Bangkok 8: A Royal Thai Detective Novel (1) (Sonchai Jitpleecheep)

I'm a sucker for crime fiction set in unusual locales, so it was with great anticipation that I dove into this Bangkok-set debut novel. Burdett does a magnificent job in bringing Bangkok to life-from the neon-lit sex industry to shocking poverty, endemic corruption, widespread yaa baa (methamphetamine) trade, ever-present Bhuddism, and the lingering effects of the Vietnam war. Things kick off with straight-arrow cops Sonchai and Pichai tailing an American marine-allowing Burdett to give Bangkok's legendary traffic a cameo. However, in the middle of their task, the marine is killed by poisonous snakes, one of whom also kills Pichai when he tries to rescue the marine. From here on out Sonchai is a man on a mission, dedicated to solving the marine's (and thus by extension his partner's) murder. The death of the marine brings with it the involvement of the U.S embassy, and a female FBI agent comes over to liase with Sonchai. The plot is a typically convoluted thriller effort, involving international jade smuggling, a powerful American with White House connections, extreme S&M, Khmer thugs, Chui Chow Chinese gangsters and more. Actually, the story itself if the weakest part of the book, succumbing to stereotypical thriller elements and scenes. And it has to be said-the ending is really, really lame.Still, there's lots to recommend the book. This is a thriller with many shades of gray to delight in. For example, on the one hand, Sonchai is an arhat (kind of a Bhuddist living saint), the one clean cop in the district, and yet he's clear that the only justice he intends to bring his partner's killer to is that found in the barrel of his gun. Similarly, his boss is totally corrupt, but Sonchai respects and reveres him. Most interesting is the portrayal of the sex industry, which is much less condemnatory than one might expect. (Although whether or not it accurately represents Thai attitudes to sex is not for me to judge.) The straightforward story also veers into the supernatural, with Sonchai able to see the past lives of people he encounters. Others love this aspect of his character, but it struck me as an unnecessary gimmick that detracts from the book's excellent portrayal of Bhuddism. Sonchai is a wonderfully laconic character, and all the more surprising for having come from the pen of a Westerner. On the whole, this is a very enjoyable thriller with a wonderful protagonist and great insight into Thai culture and Bangkok, however don't approach it with overly high expectations or you'll be disappointed-it is still of the airplane/beach read genre.

Forget about whether or not this book accurately depicts Bangkok life, or is slanted by the misconstrued vision of the author. After all, it is not a travelogue, it is a work of fiction first and foremost. And it is a work of fiction of extreme ingenuity. The writer is highly talented. He is also highly complex, and so is his story.And he is funny as all get out. I can't count the many times this book got a laugh out of me, either for its outright humor, or its subtle, more hidden ironic meanings.Yes, I agree with some other reviewers that there is a tendency to bash "farangs" in black and white terms. They are facilely pigeonholed. Although this view is seen through the eyes of his fascinating main character (fascinating because it is impossible to guess what he is going to say or do next - the unexpected is always forthcoming), the reader senses (correctly or incorrectly) that the main character expresses the views of his creator. Only Mr. Burdett himself can confirm or deny the truth of this impression.This book is about divides and contradictions; finding, losing and searching again. Confusion? Yes. But always in the cloak of ingenuity.The only weakness that I can point out is that the male characters are drawn very three dimensionally, while the female characters always remain somewhat in the mist. None are clearly wholly defined. They don't come out into the sunlight as do the males. In fact, one can almost say they are drawn stereotypically. Almost, but not quite.As the writer is exceptionally gifted, he has created an exceptional book. Its uniqueness ensures that this novel has no predecessor, and it is not likely there will ever be another one even resembling it. For its complexity, its genius, and for just a plain old-fashioned fascinating read, I would highly recommend it. It is full of contradictions that have yet to be resolved. And it leaves it's reader (and perhaps the author as well) with the responsibility of doing so.

