Published Book Reviews See complete details about Cult including immediate purchase options. A novel of brainwashing and death

EBook Reviews Weekly
by Nikesh Murali

If The War of the Roses, Warren Adler's masterpiece, inspired one of the most famous movies on divorce, Cult will evoke in you a fear, a dread that reiterates itself every moment, a lack of poise that turns deadly with each breath you take and forces you to take a step back and analyze the little aquarium in which you have let your concepts regarding society and life swim freely, feeding it, unbothered because there is always a lid on the top. It is a wake up call for all of us, who casually watch the 8 o'clock news, who browse bloody pages of newspapers with ease, who think all is well with our near and dear ones. This cocoon of self-assurance is torn apart by Cult. Truly a masterpiece, it relates to the life of an average citizen and appeals to the most avid reader because the subject matter is most relevant to our time. The threat that looms large before us in the form of organizations promoting hatred, racial discrimination and religious violence has long been disregarded. But in the face of the painful September 11 memories Americans and the world as a whole has been forced to come under one shelter and deal with the menace of terrorism and cults, which promote violence.

Barney Harrigan, a successful computer entrepreneur, discovers that his young wife has been lured by her fanatical sister into the Glory Cult, a ruthless and powerful group in Oregon run by a charismatic "guru." Determined to free her from the cult's grasp and return her to him and their four-year-old son, he teams up with his old lover, a human rights activist from Washington and two cunning deprogrammers. What ensues is truly incredible as this foursome, who are very much aware of the hazards, hatch a plan to kidnap the young wife from the cult. The heart-stopping climax is worth every buck you pay and one of the most well-written end sequences I have read in a while. The enemy is tough and so is the determination of the rescuers, a treat you wouldn't want to miss in the traditional 'Good vs. Big Baddy "I have nine lives"' style.

This is a well researched book with visions and dimensions which will frighten as the book takes us to a safari, a real jungle full of vile human beings who exist to question establishments and peace. The psychological perspective, the intricacies of brainwashing are all set with an authentic tune, chillingly real. The author has rightly pointed out a few quirks in our society, thought process and political establishments, which contributes to the rise of such evil. What impressed me most about the book was the author's determination to produce an absolutely neat and engaging work. I had expected an over-indulgence in 'gore,' which would have harmed the book in a big way. But nowhere has the author slipped in treatment and has succeeded in keeping the plot glitch free.

There are letdowns, but all of that is forgivable simply because this man moulds a tough subject with a scintillating story line to deliver a punch, which will not just leave a bruise on your skin, but an imprint on your heart. There are a few things that could have been avoided in the book at the editing stage, a few biased views from the authors think-tank almost spoiled the academic taste that one develops in his or hers mouth after reading Cult for 2-3 hours. The introduction is a real thorn in the flesh, stinging remarks and sarcasm helps, but not with a seriously good book like Cult. Mr. Adler doesn't look good when he does that. Thankfully he is not a man who repeats mistakes.

With a really good cover and an absolutely terrific tale in between, Cult goes down as one of the best fiction works of all time, which has taken up the responsibility of holding a mirror to our mottled society. Hats off to the master.

See complete details about Cult including immediate purchase options.