Grist 04 - Incinerator (39 page)

Authors: Timothy Hallinan

Hallinan’s unlikely hero shines in this sometimes funny, always engrossing and undeniably authentic story that explores a dark and fascinating side of Thailand.”

—Kirkus Reviews

“Kwan is a bright, young teenager from the poor northeastern province of Thailand who is promised a scholarship to college by her teacher. How does she land up as a dancer in the red light district of Patpong Road, becoming the Queen of Patpong?

Fast forward to Bangkok many years later and to the beginning of the novel. Kwan has changed her name to Rose, is happily married to travel writer Poke Rafferty and is the mother of their adopted daughter, Miaow. Rose’s settled and contented life is shattered by the re-appearance of a threatening man with a military bearing, an American who promises to shatter her life. Rose tells her story to Poke and Miaow, how she became the Queen of Patpong, and how she believed she had escaped her past, which has now come back to haunt and threaten her.

My comments: The story of the Queen of Patpong, from her life in the village to dancing in the bars of Bangkok, to her escape from the stranger who now has returned, is the riveting story that had my heart pounding and my eyes glued to the pages of the book. A literary novel and a thriller rolled into one. The Queen of Patpong: A Poke Rafferty Thriller has some of the most suspenseful scenes I’ve ever read in a thriller, and the sociological aspects of the story are heartrending. Hallinan has excellent descriptive power and knows his subjects and their environment well.
I gave this novel five stars.
”

—Book Bird Dog - www.bookbirddog.blogspot.com

“… Rose had another life, long before Poke knew her, and the secrets she has kept must come forward if they’re to survive.

Rose will have to tell her tale quickly, though. For her devil has come back to Patpong, and desires to complete her long-overdue murder…

The latest chapter in Poke Rafferty’s life is as searing a beauty as its three predecessors, and is expertly balanced between horror, humor, and hope. Long-time fans of the series will be justly rewarded by the lengthy revelations of Rose’s past, and first time readers will have the joy of watching Poke make up plans on the run – sometimes surprising his foes, and sometimes himself. Poke and his family are just quiet and decent people trying to get by in the best worst city in the world, and Hallinan takes care to present both the good and bad sides of a country that, while dangerous, has a very human heart beating in its dingy, breakneck streets.

Thriller fans who want something more than just another “stacked odds” rundown in an exotic location should pick up The Queen of Patpong. All three previous books in the series (A Nail Through the Heart, The Fourth Watcher, and Breathing Water) are also available, and also excellent.”

—Jim Tremlett, Eastwood, Schulerbooks

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The Queen of Patpong
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The Junior Bender Series

Crashed (Junior Bender #1)

Crashed
, the new series from the author of the Simeon Grist Mysteries and the Poke Rafferty Bangkok Thrillers, introduces Junior Bender, a top-of-the-line burglar who also works as a private eye – for crooks. When a crook gets ripped off by a crook, Junior is the guy who gets hired. In his first outing,
Crashed,
Junior finds himself on the wrong side of his own already paper-thin moral code, being forced to prevent sabotage against a multi-million dollar porn film starring exactly the kind of person he’d normally want to protect. At the age of 23, Thistle Downing is broke, strung-out, semi-suicidal, and on the verge of obscurity. But between the ages of eight and fifteen, she was the biggest television star in the world, a brilliant natural comedian until her talent slowly began to desert her. Now desperate, she’s facing the ultimate humiliation… and she’s so wasted she doesn’t even know that someone’s been trying to kill her. And in between her and all that, there’s no one – except Junior.

PRAISE FOR
CRASHED
AND TIMOTHY HALLINAN

“Tim Hallinan has done it again. He’s created a must-read series that you will find hard to put down! Junior Bender is all you could ever want in a hero/thief: smart and funny, with a penchant of finding himself in situations he’d much rather avoid. Do not miss any of these books. A must read in my house.”

—Brett Battles, author of the award winning Jonathan Quinn Series

“Crashed is funny, thrilling, and even sad — a great beginning for a great new series. Timothy Hallinan is one of my favorite writers, and this is Hallinan at the top of his game. It’s laugh-out-loud funny without ever losing any of its mystery. It’s a whole new style and I love it. Junior Bender — a crook with a heart of gold — is one of Hallinan’s most appealing heroes, rich with invention, and brimming with classic wit. I can’t recommend it highly enough.”

—Shadoe Stevens,
Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson

“Hallinan is one of the master storytellers of our generation. Crashed is pure rapture.”

—CJ West author of
The End of Marking Time

“Hallinan is a stunning talent.”

—Gregg Hurwitz, author of
They’re Watching

“Hallinan has a genuine ability to write effective prose, engaging repartee, sharp and witty characterizations.”

—
Washington Post Book World

“A modern-day successor to Raymond Chandler.”

—Los Angeles
Daily News

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Crashed
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