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nheer's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
vanessakm's review against another edition
4.0
This is the first in British author Colin Cotterill's series of mysteries starring Siri Paiboun.
Siri is a coroner but he is worlds away from the likes of Kathy Reichs or Patricia Cornwell. He's the state coroner for Laos, circa 1976-around one year after the Pathet Lao Communist Party takeover of the state. Siri is an upbeat, endearing guy despite a major bad luck streak in life. He went to medical school in France, where he was offered a job. Instead, he returned to Laos and joined the Communist Party because of a girl. Whom he married. Who ended up hating him. After spending years as a medic for the insurgency, he expected to retire in his 70's after the Pathet Lao gained control of the country in 1975. Instead, he was drafted as the state coroner despite having no training in pathology and only a French textbook from the 1940's as a guide.
Nevertheless, Siri makes a surprisingly good coroner. Here he investigates, among other things, the suspicious death of the wife of a Party higher-up (and an old nemesis of Siri's) and three Vietnamese bodies who were dumped in a reservoir. The first is a personal political minefield for Siri and the second is a potential international incident.
Siri also has dreams and visions where he communicates with the dead. Normally I'm not one to tolerate a deus ex machina but Cotterill makes it work and makes it funny. When in Laos, as the saying goes. Or should go.
I got a good feel for the culture of Laos from this book which is a big reason I read international mysteries. I really liked this book with its unusual hero and his sidekicks (a nurse who reads celebrity magazines and a mentally challenged morgue assistant.) I want to read more although I did have a few logical quibbles (how was the villain able to recall a conversation he wasn't present at? How could Siri possibly affect decisions made in Taiwan?)
Siri is a coroner but he is worlds away from the likes of Kathy Reichs or Patricia Cornwell. He's the state coroner for Laos, circa 1976-around one year after the Pathet Lao Communist Party takeover of the state. Siri is an upbeat, endearing guy despite a major bad luck streak in life. He went to medical school in France, where he was offered a job. Instead, he returned to Laos and joined the Communist Party because of a girl. Whom he married. Who ended up hating him. After spending years as a medic for the insurgency, he expected to retire in his 70's after the Pathet Lao gained control of the country in 1975. Instead, he was drafted as the state coroner despite having no training in pathology and only a French textbook from the 1940's as a guide.
Nevertheless, Siri makes a surprisingly good coroner. Here he investigates, among other things, the suspicious death of the wife of a Party higher-up (and an old nemesis of Siri's) and three Vietnamese bodies who were dumped in a reservoir. The first is a personal political minefield for Siri and the second is a potential international incident.
Siri also has dreams and visions where he communicates with the dead. Normally I'm not one to tolerate a deus ex machina but Cotterill makes it work and makes it funny. When in Laos, as the saying goes. Or should go.
I got a good feel for the culture of Laos from this book which is a big reason I read international mysteries. I really liked this book with its unusual hero and his sidekicks (a nurse who reads celebrity magazines and a mentally challenged morgue assistant.) I want to read more although I did have a few logical quibbles (how was the villain able to recall a conversation he wasn't present at? How could Siri possibly affect decisions made in Taiwan?)
stricker's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
Murder mystery set in Vientianne, Laos
malvord27's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this book. It explores a world I don't know much about, and a time period I also don't know much about, and on top of that there's a mystery to be solved. The book is full of wry, dark humor which I really enjoyed. The Doctor is quick on his feet, and his descriptions of bureaucracy gave me a good laugh.
This book isn't quite in the same vein as the Father Anselm or Inspector Gamache series, but if you enjoy those series you may also enjoy this book. Will definitely be checking out subsequent books in this series.
This book isn't quite in the same vein as the Father Anselm or Inspector Gamache series, but if you enjoy those series you may also enjoy this book. Will definitely be checking out subsequent books in this series.
becks's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
lizfran's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
withmanyroots's review against another edition
3.0
Picked this up for my short trip to Laos for Chinese New Year - seduced by the storyline straight away, fell in love with the characters and picked up a few historical details at the same time. Will hunt out the next one!
emlo's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I really enjoyed this book. It's a mixture of cosy crime and the supernatural. Dr Siri is a great character who gets help solving mysterious deaths from the dead themselves. The setting is communist Lao in the 1970s which is evocatively described, with some political history and folklore intermixed. I liked the way Dr Siri looks out for his assistants and relies on their strengths when other people overlook them, especially Mr. Gueng who has Down's syndrome.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Death of parent, and Suicide
Minor: Torture
carolsnotebook's review
5.0
This is one of those rare mysteries I adore where the setting and characters overshadow the plot. Laos itself is fascinating and the tensions between communism, traditions, poverty and expectations are shown but not in a heavy-handed way. The regular, everyday people are trying their best to live in this new country. Siri is at center stage. He’s 72, a widower with a good sense of humor who’s beyond political infighting and petty bickering. He’s a scientist, but also recognizes that the metaphysical world does exist and can affect circumstances. He can’t entirely deny what he’s experienced and seen with his own eyes. He knows that the spirits can contact the living.
I was engrossed in this read, as often happens when the setting becomes so integral to the story. I haven’t thought about it much, but I guess setting, for me, is what can make a good book outstanding. It doesn’t have to be somewhere exotic, but I need to feel like the story could not take place anywhere else. I’m captivated by the land and culture, fall in love with the place, faults and all.
I was engrossed in this read, as often happens when the setting becomes so integral to the story. I haven’t thought about it much, but I guess setting, for me, is what can make a good book outstanding. It doesn’t have to be somewhere exotic, but I need to feel like the story could not take place anywhere else. I’m captivated by the land and culture, fall in love with the place, faults and all.
karenangela_1's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this. It was a very quick and easy read, and despite the body count fairly light hearted. I look forward to reading more of Colin Cotterill's books.