Call number
MYST COT
Collection
Genres
Series
Publication
Minotaur Books (2012), Edition: 1st Us Edition, 324 pages
Description
Fiction. Mystery. Jimm Juree, who was well on her way to becoming the primary crime reporter for the major daily newspaper in Chiang Mai, is less than thrilled to have lost her job and relocated to a place where nothing ever happens. When she learns that a head has washed up on the beach, she greets the news with mixed emotions. It's tragic, of course, but this could be the sort of sensational murder that would get her a byline in a major daily-if she still worked for one. Instead, all she can do is find out who was murdered and why.With her former cop grandfather as back up, she sets out to discover how the poor fellow ended up where he did-and why. On their journey, with the rest of their disjointed family in tow, they uncover gruesome tales of piracy and slavery, violence and murder in the Gulf of Thailand. Are the authorities uninterested because they're involved, or because the victims aren't Thai? Whatever the reason, Jimm and her team are going it alone and their lives are under threat. And who exactly are those two elegant women in cabin three and why has the engine number of their car been filed away? Airport hostages and hand grenades, monkeys and naked policemen-once more the sublime and the ridiculous clash at the Gulf Bay Lovely Resort and Restaurant.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member cathyskye
It should be no surprise to anyone that Colin Cotterill's way with words has translated easily from the Laos of the 1970s in his Dr. Siri Paiboun mysteries to modern-day Thailand. From the mind of a wily and rebellious old Communist, we now get to enjoy following Jimm Juree, a Westernized Thai
Although I love Cotterill's humor-- and there is plenty to be found here-- he also deals with serious topics such as corrupt policemen and the plight of poor Burmese citizens coming to Thailand in hopes of work. Even that mysterious mother and daughter staying at the Gulf Bay Lovely Resort and Restaurant have important things to teach us. Each of these topics blend into the story seamlessly and add their own elements of suspense and danger.
The first book in the series, Killed at the Whim of a Hat, angered some American readers by using flubbed lines from speeches made by former President George Bush as chapter headings. Even though those quotes tied into the story, the perceived insult to a president was not appreciated. This time, Cotterill heads each chapter with a line from a song that has been phonetically translated by Thai karaoke and lounge singers. Several are absolutely hilarious, and the author does provide the correct lyrics at the back of the book. Once again, these lyrics do tie into the story, and this time in a very exciting way. Clint Eastwood also plays a part, but you'll have to read Grandad, There's a Head on the Beach to find out what it is.
Colin Cotterill has long been a favorite of mine for teaching me how other cultures perceive the world, for his sense of humor, and for his storytelling ability. It's my hope that you'll read his books and come to a similar appreciation.
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woman who has a talent for rooting out stories and surviving one family calamity after another. Although I love Cotterill's humor-- and there is plenty to be found here-- he also deals with serious topics such as corrupt policemen and the plight of poor Burmese citizens coming to Thailand in hopes of work. Even that mysterious mother and daughter staying at the Gulf Bay Lovely Resort and Restaurant have important things to teach us. Each of these topics blend into the story seamlessly and add their own elements of suspense and danger.
The first book in the series, Killed at the Whim of a Hat, angered some American readers by using flubbed lines from speeches made by former President George Bush as chapter headings. Even though those quotes tied into the story, the perceived insult to a president was not appreciated. This time, Cotterill heads each chapter with a line from a song that has been phonetically translated by Thai karaoke and lounge singers. Several are absolutely hilarious, and the author does provide the correct lyrics at the back of the book. Once again, these lyrics do tie into the story, and this time in a very exciting way. Clint Eastwood also plays a part, but you'll have to read Grandad, There's a Head on the Beach to find out what it is.
Colin Cotterill has long been a favorite of mine for teaching me how other cultures perceive the world, for his sense of humor, and for his storytelling ability. It's my hope that you'll read his books and come to a similar appreciation.
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LibraryThing member TheBoltChick
I tried... really I did, but I just couldn't ever get into this book. I was listening to the audiobook version, and the narrator was passable, but not great.
