Don't Eat Me by Colin Cotterill

Colin Cotterill’s 13th Dr. Siri Paiboun mystery, Don't Eat Me, sees the 75-year-old coroner and his band of merry miscreants trying to make a Laotian movie version of War and Peace with some “found” American movie equipment. When his friend, chief police inspector Phosy, gets dragged into a murder investigation involving the body of a young woman who was possibly eaten alive by animals, Siri also gets pulled into the investigation.

The investigation leads to government officials and a connection to the local airport where evidence of possible animal trafficking is uncovered. While Siri and his cohorts are working through the byzantine bureaucracy of Laos to get permission to make their movie, they are also helping to investigate the crime. The investigation takes Siri and Inspector Phosy in different directions by turn, ultimately placing all of them in danger from corrupt officials. Getting out of the pickle they find themselves in is going to take some luck as well as the work of some very dedicated friends.

The animal trafficking subject matter is at times quite dark, but the humor of the eccentric Siri and his friends serve to lighten the mood. Siri is occasionally possessed by spirits and sees visions that present a puzzle for him to solve. A large cast of interesting supporting characters help carry the story along. The 1980’s Laos setting, endearing characters and an interesting mystery all make for a very entertaining story.

The audiobook is narrated by Clive Chafer who does a great job of bringing the cast and the story to life. He makes a large cast easy to distinguish with his vocal characterization and his pacing and inflection suit the story, capturing both the seriousness as well as the abundant humor. While perhaps not the ideal entry point for new readers or listeners, it is not difficult to pick up the relations between the characters. Long-time fans will certainly be entertained. This is a book and a series that is well worth checking out for its unique setting and characters in addition to the well-plotted story.

I was provided a copy of this audiobook by the publisher.

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