Terrorism and modelling

Two international releases from Random House India, both as radically different in style as can possibly be.

First, Alex Berenson’s The Faithful Spy. This page-turner is about CIA agent John Wells, supposedly the first Western intelligence officer to penetrate the upper levels of al-Qaeda. After proving his loyalty to the terrorist outfit on a number of occasions, Wells has been given a mission in America by Osama bin Laden's chief deputy. He comes back to his country to realize that life as a spy has led to many internal conflicts. Even the CIA isn't so sure about him anymore. When two bombs go off in Los Angeles, killing 300, the action hits high gear.

The author is a New York Times correspondent who, interestingly, actually covered the occupation of Iraq. He also loves his spy thrillers, considering the ingredients are all well in place. Lots of suspense, a great many believable scenes and that much-needed twist is what you'll get, in addition to some graphical descriptions that could make your stomach turn.

A much, much better read than anything Dan Brown has ever given us.

The other release ' Angel, debut novel by Katie Price a.k.a. Jordan. She is a regular on gossip columns in the UK, a glamorous model and mother of two who can boast her own documentary series and two (!) best-selling autobiographies. Which probably means she has always had a lot to talk about.

The pseudonym is a bit of a mystery, but the writing is just what you would expect from a model. Very little.

In terms of a plot, this one tracks 17-year old Angel along her path from dowdy girl to glam doll. There is much about glamour, a whole lot of romance and, of course, sex. Jordan knows a bit about makeovers, and her book has one too, courtesy Angel's best friend Gemma. There's a boy she's always liked who has never noticed her, breast enlargement surgery that changes her life, and a really bad boyfriend before a final rescue. Yawn.

Still, if you're stuck on along journey and want nothing that could jog those brain cells, this is as good a choice as any.