The Rat Catchers' Olympics

By: Colin Cotterill

Narrated by: Clive Chafers

Length: 7 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's Summary

It is 1980, and the Democratic People's Republic of Laos is proud to be competing in its first-ever Olympics. Of course half the world is boycotting the Moscow Summer Olympic Games to protest Russia's recent invasion of Afghanistan, but that has made room for athletes from countries that are usually too small or underfunded to be competitive - countries like Laos.

Ex-national coroner of Laos Dr. Siri Paiboun may be retired, but he and his wife, Madame Daeng, would do just about anything to have a chance to visit Moscow, so Siri finagles them the job of medical oversight for the Olympians. Most of the athletes are young and innocent village people who have never worn shoes, never mind imagined anything as marvelous as the Moscow Olympic Village. As the competition heats up, however, Siri begins to suspect that one of the athletes is not who he says he is. Fearing a conspiracy, Siri and his friends investigate, liaising in secret with Inspector Phosy back home in Laos to see if the man might be an assassin. But Siri's progress is derailed when another Lao Olympian is accused of murder. Now in the midst of a murky international incident, Dr. Siri must navigate not one but two paranoid and secretive government machines to make sure justice is done.

©2017 Colin Cotterill (P)2017 Recorded Books

but it's Mme Daeng with the tail!

USSR, situational-humor, verbal-humor, suspense, supernatural, olympic-games, snark-fest, mystery, Laos

This one exceeded the pre-publication hype! I did a fast book-a-day binge reread of the series to make certain that I didn't miss anything, but it wasn't necessary (but it was fun). Lots of laughs and snickers, mystery and suspense, wacky characters, red herrings, ghosts, and there are murders and intrigue both in Moscow and Laos. The Lao are thrilled to be flown to and housed in Moscow, even knowing that they have little hope of winning, but everyone around them cheers them on and gets caught up in their enthusiasm. I loved it!
Clive Chafer continues to keep me from going crazier trying to pronounce unfamiliar names and words while adding to the personalities of the characters.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Cotterill & Chafer Do It Again

Marvelous series, especially for Readers of Sufficient Age to recall U.S. 1970's incursions in Southeast Asia. Set in Laos, with side trips to Vietnam, Thailand, China and the USSR, the Dr. Siri (pronounced "Dr. Silly") chronicles depict Laotians as pragmatic survivors in a world gone to hell. Start with Volume 1 to best understand series' increasing mysticism, which is in itself a hoot and a half. Dry wit,, delightful characters and no flinching from the uncomfortable realities of post-U.S./French/Russian/Chinese invasions of a culture none of them understood or appreciated.
Savor Clive Chafer's voice acting - he's a master who's perfectly matched to this series.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Cotterill Cranks Out Another Colossal Caper

Who wouldn't enjoy this series about an elderly Lao coroner with a Down's Syndrome assistant and a recurring cast of characters. Add mystery, satirical humor, history, geography, Lao spiritualism, mysticism, relationships, a little forensics,politics, adventure and hilarious dialogue set in post Vietnam War Laos.

I was skeptical , at first, that The Rat Catchers' Olympics would rate on a par of excellence
with the preceding books but thankfully I was wrong! It delivers! Fascinating plots and twists for these resilient humanitarians who accompany their Lao Olympians to Communist Games in Russia.
Cotterill is ever so clever and Clive Chafers' unusual voice for story telling is an asset for this series!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Love the books - wish there were more

I am sad to be finishing the last in the Dr. Siri mystery series. I have loved the books and the narrator and feel that I am saying good-bye to characters and narrator that I have come to know and enjoy so much.

I'm looking for a forum in which to ask Audible listeners if Colin Cotterill's other mystery series are as good as this one.

Love this series

Humor. History. Beautiful language. And true detecting. I can't get enough.
If you haven't tried it give yourself a treat and do.

Dr Siri Wins Gold

Another wonderful addition to Colin Cotterill's Dr. Siri series about Laos's retired coroner. The book is full of laughs as his team work together to solve a murder while attending the Moscow Olympics. My only complaint is that the book ended to soon.

Excellent story, awful narration

The story contains the usual amusing lines and engaging characters, the story is entertaining, but though this is the third book with this narrator, he is still awful, Dr Siri sounds like. Dr silly all the way through, the voice used for him is nasal, drawly and comes across as sarcastic, which is not how I feel he is portrayed in the books. The narration does deter from the book. Though I have still purchased the books for the good story and listened with mild irritation.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful