Laos, 1976. The monarchy has been deposed, the Communist Pathet Lao have taken over. Most of the educated class has fled, but Dr Siri Paiboun, a Paris-trained doctor remains. And so this 72-year-old physician is appointed state coroner, despite having no training, equipment, experience or even inclination for the job. But the job's not that bad and Siri quickly settles into a routine of studying outdated medical texts, scrounging scarce supplies, and circumnavigating bureaucratic red tape to arrive at justice. The fact that ...
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Laos, 1976. The monarchy has been deposed, the Communist Pathet Lao have taken over. Most of the educated class has fled, but Dr Siri Paiboun, a Paris-trained doctor remains. And so this 72-year-old physician is appointed state coroner, despite having no training, equipment, experience or even inclination for the job. But the job's not that bad and Siri quickly settles into a routine of studying outdated medical texts, scrounging scarce supplies, and circumnavigating bureaucratic red tape to arrive at justice. The fact that the recently departed are prone to pay Siri the odd, unwanted nocturnal visit turns out to be an added bonus in his new line of work. But when the wife of a party leader turns up dead and the bodies of tortured Vietnamese soldiers start bobbing to the surface of a Laotian lake, all eyes turn to Siri. Faced with official cover-ups and an emerging international crisis, the doctor enlists old friends, village shamans,forest spirits, dream visits from the dead - and even the occasional bit of medical deduction - to solve the crimes.
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Add this copy of The Coroner's Lunch: a Dr Siri Murder Mystery to cart. $13.61, fair condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Dallas rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2007 by Quercus.
Dr. Siri Paiboun is a coroner with an unusual gift. He has survived the long war in the jungle and is now caught up with the new communist government which seems to be worse than that of the royals. His coping skills and insight are an inspiration and his staff and friends are equally intriguing.
Sarahagnes
Mar 18, 2010
fab read for a mini vacation
A librarian friend recommended The Coroner's Lunch to me--and I still remember the joy of spending a whole July day immersed in the Southeast Asia of the 1970's, with a mystery to solve! Enjoy.
