Review
After reading this charming story I must agree with the reviewer for
Deadly Pleasures
Mystery Magazine who writes, "Who ever thought a mystery set in 1970's Laos
could be so delightful?"
When Dr. Siri is forced to leave his coroner's office for a road trip with the
Justice Department, he is ambushed on a deserted jungle trail and kidnapped
by Hmong insurgents. They believe Siri has the power to exorcise the village
demon who they think is residing as an unborn child in the body of the
respected elder's daughter.
Although Dr. Siri admits
his body is a living, breathing container
for a spirit named Yeh Ming, he has no clue how to perform an exorcism. He
declares that he is a doctor only of scientific medicine, but agrees to try
because that is his ticket to freedom. He recalls having seen an exorcism
once, but thinks...
Beyond the Book
A Brief History of Laos
The Lao People's Democratic Republic, commonly known as Laos (sounds like
'louse') is located in South-East Asia where it is sandwiched by Vietnam on
the East and Thailand on the West. It shares its northern border with
China and Burma/Myanmar, and its southern border with Cambodia (map).
It's population is about 6.6 million people.
Laotian are believed to be descendents of Thai tribes from the 13
th century.
In the mid-14
th century a powerful kingdom was founded by Fa
Ngoun (1353-73) who is credited with the introduction of Buddhism to the
area. In 1707
internal dissent split the country into two kingdoms (upper northern and
lower southern). Vientiane, the setting of the novel is in...
