Beautifully constructed humour, and metaphorically adept.
What an agreeable style of writing Colin Cotterill has. Such a diversity of opinion on this book, from not being able to engage at all, to absolutely loving the humour, the characters, the honesty and the depiction of modern Thai society. The title and chapter headings, courtesy of George Bush, add to the quirky and original style of this exotic whodunnit. Highly entertaining and surprisingly thought-provoking, its light hearted approach is well balanced by an intricate plot and delightfully eccentric characters. But there's no resting on her laurels when the bodies start piling up, Jimm sees a chance to keep her career on track and moves into crime solving mode, teaming up with local policeman Sergeant Phoon. A Minotaur Books hardcover.Introducing Jimm Juree, crime reporter formerly of Chiang Mai, now a reluctant chief cook and bottle washer at her family's Gulf Bay Lovely Resort and Restaurant in the south of Thailand. Additionally enjoyable are the malapropisms-read by Park without accent-that serve as the book’s title and chapter headings. And that is unfortunate, because once the quirky plot begins to gel, Park’s performance proves as entertaining as it is charming. However, the book’s ultra-whimsical characters and leisurely pace are themselves something of a test for listener perseverance. During the course of this humorous mystery, protagonist Jimm describes her odd patois: “I speak English with a sort of Thai accent that makes words sound as if they don’t have endings.” That’s a tall order for any narrator, but Jeany Park does her best to fill it, providing Jimm with odd vocal cadences and an affected, non-native British accent.
But soon she’s investigating a murdered abbot and the discovery of two dead hippies who’ve been buried for decades in their van. When crime reporter Jimm Juree finds herself in a tiny coastal village in Thailand, she thinks her career is over.
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