The story was certainly heartwarming, but I found it generally boring. I felt the characters were warm, but not particularly interesting. I
I am certain that fans of cozy mysteries will find this book much more enjoyable than myself. But it really didn't work for me.
The story was certainly heartwarming, but I found it generally boring. I felt the characters were warm, but not particularly interesting. I
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finished the book with a resounding "blah". I am certain that fans of cozy mysteries will find this book much more enjoyable than myself. But it really didn't work for me.
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LibraryThing member cmbohn
I received this book from Library Thing Early Reviewers in exchange for a review.
Not sure about this one. The second in a series set in modern rural Thailand featuring former crime reporter Jimm Juree. There were a lot of funny parts in here, but it was pretty over the top as well. The quirky parts
Not sure about this one. The second in a series set in modern rural Thailand featuring former crime reporter Jimm Juree. There were a lot of funny parts in here, but it was pretty over the top as well. The quirky parts
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didn't really mix well with the serious theme of the problem of Burmese immigrants. I did enjoy the reader for this one. I think she did a great job. But overall, I guess this one just wasn't for me. Show Less
LibraryThing member jessieb30
This book started off slowly, to a protagonist with a painful internal monologue. While technically well written (this is not trash writing at all), I really had trouble getting in to both the story and the characters. The first person narration failed to really connect me to the speaker, I felt a
On the good side, it is different. The setting, the bad guys, the sociopolitical issues, and the 'reality of not-so-charming Thailand' is something I can say I have not read before. Somehow, while all this should have gripped me, it didn't!
Maybe just not the book for me.
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little confused about her facts even halfway through the book. On the good side, it is different. The setting, the bad guys, the sociopolitical issues, and the 'reality of not-so-charming Thailand' is something I can say I have not read before. Somehow, while all this should have gripped me, it didn't!
Maybe just not the book for me.
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LibraryThing member Storeetllr
This is the second in a new series by Colin Cotterill of Dr. Siri fame, set in Thailand in modern time. I enjoyed the first in the series ~ "Killed at the Whim of a Hat" ~ but this one just didn't grab me, and I am not exactly sure why. Perhaps because there was a bit of preachiness in it? Perhaps
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because I never really connected with any of the characters, including the main one, Jimm Juree, a Thai crime reporter who has been unwillingly transplanted to a small resort far from Bangkok. Perhaps because it was a bit all-over-the-place, the story was a bit over-the-top, there wasn't really much mystery to it, though there were actually two "mysteries" in the novel. Anyway, it fell flat for me and I'm glad I'm finished with it and probably won't want to listen to it again, though I will read the next in the series and hope Cotterill's gotten back on track writing quirky and humorous mysteries by then. Show Less
LibraryThing member SharronA
An enjoyable book, read effectively by Kim Mai Guest. Compared to Cotterill's other series (Dr. Siri Paiboun, national coroner of 1970s Laos) this story has more humor and light-heartedness. It brings the reader to a place unfamiliar to most: modern-day Thailand. As with the Dr. Siri series, this
The last quarter of the book does not lend itself well to being read aloud, though. It contains a lot of short, choppy dialog, as the main character (Jimm Juree, a mid-20s journalist) dictates a screenplay by radiophone to let the authorities and her confederates know what's happening. This may not have been the best narrative vehicle for advancing the story through a tense climax.
Jimm Juree is a delightful investigator and crime-fighter: energetic, modern in a not-quite-modern world, intelligent, and creative. I will definitely seek out the first book in this series and wait eagerly for more to be published.
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story is shaped by the country's political and social challenges.The last quarter of the book does not lend itself well to being read aloud, though. It contains a lot of short, choppy dialog, as the main character (Jimm Juree, a mid-20s journalist) dictates a screenplay by radiophone to let the authorities and her confederates know what's happening. This may not have been the best narrative vehicle for advancing the story through a tense climax.
Jimm Juree is a delightful investigator and crime-fighter: energetic, modern in a not-quite-modern world, intelligent, and creative. I will definitely seek out the first book in this series and wait eagerly for more to be published.
