Sonchai Jitpleecheep—John Burdett’s inimitable Royal Thai Police detective with the hard-bitten demeanor and the Buddhist soul—is...
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Sep 16, 2011
Jennie
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Sonchai Jitpleecheep is back, fresh from a personal tragedy and still trying to balance his desire to be a good, clean cop while working for one of Thailand's most powerful druglords (who also happens to be the police chief).
Sonchai is investigating the gruesome murder of a successful Hollywood director, while working to arrange a huge heroin shipment from a Buddhist...something...in Kathmandu. While I really like to say "Kathmandu" (go on - say it), that whole part is conf More...
Sonchai is investigating the gruesome murder of a successful Hollywood director, while working to arrange a huge heroin shipment from a Buddhist...something...in Kathmandu. While I really like to say "Kathmandu" (go on - say it), that whole part is conf More...
Sep 12, 2011
William
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Excellent story, maybe the best one yet. Burdett has such an easy style of writing, and Sonchai is such an engaging character, that even the preposterousness of the mysteries is easily overlooked. I don't read much detective fiction - well, aside from the one Raymond Chandler a few years back, none, technically - so I can't really compare it to anything. Suffice to say the stories are over-the-top in a good way, with half-way believable explanations, and the characters are vivid and unique.
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Jul 30, 2011
Keith
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I found this one to be a very unusual detective novel. Set in Thailand, the main character is one Detective Sonchai Jitpleecheep of the Royal Thai Police and in addition to being the protagonist, he is our guide to Thai culture, religion and of course, language. As readers, we are referred to as “farang” or “foreigner” in the Thai language and this provides his platform for guiding us through a labyrinth of customs, religious curiosities and Asian historical anomalies that would be unfathomabl
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Sep 27, 2010
I stumbled upon John Burdett's first mystery in this series "Bangkok 8" and found it intriguing for its major character, Royal Thai Police Detective Sonchai Jitpleecheep, whose father was an American GI and his mother still runs a brothel.I like him for his attempt to practice his Buddhism in the gritty worlds he inhabits: the street life of noodle shops,country girls become prostitutes, international sex tourists and backpackers. In this story in the series, Sonchai tries to balance i
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Jul 03, 2010
Naeem
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What a pleasure to be back in touch with this writer, these characters, and these themes. You can get me appreciation for this series from my review of his other books. Below I provide a few passages that may give you a sense of it:
"When Captain James Cook sailed into the harbor the British would impertinently call Sydney, the aboriginals on the shore did not see his ships, because they had no mental concept of such things. They learned the hard way. I thin something of the More...
"When Captain James Cook sailed into the harbor the British would impertinently call Sydney, the aboriginals on the shore did not see his ships, because they had no mental concept of such things. They learned the hard way. I thin something of the More...
Apr 09, 2010
Sophia
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Don't let the title locale fool you: this fourth installment of John Burdett's Sochai Jitpleecheep series is firmly based on the original formula of the earlier Bangkok books. Six years after Bangkok Haunts, Sonchai, now 37, is called to the scene of a gruesome murder. Hollywood director Frank Charles is eviscerated with a chunk of skull and brains removed, in the fashion of foreign noir novels found at the scene. Although this spectacular case is a chance for promotion, Sonchai is not terribly
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Mar 04, 2010
Anya
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John Burdett started out so strong with Bangkok 8 and Bangkok Tattoo, mainly due to his appealing protagonist, the biracial, trilingual Thai cop Sonchai Jitpleecheep. Sonchai's the bomb--an ex-drug addict, devout Buddhist, fashionisto, and detective in one of Bangkok's roughest neighborhoods, where he grew up among the prostitutes in his mom's brothel. In both those books, he investigates horrifying crimes, using his Buddhist perspective and street savvy in equal measure.
But with the More...
But with the More...
