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constantreader471's review against another edition
4.0
4 stars for a pleasant mystery in the Dr. Siri Paiboun series, set in 1977 Laos. The Royalist government has been overthrown by the Pathet Lao Communist rebels. Siri Paiboun was a member of the rebel forces, serving as a doctor. He is now 74 years old and wanted to retire. But the new government forces him to become the National coroner for Laos, and actually the only coroner in Laos. This is book 4 in the series, but it would work as a standalone.
He is tasked with identifying a man run over by a truck in the capital, Vientiane. There is a letter on the dead man's body. It looks blank, but Siri realizes that it has invisible ink. He is able to make the writing appear and finds an indecipherable code.
He also solves more two mysteries while solving this mystery. It is full of commentary of the new government and humorous asides.
One quote: "The Pathet Lao had come to power in 1975 and even the prime minister admitted they hadn't achieved too much since then. But the jungle-trained administration adopted a policy of disguising its lack of ability by baffling the populace with red tape. No fewer than six signatures were needed for permission to ride a bicycle from one prefecture to another."
Siri is in contact with the spirit world. Sometimes the spirits help him, other times they threaten him. This was a library eBook that I read in 3 days.
He is tasked with identifying a man run over by a truck in the capital, Vientiane. There is a letter on the dead man's body. It looks blank, but Siri realizes that it has invisible ink. He is able to make the writing appear and finds an indecipherable code.
He also solves more two mysteries while solving this mystery. It is full of commentary of the new government and humorous asides.
One quote: "The Pathet Lao had come to power in 1975 and even the prime minister admitted they hadn't achieved too much since then. But the jungle-trained administration adopted a policy of disguising its lack of ability by baffling the populace with red tape. No fewer than six signatures were needed for permission to ride a bicycle from one prefecture to another."
Siri is in contact with the spirit world. Sometimes the spirits help him, other times they threaten him. This was a library eBook that I read in 3 days.
lavoiture's review against another edition
4.0
After reading this book again, my original review still stands, from 2008:
It's the 4th book, and Dr. Siri is still in my top 5 of characters I'd like to have dinner with. I thought this one was a little weaker, and some of the conversations were too modern and relied too much on English puns. Still, it's worth a read.
It's the 4th book, and Dr. Siri is still in my top 5 of characters I'd like to have dinner with. I thought this one was a little weaker, and some of the conversations were too modern and relied too much on English puns. Still, it's worth a read.
eastofthesunwestofthemoon's review against another edition
4.0
Another very good tale in the Dr. Siri series. This one entails some travel and a more in-depth look at Dr. Siri's past in the Communist movement. I like the way things change for the characters in the series and they also change in response, but the author is able to keep them as the same likeable characters, just with differences.
_rusalka's review against another edition
4.0
The Dr Siri series is that borderline of good mystery books, and silliness. The last book bordered on too silly. This one redeemed itself a lot. And it gave it's secondary characters a lot more flesh than being scarecrows behind the doctor.
I still really love the doctor's character, and think he is a lovely addition to the genre. This book just gave the whole cast more depth. While still developing Siri's character and giving us a lot of backstory to the doctor and detail to the past that has been eluded to in previous books.
I found the book a little ham-fisted and problematic with a particular character which was there to illustrate the diversity in SE Asian life. While the character itself was very believable and understandable, the language was outdated even when the book was written. Ignoring the truisms of the thoughts of when the book was set, which I was happy to accept. I just found it a little dated and jarring.
I still really love the doctor's character, and think he is a lovely addition to the genre. This book just gave the whole cast more depth. While still developing Siri's character and giving us a lot of backstory to the doctor and detail to the past that has been eluded to in previous books.
I found the book a little ham-fisted and problematic with a particular character which was there to illustrate the diversity in SE Asian life. While the character itself was very believable and understandable, the language was outdated even when the book was written. Ignoring the truisms of the thoughts of when the book was set, which I was happy to accept. I just found it a little dated and jarring.
elysahenegar's review against another edition
4.0
Another great Siri Paiboun mystery! In addition to the wonderful characters, humor, and engaging mystery, this one has significant things to say about love and friendship and living well that will stay with you long after you finish it.
eososray's review against another edition
4.0
This continues to be an enjoyable series. There is less of the supernatural and more history in this volume and some wonderful new characters. Dr. Siri is still completely irreverent and his associates highly amusing.
tasmanian_bibliophile's review against another edition
5.0
In this novel, Dr Siri Paiboun, the reluctant national coroner of Laos, is initially asked to discover the identity of a corpse delivered to the morgue in Vientiane. This is simply the beginning of a series of events involving the problem solving skills of our hero Dr Siri, his friend Civilai (currently a senior member of the Laos politburo), Nurse Dtui, Phosy (the police officer), and Auntie Bpoo, a transvestite fortune teller.
Set in the Laos of the 1970s, filled with action, unpredictable events, fascinating characters with wry observations on life, death and politics – this is truly a delightful series. The writing is superb, and frequently had me laughing out loud. Who can resist:
‘It is hard to hold a serious debriefing with a man who’s ripping off his pants in the middle of a town’s main street.’
Naturally, by this stage there were other crimes to be solved. After all: ‘A good socialist is not a dustbin, with a closed lid. He is a letter box, always open to receive news.’
Fortunately for Dr Siri, in relation to one of the crimes : ‘But the god of unnecessary paperwork intervened. Even before they had the powder, the crime solved itself.’
I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of books two and three, and keenly anticipating the publication of the fifth book. After all, Dr Siri isn’t getting any younger.
Set in the Laos of the 1970s, filled with action, unpredictable events, fascinating characters with wry observations on life, death and politics – this is truly a delightful series. The writing is superb, and frequently had me laughing out loud. Who can resist:
‘It is hard to hold a serious debriefing with a man who’s ripping off his pants in the middle of a town’s main street.’
Naturally, by this stage there were other crimes to be solved. After all: ‘A good socialist is not a dustbin, with a closed lid. He is a letter box, always open to receive news.’
Fortunately for Dr Siri, in relation to one of the crimes : ‘But the god of unnecessary paperwork intervened. Even before they had the powder, the crime solved itself.’
I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of books two and three, and keenly anticipating the publication of the fifth book. After all, Dr Siri isn’t getting any younger.