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Journal Entry 1 by tqd from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Wednesday, May 18, 2011
 I picked this book up, thinking it might be something I could discard at 50 pages (I'd heard it was twee, and I'm not usually fond of twee), but it is actually rather charming (and not twee at all, IMHO). Great location, being set in Laos following the communist revolution in the 1970s.
Surgeon Dr Siri Paiboun was hoping for a gentle retirement following the Communist revolution, but unfortunately he's still considered useful by the new regime, who set him up as Chief Coroner, despite no training or knowledge of forensics. He makes do with what he can, and proves to be a wily and tenacious crime fighter. Which isn't always what those higher up the Communist ladder would like.
There's also a certain level of mysticism to the book. There's a rather exotic exorcism (is that an oxymoron?), and Siri also sees the dead, briefly, and they give him clues towards solving their murders.
While mysticism (aka "woo woo") is something I wouldn't ordinary enjoy in a crime novel, it's well counterbalanced by the darkness of the Communist regime, the feistiness of Dr Paiboun and his team, and some genuinely farcical moments. It does tread a fine line between being fairly whacky and being charming, and luckily doesn't lose its balance.
Offering up on the Oz VBB.
UPDATE 22 May 2011: And chosen by bekoh from the Oz VBB! I'll get it in the post asap (but don't hold your breath).
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Journal Entry 2 by tqd at Balmain, New South Wales Australia on Friday, July 22, 2011
Released 10 mos ago (7/22/2011 UTC) at Balmain, New South Wales Australia CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
In the mail to bekoh today! Sorry for the delay, life got in the way there.
Happy reading!
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Journal Entry 4 by bekoh at Fern Bay, New South Wales Australia on Sunday, July 31, 2011
Funny, whimsical & a thoroughly enjoyable read. I hope there are more in this series.
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The Coroner's Lunch