Jan 31, 2010
Tim
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I have long found this series of detective novels by John Burdett fascinating. The main character is a devoutly Buddhist Thai cop in Bangkok, Sonchai Jitpleecheep, who tries to remain unscathed by the madness and corruption around him while solving crimes that often involve foreign visitors. This book has three main plots, as the detective must attempt to solve the spectacular murder of an American film director while arranging to be the facilitator of the delivery of a massive shipment of heroi
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Aug 25, 2011
Josh
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The Godfather of Kathmandu continues Burdett’s Sonchai Jitpleecheep series showcasing a distinct oriental feel continuing to distance itself from a genre flooded with pop culture Americanised police procedurals. Not as good as its predecessors (notably Bangkok 8 and Bangkok Tattoo), Burdett’s latest effort isn’t without shock and awe moments as Sonchai investigates the macabre murder of a Hollywood film director in one of the more seedier haunts of Bankok in which the killer takes not overtly su
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Oct 22, 2010
Ruth
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Thank you Feral for recomending this book! Set in Thailand and China, this story is from the perspective of a Thai Police detective who is also a mob member. He is a basically good person and aspiring Buddhist. Talk about the middle path! There are many gems of spiritual insight throughout as he trudges his path of being involved with two corrupt underworlds and strives to follow his aspiration to become enlightened with the help of his Tibetan spiritual master, who also happens to be the most p
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Jun 20, 2010
Frederick
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I found the fourth book of the Sonchai Jitpleecheep series to be as interesting and entertaining as the first three, and recommend it without hesitation. The story seemed easier to follow than earlier books. The affable first person narrative, taking the reader inside the life and mind of Sonchai, continues to lead one into the spiritual depths of the Asian world, both in Thailand and (in this book) Tibet. There’s the usual amount of visionary adventure, with the familiar cast of bizarre char
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Jan 19, 2011
Leonardo
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Great read, as usual with this series. I love the convoluted plots which almost spill into ludicrous territory but never quite do. This time the pet evil empire is the pharmaceutical industry, China and triads in the gem trade. Sonchai is back to being a lot more humble and conflicted, his observations on life/Buddha/West, etc are more interesting than snide. I like it.
A lot of the action (mental mostly) happens in Nepal with Tibet refugees. The Godfather subplot was quite amusing, More...
A lot of the action (mental mostly) happens in Nepal with Tibet refugees. The Godfather subplot was quite amusing, More...
Sep 08, 2010
Elizabeth
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I love Sonchai Jitpleecheep - the most interesting character in a crime novel since Lisbeth Salander (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo). This is the first one I've read but it is fun, funny and fast read. Now back to Ulysses.
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Jan 29, 2010
Jim
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Following the career advancement, investigations, philosophical struggles, and cultural explaining of Royal Thai police detective Sonchai Jitpleecheep, the main character in John Burdett's Bangkok series has been one of my favorite literary excursions over the past few years. Sonchai, the half Thai/half American (farang) son of a former prostitute and current brothel owner (he is a part owner), is a devout, spiritual Buddhist who wrestles with the karmic implications of his role as a minion (and
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Dec 05, 2010
Jenni
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This is the fourth book that Burdett has written featuring Sonchai, but it is the first one that I’ve read. I think that if I had previous experience of the books I may have found this one a little easier to read. The plot of the murder is entwined with the drugs plot which has a subplot of Sonchai’s own quest for spiritual enlightenment. I personally found the murder plot line the most interesting, but this was the one that had the least coverage. I found the spiritual plot the least interestin
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Sep 23, 2011
Patrick
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John Burdett’s latest novel in the Sonchai Jitpleecheep series is The Godfather of Kathmandu and was, as usual an enjoyable read. However, there are some flaws in his books and the main one in this is the obvious insertions of pop culture references like the Godfather trilogy and other cultural references thrust into the murder scene of the fictionalized Hollywood director Frank Charles. The strengths lie in his depictions of Bangkok and the battle between Police Colonel Vikron and Army General
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Jan 06, 2011
Laura
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This book is the fourth in a series, but the first I have read. The protagonist is Sonchai Jitpeecheep, would be enlightened Buddhist, Thai cop, and neck deep in corruption on behalf of his cop boss. There is a crazy - like Rasputin - enlightened monk with a mission to free Tibet through the proceeds of a gigantic heroin deal, reincarnation and tantric sex. Naturally, there is going to be a wrestling match between good and evil, but not western good and evil. I liked the book because John Bur
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May 14, 2010
Eek-louisville
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Following the career advancement, investigations, philosophical struggles, and cultural explaining of Royal Thai police detective Sonchai Jitpleecheep, the main character in John Burdett's Bangkok series has been one of my favorite literary excursions over the past few years. Sonchai, the half Thai/half American (farang) son of a former prostitute and current brothel owner (he is a part owner), is a devout, spiritual Buddhist who wrestles with the karmic implications of his role as a minion (and
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Jul 17, 2010
Eric
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This book was another serendipitous library find. I don't read a lot of mystery novels, but I do like the occasional mystery set in an unfamiliar culture or environment or time. This goes some way to explaining why The Name of the Rose is one of my all-time favorite novels. A good mystery novel always contains some wisdom; enough wisdom, and it crosses that invisible line between genre novel and "literature".
This book compares well with books from Tony Hillerman, John Straley More...
This book compares well with books from Tony Hillerman, John Straley More...
