Bangkok Haunts

Bangkok Haunts (2007) John Burdett

Once again we return to Bangkok where Detective Sonchai Jitpleecheep is investigating another murder. A stuff film has appeared in Bagkok, and as the body of the prostitute has also appeared, it is apparent this is truly a film of her death. Sonchai is investigating–even against the orders of Colenol Vikorn–because the woman who was killed had worked for his mother several years previously.

Chanya is concerned about Sonchai and so has called Kimberly Jones, an FBI agent with whom Sonchai has developed a friendship.

First and foremost, for those who have not read about Detective Sonchai Jitpleecheep previously, he’s half Thai and half American, and his education is thanks to the fact his mother was an expensive prostitute when he was growing up. Prostitution and sex are important themes. Though the descriptions are quite graphic, they’re almost clinical in the description of what is happening (which is fitting since many of the descriptions are of the snuff film).

Second, Bangkok is a strange place, and as with previous books, Sonchai sees and relates to the spirits of the recent dead. (This doesn’t go over well with Kimberly, but she still does not understand Thailand and Bangkok, so Sonchai was expecting this.)

I’m bothered by the former rather than the later, but from reading the reviews on Amazon, others found the spiritualism to be the disturbing element that was “out of place in a police procedural.” I think both are part and parcel of who Sonchai and the world in which he lives–a world that is corrupt yet strangely alive.

The book refers to events in previous book, but you do not have to have read those books to follow the events in this story. However, I’m always a big proponent of reading stories in order, so my recommendation–if you think this is a book you’d like–is to read Bangkok 8 first, and then see how you feel about Sonchai. Personally, I can’t wait for the next Detective Sonchai Jitpleecheep book to come out.
Rating: 8/10

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