In Review

04 December 2008 04:04 BST

Bangkok Haunts by John Burdett

Half-western, half-Thai detective Sonchai Jitpleecheep chases the origins of a snuff movie featuring his former lover and prostitute extraordinaire, Damrong, through the seedy underworld of Bangkok.

Published by Bantam Press, out 21 May, paperback, 304 pages, price £11.99.

In a nutshell…

Lurid, atmospheric, fast-paced beach reading

What's it all about?

Detective Sonchai, devoutly Buddhist and incorruptible, is not your standard issue gumshoe and his steamy, seedy Bangkok, populated by voluptuously corrupt power players and three-dimensional sex workers, portrayed as neither victims nor vixens, is equally original.

When he receives a snuff video starring former lover Damrong, Sonchai sets about solving the case and exorcise her insatiable, erotic spirit who visits him at night as he sleeps beside his pregnant wife. He's joined by a motley cast including a female FBI agent, a pre-op transsexual assistant and a Buddhist monk with a past as he chases the trail of responsibility for Damrong's death through an increasingly upscale series of brothels and deep into the jungles of the poverty stricken Thai-Cambodian border, an area which produces the country's finest prostitutes. It is only by understanding Damrong's demise that Sonchai can rid himself of her ghost.

Meanwhile Sonchai's boss, the corrupt colonel Vikorn who's less than excited about Sonchai's prying into the Damrong case, enlists his help in new venture — producing 'artistic' pornography.

Who's it by?

This is the third novel featuring detective Jitcheepleep from former lawyer John Burdett. Born in London, Burdett worked as a barrister before relocating to Hong Kong where he worked in the criminal courts. After deciding to abandon his successful career to pursue his childhood passion of writing, Mr Burdett settled in Bangkok and began both to study Buddhist meditation and to frequent the city's notorious red-light district, befriending the bargirls and absorbing the flavour of the city that would become the setting for the novels he dreamed of writing.

His previous two novels are Bangkok 8 and Bangkok Tattoo .

As an example…

A truly exemplary sample probably wouldn't be printable here, but in this excerpt, Sonchai sums up Damrong's life and the world in which these characters operate:

"1. Born into karma too daunting to contemplate, you decide to go to sleep for life.
2. Mother does not permit option 1…
3. Ruthlessness and rage at least produce reactions from society, unlike good behaviour, which leads to slavery and starvation. Only sex and drugs pay a living wage."

Likelihood of becoming a Hollywood blockbuster

The books are fast-paced and atmospheric, suggesting Hollywood might be interested, but the more sordid scenes might very well be embarrassing to view on a big screen in a room full of strangers. However if a bold producer did give it a try, with the first two popular novels ahead in line, we might have to wait a while to see Bangkok Haunts at the movie theatre.

What the others say

"Not for your Agatha Christie-loving maiden aunt, but good grisly fun for those who like their noir rated NC-17" - Kirkus Reviews

"Expertly juggling elements that in lesser hands would become confused or hackneyed, Burdett has created a haunting, powerful story that transcends genre" – Publisher's Weekly

So is it any good?

Snuff movies! Black magic! Monks with machine guns! Whether you find this list titillating or tiresome is a good indication as to whether you'll get any enjoyment out of the adventures of Sonchai Jitpleecheep. FBI agent Kimberly Jones provides the narrative with an improbable, high-tech kick in the pants whenever the investigation stalls, so very little actual detecting is required on the part of Sonchai. He's more of a tour guide, leading us inside brothels, massage parlours, squalid huts and corner offices to view lots of sex, exploitation and blackmail. There are more boring ways to pass an afternoon on the beach.

Unfortunately, as a farang, or westerner, the FBI's other function is to provide an excuse for Sonchai to expound on the exotic, irrational, superstitious Thai national character. While occasionally offering valid criticism of Western hypocrisy and arrogance, these asides are more often stereotypical and groan-inducing and severely cut into the good wholesome enjoyment of a romp through the sinful underbelly of Bangkok.

5/10

Jessica Stillman

"There is much more to this book than 'a romp through the sinful underbelly of Bangkok' if that is all one is looking for then you'll get a lot more than you bargained for. I'm halfway into it and as for the so called 'groan-inducing' bits, they are hardly out of place in their context, nor do they detract in any way from gripping storytelling." - Ian Jonas