The Coroner's Lunch (A Dr. Siri Paiboun Mystery)

Two people told me about this book, and since I respect their taste, I bought it. I LOVE IT!! I'm a real mystery buff, and haven't read anything quite like this. I thought the Inspector Shan books by Eliot Pattison were unusual (and wonderful), but this is a whole new (to me) concept. I was so taken with the primary character, Dr. Siri, that I bought all, but the most recent (2016) sequels. The story takes place, mostly in Laos, during the 1970's. The characters are so varied, their personalities so delightful and interesting, that I ended up reading all the sequels as well - I am hooked completely. The mysteries are wonderfully varied, and take place in Laos, Cambodia, Viet Nam, etc., with references to early years in Paris....it's all there! This series is classic, one of a kind in every way. I was very much alive during the Viet Nam war, so I have enough memories of that time. This book puts a whole new, different and valid perspective on that whole era. You understand what the people had to endure, and how they survived...and you're also seeing a side not seen before. With all the serious plots, there is marvelous humor and lots of satire - brilliant! I recommend this book (the whole series) most strongly. Can't remember the last time I was so in love with such a charming, clever character. Do yourself a real favor and read the book - you'll want the rest of them too.

The entire Dr. Siri series is quite well written. Almost every book has a very good story line. The characters are very well developed and the mysteries are well thought out and fun to read. Partly because these series take place in an Eastern country (Laos) there is that whole supernatural element to them. The main character (Dr. Siri) hosts a thousand year old Shaman in his body. Now, if you can't get over having to accept that, you should definitely skip reading these books because that part is central to all of them. I thought that it might bother me but the way the author introduces this fact and weaves it into the story, makes you kind of just go with it. I now find that it doesn't bother me at all and in fact, adds to the story. Ironically, what's more unbelievable for me is that a 73 year old can do all the things Dr. Siri does, suffer such horrible injuries and just keep going. Having parents in that age range, it seems to me very unlikely that people of that age could bounce back so quickly from all the various injuries Dr. Siri sustains. Be that as it may, these books are all definitely worth reading. Not only are they great stories, they have taught me so much about Laos, it's culture and its history, something I knew absolutely nothing about. I read some reviews saying that the books are propaganda or re-writing of history. My thought is that you read historical fiction to get a feel for the country, culture, habits, etc., and if you want an accurate history, you read a few historical books and make up your own mind. This author's portrayal of the US-Laos conflict is not God's word and I don't think he expects it to be! Overall, I recommend this entire series.

This book is wonderful - Dr. Siri is a completely unique and utterly lovable main character. I bought this book on a whim and within 3 weeks had ordered and read every book in the series [published thus far....]. The books are fantastic, I truly couldn't put them down. These books will appeal to all mystery lovers because they are well written, interesting, and just great "who dunnit" novels. These books excel most, however, in their unique setting - Communist Laos in the 1970s. It is a *fascinating* time period [which I knew nothing about until I picked up this book] and Dr. Siri is absolutely my favorite character ever. Colin Cotterill is a very gifted writer. He tells a great story filled with compelling characters and a wry sense of humor that is just fabulous. I enjoyed this series a great deal and I look forward to more books to come.

An entertaining book, but one that i would not recommend outright. Okay, i am going against everyone else who rates the book as 4 or 5 stars. I probably rate books somewhat differently than most. My rating criteria is four fold. Characters: believable? realistic? Can you almost "see" them in your minds eye? The answer is'Yes.' 5 stars for characters! Plot: complex? Flows well from situation to situation? Interesting? We have three stories meshed together to form a novel of history, corruption, mystique, and murder. Dialogue is good, although I found some of Siri's comments to his superiors dangerously disrespectful (but comical). Portions of the story, however, bogged down in meaningless chatter. It was easy to put the book aside and go back to it days later. Two-three stars Conclusion: satisfying? Believable? Leave an impression? Colin Cotterill does a decent job of bringing the bad guys to justice and tying up all loose ends. And, there is an interesting twist at the end. Four stars Overall: somewhat dull, but there are meaningful parts from a historical aspect. Three stars.

I enjoyed this book very much. I knew I would probably like this series but I liked it even better than I thought I would. Dr. Siri Palbourn is 72 years old and was ready for retirement. He is living in Laos and it is 1976. He studied medicine in France when he was a young man. He fell in love with a young revolutionary and followed her back to fight for the cause. Now he is 72 and and Laos has a new communist government. The doctor who had experience in doing autopsies swam across the river to Thailand so now Siri is made the National Coroner of Laos. The problem is that he has not trained in this area. The department is underfunded and has few supplies. He has a boss who doesn't understand his own job. Suri does his first autopsy by following a 30 year old French book. The characters are special in the book. Dr. Siri is humorous and speaks his mind in an atmosphere that does not encourage this at all. He has two not typical assistants who he likes very much. One is a nurse Drui who wants to train for his job. She likes to read entertainment magazines. Mr. Geung has Downs Syndrome and has become skilled in autopsy skills. He and Dr. Siri greet each other every day "Do we have any customers today. No customers today, Dr. Comrade." The first page of the book is quite dramatic. It starts the mystery of three men who are dropped from a helicopter into a lake with weights attached to their legs. Two countries, Vietnam and Laos become involved with investigation of the murders. Dr. Suri investigates. Also, a prominent wife of a leader dies at a banquet and her husband is very eager to take the body away from Dr. Suri. Dr. Suri finds he has investigative skills and doesn't take the word of those above him for what has caused the deaths. Dr. Suri also has communications with his "customers". At first they come to him in dreams but later it occurs in his waking life. I laughed out loud several times. It is a gentle book yet it is not. Dr. Suri makes it seem that way. I have the next book to read. It is a special series. I think if you like mysteries in foreign countries with great characters, very good plotting and humor, you should like this book.

