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Terry | 2/5/2014
" Sonchai breaks out of Bangkok. I found the dismissive asides to us farangs a tiny bit irritating. But the Sonchai of old is still there, but his fun katoey side kick has only a minor role in this one. I got a tiny bit bored about 2/3 of the way through, thinking he'd solved everything, only to have the pace pick up big time and RUN to the end. "
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Regan | 2/1/2014
" Farang farang farang. Love this series but this is my least favorite of the 4. Still love reading the author's descriptions of the sensual Eastern culture and all it's many exotic flavors (doesn't everyone want to rush to their nearest Thai restaurant while reading this?). Still love reading about Sonchai Jitpleecheep. But this is a darker, harsher novel than the others. Think the author scripted unnecessary suffering for Sonchai. While the plot of all these books is East v. West - this one is condescendingly angrier towards the West. Miss the interplay with the FBI agent, which balanced the judgment. And that's my main irritation while reading this book: if I didn't have to see the italicized farang on almost every... other... page, I would probably have bumped this up a few more stars.( "
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Kay Churgel | 1/31/2014
" I'm putting this book on hold. Will try it again later. "
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Derek Handley | 1/10/2014
" It's an interesting concept, but the dialogue never rings true and the exposition grows tiresome. It feels like there's more love for the research than for the story. "
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Chip | 1/5/2014
" I have been a fan of John Burdett from his first book in this series, Bangkok 8. I find this a excellent series in its description of Thai culture. Not the travelog type but the real world on the street. Fascinating... John also explores the real aspects of Buddhism with each book which just adds more knowledge and thus additional enjoyment. But at the end of the day detective Sonchai Jitpleecheep is a joy to walk with. He is Sam Spade w/a sense of real life humor. I am both wary and giggling as we track down endless trials on the streets of Southeast Asia. You must read this (so far) 4 book series in sequences to full appreciate this fascinating real world scenario. "
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Margaret Sankey | 12/31/2013
" Fourth in a series centered on perhaps the only Thai detective not on the take (for reasons of religious piety), his fantastically corrupt boss (who recently acquired the Godfather films on DVD) and a Tibetan guru with a spectacular heroin connection. The characters are driven by motives genuinely alien to western readers (crime and punishment for devout Buddhists is a matter for reincarnation, not necessarily the courts) and the sheer louchness is astonishing. "
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Dean | 12/26/2013
" I'm not big on crime novels but I love every book I've read in this series about a Buddhist detective in Thailand who is half owner in a brothel and whose partner is a pre-op girl-boy. "
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Chuck | 12/22/2013
" Three stars - it was entertaining but strange. A good entertaining book. "
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Amweatherill | 12/21/2013
" Hated this book. Loved the first one in the series but the rest have not been worth my time! "
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Jan de Wit | 11/28/2013
" Hilarious, serious and highly entertaining. Excellent reading. "
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Cynthia | 11/23/2013
" Burdett delivers big time. "
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Naomi | 10/23/2013
" Another great story from John Burdett, who never disappoints. I love the way that his character Sonchai Jitpleecheep addresses his readers. He knows we're all 'farang' and treats us as such. "
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Brian | 3/5/2013
" compulsively readable and entertaining, much like the other bangkok series of books by burdett. can't wait for the next one... "
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William Beauvais | 11/20/2012
" wonderful set of characters and escapades. ain't it interesting when the main character is supported by a cast of far more fascinating players? "
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Marg | 10/11/2012
" This is another wowser of a book from John Burdett. I have read all of his books and am never disappointed. The addition of spiritualism to this book made me want to read it again soon. another book I highly recommend. "
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Philippa | 6/13/2012
" Having read number 4 in this series about a bent cop in Bangkok of Thai/US ancestry, I'll be looking out for the others. Plenty of action, insights into Buddhism, and humour, narrated by a wise-cracking, entertaining smart-arse in vivid and inventive prose. "
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Suevw | 3/27/2012
" what fun! I have missed getting to read his books - want to go back and read them all again now. Main character and getting to feel like you are learning about another culture is very captivating. Ok so a bit grizzly in parts but the twists sure kept me wanting more. "
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Jennifer | 1/2/2012
" Shirley P "
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Dianne Lange | 12/14/2011
" Great read. Love Jitpleecheep as always. The bonus: two surprise endings. "
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loafingcactus | 10/11/2011
" Fantastic, as always. This time with a small bibliography if one wants to understand more of the history and culture displayed in the novel. "
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Bill | 5/16/2011
" raymond chandler meets one tough buddhist. good mystery, good world.
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Richard | 5/15/2011
" 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.
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Cathy | 5/11/2011
" note to self. do not read any more mysteries that take place in thailand. way too gritty although this one was full of itself trying to make lite of the awfulness surrounding it and also jumping around like mad so you can't figure out where you're at in the story.
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Phil | 2/26/2011
" Great audiobook. Fun buddhist detective story set in Thailand and Nepal.
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Martin | 2/7/2011
" Quite jolly. Same series as Bangkok ei8ht. Good characterisation, and interesting story
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Christine | 2/4/2011
" Another highly entertaining volume in the Bangkok series. I sure hope Burdett keeps writing about Sonchai, our intriguing detective. Once again, there was a compelling mystery with good twists and turns, keeping me rapidly turning the pages.
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Voracious | 1/9/2011
" Love the combination of Bangkok craziness, moral ambiguity, Buddhist philosophizing, and great story telling. This is the best book of a great series.
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Sandy | 12/21/2010
" very different but I liked it
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Mamacate | 11/18/2010
" Okay, Burdett, hurry up and write the next one. I'm going to have a hard time waiting to hear from Sonchai again, but I'll try to meditate and see if I can get through.
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