Oracle Lake: A Thriller

By Paul Adam

Book Overview

"A cliff-hanger in every sense.... Brilliantly imagined, fiercely authentic and wholly gripping." --Literary Review(UK). The Indian town of McLeod Ganj has been home to the Dalai Lama for more than forty years. Now, the Dalai Lama is dead, and his followers can only conceal his death for so long before word spreads to the rest of world. Maggie Walsh, a daring British photo-journalist, has received a tip about the earth-shattering event and flown straight to the remote village. But before she can get out with the story she is apprehended and remains trapped in detention while the world media trumpet the news. Now that the Dalai Lama's death has become public, the Tibetan exiles are faced with a dangerous task: to find his reincarnation before the Chinese government can stop them. The borders have been closed and Tibetan nationalists are being arrested throughout the country. In spite of the Chinese occupying forces, an exiled group of Buddhist monks must secretly cross the Himalayas into occupied Tibet to consult a legendary oracle lake for clues to the newborn child's location. Sensing the story of her career, Maggie has smuggled herself into Tibet to join the monks in their search. She soon realizes that this may be the most dangerous assignment of her life. Because the Chinese are determined to prevent the child being found, and will do anything to meet their goal. And when the fate of the Tibetan nation and the future of Buddhism itself are at risk, the most unexpected players may be forced to fight back. Paul Adam's acclaimed novelThe Rainaldi Quartet brilliantly portrayed the centuries of history and mystery behind the world's most valuable violins. Now, Adam turns his expert eye for vivid detail to the Far East, capturing the conflict and culture of Tibet in this sweeping new adventure thriller.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312370253
• ISBN13: 9780312370251
• Release Date: July 2007
• Publisher: Minotaur Books
• Length: 409 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 5.8" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Oracle Lake: A Thriller

What a great book. I actually bought this by accident it was erroneously in with Christian Thillers but it did not take long for me to forget that. This author Paul Adam must have spent time doing his homework on Chinese/Tibetan culture and the vivid scenic descriptions were great. It is a page turner. I had no knowledge of Tibet or Tibetans or their current struggle. Besides a great thriller it was educational for me.

Flash Point

Readers should be aware that this is the same novel as "Oracle Lake." This is the British edition. See my review of "Oracle Lake."

Oracle Lake

I have read several novels by Paul Adam and like his writing very much. The plots are suspenseful. His characters are well-crafted and believable. "Oracle Lake" is set in present-day Tibet, and recounts its recent sad history. Like most people, I did not know much about this remote country, though I was aware of the horrible repression by the Chinese. This novel describes the spiritual values that are being kept alive by the Dalai Lama and his followers. It gives a glimpse of hope that the forces of good will triumph over evil.

exciting Tibetan thriller

The Dalai Lama had lived in exile for four decades in McLeod Ganj, India, but has just died. His loyal followers try to buy time so that they can find his reincarnation before the Chinese government suppresses their effort because they do not want the child found. However, British photojournalist Maggie Walsh hears rumors of the demise and immediately flies to the Indian village to confirm the report. Maggie joins Tibetan exiles seeking the next Dalai Lama although China has shut down the border into and out of Tibet. Anyone breaching the border will be killed while the Chinese deadly Public Security Bureau cracks down on Tibetan nationalists. Still Buddhist monks secretly enter their homeland to consult the oracle lake to determine the location of the reincarnation. The search for the reincarnated Dalai Lama, the related Himalayan locales and some insight into Tibetan Buddhism bring freshness to an exciting thriller in which readers will know what next will occur to the living dangerous heroine. The story line is fast-paced as the monks and the Chinese agents seek the chosen one with differing thoughts as to what each side will do if they achieve their objective. Fans of entertaining thrillers in foreign locations will want to join the hunt for the Dalai Lama at ORACLE LAKE. Harriet Klausner

Wonderfully original

This intriguing novel offers insight into Tibet and its Chinese occupation as well Buddhism. It is original and exciting as Maggie, a British camera woman, accompanies three monks on their quest for the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama. Very well done and definitely makes me want to read Paul Adams' other works.