Sonchai Jitpleecheep, a detective with the Royal Thai
Police in District 8, is called to investigate the
mutilated body of a man suspected to be CIA. The situation
is made worse by the fact that the murderer seems to be a
prostitute named Chanya, who's the top working girl at The
Old Man's Club. This club is owned jointly by Sonchai's
mother, Nong, and his boss, Police Colonel Vikorn. Not
wanting anything to reflect their involvement, Vikorn
orchestrates a cover-up involving al-Qaeda, which makes
things difficult for Sonchai in his pursuit of the truth.
Sonchai, the son of a Thai prostitute and an American GI,
speaks French and English, as well as Thai, and is a devout
Buddhist who meditates often. As he becomes embroiled in
his investigation, he has to deal not only with
prostitutes, transsexuals, corrupt cops, covert military
forces and drug dealers, but also with his growing
affection for Chanya. But what he eventually uncovers is
more shocking than even he imagines.
BANGKOK TATTOO is set in an exotic locale not used very
often in thrillers of this sort, so it was fresh and
invigorating to find myself learning about a totally
different culture. Thai words used throughout were a bit
confusing, at first, but I caught on easily. The author has
an eye for detail and for cutting beneath the crust of
society to expose the real lifestyle beneath the façade. I
found myself paying close attention to plot, as well as the
diverse collection of characters, so as not to miss
anything important. My effort was rewarded with an exciting
reading experience. I now have to read BANGKOK 8, which
first introduced Detective Sonchai Jitpleecheep. If you're
looking for something out of the ordinary, I recommend this
gripping novel.
From the author of the best seller Bangkok 8, a head-
spinning new novel that puts us back in the company of the
inimitable Royal Thai Police detective Sonchai Jitpleecheep.
We return to District 8—the underbelly of Bangkok’s
underworld—where a dramatically mutilated dead body is
found. It’s bad: he was CIA. It gets worse: the murderer
appears to be Chanya—a tough, sweet working girl who’s the
highest earner at The Old Man’s Club, jointly owned by
Sonchai’s mother and his boss, Police Colonel Vikorn.
Alerted by Sonchai, Vikorn quickly concocts a cover-up that
involves Al Qaeda and Thailand’s porous southern border
where, since 9/11, the CIA has been an obviously covert
presence. But the truth will be harder to come by, and it
will require Sonchai to find an ever-more-delicate balance
between his ambition and his Buddhism, while running the
gamut of Bangkok’s drug dealers, prostitutes, bad cops,
worse military, and the pitfalls of his own melting heart
(Chanya!)—most of which he can handle. But even Sonchai is
not prepared for what he discovers at the end of his
investigation.
Piercingly smart and funny, densely atmospheric, and—as we
already know to expect from John Burdett—packing a surprise
at every turn, Bangkok Tattoo is sensational.
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