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timinbc's review against another edition
4.0
Another solid Dr. Siri tale, with continuing development of the wonderful cast of characters. This time Auntie Bpoo gets a turn in the spotlight, and enjoys every second of it. Siri is better than ever at arranging things, guessing what's going on, and so on. The humour is relaxed, and often inserted deftly by no more than a word or phrase or description. We never get to forget that nasty things are happening, but these inextiguishable people do what it takes to get by.
The crisis is resolved by an iffy means that we have to allow, because we were given a hint, but I admit I was wondering how they'd get out of this one, so fair enough.
On to the next!
The crisis is resolved by an iffy means that we have to allow, because we were given a hint, but I admit I was wondering how they'd get out of this one, so fair enough.
On to the next!
mellomorissa's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
jimmacsyr's review against another edition
3.0
Lots of fun in this episode. Some interesting topics covered as well.
kcfromaustcrime's review against another edition
5.0
The Dr Siri series has probably got to the stage where new readers will have that odd feeling - you know the one - when you walk into a theme party with no idea what the theme is. Or who most of the people at the bar are....
For fans of the series, there's absolutely nothing unexpected about SLASH AND BURN. It's perfectly understandable that Dr Siri, along with his wife, his nurse and his morgue attendant would all end up somewhere up country looking for a MIA American helicopter pilot. It's no surprise whatsoever that the Laotian team with them includes some of his oldest friends as well as a translating, transvestite fortune teller who, amongst other things, is firmly predicting Dr Siri's death. It goes without saying that the team includes a number of rather colourful American's including a dodgy senator and a military expert with a murky past. It's expected that somebody will end up dead and Dr Siri and his nearest and dearest will have to pull out the stops to solve the crime and survive themselves.
One of the great treats of this series is the wonderful celebratory sense of place and eccentricity of most of the characters, even Dr Siri, who is wise, and quietly all-seeing but definitely an individual. Everyone around Dr Siri is affected by the same glorious unpredictability, and everyone plays their part in solving the mystery of not just the more recent murder, but the crash and disappearance of one particular helicopter pilot.
Built into the madness there are often more serious aspects being explored, and SLASH AND BURN is no different. In this case there are a number of issues being touched on including the dreadful carpet bombing of Laos in the Vietnam war era, the discovery of gold around the same time, and the legacy that left behind. Most interesting, are some rather pointed observations about the American political system, and obviously the legacy that the war has left on the landscape, and in the villages of Laos as well as the minds of the citizens. As always whenever there are more pointed observations being made, Cotterill balances that out with some funny, poignant and beautiful moments.
SLASH AND BURN is the 8th in the Dr Siri series, and it seems the last. It's unbelievably sad to think we've finally come to the end of this journey, as it's been an absolute joy. I think this will be a series I'll re-read for many years to come.
http://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/slash-and-burn-colin-cotterill
For fans of the series, there's absolutely nothing unexpected about SLASH AND BURN. It's perfectly understandable that Dr Siri, along with his wife, his nurse and his morgue attendant would all end up somewhere up country looking for a MIA American helicopter pilot. It's no surprise whatsoever that the Laotian team with them includes some of his oldest friends as well as a translating, transvestite fortune teller who, amongst other things, is firmly predicting Dr Siri's death. It goes without saying that the team includes a number of rather colourful American's including a dodgy senator and a military expert with a murky past. It's expected that somebody will end up dead and Dr Siri and his nearest and dearest will have to pull out the stops to solve the crime and survive themselves.
One of the great treats of this series is the wonderful celebratory sense of place and eccentricity of most of the characters, even Dr Siri, who is wise, and quietly all-seeing but definitely an individual. Everyone around Dr Siri is affected by the same glorious unpredictability, and everyone plays their part in solving the mystery of not just the more recent murder, but the crash and disappearance of one particular helicopter pilot.
Built into the madness there are often more serious aspects being explored, and SLASH AND BURN is no different. In this case there are a number of issues being touched on including the dreadful carpet bombing of Laos in the Vietnam war era, the discovery of gold around the same time, and the legacy that left behind. Most interesting, are some rather pointed observations about the American political system, and obviously the legacy that the war has left on the landscape, and in the villages of Laos as well as the minds of the citizens. As always whenever there are more pointed observations being made, Cotterill balances that out with some funny, poignant and beautiful moments.
SLASH AND BURN is the 8th in the Dr Siri series, and it seems the last. It's unbelievably sad to think we've finally come to the end of this journey, as it's been an absolute joy. I think this will be a series I'll re-read for many years to come.
http://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/slash-and-burn-colin-cotterill
lavoiture's review against another edition
4.0
Dr. Siri! Dr. Siri! Good grief, if I could sit down and have a drink with any character from literature, I'm pretty sure it would be him. Honestly, I liked the first books better, but Dr. Siri and the other characters never get boring. Awesome.
eastofthesunwestofthemoon's review against another edition
5.0
4 1/2 stars. Audio book. This installment of Dr. Siri was one of the best so far. It's interesting to have the Americans put in an appearance, and to hear Dr. Siri's side commentary regarding their involvement in Laos during and after the Viet Nam War.
liberrydude's review against another edition
3.0
Always interesting and downright bizarre this adventure by Dr Siri on a POW/MIA outing with the Americans has quite a surprising ending. It's a little unbelievable that the PL would allow the USA in at this time period so close to the end of the war. One wonders how many more adventures Dr Siri or this series can have as Siri is now 80 or so. The plot dragged a little but you read on for the humorous quips that Siri and the characters exchange with each other.
elysahenegar's review against another edition
4.0
For Geung alone, Dr Siri's morgue assistant (who just happens to be a man with Down's Syndrome), these are great books. I'm enthralled every time with Colin Cotterill's cast of eccentric characters and the community they create, as well as the exotic setting, humor, and engaging mysteries. Make sure to start at the beginning, but mystery and found family lovers should definitely read this series!
hldavids's review against another edition
3.0
Dr. Siri, much to his wife's chagrin, has accepted yet another assignment - searching for an American MIA pilot. The team includes many high-profile people and government officials, so murder and intrigue are a given.
This is my first Dr. Siri novel and I did feel at points I was missing something - whether I missed things in earlier books in the series, or I am simply missing so much because of my lack of knowledge of names and the region - that remains to be seen.
I will definitely try to go back and read the first in the series.
This book was received through a first-reads giveaway on Goodreads.
This is my first Dr. Siri novel and I did feel at points I was missing something - whether I missed things in earlier books in the series, or I am simply missing so much because of my lack of knowledge of names and the region - that remains to be seen.
I will definitely try to go back and read the first in the series.
This book was received through a first-reads giveaway on Goodreads.