Superstition and the undead make an appearance. There are numerous pleasures to be enjoyed, but there is also horrific traffic and corruption and tourists. His prose does a really good job of showing you around Bangkok and explaining, in particular, why people might love and hate it so much. Welcome to a Buddhist revenge story.Īuthor John Burdett is a Brit with a deep affection for Thailand. In the throes of grief, Jitpleecheepon calmly explains that he will find and kill his partner’s murderer. One moment, the two of them are sitting in a car talking about harmony and karma. The son of a prostitute and a Vietnam vet who left Bangkok years ago, Jitpleecheep always feels a little out-of-place, even in his hometown.Įarly in the story, he and his partner (and best friend) are investigating a crime that’s so dangerous, it kills his partner while they’re collecting clues. He’s also a Buddhist who’s reached a certain level of enlightenment - spontaneous meditation is a regular part of his days. He’s charming, wryly funny, and knows how to handle himself. Our hero Sonchai Jitpleecheep is seemingly the only detective for the Royal Thai Police who won’t take a bribe. This is glorious noir that spares the reader nothing. And in the midst of it all, one good man – a police detective - is trying to do the right thing in his steaming, sinister town. Temples and brothels, street food and gangsters. Bangkok is a heady blend of monks in saffron-colored robes and sex-trade professionals bustling together on the same streets.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |