Priya Nayak-Gole’s The Zora Trigger is a riveting military thriller that plays like a Bollywood film full of action, twists, turns, romance, and suspense. The book starts with a bang. Major Param is the sole survivor of a bomb blast that wipes out his men and leaves him maimed. The disgraced army man must not only clear his name but also decode the clues left behind by his mentor/foster father. The clues give a very Dan Brown feel to this fast-paced narrative.
While the blast takes an emotional and physical toll on Param, it does not stop him in his quest to decipher the secret that Papaji was safeguarding that has now been passed onto him. What is the Zora trigger? Why must it be found? Why is a militant outfit interested in it?
Param gradually realizes that if secrets fall into wrong hands, a disaster of cataclysmic proportions will unfold. In this race against time, he must also protect the love of his life Shilpa, whose scientist father was murdered. Like him, she too seeks answers. The forces they are up against have infiltrated the top ranks and deception awaits them at every corner as the people they know drop dead one by one. Some chapters end on a cliffhanger making the reader impatient to know what lies ahead.
The characters are memorable. Param, the protagonist is complex; he juggles guilt and neglect while trying to uncover secrets linked to his past that threaten his future happiness. Shilpa’s character comes across as a strong woman who knows what she wants. She doesn’t understand why Param distances himself from her but is determined to win his affection. The main leads are supported by characters like Maahi, Vir, Papaji, and others with interesting backstories.
If I had to nitpick, it would be the character of Maahi- I felt there was more to her, given her troubled background. Overall, the language is lucid and flows in a fast-paced narrative. The army setting is well-researched, and so is the V.S.S.C. backdrop.
The Zora Trigger is a page-turning, action-filled gripping thriller.
