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Series Review
Raucous Romps with Thai Cop who Meditates, Self-Medicates
Royal Thai Police Detective Sonchai Jitpleecheep's adventures in this series of five mystery novels are more frenetic than most because his boss--the guy who runs the police department--is a corrupt crime-lord who keeps giving Sonchai confusing and life-threatening assignments.

With a little help from illicit substances, Sonchai copes, or at least keeps ahead of the bad guys, who are very bad indeed. All the while, with tongue firmly in cheek, Sonchai explains Thai morals, mores and cuisine (he's a foodie) to farang (Western/ clueless) readers.

A witty cross-cultural walk on the wild side. These books will turn your assumptions about the "third world" upside down and inside out.

What can I say? I love these books. There's something here to offend everyone, and not just because these hallucinogenic crime novels are set in an infamous red-light district in Bangkok, Thailand. They're lurid, over-the-top, outrageous and laugh-out-loud funny. They turned me into an aficionado of everything Thai.

Series Guide
I don't know how to rate these books. I love 'em all. I'm giving Vulture Peak ( #5)  4 hearts instead of 5 because it has fewer LOL moments and isn't quite as frenetic and hallucinogenic as the others. As for where to start?  Begin at the beginning with Bangkok 8 (#1).

Book Summaries
Below, the Sonchai Jitpleecheep crime novels in chronological order:

Bangkok 8 (2003, Royal Thai Detective Sonchai Jitpleecheep Mystery Books #1)
Death by snake in the red-light district
BUY
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Bangkok Tattoo  (2005, Royal Thai Detective Sonchai Jitpleecheep Mystery Books #2)
Snuff films and tattoo fetishes
BUY
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Bangkok Haunts (2007, Royal Thai Detective Sonchai Jitpleecheep Mystery Books #3)
Vengeance, Thai style
BUY
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The Godfather of Kathmandu (2010, Royal Thai Detective Sonchai Jitpleecheep Mystery Novels #4)
Tibetan guru with double-life
BUY
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Vulture Peak (2012, Royal Thai Detective Sonchai Jitpleecheep Mystery Books #5)
Scary twin supercriminals with a gruesome hobby
BUY
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Royal Thai Detective Sonchai Jitpleecheep Mysteries
by John Burdett
Noir aka Police Procedurals Set in Thailand
Book Reviews
Royal Thai Detective Series
(From newest to oldest; Dates refer to publication in the US in English;
# refers to series order)
Above, from top to bottom:  
Thai cop looking at bullet holes in District 8, Bangkok, Thailand; Neon in District 8; Monks in Bangkok; Food Stalls in District 8
Cop with Bullet Holes, Bangkok, Thailand
Chinatown, Bangkok, Thailand
Monks, Bangkok, Thailand
Foodstalls, Bangkok, Thailand
Vulture Peak
(2012, Royal Thai Detective Sonchai Jitpleecheep Mystery Books #5)
by John Burdett
BUY NOW

A bit less hallucinogenic than usual.

But, a stellar cast of over-the-top characters and a completely lurid murder, or three.

Plus: Will Sonchai cheat on Chanya?
Plus: Chanya in graduate school studying sociology

Read summary
(Bestsellers. Noir aka Hardboiled. Police Procedurals. Funny. Set in Thailand.)
The Godfather of Kathmandu (2010,  Royal Thai Detective Sonchai Jitpleecheep Mystery Books #4)
by John Burdett
BUY NOW

To the usual mix of murder, mayhem, and epic-scale corruption, Burdett adds a large dollop of Buddhist apocalyptic vision. I couldn't put it down.

Plus: A visit to Freak Street, Kathmandu, Nepal

Read summary
(Bestsellers. Noir aka Hardboiled. Police Procedurals. Funny. Set in Thailand.)
Bangkok Haunts
(2007, Royal Thai Detective Sonchai Jitpleecheep Mystery Books #3)
by John Burdett
BUY NOW
US BESTSELLER
The darkest of this darkly comic mystery series and definitely not for the faint of heart. But if you have the guts for it, this book will rock your world.

Plus: Elephant soccer

Read summary
(Bestsellers. Noir aka Hardboiled. Police Procedurals. Funny. Set in Thailand.)
Vulture Peak (2012, Sonchai Jitpleecheep  #5)  by John Burdett
Cliffhanger's 4 Heart Rating
The Godfather of Kathmandu (2010, Sonchai Jitpleecheep  #4) by John Burdett
Cliffhanger's 5 Heart Rating
Bangkok Haunts (2007, Sonchai Jitpleecheep #3) by John BurdettBESTSELLER
Cliffhanger's 5 Heart Rating
Bangkok Tattoo 
(2005, Royal Thai Detective Sonchai Jitpleecheep Mystery Books  #2)
by John Burdett
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US BESTSELLER
Funny, thought provoking, possibly profound. Something to offend everyone. I love these detective novels. 

Plus: Sonchai in love
Plus: Nong and Colonel Vikorn in business
Plus: Serious ink

Read summary
(Bestsellers. Noir aka Hardboiled. Police Procedurals. Funny. Set in Thailand.)
Cliffhanger's 5 Heart Rating
Bangkok 8 
(2003, Royal Thai Detective Sonchai Jitpleecheep Mystery Books  #1)
by John Burdett
BUY NOW
US BESTSELLER
A raunchy romp. Funny and frank, startling and serene, this book breaks taboos and leaves the reader breathless. This turned me into an aficionado of everything Thai.

Plus: Snakes on speed

Read summary
(Bestsellers. Noir aka Hardboiled. Police Procedurals. Funny. Set in Thailand.)
Bangkok Tattoo  (2005, Sonchai Jitpleecheep #2) by John BurdettBESTSELLER
Bangkok 8  (2003, Sonchai Jitpleecheep #1) by John Burdett
Cliffhanger's 5 Heart Rating
Other mystery series set in Thailand:
Noir aka Hardboiled
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