John Burdett and Richard Price are my favorite mystery writers, although I think Price transcends the genre. You will find his work in the fiction section of a bookstore. Burdett's will be be under mystery. That does a disservice to Burdett's work. It could just as easily be found under fiction, or religion, or perhaps travel, maybe sociology, and sometimes political science.
Lisbeth Salandar notwithstanding, Burdett has also managed to create the most interesting detective type in modern day fiction. Sonchai Jitpleecheep is a great tour guide for all things physical and spiritual. He will get you around the streets of Bangkok on the back of his motorcycle, or the temples and back alleys of Nepal, or the inner workings of a bustling brothel with equal expertise. And of course he will take you along on his spiritual quest with a succession of gurus and mantras.
Additionally, he will display his calm in the face of the most grisley crime scenes and salacious sexual escapades and dazzle you with his insight into all things seedy. This guy is great.
This latest installment of Sonchai's adventures has him acting as a consiglieri for a local mob moving heroin from Nepal to Thailand. This job does his karma no good whatsoever. There is also the matter of the horrible murder, or is it a suicide, of a prominent Hollywood director/producer with an appetite for drugs and Bangkok hookers.
You come away from this book with a few new convictions. Never let someone talk you into transporting drugs across international borders by hiding them in body cavities. Avoid driving in Bangkok traffic at all costs. Sometimes nothing gets your karma back into line like a good joint.
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