Slash and Burn
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Review
'Another enjoyable episode in the adventurous life of this coroner' Irish Independent.
Review
'Another enjoyable episode in the adventurous life of this coroner' Irish Independent.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
A great addition to the Dr. Siri series. Colin Cotterill triumphs again. His writing
is exquisite with a wry humour that lightens this dark tale of double dealing
in Laos by dodgy American politicians and shady US military men during and after the
Vietnam war, with occasional sly digs at Communist bureaucrats mismanaging the new
socialist republics. Cotterill's novels are beautifully crafted and why his Dr Siri books aren't
more widely appreciated by fans of crime novels is beyond me. Recommended for
anyone who enjoys a good mystery.
is exquisite with a wry humour that lightens this dark tale of double dealing
in Laos by dodgy American politicians and shady US military men during and after the
Vietnam war, with occasional sly digs at Communist bureaucrats mismanaging the new
socialist republics. Cotterill's novels are beautifully crafted and why his Dr Siri books aren't
more widely appreciated by fans of crime novels is beyond me. Recommended for
anyone who enjoys a good mystery.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
O, the delights of finding a new author! Colin Cotterill's first book about Dr Siri was so original and such fun that I avidly bought the other titles.
I wish I could say they are all equally good...
The first book had a remarkable quality of evoking a very real character in a world we could not otherwise have known; the charm and delight of Dr Siri was compelling, his companions had a matching reality. The story and its satisfyingly complex plot was excellent, and the moment of putting down the finished book was both satisfying and enticing - where is the next title!
But as the books have become popular so the editing has become very lax. Colin Cotterill is now with a new publishing house, which doesn't appear to have cut a word out of a lengthy and 'well-padded' tale: sadly I have to say that Slash and Burn is a disappointment.
I wish I could say they are all equally good...
The first book had a remarkable quality of evoking a very real character in a world we could not otherwise have known; the charm and delight of Dr Siri was compelling, his companions had a matching reality. The story and its satisfyingly complex plot was excellent, and the moment of putting down the finished book was both satisfying and enticing - where is the next title!
But as the books have become popular so the editing has become very lax. Colin Cotterill is now with a new publishing house, which doesn't appear to have cut a word out of a lengthy and 'well-padded' tale: sadly I have to say that Slash and Burn is a disappointment.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Oh happy the day when a Dr. Siri Painboun book shows up in my mailbox. It means several contented hours of reading, punctuated by chuckles and occasional belly-laughs. Doesn't sound like a mystery series, but that's what witty author, Colin Cotterill has created with this series about an octogenarian Laotian revolutionary who has become his country's first post-civil war coroner. Set in unlikely, highly original 1970s Laos, as the Pathet Lao government is trying to pull together a functioning state and government, with limited success, "Slash and Burn" opens with the visit of an official delegation from the U.S. interested in finding a missing U.S. airman who was downed in Laos during the war. The Laotians reluctantly agree to cooperate with the former enemy due to their dire financial situation and other regional real politik forces at work. A motley binational crew staffed in good part by Dr. Siri and his lovable family and friends, travel up country to track down the MIA of interest to the Americans. From that point forward, the novel resembles nothing less than a Marx Brothers film in its plot twists, over-the-top drinking party antics, political pratfalls, send-ups of political corruption on both sides, and general cross cultural confusion. For a murder mystery, this is a very, very funny story.
Author Cotterill is clearly a bit cynical about human behavior and especially human political behavior, but maintains enough positive feeling about humankind to allow his story to end eventually with a modicum of justice. Things get a little over the top on the path to the conclusion, but the story never loses its credibility, particularly in the context of Laotian culture and the times. So the reader is allowed an interesting plot, a satisfying finish and a truckful of laughs along the way.
Even with its murders and cynicism, this is probably the funniest book in the Siri series to date. Not to be missed by fans of these books, but also a fine episode to start with for those not familiar with previous Dr. Siri books. Let's hope that the 80-year old coroner lives to be 100 and that his adventures continue to the end.
Author Cotterill is clearly a bit cynical about human behavior and especially human political behavior, but maintains enough positive feeling about humankind to allow his story to end eventually with a modicum of justice. Things get a little over the top on the path to the conclusion, but the story never loses its credibility, particularly in the context of Laotian culture and the times. So the reader is allowed an interesting plot, a satisfying finish and a truckful of laughs along the way.
Even with its murders and cynicism, this is probably the funniest book in the Siri series to date. Not to be missed by fans of these books, but also a fine episode to start with for those not familiar with previous Dr. Siri books. Let's hope that the 80-year old coroner lives to be 100 and that his adventures continue to the end.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Old Friends and Chuckles
CC does it again. It was great to meet the cast of misfits that form Dr. Siri's posse again, and have them go on a caper. Read more
Published 11 days ago by Captain Future
Great book
Hi, I have been following all the Dr Siri books and this is his latest. As usual it gives fascinating insight into Communist Laos and the characters are all well drawn. Loved it. Read more
Published 28 days ago by L. K. McLelland
`It was true, just five weeks before, things had been normal.'
It's 1978 and Dr Siri Paiboun, the national coroner of Laos, is now 74 years old, and his retirement is less than two months away. Read more
Published 4 months ago by J. Cameron-Smith
Another fantastic Dr Siri story!
This was a bit of a wait, but it was well worth it. I simply love Colin Cotterill's books, they are funny, well crafted and full of fabulous characters. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Aurora
Dr Siri does it again!
I always eagerly await a new Colin Cotterill book, particularly from the Dr Siri series and was thrilled when this book arrived. It didn't disappoint! Read more
Published 6 months ago by HornseaBird
Long Time No See - But Now Dr Siri is Back!!!!
After the misadventures our admired hero, the Laotian against-his-will-coroner Dr Siri had to suffer in the book Love Songs from a Shallow Grave: A Dr Siri Murder Mystery he surely... Read more
Published 6 months ago by miki 101
Recommend to all Dr Siri fans !
For those who have never read any of the Dr Siri books, this is number 8 - and you really should start with the first book in the series "The Coroners Lunch". Read more
Published 6 months ago by happy hermit
Siri's still got it!
First of all, I must confess that I have been a fan of Dr. Siri since the very first book came out. And I have made it a point to express my pleasure or otherwise to the author... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Miran Ali
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