Scan barcode
mamanrees's review against another edition
4.0
I bought this as a vacation read while we were in Bangkok. Having read the first two books in the series a couple of years ago, I knew this would give me the nuanced sense of place that was missing from the first destination read I tried ("The Other City of Angels"). I remember being slightly annoyed with how quasi-philosophical the second book felt at times, but that wasn't really a problem with "Bangkok Haunts." The mystery was interesting and retained the slightly surreal feel of the previous books, and I loved all the sensory details about Bangkok, Phnom Penh, and the Thai/Cambodian border area.
jakewritesbooks's review against another edition
4.0
First things first: all my caveats about this series from my review of Bangkok Tattoo still apply (book is written as the perspective of an easterner by a westerner). Everything in this series needs to be taken with that grain of salt.
Still...wow. This book messed with my mind.
In each of these tales, Burdett reaches for a complex plot, weaving in Buddhist theology and observations about life in Thailand and the eastern Pacific rim in general. Here, you could see a writer who is completely comfortable with his style and who doesn't mind letting the plot run a fly pattern down field because he's gonna deliver the ball there eventually. But while said ball is in the air, Burdett takes every opportunity to keep the reader unbalanced with the lead and the characters he is involved with.
I've written in other places how murdered/mutilated women is usually a non-starter for me in mystery books and am only reading this one because it's a continuation of a series I like. But the way Burdett has that unfold is genuinely surprising. There's really not much I can say without spoiling anything. And even after it all, I'm still not sure I approve. But like its predecessors, the quality of this book allows me to forgive the author's potential insensitivities.
Like its predecessors, Burdett has a habit of dumping pages of expository dialogue near the very end, which is annoying. Also, there wasn't as much Bangkok as I would have liked; he seemed to want to speak more on Cambodia and its relationship to Thailand. Still, these are quibbles. This was a mindfreak of a book and I love this series.
Still...wow. This book messed with my mind.
In each of these tales, Burdett reaches for a complex plot, weaving in Buddhist theology and observations about life in Thailand and the eastern Pacific rim in general. Here, you could see a writer who is completely comfortable with his style and who doesn't mind letting the plot run a fly pattern down field because he's gonna deliver the ball there eventually. But while said ball is in the air, Burdett takes every opportunity to keep the reader unbalanced with the lead and the characters he is involved with.
I've written in other places how murdered/mutilated women is usually a non-starter for me in mystery books and am only reading this one because it's a continuation of a series I like. But the way Burdett has that unfold is genuinely surprising. There's really not much I can say without spoiling anything. And even after it all, I'm still not sure I approve. But like its predecessors, the quality of this book allows me to forgive the author's potential insensitivities.
Like its predecessors, Burdett has a habit of dumping pages of expository dialogue near the very end, which is annoying. Also, there wasn't as much Bangkok as I would have liked; he seemed to want to speak more on Cambodia and its relationship to Thailand. Still, these are quibbles. This was a mindfreak of a book and I love this series.
carlyque's review against another edition
3.0
Really loved the first two. This one felt darker, and more hopeless, and less engaging. Really, he gets the girl in the last book, but now is bored to tears with her--his beloved Chanya seems like a beached whale, that the author can't bother discussing. Similarly, the FBI woman seemed equally cardboard. Oh for wet dreams, is this book's motivating force.
sallyepp's review against another edition
2.0
I was riveted by the 1st two. This one? Not so much. The peek into one slice of Thai society with the brothels and corrupt cops was intriguing in the first two. This one just seemed crass.
firecat's review against another edition
3.0
The audiobook is well narrated by Glen McCready.
Bangkok Haunts is a mystery/police novel set in Thailand. It's part of a series featuring a Buddhist detective who is half farang (white Westerner) and half Thai. The series is written by a white Englishman who spent a long time in Hong Kong and Bangkok.
The detective narrates the book and addresses the reader as "farang," which gives him the excuse to deliver big expository lumps about Thai culture. A very big deal is made throughout the book about the ineffable differences between Western culture and Eastern/Thai culture. I know very little about Thailand so I have no idea whether the picture painted about the culture is accurate. Based on the picture painted of Western culture, it seems plausible but stereotyped/exaggerated.
