We first meet Sonchai Jitpleecheep in Bangkok 8, the first in the mystery series. Our unusual and unlikely hero is tormented by his Buddhist ideals while surrounded by corruption and violence in his everyday work as detective of Bangkok District 8. He must solve the death of an American Marine stung by venomous cobras. The cobras also kill Sonchai's partner and Buddhist soul brother, Pinchai, thus making the solution of the crime even more pressing, for now, he must kill the perp to avenge Pinchai's death.
Sonchai is not your ordinary detective. Describing himself as the son of a whore, Sonchai is the son of a former prostitute (rented wife) and a farang(Westerner), a US military man whom he has never met but fantasizes about. His mother's former occupation brings Sonchai in contact with farang men who teach him social graces, English, French, and high fashion which, he cannot, of course, afford. An earlier crime led him and his soul brother, Pinchai, to a Buddhist monastery and the protection of the Abbott, also the brother of Sonchai's superior, the corrupt but benevolent Colonel Vikorn. The Abbot decides that Vikorn should employ and protect these soul brothers who turn out to be the only District 8 police officers immune to bribery. Sonchai's Buddhist training allows him to meditate anywhere and clear his mind to see how the puzzle pieces fit. Seeing clearly merely adds to the difficult decisions he must make. Thus is set the adventures and angst of Detective Sonchai Jitpleecheep.
Burdett's Bangkok series is a juxtposition of opposites which often play in Sonchai's soul. Just like his mixed genealogy, Sonchai must work with the American FBI in the persona of a feminist FBI agent, Kimberly Jones, pitting Thai sense of tradition with western logic and technology. The pull of Sonchai's Buddhist beliefs is countered by Vikorn, the not so subtle purveyor of large scale drug traffic and who, in every turn, tries to lure his protege into the ways of the world. Eventually, Sonchai finds himself part owner of a gentleman's club brothel owned by his mother and Vikorn.
Just as Walter Mosley brought us the Black experience of 1960's Los Angeles in his Easy Rawlins series and Dennis Lehane, life in Dorchester, Massachusets in the Patrick Kenzie/ Angela Genaro series, (Gone Baby Gone,) Burdett brings Bangkok with its culture and red light district as a main character in these books. We see prostitution in a different light as seen in the eyes of the different characters, often with admiration. East meets West in Bangkok where real and fake Gucci and Armani stores are side by side with Buddhist religious houses.
The Godfather of Kathmandu is the latest of the Sonchai Jitpleecheep series (released Jan 12,2010.) As in previous books, a crime so heinous, involving an American leads Sonchai to pit his wits with a cunning murderer. Sonchai is not himself. He has just suffered the death of his son and he whacks his mind with pot to numb his heart. Complicating the investigations is his new found assignment as consiglieri to his superior, Vikorn (who has been studying The Godfather DVDs) and the competing military drug lord, General Senna. The job brings Sonchai to Nepal where he meets unconventional freedom loving Tibetan monk, Teitsin. Teitsin furthers Sonchai's meditative abilities and becomes his guru even as he masterminds a huge drug trade for the liberation of his people, another juxtaposition of opposites. The book is not as tightly woven and exciting as the previous ones but still this mystery novel is full of cruel crime, twists, humor, and angst as the trials and growth of Sonchai Jiptleecheep continues to unfold.
John Burdett gave up law practice for his love of writing. He lives in France, Spain and Hongkong.
