An enjoyable book, read effectively by Kim Mai Guest. Compared to Cotterill's other series (Dr. Siri Paiboun, national coroner of 1970s Laos) this story has more humor and light-heartedness. It brings the reader to a place unfamiliar to most: modern-day Thailand. As with the Dr. Siri series, this story is shaped by the country's political and social challenges.

The last quarter of the book does not lend itself well to being read aloud, though. It contains a lot of short, choppy dialog, as the main character (Jimm Juree, a mid-20s journalist) dictates a screenplay by radiophone to let the authorities and her confederates know what's happening. This may not have been the best narrative vehicle for advancing the story through a tense climax.

Jimm Juree is a delightful investigator and crime-fighter: energetic, modern in a not-quite-modern world, intelligent, and creative. I will definitely seek out the first book in this series and wait eagerly for more to be published. (Posted on 7/30/12)