I enjoyed this book and might read more of this series, but I would consider it a guilty pleasure, because this book includes such offensive stereotypes as:
"Revengeful suicidal prostitute who is so good at what she does that she makes every man she touches fall in love with her"
"Kathoey (transsexual) cop with a heart of gold"
"Homicidal Buddhist monk with multiple personalities"
"Pregnant wife who does nothing but stay home and cook"
Along with such stupid stereotypes as:
"Multiple rich powerful men fighting over prostitute"
"Rich powerful Thai banker politely and indirectly negotiating with police chief about how much the police chief is going to blackmail him for"
Bangkok Haunts is a mystery/police novel set in Thailand. It's part of a series featuring a Buddhist detective who is half farang (white Westerner) and half Thai. The series is written by a white Englishman who spent a long time in Hong Kong and Bangkok.
The detective narrates the book and addresses the reader as "farang," which gives him the excuse to deliver big expository lumps about Thai culture. A very big deal is made throughout the book about the ineffable differences between Western culture and Eastern/Thai culture. I know very little about Thailand so I have no idea whether the picture painted about the culture is accurate. Based on the picture painted of Western culture, it seems plausible but stereotyped/exaggerated.
I enjoyed this book and might read more of this series, but I would consider it a guilty pleasure, because this book includes such offensive stereotypes as:
"Revengeful suicidal prostitute who is so good at what she does that she makes every man she touches fall in love with her"
"Kathoey (transsexual) cop with a heart of gold"
"Homicidal Buddhist monk with multiple personalities"
"Pregnant wife who does nothing but stay home and cook"
Along with such stupid stereotypes as:
"Multiple rich powerful men fighting over prostitute"
"Rich powerful Thai banker politely and indirectly negotiating with police chief about how much the police chief is going to blackmail him for"
richardwells's review against another edition
5.0
John Burdett has written three Bangkok novels: Bangkok 8, Bangkok Tattoo, and Bangkok Haunts. The first two were Buddhist Crime Thrillers, the last is a Buddhist Crime Horror Thriller.
All three are remarkable entertainments, with more than a little to say about the eternal east west culture clash.
Sonchai Jitpleecheep, our hero, is a detective educated as a Buddhist monk, though still un-ordained, who works for the Thai Police Force and runs a brothel with his mother, and boss, on the side. In Bangkok Haunts he dabbles in the porn trade while investigating his girl friend's murder, and at the instigation of his boss who's always looking for a way to make a buck.
Bangkok Haunts ups the ante on the first two titles by allowing our good detective to have a huge personal stake in the crime's solution, and by opening the blinds on the multi-billion dollar porn industry, and its offshoot - snuff films.
Choose carefully within the crime and thriller genres, and you will find the best writing of the day. Bangkok Haunts is right up there.
All three are remarkable entertainments, with more than a little to say about the eternal east west culture clash.
Sonchai Jitpleecheep, our hero, is a detective educated as a Buddhist monk, though still un-ordained, who works for the Thai Police Force and runs a brothel with his mother, and boss, on the side. In Bangkok Haunts he dabbles in the porn trade while investigating his girl friend's murder, and at the instigation of his boss who's always looking for a way to make a buck.
Bangkok Haunts ups the ante on the first two titles by allowing our good detective to have a huge personal stake in the crime's solution, and by opening the blinds on the multi-billion dollar porn industry, and its offshoot - snuff films.
Choose carefully within the crime and thriller genres, and you will find the best writing of the day. Bangkok Haunts is right up there.
manek_m's review against another edition
3.0
Detective story with supernatural overtones. Interesting. Full of adult content-- it's an investigation into a snuff film, and suggests there's a lot of prostitution in Thailand. Not to mention corruption. Can't help wondering if it's really as bad ad the author indicates.
jmeston's review against another edition
2.0
Okay, that's it, the ooky horror gore aspect has risen with each book in this series. And now I'm done. I liked the elements of Bangkok police noir, Thai Buddhism and sex industry characters they've all shared. I just don't like that the author apparently feels that he must top himself with grossness each time.
bdplume's review against another edition
5.0
This one is just as gripping a read as the first two, but I wasn't quite as impressed with its depth. I feel like the others gave more detail of the Thai worldview.
tacoshark's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this one better than the last one, although it still wasn't as good as the first one. The plotting was much better, though, and I liked the progression of the story. The timelines between the different novels are really confusing me, though, and I could have lived without the Lek/Kimberley storyline.