A thriller with attitude to spare, Bangkok 8 is a sexy, razor-edged, often darkly hilarious novel set in one of the world’s most exotic cities. Witnessed by a throng of gaping spectators, a charismatic Marine sergeant is murdered under a Bangkok bridge inside a bolted-shut Mercedes Benz. Among the witnesses are the only two cops in the city not on the take, but within moments one is murdered and his partner, Sonchai Jitpleecheep—a devout Buddhist and the son of a Thai bar girl and a long-gone Vietnam War G.I.—is hell-bent on wreaking revenge. On a vigilante mission to capture his partner’s murderer, Sonchai is begrudgingly paired with a beautiful FBI agent named Jones and captures her heart in the process. In a city fueled by illicit drugs and infinite corruption, prostitution and priceless art, Sonchai’s quest for vengeance takes him into a world much more sinister than he could have ever imagined.
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"Common structure, uncommon setting. I enjoyed it immensely and have to agree with Publisher's Weekly: "Readers expecting a traditional mystery structure would be advised to look elsewhere, but those who want something new will find Burdett's novel an intriguing, fresh take on noir." "
— Ed (4 out of 5 stars)
" For some reason, I couldn't really get behind this book. There were a number of things that I enjoyed about it, but ultimately, it left a bad taste in my mouth. Not sure I can pinpoint it any better than that. "
— Matt, 2/14/2014" three and a half. Interesting story. Good characterization. Different take on prostitution. The East really is different. "
— Joan, 2/12/2014" Good book that gives a good picture of Thailand and cultures. Creepy ending though. "
— Sherry, 2/8/2014" Great read. Great look into Thai culture, Thai cops, American Thai relations, and all the other reasons would love Thailand. I'd read a sequel is a second. "
— David, 1/29/2014" Excellent, sort of a murder mystery, there IS a murder mystery in it, but it is also about Bangkok, Buddhism, colonialism, gender, prostitution. "
— Kate, 1/29/2014" Fun, quick mystery read, with several surprises and twists along the way and at the end. As a bonus, enjoyed reading about/remembering Bangkok, but left me longing for authentic Thai food... "
— Katie, 1/16/2014" murder and mayhem based in Thailand "
— Beth, 1/16/2014" A good mystery set in Bangkok...a bit on the sensational side, but good. "
— Marty, 12/30/2013" This book had/has a huge buzz. Hmmmm. Sure, compared to most of what is out there, it is well written, unusual, and full of great characters. But I found the plot rather thin, and I don't even know what to make of its weird racial politics. "
— Rachel, 12/20/2013" Crazy, delightful book. As close to being in Bangkok as you can get. "
— Ozzie, 12/4/2013" This mystery takes a while before it becomes difficult to put down. A little Buddist philosophy mixed in while the main character, a Thai cop with a gringo (or farang as they say in Thailand) dad solves the mystery. There are some gruesome parts, but I could read it without feeling woozy. "
— Jasna, 12/3/2013John Burdett is a former lawyer who worked in London and Hong Kong for fourteen years. He is the author of the bestselling Bangkok 8 and its sequels, Bangkok Tattoo, Bangkok Haunts, and The Godfather of Kathmandu. His other works include Freedom Angel, The Last 6 Million Seconds, and Vulture Peak, the latest installment in the Bangkok series. Burdett splits his time between France and Bangkok.
Paul Boehmer is an American actor best known for his numerous appearances in the Star Trek universe, in addition to Frasier, Judging Amy, Guiding Light, and All My Children. He is a 1992 Masters of Fine Arts graduate of the Professional Theater Training Program at the University of Delaware. As a narrator, Paul has won several AudioFile Earphones Awards as well as an Audie Award.
Paul Boehmer is an American actor best known for his numerous appearances in the Star Trek universe, in addition to Frasier, Judging Amy, Guiding Light, and All My Children. He is a 1992 Masters of Fine Arts graduate of the Professional Theater Training Program at the University of Delaware. As a narrator, Paul has won several AudioFile Earphones Awards as well as an Audie Award.