A unique mystery-thriller unlike anything I have ever read, Bangkok 8 is the first of a series starring Royal Thai Police Detective Sonchai Jitpleecheep, who in the opener is following, with his cop partner Pichai, a shady American marine sergeant in Bangkok, when the marine is - right in front of them, in a car bolted shut - slaughtered by a nasty nest of cobras trapped with him in his Mercedes. When Pichai is also killed in the ensuing chaos, Sonchai - a devout Buddhist arhat - makes it his life's mission to not only find out what happened, but to himself kill Pichai's murderer to avenge his partner's death. But the deeper Sonchai digs, even with the help of attractive FBI agent Kimberley Jones, the more the increasingly twisted trail seems to lead toward an American jeweler with untold wealth and influence - influence that extends even over Sonchai's own superiors in the police force. As said, I have never read a novel like Bangkok 8; never read a piece of fiction that so solidified in me the essence of a people, culture, way of life - even religion - as this novel does of Thailand, tying it all into not just Sonchai and those he encounters and where he goes, but even the mystery itself. It's a book that makes you think deeply, yet also has touches of dark humor and plenty of thrills; even conversations between characters, at length, never come off boring or as filler, as the characters are so exceptionally well-drawn - what they have to say so revealing of them or the story - you must read word for word. Sorry for the gushing, but yet again: have simply never read anything like Bangkok 8. And I certainly can't remember when I was last so absorbed in a book that, while reading it, I completely forgot about the real world surrounding me. *****

Detective Sonchai Jitpleecheep is an unusual and lonely member of the Bangkok police. His mixed-race ancestry and familiarity with English and with Western culture make him an ideal front man when the authorities need someone to reassure the tourist trade, but his devout spirituality and personal probity make him unpopular with his intriguing and corrupt colleagues. All his qualities are to come into play when a US marine and suspected drug smuggler he and his colleague are tailing is horribly murdered, and Sonchai's partner and best friend is killed in the incident. Sonchai is left with a complex case that has international ramifications - and a most un-Buddhist commitment to taking personal revenge for his friend.The Bangkok in which this dark thriller is played out is not the tourist city of magnificent temples, glittering malls and photogenic culture but a place truly alien to the reader (and to the FBI agent seconded to assist with the case). The drugs and sex trades, the normality of corruption, the differing perspectives on life, even the thought-processes of the detective (as he narrates the story) all leave the reader with an impression of a place that is foreign indeed. The story is engrossing, the action unconventional by police/crime novel standards, the local atmosphere convincing, and the characters engaging without necessarily being attractive. Apart from Sonchai the most interesting are his mother (an ex-whore now looking to move into brotherl management) and his boss Col. Vikorn. Vikorn is a godfather-cum-warlord who runs his precinct as a personal fief that exists solely to make money for himself and (to a lesser extent) his men. He maintains order (often ruthlessly) because disorder is bad for business, and he treats his men well enough to earn their devotion, but there is a feeling of something more to him, and not just because of the way he protects Sonchai. He is under an obligation to do so (part of the back-story) but there is also the impression he regards his poor and honest cop as a kind of talisman for his command.This is the first of a growing series of novels about Det. Sonchai Jitpleecheep and his city. We can wonder how pleased Royal Thai Police Force or the Tourist Authority of Thailand are at this, given the picture painted (though the tourist body would no doubt argue that Bangkok is not Thailand any more than New York is the USA or London is Britain) - but it will certainly please readers.

Fantastic book. Burdett's first and undoubtedly his best work. Although fiction, the author draws significantly on his knowledge of Thailand, where things are not always as foreign tourists see them. Highly recommended reading for anybody who is considering spending extended time in that country, especially middle-aged divorced males. That aside, it is a terrifically well written thriller in it's own right, so also recommended for everyone else, including folk with no intention of visiting Thailand.

An enjoyable read but this was helped because I am very familiar with a lot of the locations used in the book. If you have never been to Thailand this does give quite a clear view of how the widespread corruption work’s throughout the police. Looking forward to reading the series

Captivating from the frightening first few paragraphs; even if you have visited or worked in Thailand, '8' takes you deep into strange, even appalling behaviour patterns and belief systems you never knew existed. I loved it just as I loved the 'ordinary' Bangkok on the occasions I have worked there. Please keep them coming John.

really enjoyed this book, very informative regarding thai culture. at times I felt there was so much i couldn't take it in, but it was always relevant to the plot and was actually woven into the story very well.