John Burdett - Bangkok series

[753C]

I am reading the second book in John Burdett's Bangkok series and really enjoying it. Has anyone else discovered this author?
The setting is the red light district of Bangkok, and Burdett really brings this setting to life in all of it's seedy excess. The hero is a practicing Buddhist who is also a cop and also part owner of a strip club/prostitution den. Obviously a complex young man, his moral beliefs are balanced by his overriding sense of practicality. It is the perfect world view for an environment full of blatant contradictions ; Prostitution is illegal, but it is a fixed part of the culture. Drugs are outlawed, but are a necessary part of the economic system, etc, etc.

Anyhow the plot is compelling and always interesting, but the humor and the immersion in the culture are what really sets the story apart. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys well written crime fiction that is different from the norm.

 

[chiangmaifalcon]

I love all of his books especially as I live in Thailand. I live in Chiang Mai and have Thai wife and also work for Royal Thai Police and own a massage parlor, though it is a legitimate traditional one, not like the brothel in the books. Burdett does a very good job of describing Thailand and Thai culture. As strange as the books are they are quite realistic. My only disagreement with the stories is that they do, as you pointed out, sort of claim that drugs are part of culture but in reality they are a very serious problem here and the vast majority of the population is very opposed to them, So much so that although about 1500 or more alleged drug dealers were killed by police in extra-judicial killings, most of the people here see no problem with that.

 

[753C]

Wow! That must be quite an interesting life you lead! Burdett makes the whole place seem sort of euphoric and dreamlike, yet real and concrete at the same time. It feels like a real cultural immersion, but you always wonder how accurate books like this are. It is nice to hear it validated from someone who actually lives there. I have enjoyed this story immensely and I will be reading the rest of them soon.
I read another story called "December Sixth" by Martin Cruz Smith that in many ways reminds me of Bangkok Tattoo. It is set in Japan in the days leading up to the Pearl Harbor bombing. It is similar in that the author masterfully communicates the culture of that time and place while still delivering an outstanding story. If you haven't read that one you might give it a go.

 

[chiangmaifalcon]

I will look for that book. I really like Smith books about Russian cop Arkady Renko. You would enjoy other Burdett books Bangkok 8 and bangkok Haunts also, I believe. He also has a new one I havent read myself yet.
My really favorite novels from this part of the world are Colin Cotterill's novels about coroner from Laos Dr. Siri Paiboun. They are not only very puzzling detective stories but they are also supernatural and very very funny.

 

[753C]

December 6th deals with the Tokyo underworld of that time, which might be another reason Burdett's story reminded me of it. The main character is a rogue of sorts, with a psychopathic samurai army colonel hunting him, and a beautiful Geisha who will certainly kill him rather than let him escape Japan without her. If you liked the Arkady Renko stories you'll love this.

I will probably read the other Burdett stories next, and thank you for the Cotterill recommendation. I will add him to the list.

 

[chiangmaifalcon]

I once read another Martin Cruz Smith novel which was about first atomic bomb tests. I cannot remeber name now but it was very good, I thought. He also wrote a good horror book called Nightwing about bats. Next time I go to used book store I will pick up the December 6 novel. it sounds like my kind of story.