The Godfather of Kathmandu by John Burdett (book trailer)

Sonchai Jitpleecheep—John Burdetts inimitable Royal Thai Police detective with the hard-bitten demeanor and the Buddhist soul—is summoned to the most shocking and intriguing crime scene of his career. Solving the murder could mean a promotion, but Sonchai, reeling from a personal tragedy, is more interested in Tietsin, an exiled Tibetan lama based in Kathmandu who has become his guru.

There are, however, obstacles in Sonchais path to nirvana. Police Colonel Vikorn has just named Sonchai his consigliere (hes been studying The Godfather on DVD): to troubleshoot, babysit, defuse, procure, reconnoiter—do whatever needs to be done in Vikorns ongoing battle with Army General Zinna for control of Bangkoks network of illegal enterprises. And though Tietsin is enlightened and (eerily) charismatic, he also has forty million dollars worth of heroin for sale. If Sonchai truly wants to be an initiate into Tietsins apocalyptic Buddhism, he has to pull off a deal that will bring Vikorn and Zinna to the same side of the table. Further complicating the challenge is Tara: a Tantric practitioner who captivates Sonchai with her remarkable otherworldly techniques.

Here is Sonchai put to the extreme test—as a cop, as a Buddhist, as an impossibly earthbound man—in John Burdetts most wildly inventive, darkly comic, and wickedly entertaining novel yet.

http://www.john-burdett.com/

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780307263193

Category:

Entertainment

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• The Godfather of Kathmandu
• John Burdett
• Thailand
• Sonchai Jitpleecheep

[bjdjmc]

I had never been to Bangkok before I read his books, but starting with Bangkok 8, I swear that I could visualize, smell, hear and taste Thailand. His his ability to absorb you in to such a vibrant, visceral and previously alien (to me) culture is unsurpassed, as is his knack for writing such witty and gritty fiction, but without being grotty. His stories are crying out for a movie adaptation, if only Hollywood could do justice to the adventures of my favourite detective...