Title: Malayan Enigma: An Andrew Bond WWII Adventure
Author: Nicholas Snow
Publisher: AuthorHouseUK
ISBN: B01MZ108YT
Pages: 240
Genre: Adventure/Thriller/Drama
Reviewed by: Tia Scott
Pacific Book Review
The very moment I began reading Malayan Enigma: An Andrew Bond WWII Adventure, I was instantly drawn in by the intense encounter between Andrew and a venomous snake in the wilderness. This close-call moment alone set the tone for the events ahead, and the overall thrilling theme of the book.
Full of subtle twists and turns, similar to the James Bond movies, Malayan Enigma impressively keeps an exciting and dark tone going while the plot steadily builds. The reader is led deeper into an exotic land and a world of espionage as Andrew Bond heads to a 1941 Singapore to observe the actions of the Japanese Empire during World War II. There are rumors of impending vicious war attacks looming, and Andrew is there to find out the cold-hard facts.
As he explores his surroundings, he meets unsavory characters who are suspiciously lurking around to find out his exact reasons for being there. With danger in the air everywhere he turns, Andrew also has aides from allies such as Omar Prasiswa who’s an assigned counterpart/interpreter/colleague, as well as the beautiful and alluring Liu-Yang. Her presence adds an air of romance and mystery, which helps balance out the seriousness of Andrew’s secret and potentially deadly mission.
The character of Andrew Bond is well rounded and shows him as a man’s man but not macho by far. He’s full of heart and integrity despite the sticky situations he finds himself in throughout the book. Author Nicholas Snow did an amazing job vividly describing the foreign surroundings in the war era; you can definitely tell that much thought, effort and research was put into this one.
Aside from the storyline, I also enjoyed the footnotes that further explained certain terms used in the story. I feel like it gave the book an intellectual perspective as well as a real-life feel. Overall, Malayan Enigma: An Andrew Bond WWII Adventure is an exciting, fulfilling read that’s as intriguing as it is well detailed. It’s not a one-day read, but you will definitely find yourself coming back to it throughout the day as it has so much depth, it will keep pulling you in until you’re finished. I’d love to see Andrew Bond turn into a series soon. At least Snow doesn’t have his character say his name, “Bond, Andrew Bond.”
