The Coroner's Lunch

The Coroner's Lunch by Colin Cotterill
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Dr Siri Paiboun—the one and only coroner in 1970s Laos—is a man to whom the dead give up their secrets…though as much through their otherworldly apparitions to him as by his own forensic investigations. And he has a fine cast of loveable characters to help him: Nurse Dtui, who reads trashy Thai magazines that are frowned upon by the new Communist regime, yet has the brains and chutzpah to become his assistant; Mr Geung, a young man with Downs Syndrome, who is more experienced in autopsy than the good doctor himself; even Saloop, the dog, who undergoes a massive change of heart as the novel progresses.
Full of gentle humour—often at the expense of the new regime, though occasionally at human behaviour—this is a great start to a wonderful series.
But that’s just my own humble opinion…what do you think? Do let me know!

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