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leyfreoo's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
wannabekingpin's review
3.0
All reviews in one place: Night Mode Reading | LT
Sonchai has made a grave mistake. He got the Godfather movies for his boss, which then triggered a chain reaction of real ill trash luck. His boss kindly worked up Sonchai’s family with deals of good raise, and little to no change to Sonchai’s work, in attempts to make Sonchai his consilieri, like an adviser. Which then directly took a hit to Sonchai’s karma. That son, reincarnation of his beloved friend and partner, whom he wanted to put in a good school on his wife’s advice, with the new money he’ll be getting? Decided the world is too corrupt, and suicided. Wife? Guilt ridden ran away to a monastery to become a monk. FBI agent, his friend and former partner in USA? She felt disappointed in his new line of work, and due to broken arm – won’t rush to help him with the new case. As for the new case, Sonchai is determined to give this chance of promotion to his colleague, who hates his guts. Hates him for being the first choice for the boss. Hates him for being a better detective. And now also hates him for being morally superior about this promotion too, for showing this kindness and giving him the damn promotion. The only consolation Sonchai right now has is also not a spotless piece of sunshine. It is a a highest ranking monk who promised to teach him to reach the peace of mind. It’s just that this same monk has 14 mil worth of drugs he wants to sell to his boss.
As for the murder, now that’s something to get distracted by, no matter how unpleasant. A movie director was found dead, skull open, brain eaten. He was well loved in Bangkok by the bar girls, who describe him as kind, caring, loving, but a sex addict. He wasn’t visiting them for a while before his death, so they assumed he finally found that “something wilder” he was after. Did that wilder thing kill him too? And to top it all off, he left clues directly for Sonchai. Yes. Of course he did.
This was a strange book, with quite a few lines to follow, and Sonchai’s wasn’t the best. The murder was the most dull one though, so I had to remind myself this isn’t really a detective story to begin with a lot. But there were great points, like that monk, or such a shift in Karma. So all in all another 3/5, I guess.
Sonchai has made a grave mistake. He got the Godfather movies for his boss, which then triggered a chain reaction of real ill trash luck. His boss kindly worked up Sonchai’s family with deals of good raise, and little to no change to Sonchai’s work, in attempts to make Sonchai his consilieri, like an adviser. Which then directly took a hit to Sonchai’s karma. That son, reincarnation of his beloved friend and partner, whom he wanted to put in a good school on his wife’s advice, with the new money he’ll be getting? Decided the world is too corrupt, and suicided. Wife? Guilt ridden ran away to a monastery to become a monk. FBI agent, his friend and former partner in USA? She felt disappointed in his new line of work, and due to broken arm – won’t rush to help him with the new case. As for the new case, Sonchai is determined to give this chance of promotion to his colleague, who hates his guts. Hates him for being the first choice for the boss. Hates him for being a better detective. And now also hates him for being morally superior about this promotion too, for showing this kindness and giving him the damn promotion. The only consolation Sonchai right now has is also not a spotless piece of sunshine. It is a a highest ranking monk who promised to teach him to reach the peace of mind. It’s just that this same monk has 14 mil worth of drugs he wants to sell to his boss.
As for the murder, now that’s something to get distracted by, no matter how unpleasant. A movie director was found dead, skull open, brain eaten. He was well loved in Bangkok by the bar girls, who describe him as kind, caring, loving, but a sex addict. He wasn’t visiting them for a while before his death, so they assumed he finally found that “something wilder” he was after. Did that wilder thing kill him too? And to top it all off, he left clues directly for Sonchai. Yes. Of course he did.
This was a strange book, with quite a few lines to follow, and Sonchai’s wasn’t the best. The murder was the most dull one though, so I had to remind myself this isn’t really a detective story to begin with a lot. But there were great points, like that monk, or such a shift in Karma. So all in all another 3/5, I guess.
roseannmvp's review
Couldn't get through it as a bedtime read...some of the names/diction was too odd and disrupted my train of thought. Probably try again some time.
liberrydude's review
2.0
Farang, if I tell you that this book was a chore to read would you believe me? This book tries to do too much and has too many tangential plot lines. It doesn't get going until the half way point. It's too long and the plot is constantly twisting which can be both stimulating and annoying. There's enough here for two separate books. Farang, the author tried to do too much. In addition to the normal sex and drugs we have the Free Tibet movement, Hollywood, jewels, triads, tantric sex, Nepal, and Hong Kong. Sonchai really has to work for the answers in this one and we're not sure if we like the person he is becoming either. But I'm still ready for book five and so is my karma.
wboesch's review
5.0
Not a whit disappointing, this one extends the win streak to four. The Thai detective with the dharma of gold freaks and decompensates his way through another adventure-cum-cultural lesson.
stacialithub's review
3.0
Really enjoyed this one -- an interesting police/crime procedural set in Thailand. Burdett deftly mixes Thai & American modes, mores, & thoughts with various other cultural traditions & backgrounds included too. A murder mystery with a second storyline of drug trafficking that is a bit off the beaten path. This particular book is also one for movie buffs. Recommended for fans of international mysteries.
smartipants8's review
4.0
Good fun - and now that I live in Bangkok, I recognize the areas he's talking about and it feels incredibly realistic which makes me worry about apocalyptic buddhism! I read it on the airplane going from Bangkok to Kathmandu and it also captured the beauty of Kathmandu too. I highly recommend it.
richardwells's review
4.0
I lost patience with John Burdett on book three of his Bangkok series, but this one is a return to form. Funny, spooky, bloody, filled with double and triple crosses, great characters, and great plotting. Liked it a lot - recommended.
bdplume's review
4.0
Phenomenal. Can't wait for more of Sonchai's story. As always, very moving, very exciting, and it keeps you guessing.
chitownjr's review
3.0
This had Burdett's signature wit and plot twists but the focus on Buddhism got a little distracting. It ultimately became more about Sonchai's inner voyage as a Buddhist than the usual dark mystery. It felt a little like Burdett used the vehicle of the mystery as a way to explore philosophical issues. I have no problem with that but it came across as a little schizophrenic, or as if he couldn't make up his mind. Both the story and the philosophical musings worked in a way, but maybe not together. I wasn't sorry I read it but in my opinion it's the least cohesive of the four books.