Bangkok Haunts by John Burdett

I loved Bangkok Haunts.  I'd read his previous novel, Bangkok Tatto and now must read his first Bangkok Eight.   Thai Buddhist detective, Sonchai Jitpleecheap, is so original and such a delight. His mother is a madame in their bar, which he runs part time, while she manages the girls for the older 50 and 60 regular western clientele who like a bit of Elvis with their 60's rock and roll. Meanwhile at his main job he works with a partner, a 'katoey', holding off the full change so he can keep his detective job.  His superior,  Colonel Vikorn is consumed with making money, his role in the police force, only serving to bring him opportunities.  Sonchai's Buddhist sensibilities come in conflict with Vikorn's capitalism who he nonetheless admires.  Meanwhile, an FBI woman is brought in to help with a snuff film involving a Thai ghost.  The intuitive ways of Sonchai with his supernatural tendencies run parallel to the FBI, smitten by his partner, pragmatic approach to detecting. East meets west and even more telling is the Khyber connection as the case takes them into Cambodia where AK 47's are a constant.  What a wonderful read, remarkable plot and extraordinary characterization.  John Burdett, Englishman, ex lawyer, is a great author in this difficult to add to genre.

William Lashner

I've just finished "Falls the Shadow" by William Lashner. It's a brilliant mix of the finest of the classics of the detective genre brought into modern day parlance. A kind of Hitchcock remake by Steven Spielberg.  A horrid French chef in prison for murdering his wife has an old lover now wealthy from marital gold digging hire Derringer and Carl legal team to get him a retrial.  Derringer is a beautiful big hearted woman lawyer paired with the gumshoe skeptic Carl.  Through twists and turns of who dunnit and amazing characterization we follow the story of  the tragedy all the while the parallel pro bono case of child rescue entertwines with the main characters in the murder mystery thriller.  William Lashner (www.williamlashner.com) was himself a trial attorney in the criminal division of the United States Justice Department.  We never do learn where he got his very mixed feelings about dentists but it must indeed be a truly piercing story.  A gripping read.  I can only look forward to reading more by this Philadelphian New York Times best seller.