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grahampogo's review
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
krobart's review
3.0
This novel provides a lot of background about Sonchai and is full of rich descriptions of the city and its occupants. It is also darkly funny. Burdett does an excellent job of conveying the flavor of the city. The mystery is dark and complex, involving the sex industry, drug smuggling, and connections to the Russian mafia and Cambodian thugs, but it is also entertaining. Sonchai’s insights into, for example, the other characters’ past lives, lend additional spice to the mix. This series is not a traditional one but offers something fresh.
See my complete review here:
http://whatmeread.wordpress.com/tag/bangkok-8/
See my complete review here:
http://whatmeread.wordpress.com/tag/bangkok-8/
iheartrice's review
3.0
This book was "out of my comfort zone", but for some reason I picked it up at a used book store. Good Read.
nightchough's review
3.0
This works better thinking of it just as a novel than as a mystery. The author does a nice job with his interesting viewpoint character (Buddhist police detective, a flawed hero but the last honest man in a dishonest world, etc. etc.) and contrasting Sonchai's world-view with that of the Americans around him. There is a ton of local color in this book.
The story kicks off with a great scene in the opening pages of the novel; a parked car with dozens of snakes writhing over a dead body. The main character's partner dies from the snake attack, and Sonchai himself has to shoot his way free. From there it's a story of mysterious women, organized crime, corrupt police, U.S. military and intelligence agencies. Along the way we learn the background of the main character and travel with him through the back streets of Bangkok.
The mystery isn't much, although the last couple of chapters have some unexpected turns. I'm interested enough to carry on to the next book.
The story kicks off with a great scene in the opening pages of the novel; a parked car with dozens of snakes writhing over a dead body. The main character's partner dies from the snake attack, and Sonchai himself has to shoot his way free. From there it's a story of mysterious women, organized crime, corrupt police, U.S. military and intelligence agencies. Along the way we learn the background of the main character and travel with him through the back streets of Bangkok.
The mystery isn't much, although the last couple of chapters have some unexpected turns. I'm interested enough to carry on to the next book.
ammbooks's review
5.0
very different.. Kind of like that accident you pass on the highway and can't help but slow down and peak.... A very vivid picture of Bangkok and some threads that still have me pondering different viewpoints on cultural differences.
wannabekingpin's review
5.0
All reviews in one place: Night Mode Reading
Thailand. Third World occult beliefs, religion, charm, and beauty. It might be hard for a westerner to understand, and that might be one of the great reasons why so many of them lose their hearts here, having to return time and again, just to reconnect. It is definitely hard for FBI to grasp it, not when Sonchai tells them straight: he’ll kill whoever had his soul brother killed, there will be no trial. What do they know of these delicate matters of heart even Buddha would forgive? They went there, to the crime scene, to investigate traffic, commotion. Just to find a raving black giant in a bolted car full of expertly drugged, raging snakes killing him, consuming him. Sonchai’s partner did his best to save the man, but in the end, they both died, leaving Sonchai alone, and oh so very broken. Fatalism, as in many Thai’s, was in his blood, and destruction is always at hand in this throbbing heart of a city. Yet his duty didn’t let him go too far.
FBI had no right to follow an investigation in Thailand, so Sonchai was requested to assist detective Jones on this, in mutual exchange of information. They taught each other as things progressed, and learned to work together, as odd as it felt for both of them. In the end, they found many strings, all leading towards jade and this mysterious goddess-like woman whom no one knows. Yet, as alien as she is, could she really have killed the man like that? What sort of rage had to be consuming the killer to put anyone through this kind of horror?
This was one of the most unique thrillers I have ever read, and I loved every page of it. Characters felt natural, human. Sonchai was unique and wonderful. Jones was strong, with her own opinion, her own actions. There wasn’t much predictability, and if you could predict something, there was likely a surprise hidden in it anyway. I can give it a firm 5 out of 5, for this surely has to go to my favorites.
Thailand. Third World occult beliefs, religion, charm, and beauty. It might be hard for a westerner to understand, and that might be one of the great reasons why so many of them lose their hearts here, having to return time and again, just to reconnect. It is definitely hard for FBI to grasp it, not when Sonchai tells them straight: he’ll kill whoever had his soul brother killed, there will be no trial. What do they know of these delicate matters of heart even Buddha would forgive? They went there, to the crime scene, to investigate traffic, commotion. Just to find a raving black giant in a bolted car full of expertly drugged, raging snakes killing him, consuming him. Sonchai’s partner did his best to save the man, but in the end, they both died, leaving Sonchai alone, and oh so very broken. Fatalism, as in many Thai’s, was in his blood, and destruction is always at hand in this throbbing heart of a city. Yet his duty didn’t let him go too far.
FBI had no right to follow an investigation in Thailand, so Sonchai was requested to assist detective Jones on this, in mutual exchange of information. They taught each other as things progressed, and learned to work together, as odd as it felt for both of them. In the end, they found many strings, all leading towards jade and this mysterious goddess-like woman whom no one knows. Yet, as alien as she is, could she really have killed the man like that? What sort of rage had to be consuming the killer to put anyone through this kind of horror?
This was one of the most unique thrillers I have ever read, and I loved every page of it. Characters felt natural, human. Sonchai was unique and wonderful. Jones was strong, with her own opinion, her own actions. There wasn’t much predictability, and if you could predict something, there was likely a surprise hidden in it anyway. I can give it a firm 5 out of 5, for this surely has to go to my favorites.
harperv28's review
4.0
This is an interesting book. Not what I expected. It had lots of twists and turns that we're not easy to always follow. We meet Sonchai at the beginning and he is the narrator. A few chapters at the beginning I thought maybe there was going to be more than one narrator because it didn't seem like his voice but sometimes those were flashbacks. I have been reading several books about Thailand, especially Bangkok and I enjoyed this one as well. I am looking forward to read the next book Bangkok Tattoo.
missjenm's review against another edition
3.0
Good 'junk food' read. Y'know? Perfect for taking on vacation or to the beach.
emheld's review
4.0
The current average of 3.76 is pretty accurate. It's a fascinating variant on the detective novel. I'm glad it's the first in a series, and I hope the sequels live up to the promise shown here.