Sunday, July 15, 2007

Bangkok Tattoo by John Burdett

First sentence:

"'Killing customers just isn't good for business.'"

Description:

"Detective Sonchai Jitpleecheep of the Royal Thai Police returns in his riveting and smokily atmospheric new thriller.

A farang–a foreigner–has been murdered, his body horribly mutilated, at the Bangkok brothel co-owned by Sonchai’s mother and his boss. The dead man was a CIA agent. To make matters worse, the apparent culprit is sweet-natured Chanya, the brothel’s top earner and a woman whom the devoutly Buddhist sleuth 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? And how will he ever get to the bottom of a case whose interested parties include American spooks, Muslim fundamentalists, and gangsters from three countries?

As addictive as opium, as hot as Sriracha chili sauce, and bursting with surprises, Bangkok Tattoo will leave its mark on you."

My thoughts:

I enjoyed this second book in the Sonchai Jitpleecheep series. What's the mystery? Well, there are several and Sonchai's descriptions engaged me and made me want to learn more about his life as a Thai policeman, a devout Buddhist, and a sardonic observer of American life. I look forward to reading the next book, Bangkok Haunts.

Date read: 7/15/2007
Book #: 60
Rating: 3* = good
Series: Sonchai Jitpleecheep #2
Genre: Mystery

ISBN-10: 1400032911
ISBN-13: 9781400032914
Publisher: Vintage
Year: 2006
# of Pages: 320
LibraryThing Page

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