REVIEWS - The Red Lotus - Chris Bohjalian
Genre - Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Summary:
A young man, Austin Harper, works at a large university hospital in New York in the fundraising and development wing. His girlfriend is ER physician, Alexis Remnick.
Alexis had been an ER doctor for three years in the NYC Hospital but had never met Austin who also works in the same hospital. She is a successful ER physician. The adrenaline rush of the ER has allowed her to overcome her personal anxiety and depression that plagued her since she was a teenager when she engaged in “cutting.” In the ER, her public personality has transformed, and she is now an expert doctor.
Alexis accompanies Austin on a trip to Vietnam. Austin is an enthusiastic bike rider. So, his plan is to be part of a bike touring group across Vietnam. In addition, Austin also wants to discover the sites where his uncle died, and his father was wounded when they were stationed in Vietnam during the Vietnam War.
Because of the emotional aspect, Austin leaves the bike touring group and Alexis, to travel a seventy-mile route to present his respects and disappears.
Alexis’ texts and calls go unanswered as Austin has been kidnapped during his ride. He has left behind a lemon-yellow Psych energy gel and two chocolate flavored packets on the trail which Alexis and the group leaders come across when they search for him to no avail.
Alexis contacts the local police and the Consulate. When the FBI stationed at the US embassy gets involved the search for the missing Austin shifts into high gear.
Austin’s boss Sally suggests Alexis to enlist a private investigator and recommends Ken Sarafian, a retired New York City cop. Ken is advised not to take the case but becomes trapped by the decency of its cause.
As Ken starts investigation, Alexis realizes she does not really know her boyfriend at all. It turns out that he was involved with something completely unexpected and terribly wrong.
It is all connected to the rodents, rats, and their behavior!
Click to Read the SPOILER for The Red Lotus - Chris Bohjalian
Review:
This is a slow but high intense novel.
It starts as a love story but as the story progresses, we realize it is much more than that.
The author makes us feel for Alexis. Since we know, she is finally winning the war against her personal demons. But this trip to Vietnam is turning her world upside down.
All other characters are well etched too!
On the flip side, there is a lot written about rats. The plot requires those pages. But, for people who do not like the rodents, it is going to be an unpleasant business.
The storyline lags a bit in the middle, but the end is pretty strong.
Overall an interesting read.
More BOOK REVIEWS & SPOILERS