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LibraryThing member wdwilson3
Imagine Stephanie Plum’s dysfunctional family transplanted to Thailand and you get some idea of the cast of characters inhabiting this comic mystery. Unfortunately, for me the humor fell a bit flat and the mystery was rather elementary. The narrator/protagonist, investigative reporter Jimm Jurree
The most engaging features of the audio book were the excellent reading by Kim Mai Guest and the glimpse into Thai culture and a real human rights issue that author Cotterill provides.
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is involved in two unconnected plot lines, one featuring women in hiding and the other concerning the Burmese slave trade. Most of the investigation actually is done by Jimm’s transsexual brother and her friend, a gay policeman. Jimm puts the pieces together, spearheads the rescue of a boatload of Burmese slaves, and gives the hiding women a way out of their predicament.The most engaging features of the audio book were the excellent reading by Kim Mai Guest and the glimpse into Thai culture and a real human rights issue that author Cotterill provides.
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LibraryThing member jmyers24
Grandad, There’s a Head on the Beach is the second title in Colin Cotterill’s new Thailand mystery series starring crime reporter Jimm Juree. In Grandad Jimm has left Bangkok and is helping her mother, grandfather and brother run a rundown resort on the Thai coast when she finds a severed human
The plot of Grandad is not so much a mystery as a vehicle for painting a colorful picture of modern Thailand with its culture clash of royal, peasant, native and immigrant populations residing in bustling cities and backwater villages. The narrative also focuses on the native prejudice against the illegal Burmese immigrants and the abuse they are forced to endure. The profusion of odd characters, enhanced by Jimm’s observations, include (but are certainly not limited to) a gay police lieutenant, a mother-daughter duo traveling incognito, a mangy dog, and a sister?? who can hack just about any computer system to get information for Jimm’s investigation. Adding to Jimm’s often facetious commentary are the corrupted verses from popular songs of the 60s and 70s that head each chapter. Eventually this strange tale culminates in a hysterically funny showdown on the high seas between a determined and fearless Jimm with her assorted “deputies” and a crew of organized kidnappers that is well worth the price of the sometimes plodding narrative. Fans of Carl Hiasson will feel right at home in this crazy, hilarious romp set on the coast of the country formerly known as Siam.
The narrator of the audio version, Kim Mai Guest, has an Asian accent that is almost too pleasant; It’s easy to become lulled by her voice and lose focus on the narrative. Also, the large array of characters means listeners should to pay close attention to names and relationships at the start to avoid confusion later.
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head washed up on the beach nearby. Jimm cannot accept the cursory explanations of the local police and begins using her contacts to investigate this bizarre event.The plot of Grandad is not so much a mystery as a vehicle for painting a colorful picture of modern Thailand with its culture clash of royal, peasant, native and immigrant populations residing in bustling cities and backwater villages. The narrative also focuses on the native prejudice against the illegal Burmese immigrants and the abuse they are forced to endure. The profusion of odd characters, enhanced by Jimm’s observations, include (but are certainly not limited to) a gay police lieutenant, a mother-daughter duo traveling incognito, a mangy dog, and a sister?? who can hack just about any computer system to get information for Jimm’s investigation. Adding to Jimm’s often facetious commentary are the corrupted verses from popular songs of the 60s and 70s that head each chapter. Eventually this strange tale culminates in a hysterically funny showdown on the high seas between a determined and fearless Jimm with her assorted “deputies” and a crew of organized kidnappers that is well worth the price of the sometimes plodding narrative. Fans of Carl Hiasson will feel right at home in this crazy, hilarious romp set on the coast of the country formerly known as Siam.
The narrator of the audio version, Kim Mai Guest, has an Asian accent that is almost too pleasant; It’s easy to become lulled by her voice and lose focus on the narrative. Also, the large array of characters means listeners should to pay close attention to names and relationships at the start to avoid confusion later.
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LibraryThing member tututhefirst
Reviewed only for Early Reviewers....even more boring, plastic, and disjointed than the first. The same cast of characters that are supposed to be quirky, funny, and I think they're meant to be entertaining. They're not. They're insipid, stupid, and not worth the time to read this one.
