Bookstore and blog for fans of international mysteries and thrillers
Excerpts from Reviews
“A detective as distinctive as Maigret or Poirot”
–Orlando Sentinel
“The sights, smells and colors of Laos practically jump off the pages”
–Denver Post
“A perfect balance between the modern mysteries of forensic science and the ancient secrets of the spirit world"
–The New York Times Book Review
“Cotterill is a crack storyteller and an impressive guide to a little-known culture.”
–The Washington Post
Disco for the Departed (2006, Dr. Siri Paiboun #3)
Anarchy and Old Dogs (2007, Dr. Siri Paiboun #4)
Curse of the Pogo Stick (2008, Dr. Siri Paiboun #5)
Love Songs from a Shallow Grave (2010, Dr Siri Paiboun #7)
Slash and Burn (2011, Dr Siri Paiboun #8)
Final Book in a Beloved Series
Cranky Coroner Catches Killers, Speaks with Spirits
The Dr. Siri Paiboun Series by Colin Cotterill
Dr. Siri is funny, smart, cantankerous, world-wise but not weary. The plot is suspenseful and the supporting characters are fabulous–funny, charming, memorable.
When the corpses of three Vietnamese soldiers bob up to the surface of a nearby lake, the politics quickly become as gruesome as the murders.<More about the book>The Coroner's Lunch (2004, Dr. Siri Paiboun #1)
A terrific addition to the series. My favorite cantankerous coroner still has his lovely sense of humor and his charming assistants and employs both to skewer the party bosses and stymie the bad guys.
Books in this Series
A Man of Many Parts: Surgeon, Shaman, Stubborn Sr. Citizen
When Dr. Siri was young, his small South East Asian country was occupied by France; he was sent to Paris to be educated. There he fell in love and learned a few things about medicine and movies. His wife was a devoted revolutionary, who insisted they return to Laos to oust the evil occupier. It took about forty years and cost his wife her life, but finally the day came when the French were gone, the Lao monarchy was gone and the communist People's Democratic Republic of Laos was born. By this time, Dr. Siri was a disenchanted communist, sick of politics, sick of war, ready to retire.
Instead, the politburo appointed him national coroner and he began a second career. One drawback to this was his complete lack of experience with forensics. But he had a robust sense of humor, a logical mind, a brilliant nurse, a well-trained assistant and a gift for withstanding political pressure so he muddled along. He had another asset, although not one he could speak of in the new, anti-religious Laos: he saw the sprits of the dead. This had started when he was a young surgeon patching up wounded soldiers in the jungle and, man of science that he was, it had confused him greatly over the years. But now, he could use some help–and who better than the distressingly departed to advise him?
WHO IS DR SIRI PAIBOUN?
Highly recommended for fans of witty procedurals, classic Chinese mysteries, and anyone who appreciates poking fun at bureaucrats and ideologues. John Burdett fans should try these. Also Kurt Vonnegut fans.
Laos: 1975. The Pathet Lao have just won their long-fought revolution. Dr. Siri Paiboun comes in from the jungle, hoping to retire. Instead, he is appointed national (and only) coroner of Laos.
