Operator — by David Vinjamuri $3.97E / $9.97 PB
Some columnist quoted me in Forbes — obviously an indicator of an advanced intellect — so I read his bio and discovered that he’d written a thriller. Any writer smart enough to quote me deserves to be read. I bought it, I read it … and I liked it. (Even though he’s an Adjunct Professor at NYU, but more about my problems with authority later.) For a debut thriller, independently published, this is a masterful work.
I always give indie writers a little more leeway than traditionally published authors because I am very familiar with the limited resources and the struggle to wear the many hats involved in do-it-yourself publishing. Mr. Vinjamuri pulls it off exceptionally well. No need for allowances or excuses.
Mr. Vinjamuri has a story with three interesting elements on which I will elaborate: 1) First person present tense; 2) Specifics to the Nth degree; and 3) Thrilling action.
First Person Present Tense: Personally, I think all thrillers and mysteries should be told from this vantage point. I wrote my first (shelved) novel in FPPT. It’s the only way a writer can truly unfold a story without resorting to tricks like withholding clues and solving problems. It keeps the writer honest and the reader in real-time. It also keeps the writer’s form on track and makes the story easy to follow.
However, I noticed early on that readers hate it. …Well, at least the way I write it. But, I’ve also noticed that there are darn few FPPT books that reach blockbuster status. A few years back there were several of them. I think Patricia Cornwell and Sue Grafton wrote a book or two in FPPT. The most recent books from those authors are standard 3rd Person Past Tense.
Mr. Vinjamuri handles the format better than anyone I’ve read. I, for one, enjoyed it and admired his ability to make it work to his advantage.
Specifics to the Nth Degree: The word among writers is, always use specifics. Don’t write ‘she went to the bar for a drink’ but rather ‘she pushed into Butch Barb’s and ordered a boilermaker’. Many an author has bogged down on specifics. Operator excels or fails, depending on your love of hardware. Some thrillers devolve into the hardware-store-hard-on listings and burden the reader with brand names that have no direct application in the story. Not so with Operator. While there was a literal ‘shopping list’ for tools of the spy-trade, and an interesting shopping trip to go with it, he never crossed the line into mind-numbing detail:
The room is bigger inside than I anticipate and I catch my breath as I enter. There are rows of newly legal assault weapons in vertical gun racks as well as items restricted for police use. I grab a black Kevlar helmet with a mounting rail for fourth-gen night vision goggles and try it on. Then I pull a level II body armor vest off of a hanging rack.
In that quote you feel the enthusiasm of both author and character. It is the enthusiasm that separates his writing from the ‘hardware’ writers. In that passage, his confidence indicates authority and the reader understands he will show us the value of each item. Which he does.
Thrilling Action: Special Black Ops characters are a dime a dozen. Since the killing of bin Laden, the authenticity of the fight scenes has ratcheted up fifty notches. There are many ways to give a story authenticity. Most of them boring. Here Mr. Vinjamuri excels. His fight scenes are realistic, well-reasoned, and actually work. Even though he relies a lot on pressure points and other dubious tactics, the choreography works every time. It is the choreography that makes or breaks any fight scene. Mr. Vinjamuri slows the pace and expands the detail like a slow-motion kung-fu movie scene. Yet he keeps them fascinating because every step works. You have the feeling you could recreate the scene step-for-step and it would still work.
This is a great effort from a respectable author and marketing expert. I’m betting his next thriller will be a blockbuster.
My Problems with Authority: Yes, I’m one of those anti-establishment types where writing is concerned. I’ve read too many books and short stories written by creative writing professors that are beautifully written and boring as hell. When I skimmed Mr. Vinjamuri’s bio, I almost blew him off. But I re-read it more carefully and noticed it said, Adjunct Professor of Marketing at NYU. Which has nothing to do with writing—making him an OK dude. Whew. I almost missed a great book!
Peace, Seeley
Special NOTE: MY REVIEWS ARE MY REACTIONS TO THE BOOKS I READ and not a response to the voices in my head. I have no relationship, financial or familial, with the authors. I do not expect, but would not refuse, any reciprocal reviews or recommendations. Just sayin.