I got the
I got the
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audio version for review...It was difficult to follow, the narrator's voice was so sing-song, it was like listening to a Saturday morning cartoon. Too many characters, too little plot, and frankly I think that the country of Thailand deserves a much more robust and positive portrayal than this one. Show Less
LibraryThing member mamzel
Colin Cotterill is a master at teaching his readers a little about his stomping grounds in SE Asia while giving us interesting characters and a mystery or two to boot.
In this series, Jimm Juree, a ex-crime writer, is marooned in a small, rundown beach resort in Thailand with her mother, her
The lesson we are taught, along with Jimm, is the problem of Burmese immigrants who, like our own Mexicans, take the worst jobs for the worst pay, but unlike our Mexicans, receive no education for their children or health care. Frequently they are abducted off the street and taken to large fishing vessels, worked to death, and discarded like a worn pair of shoes, to be washed up on the beach. Jimm is irate by this shameful practice and spearheads an attack.
I recommend this book to fans of mysteries that take place in foreign settings with a wonderful cast of characters.
In this series, Jimm Juree, a ex-crime writer, is marooned in a small, rundown beach resort in Thailand with her mother, her
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body-building brother, and her grandfather, an ex-traffic police officer. It is monsoon season with heavy rains and on-shore winds that blow garbage up on their beach. While walking their dogs one morning, Jimm comes upon a head. Sensing she may have been gifted with a story worthy of being published, she contacts the police and is then confronted with the extremely odd system of how bodies are handled in Thailand, graft is involved.The lesson we are taught, along with Jimm, is the problem of Burmese immigrants who, like our own Mexicans, take the worst jobs for the worst pay, but unlike our Mexicans, receive no education for their children or health care. Frequently they are abducted off the street and taken to large fishing vessels, worked to death, and discarded like a worn pair of shoes, to be washed up on the beach. Jimm is irate by this shameful practice and spearheads an attack.
I recommend this book to fans of mysteries that take place in foreign settings with a wonderful cast of characters.
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LibraryThing member ebyrne41
The second in the Jimm Juree series (as distinct form the author's other great creation, Laos-based Dr. Siri), this is yet another wonderful, entertaining, humour-full, fast-paced mystery read from Cotterill. Jimm, the Thai female main character, is a feisty, smart, fun character, and the
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supporting cast are equally colourful. I love how Thailand itself is intrinsic to the story, as Laos is in the Dr. Siri series. Plot as ever is so well done, looking forward as ever to the author's next. Show Less
LibraryThing member maneekuhi
"Granddad" is the 2nd in Colin Cotterill's Jimm Juree series, about a journalist/detective and her wacky family living in a beach resort south of Bangkok. The head is found early on in the story and there is little interest in identifying it. But Jimm plunges on, while getting mixed up in another
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mystery concerning two of their guests, a young woman and her mother, both named Noy - who appear to be hiding out. Jimm becomes involved with the local Burmese community in the course of her investigation, neighbors who are looked down upon by their Thai hosts, and consequently relegated to the most menial of jobs. All this leads to slavery, murder, and adventure on the high seas. Without revealing much more, I'll just add that the internet plays a very integral and somewhat unique role in the grand finale. There are tons of cute and sometimes funny one-liners here, perhaps a bit too much at times. But the central issue is a serious one, and the reader will probably come away with a better understanding of life in this part of the world, warts and all. I'll read the 3rd in the series and look forward to it. Show Less
LibraryThing member HollyBeth
This is the second entry in Cotterill's series about Jimm Juree, a crime reporter who moves with her family from Chiang Mai to a village in southern Thailand. These books have similar tone to his Dr. Siri series, but perhaps even more tongue-in-cheek. I suspect listeners/readers will either love it
The plot in "Grandad, There's a Head on the Beach" is tighter and better planned than in book #1 (Killed at the Whim of a Hat), and the characters are becoming more well-rounded. My only quibble with Jimm's characterization is the backtracking Cotterill seems to have done. At the end of book #1, she had become much happier about her life in Maprao, but at the beginning of book #2, she seems to have slid back into her bitterness about rural v urban life, her old job v the family-run business, and so on. It only bothered me a little. If this is the way every book begins, though, I might start to wonder....
