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Bangkok 8  By  cover art

Bangkok 8

By: John Burdett
Narrated by: Paul Boehmer
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Publisher's summary

A thriller with attitude to spare, Bangkok 8 is a sexy, razor-edged, often darkly hilarious novel set in one of the world’s most exotic cities.

Witnessed by a throng of gaping spectators, a charismatic Marine sergeant is murdered under a Bangkok bridge inside a bolted-shut Mercedes Benz. Among the witnesses are the only two cops in the city not on the take, but within moments one is murdered and his partner, Sonchai Jitpleecheep - a devout Buddhist and the son of a Thai bar girl and a long-gone Vietnam War G.I. - is hell-bent on wreaking revenge.

On a vigilante mission to capture his partner’s murderer, Sonchai is begrudgingly paired with a beautiful FBI agent named Jones and captures her heart in the process. In a city fueled by illicit drugs and infinite corruption, prostitution and priceless art, Sonchai’s quest for vengeance takes him into a world much more sinister than he could have ever imagined.

©2003 John Burdett (P)2011 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“A tour de force.... Burdett is purely and simply a wonderful writer.” (The Washington Post)

"A stiletto-sharp mystery/thriller... brilliantly rendered." (The Seattle Times-Post Intelligencer)

“Like Thai cuisine, Burdett’s comic thriller blends spicy, sour, salty and sweet - and makes for a delicious wake-up for jaded palates.” (People)

"Bangkok 8 is one of the most startling and provocative mysteries that I've read in years. The characters are marvelously unique, the setting is intoxicating and the plot unwinds in dark illusory strands, reminiscent of Gorky Park. Once I started, I didn't want to put it down." (Carl Hiaasen)

“The wildest ride in modern crime novel exoticum. A novel so steeped in milieu that it feels as if you’ve blasted to mars in the grip of a demon who won’t let you go. Read this book, savor the language - it’s the last and the most compelling word in thrillers.” (James Ellroy)

What listeners say about Bangkok 8

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Very dissapointing

I had a lot of optimism for this book and tried to like it long after I knew it was a dud. The writing is juvenile. The references to Buddhism fortune cookie like. The story starts with a couple of detectives tailing a man driving through town, and though the car they are tailing is stuck in traffic and moving at normal speeds the detectives are forced to drive through alleys, do power slides and fly through the air to catch up, only to find that some assailants on motor scooters have filled the car with deadly snakes, scores of them and they have killed the occupant. The story does not improve from there, everything is improbable, is seedy, and poorly written.
Not recommended

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Audible needs to allow half stars, for books like this

Ok, overall, a good book. I bought the next in series. Great performance. My biggest complaint is the preachiness & "moralizing", although not in the way you will assume without reading the whole book. Not a western preachiness/moral majority/family values type of dogma. More of the opposite. But the problem is there is still hypocrisy in the author's moralizing. and it sometimes got in the way of my enjoyment of the book. I prefer Timothy Halinan's more honest perspectives on the good and negative of both cultures. Still, I am definitely going to stick with the series if the following books are as interesting!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Learn About Krung Thep

Liked the discussion of drugs traffic sex corruption Buddhist mindset in Thailand. Police procedural story also fine. Sorry to say there are not enough travel chances these days to visit exotic places, but books can give a helpful introduction. Thankfully the book is well-researched so learning curve was positive. Similar to Wind-Up Girl. Dark but not too dark.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Same, same but different

While agreeing with some of the other reviewers, Thai words and inflection are hard, having been to Bangkok, and other parts of Thailand, many times, I cringed at some of the pronunciations. Listen to the story dont get caught up in the "that cant happen" moments or pronunciations. Because in Thailand, it happens. All too often. The story itself is why I'm listening and it holds my attention. If you've been there more than once you can smell it at times and you'll know where Sonchai is once in a while. If you were lost and confused, well you might just understand why after listening to it. The story is told well and really does keep you wanting more. The characters are believable because it is Thailand. The tidbits are spot on with regard to the people and culture, both Thai and Farang. If you thought it was far fetched, you've never been. You cant explain most of S.E. Asia to someone whose never been there. Its a magical, corrupt, beautiful and hard to comprehend place. Bangkok 8 is much the same. The series is worth sticking with to the end. It gets better. Afterward, you'll need to find Poke Rafferty.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

After a while, I didn't care who-done-it.

This book and author were recommended to me by a "reader", so I got it with high hopes.
It has an interesting setting, with exotic characters but alas, it's just another
detective-gets-bad-people-with-the-help-of a-hot-smart-chick,
(not that's there's anything wrong with that).

But there are SO many writers saturating the "Scooby doo" genre (including vampires, aliens and the like/unlike) that a story, THE STORY needs to be even more engaging and compelling.
This one isn't.

I recommend: "I Am Pilgrim", the Matthew Corbitt series and without a doubt,
Stephen King's Bill Hodges.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Disappointing

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

I do not know, I will not even finish this book

What could John Burdett have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

The story hops from scene to scene with little warning. It is supposed to be a murder mystery but spends too much time on social history

What didn’t you like about Paul Boehmer’s performance?

Paul Boehmer might be an excellent narrator for a mid-western story but not for this genre. He does not bring these characters to life.

What character would you cut from Bangkok 8?

I would not cut anyone. I would just like them to sound like more they were Thai, not Americans.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Incredible

For anyone that has spent some time in Thailand this book really speaks to you on a deep philosophical level. The best way to describe is a blend of Raymond Chandler meets buddhism. I could not stop listening.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Thailand, the real deal !!!

fascinating story, deep dive into Thai culture and Buddhist thoughts.
gives a new meaning to ghosts.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Loved it! Well-written and original

I love the pace of the writing and how Burdett has his half-breed detective go back and forth between Buddhist pontifications, Thai superstition, and actual police work. Can't wait to read the rest of the books in this series.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fascinating, Informative & Unique!

Definitely not your classic "whodunnit"... but wow is this one of the most unique books I have ever read/listened to! You must keep an open mind to enjoy this book haha, I found it VERY interesting. A think outside-of-the-box mystery with lots of historical and philosophical tidbits. Thoroughly enjoyed!

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