Bangkok 8 -- John Burdett

Many Americans are afraid of snakes, even marines.  The Vietcong used them as weapons in the tunnels of Cu Chi to great effect.  This one, an enormous python, has wrapped itself around the black man's shoulders and neck and is trying to swallow his great head.  I note that pythons do not normally shake like that, nor do they normally ride in Mercedes.

Shortly thereafter, Sonchai Jitpleecheep's partner is dead of snakebites.  Make that crazy-drugged-up-on-amphetamines-snake snakebites. 

Sonchai is a Buddhist cop in, shockingly, Bangkok.  While trying to find the killer so that he can solve the mystery of the American marine's murder (or avenge his partner's death--he hasn't decided yet), he deals with the usual--corruption, murder, drugs, prostitution (his mom, in her youth, was a bar-girl--now she owns one).  But he also deals with the unusual--the jade trade and the totally ick-sketchy industry of custom-designed girlfriends.

I loved this book.  It was a total blast.

The sequel is coming out next month--I've already asked my library director to buy it.  I can't wait.  I want more Sonchai!