommend this book to anyone who has a interest in the history of India and the great Mahabharat epic.

Narendra
5.0 out of 5 stars
Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 July 2016Verified Purchase
All Good. Thank you.

Shekhar
5.0 out of 5 stars
Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 February 2018Verified Purchase
Brilliant read. Love the whole series and eagerly waiting for the finale.

Kate
5.0 out of 5 stars
Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 June 2015Verified Purchase
great book
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