The narrator for this audiobook does a fine job, although at times she was working too hard to enunciate and not enough on the characterizations. Overall, however, this was a worthy second entry! I recommend it to those who like their mysteries light and fun with some sarcasm.
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or hate it. The plot in "Grandad, There's a Head on the Beach" is tighter and better planned than in book #1 (Killed at the Whim of a Hat), and the characters are becoming more well-rounded. My only quibble with Jimm's characterization is the backtracking Cotterill seems to have done. At the end of book #1, she had become much happier about her life in Maprao, but at the beginning of book #2, she seems to have slid back into her bitterness about rural v urban life, her old job v the family-run business, and so on. It only bothered me a little. If this is the way every book begins, though, I might start to wonder....
The narrator for this audiobook does a fine job, although at times she was working too hard to enunciate and not enough on the characterizations. Overall, however, this was a worthy second entry! I recommend it to those who like their mysteries light and fun with some sarcasm.
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LibraryThing member sangreal
In this second outing with reporter turned amateur sleuth, Jimm Juree, Colin Cotterill has once again mixed serious themes with humorous delivery for a mostly successful result.
Grandad, There’s a Head on the Beach focuses on the plight of Burmese immigrants in Thailand, particularly in the
As in the first book in the series, Cotterill uses sarcastic and self-deprecating humor as a counterfoil for the serious issues being experienced by the characters. It’s a style he does very well, and it makes for an enjoyable, easy read. Revisiting the recurring characters was just as much fun as the last time, and I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.
I listened to the audiobook version, and while overall it was a good experience, there were some concerns. The narrator has a good sense of pacing and tone, and the different voices were well handled for the most part. However, towards the end of the book there is an entire section with rapid-fire one-liners from multiple characters during a couple of very tense scenes. During this portion of the book, I felt that the narration did not work. It was very hard to distinguish who was speaking and thus, while the tension was well represented, it was difficult to get a complete understanding of the sequence of events. While I will definitely continue with this series, I probably won’t choose the audiobooks.
Grandad, There’s a Head on the Beach focuses on the plight of Burmese immigrants in Thailand, particularly in the
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fishing village to which Jimm had been unexpectedly exiled in the previous book, as a result of her mother having bought a rundown resort in the area. Many madcap schemes and hilarious adventures occur as Jimm tries to solve the murder, with pretty much no help from the local police, and initial distrust from the very community she is trying to assist.As in the first book in the series, Cotterill uses sarcastic and self-deprecating humor as a counterfoil for the serious issues being experienced by the characters. It’s a style he does very well, and it makes for an enjoyable, easy read. Revisiting the recurring characters was just as much fun as the last time, and I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.
I listened to the audiobook version, and while overall it was a good experience, there were some concerns. The narrator has a good sense of pacing and tone, and the different voices were well handled for the most part. However, towards the end of the book there is an entire section with rapid-fire one-liners from multiple characters during a couple of very tense scenes. During this portion of the book, I felt that the narration did not work. It was very hard to distinguish who was speaking and thus, while the tension was well represented, it was difficult to get a complete understanding of the sequence of events. While I will definitely continue with this series, I probably won’t choose the audiobooks.
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LibraryThing member devenish
Colin Cotterill usually manages combine crime and comedy successfully in both of his series of books. Certainly his Dr. Siri series are better overall,but his first Jimm Juree came over well too.This second one starts well with Jimm finding the head of the title,and investigating how and why it got
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there. As the book progresses the story leaves comedy and crime and moves into the area of farce. By the end I had largely lost interest and merely hoped for a quick release. A pity as you can usually count on Cotterill for a great story. Show Less
LibraryThing member jennorthcoast
This is the second Jimm Juree novel, and while Cotterill seemed slow to develop his style in the first novel—Killed at the Whim of a Hat—here he has no problem. From page 1, he’s off and running with the current breathless, youthful style of short sentences, sentence fragments, funny
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digressions, and wonderfully timely and imaginative metaphors. And he still manages to embed political commentaries and human rights issues that affect Thailand today, but without being obvious or preachy. This plot (and subplot and another subplot) has many LOL moments and long, drawn-out chuckles in store for you. The words “farce” and “ridiculous” will keep cropping up in your mind, yet it all fits, and there’s even a surprise ending (so I advise not reading ahead). And of course, the karaoke . . . well, you’ll just have to experience it yourself. Read this book! Show Less
LibraryThing member cygnet81
Much deeper than the first book in the series! It is still a great mystery but there are some darker issues addressed in this second book.
