Tab Article

Ratings: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5)
Genre: #Mystery #CrimeFiction #Thriller #DetectiveFiction

Book Review:
This crime novel by John Burdett features Detective Sonchai Jitpleecheep of the Royal Thai Police, a devout Buddhist and son of a former prostitute. The story revolves around a murder at a Bangkok brothel co-owned by Sonchai's mother and his boss. The victim is a CIA agent, horribly mutilated, and the apparent culprit is Chanya, the brothel's top earner and a woman whom Sonchai has loved for several lifetimes. How can Sonchai solve this crime without sending Chanya to prison? How can he engage in a cover-up without endangering his karma? The case involves American spies, Muslim fundamentalists, and gangsters from three countries. Mesmerizing and darkly comic, this novel takes readers on a tour of Bangkok's underworld while exploring themes of duty, love, and the nature of evil. It is as addictive as opium and as hot as Sriracha chili sauce.