Dec 28, 2011
Jim
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I love this guy. This is the fourth or fifth book (sorry, I'm too lazy to look this up) in a series about a half Thai/half American Buddhist monk detective that started with Bangkok 8. I'd start the whole series from the beginning because it is rich with detail about the detective's mother who is a retired prostitute and now a madam and a whole Simpsonesque cast of other characters. I read these things on audiobooks because I like to hear how the foreign names and places are pronounced, it f
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Apr 09, 2011
Shawn
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I digs Kathmandu by John Burdett. I read his previous three books about Detective Jitpleecheep; they're all good, because there is so much taking place in the supernatural realm. It adds another dimension to the usual, ordinary crime novel when the characters' motivations stem from other incarnations, or ghosts, or the quest for Buddhist enlightenment. To the eerie, smoky incense realm, add the typical crime novel elements, narcotics, whores, bars, murder, and international travel, and you wi
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Aug 07, 2011
Regan
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Farang farang farang. Love this series but this is my least favorite of the 4. Still love reading the author's descriptions of the sensual Eastern culture and all it's many exotic flavors (doesn't everyone want to rush to their nearest Thai restaurant while reading this?). Still love reading about Sonchai Jitpleecheep. But this is a darker, harsher novel than the others. Think the author scripted unnecessary suffering for Sonchai. While the plot of all these books is East v. West - this one is c
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May 16, 2010
Chip
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I have been a fan of John Burdett from his first book in this series, Bangkok 8. I find this a excellent series in its description of Thai culture. Not the travelog type but the real world on the street. Fascinating... John also explores the real aspects of Buddhism with each book which just adds more knowledge and thus additional enjoyment. But at the end of the day detective Sonchai Jitpleecheep is a joy to walk with. He is Sam Spade w/a sense of real life humor. I am both wary and gigg
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Feb 08, 2010
Bookmarks Magazine
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What consistently impressed critics about The Godfather of Kathmandu was the same thing they liked about John Burdett's previous novels: his amazingly detailed portrayal of the underworld of Bangkok. How much one will enjoy Godfather as a mystery novel, though, may largely depend on one's personal tastes. Some reviewers found the characters intriguing and called the novel a page-turner. Others wrote that the plot of the novel seemed implausible and mostly served as an excuse to explore more of B
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Jan 16, 2010
Brenda
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I never buy books...as a librarian I am surrounded by them and know how to find any one I want to read. However, I made an exception and ordered this one so I would not have to wait my turn in the holds queue. I am so glad I did because it is yet another complex and riveting story starring the brilliantly conflicted Sonchai Jitpleecheep who is as interesting as his name. My brother has lived in Bangkok for years but I have learned more about the city from the details of Burdett's books than I
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Sep 22, 2011
Toni
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Book 4 in the Sonchai Jitpleecheep series
The writer’s speciality is to take his readers on an exotic and mysterious jaunt exploring the back streets of Bangkok where sex is a marketable commodity. He drags us into a culture unknown to many with his observations of the drug trade and official corruption. He also touches through his protagonist the religious customs of Tibetan Buddhism.
As the book opens, Sonchai is struggling with the loss of his son and is depending more and m More...
The writer’s speciality is to take his readers on an exotic and mysterious jaunt exploring the back streets of Bangkok where sex is a marketable commodity. He drags us into a culture unknown to many with his observations of the drug trade and official corruption. He also touches through his protagonist the religious customs of Tibetan Buddhism.
As the book opens, Sonchai is struggling with the loss of his son and is depending more and m More...
Jul 28, 2011
Fans of Thai police detective Sonchai Jeetpleecheep who have been waiting for a new adventure will no doubt be slightly disappointed by this Burdett outing. The story this time is set in Bangkok and Kathmandu and has the usual complement of strange events and people, yet somehow lacks the raw quality of the last "Bangkok" book. I also look forward to the background setting and the underlying mystic and mantras that Burdett includes in the complex and unpredictable stories, and this boo
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Apr 24, 2010
Jessica
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Another delicious entry in John Burdett's Bangkok series. This time, Sonchai Jitpleecheep is facing a personal crisis -- the death of his small son and the subsequent departure of his wife for a Buddhist convent have left him bereft and searching for some blend of numbness and meaning. A particularly gruesome murder of a Hollywood director leads him to Kathmandu, where he meets an enigmatic guru, a beautiful woman who specializes in Tantric sex, and continues to pursue his role as the consiglier
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Jun 10, 2011
Spuddie
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#4 Sonchai Jitpleecheep mystery set in Bangkok, Thailand (and also in part in Kathmandu, Nepal.) Sonchai is called to the scene of a brutal murder, an American film producer/director who was essentially gutted, with the top of his head sawed off and a few bites of his brains scooped onto a plate, partially consumed. (No...this is not a cozy. LOL)
This murder mystery takes the back seat to the rest of the goings-on, with Sonchai becoming his boss Colonel Vikorn's consigliere (after Vi More...
This murder mystery takes the back seat to the rest of the goings-on, with Sonchai becoming his boss Colonel Vikorn's consigliere (after Vi More...
Aug 01, 2010
Sarah
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