LibraryThing member Unkletom
“Grandad, There's a Head on the Beach” is, as the title suggests, a somewhat quirky murder mystery that some might consider belongs in the ‘cozy’ subgenre of mysteries. This would be wrong as cozies rarely have a cast that includes transgender beauty queen hackers, body-building baby
This book is the second adventure of former crime reporter Jimm Juree who runs, with her family in a somewhat rundown resort in the rural area of South Thailand. I haven’t read the first book, “Killed at the Whim of a Hat” but didn’t feel as if that hindered my appreciation of this book.
I have a couple concerns but they are minor and don’t keep me from recommending this book. The first is that the mystery of the aforementioned head on the beach is not really solved in the traditional sense that readers of mysteries expect. I understand the author’s reasoning behind this but just thought I’d warn those who expect the five Ws (who, what, when, where & why) to be answered. My second concern is that the book mixes light-hearted zaniness with the deadly serious topic of the kidnapping and enslaving of Burmese immigrants to Thailand. The mix of comedy and tragedy comes off as a bit off-kilter.
This review is based on the audio recording by Kim Mai Guest whose voice is heard often in animated videos and videogames. She did an excellent job with this story although her voice sounds a bit younger than her character which is surprising seeing as she is older than her character.
Bottom line: I enjoyed it and recommend it.
*Quotations are cited from an advanced reading copy and may not be the same as appears in the final published edition. The review copy of this book was obtained from the publisher via the LibraryThing Early Reader Program.
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brothers, gay policemen and somewhat senile mothers likely to spout such priceless lines as “It’s been such a long time since my last S&M experience, and that was with the clergy” at the most inopportune moments. (If that line doesn’t get a smile out of you, wait until you get to the author’s collection of fractured pop lyrics as performed by Thai cover bands. My favorite is George Harrison’s classic ‘Something in the way she moos’.)This book is the second adventure of former crime reporter Jimm Juree who runs, with her family in a somewhat rundown resort in the rural area of South Thailand. I haven’t read the first book, “Killed at the Whim of a Hat” but didn’t feel as if that hindered my appreciation of this book.
I have a couple concerns but they are minor and don’t keep me from recommending this book. The first is that the mystery of the aforementioned head on the beach is not really solved in the traditional sense that readers of mysteries expect. I understand the author’s reasoning behind this but just thought I’d warn those who expect the five Ws (who, what, when, where & why) to be answered. My second concern is that the book mixes light-hearted zaniness with the deadly serious topic of the kidnapping and enslaving of Burmese immigrants to Thailand. The mix of comedy and tragedy comes off as a bit off-kilter.
This review is based on the audio recording by Kim Mai Guest whose voice is heard often in animated videos and videogames. She did an excellent job with this story although her voice sounds a bit younger than her character which is surprising seeing as she is older than her character.
Bottom line: I enjoyed it and recommend it.
*Quotations are cited from an advanced reading copy and may not be the same as appears in the final published edition. The review copy of this book was obtained from the publisher via the LibraryThing Early Reader Program.
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LibraryThing member Auntie-Nanuuq
Where to begin...... The main character, Jimm Juree, is suppose to be a 34 year old single Thai woman reporter, living w/ her family @ a dilapidated beach resort. Her Granddad is a former Traffic Officer, who sits & watches local traffic and counts violations all day. Her brother helps around the
Jimm finds a man's head on the beach and the clean-up-crew are fierce mean men.... who don't want anyone looking into his death......
Then there is the girl & her mother who happen upon the resort & insist on staying there (hiding something) who are not who they say they are.
So it goes on, and I had to stop @ page 132..... To put it nicely, this was so very tedious.
