SubscribeThe front cover of this book says “A novel of Bangkok”, which immediately makes me think of a previous book I read by Hallinan, A Nail Through the Heart. Check out my review of that book here. This book is clearly a sequel to the first one, but, does stand up well on it’s own. Hallinan explains just enough so new readers can follow along, without rewriting the previous book, and boring those who had read it. For me, it was a nice review, and I didn’t feel the need to go back to the first book and refresh my memory.
Bangkok is hot, humid, full of bright colors, and packed with people. I read this book during a freak but vivid heat wave, and felt like I was there, in Bangkok, following around the characters. Hallinan’s writing is quick and dirty, with bite sized chapters that always seem to end with me wanting more, and making me dive into the next chapter, (and then the next). Hallinan also has a gift for creating some really interesting turns of phrase, that had me laughing, despite the context.
A bad perfume is described as “Like if a flower threw up.” Chapters are given titles such as ” Karma is a Soft Drink”, and “Carrots were the Last Straw”, and “It Starts Ugly, and Gets Worse”.
The story is, once again, about Poke Rafferty, an American who went to Bangkok to write travel books about the darker side of life. He never left. He is still with his girlfriend, Rose, who is continuing to run a cleaning business with her friend Peachy. Miaow, his adopted daughter, is becoming a “normal” little girl. She adores the color pink, and loves to send text messages on her cell phone. Rafferty is finally part of a happy family. Naturally, this is when all hell breaks loose.
Rafferty has paid an ex spy to teach him how to do illegal things. He wants to experience some things for himself, so he can accurately write about it in his next book. When the book starts, he is being followed by three guys who he has spotted. Thinking back to one of his lessons, he realizes that there must be a “fourth watcher”, the one you don’t see. Neither Rose nor Miaow are happy about what he is doing.
This book has many complex things going on all at once. Peachy has a problem with counterfit money, and the government has become involved. Rafferty’s father has re-emerged, and wants to talk to him, despite the fact that Rafferty wants nothing to do with him. There are several layers of “family” involved. Then, someone kidnaps Rose, Miaow, and the wife of Rafferty’s friend, (who is a police officer). They want something nearly impossible, and a large portion of this book involves watching Rafferty try and figure out what to do to get them back. This is one intricate plan, and I kept going back and forth on my guess about if he would manage to pull it off or not. Most of the story takes place in just a few days time, and the book is a fast, exciting read.
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