There was one part that was very objectionable: "The hounds were forty meters from the debris. They were excited. When Gogo comes across something that confuses her, she whimpers and does a sort of canine Native-American war dance." What sort of insensitive culturally deficient gormless prat writes something like that? Oh yeah: "Born in London, Colin Cotterill has worked as a teacher in Israel, Australia, the United States and japan before he started training teachers in Thailand........" That about says it all, an erudite European educated male, writing in as a female persona he has never personally been.
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resort (and I forget what else) and is in love w/ a female body-builder his mothers' age. Her mother haphazardly runs the resort, which is now in the midst of a monsoon.Jimm finds a man's head on the beach and the clean-up-crew are fierce mean men.... who don't want anyone looking into his death......
Then there is the girl & her mother who happen upon the resort & insist on staying there (hiding something) who are not who they say they are.
So it goes on, and I had to stop @ page 132..... To put it nicely, this was so very tedious.
There was one part that was very objectionable: "The hounds were forty meters from the debris. They were excited. When Gogo comes across something that confuses her, she whimpers and does a sort of canine Native-American war dance." What sort of insensitive culturally deficient gormless prat writes something like that? Oh yeah: "Born in London, Colin Cotterill has worked as a teacher in Israel, Australia, the United States and japan before he started training teachers in Thailand........" That about says it all, an erudite European educated male, writing in as a female persona he has never personally been.
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LibraryThing member JudyGibson
Entertaining romp on a serious subject.
LibraryThing member BookAngel_a
This is the 2nd installment of the Jimm Juree mystery series set in southern Thailand.
I simply adore the characters in this series! Book 1, "Killed at the Whim of a Hat" was such a pleasant surprise to me and this book, book #2, was even better.
Jimm Juree used to be a crime reporter for a major
Now that I am getting better acquainted with Jimm's eccentric family I found myself laughing out loud several times because of their antics. Jimm's family really loves and cares about each other in spite of their unique traits, which is heartwarming. But the mystery brings a lot of danger and suspense too, making this book a real page turner. I also enjoy getting to know Thailand a little better since these are the first books I've ever read which are set in Thailand.
(I also listened to the audio version and it was very well done, it really helped me learn to pronounce the unfamiliar words and brought the story to life.)
I would definitely recommend this book, and this series to other mystery lovers, although I'd recommend you read them in order.
I simply adore the characters in this series! Book 1, "Killed at the Whim of a Hat" was such a pleasant surprise to me and this book, book #2, was even better.
Jimm Juree used to be a crime reporter for a major
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newspaper when her slightly senile mother sold everything and bought a run down resort in southern Thailand. The family had no choice but to follow her. Jimm feels like she is suffocating because so little happens at her new home. So when mysteries come her way she jumps at solving them. (In this case it begins with finding a head on their beach.) But she's never alone in her adventures. She has the help of her mother, her former policeman granddad, her police friend Champu, her bodybuilding brother Arny and her former brother-now-sister Sissee.Now that I am getting better acquainted with Jimm's eccentric family I found myself laughing out loud several times because of their antics. Jimm's family really loves and cares about each other in spite of their unique traits, which is heartwarming. But the mystery brings a lot of danger and suspense too, making this book a real page turner. I also enjoy getting to know Thailand a little better since these are the first books I've ever read which are set in Thailand.
(I also listened to the audio version and it was very well done, it really helped me learn to pronounce the unfamiliar words and brought the story to life.)
I would definitely recommend this book, and this series to other mystery lovers, although I'd recommend you read them in order.
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LibraryThing member zmagic69
With a title like this how could you go wrong? As it it turns out, plenty of ways.
It wanders, its boring, its not terribly funny, and I constantly felt like I was not part of some inside joke.
The characters are not that interesting, and the story drags on forever.
I think the author got bored
It wanders, its boring, its not terribly funny, and I constantly felt like I was not part of some inside joke.
The characters are not that interesting, and the story drags on forever.
I think the author got bored
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writing it, too. Show Less
Awards
Crime Writers' Association Awards (Shortlist — 2012)
Dilys Award (Nominee — 2013)
Pages
324
ISBN
0312564546 / 9780312564544