Colin Cotterill is brave to set his detective series in Laos right after the Communist takeover in the 1970s and to build the mysteries around an elderly coroner with limited potential for daring physical feats or romantic conquests. However, he is successful! In The Coroner's Lunch, Cotterill hooked this reader on the interesting political intricacies of the setting. In addition, I believe he has created an admirable, lovable protagonist surrounded by secondary characters who are themselves realistic and likable. The plot also is satisfyingly intricate with several bodies linked to crimes that will only be solved if Dr. Siri and his colleagues overcome the odds to do so. In addition, Cotterill introduces a spiritual dimension in that Siri realizes he is the host for a deceased shaman's spirit. Cotterill puts the spiritual aspects in a strong cultural context so that they are palatable even for readers like me who normally shy away from supernatural explanations in mysteries. There is plenty of danger and suspense as well as some surprising twists. Finally, Cotterill gives Siri a sharp wit and relays witty conversations with his friends, and even the author's descriptive writing is clever and amusing. A home run with the first in the series!

Set in 1976 in Laos there is Dr. Siri Paiboun who is a 72 year old widow and instead of retiring he is forced to become the country's coroner. As most of the other doctors have fled Laos with the war, Dr. Siri is really the only one left. Siri has been a communist since his college days in France but mainly because of his girlfriend who later becomes his wife. He gives the reader quite a preview of the regime's soullessness and stupidity. His two co-workers are eccentric characters all on their own. First there is Drui who is a woman who reads fashion magazines and lives with her sick, elderly mother and then there is Mr. Geung who has down syndrome and has a tendency to repeat whatever anyone else says. Drui and Mr. Geung are quite loyal to Dr. Siri and he to them. Siri lives in a type of boarding house with many neighbors and he has a particularly nosy landlady. At night spirits of the dead visit him and relay him messages he must figure out. This particular novel deals with two cases. One deals with the death of the wife of a senior government official and it appears very suspicious. The second case deals with the death of three Vietnamese men whose bodies were found at the bottom of the sea. Siri must work with a Vietnamese policeman who he comes to trust as they unravel the mystery of the three men's deaths. There are many interesting characters in this book as well as many twists and turns. It is a well written and wonderful novel which has really been brought to life by the author. I highly recommend it.

I've never read a book set in Laos so that's a definite plus. I love to read about other people, places, and cultures. All of the characters in this book are either Laotian or Vietnamese and I like that too. No westerners to hog all the important roles or to force the reader to see through alien eyes rather than through the eyes of a member of the culture. That said, while the author has lived in this part of the world for many years, he is not Laotian so his view is still going to be skewed. The protagonist of this book, Dr. Siri, is a very humble and likable character. He's a doctor, but admits he was never a very good one. He's 72 years old and imagines his life is pretty much over. As a long time member of the communist rebellion that has recently taken over the government of Laos, he expected to spend the remainder of his life in retirement. However the communist motto--from each according to his abilities, to each according to their need -- does not really allow for retirement as long as you are able to work. Instead of retirement, D. Siri finds himself the country's official coroner, a job that he feels completely inadequate to perform. His struggle accepting this responsibility is human and humorous. The gist of the novel is two mysterious deaths and one boondoggle that lead Dr. Siri into intrigue. Along the way he discovers he has some magical abilities including a helpful ability to avoid death.

Great fun and a wonderful insight into life in Laos under the communisr regime. You will laugh, I promise you.

Nachdem ich das erste Buch der Reihe gelesen hatte, war ich ganz im Bann von Dr. Siri und seinen Kompagnons. Eine bunte Mischung unterschiedlichster Typen mit sehr eigenen Stärken und Schwächen die alle treu zueinander stehen und für jeden Spass zu haben sind. Mir gefällt auch das etwas "Überirdische" an den Büchern, was aber wahrscheinlich Geschmacksache ist und eventuell nicht jedem gefällt. Ich finde, es gibt dem Ganzen etwas Aussergewöhnliches. Insgesamt nimmt sich jedoch keiner der Charaktere in den Büchern selbst zu ernst was auch für den ausserordentlichen Humor des Autors spricht!

But well worth reading, and a number of twists and plot turns with an entertaining diversity of characters. Good quality tale, well structured, gives little away.

Such a wonderful story. Beautifully written and so evocative of the place. Some great humour too! Plan to buy more of his work

We’re in the newly communist Laos of the 1970s. Dr Siri has long fought on the winning side and at 72, is looking forward to retirement. Alas, he is made coroner, a field in which he has no training. But with admirable aplomb and philosophical acceptance he does his best in the poorest of countries with the minimum of equipment. It’s not long before he finds himself having to autopsy the wife of a senior cadre and things don’t add up. Then along comes a case involving three Vietnamese corpses found in a reservoir attached to weights. This one leads to very murky depths indeed and has a relationship with the Hmong people who grow opium. Things get a little woo-woo down in Hmong territory. While the story has echoes of Brave New World and 1984 and corruption, daft political correctness etc are everywhere, this book is a fun and interesting read because of the charm of its characters who regularly engage in witty banter. There are enough good guys to warm the cockles of your heart and they are by no means simplistic - these are fully rounded, clever people who are making the best of things in very difficult circumstances. So it’s a warm book set in a country we hear little about. Now to download the rest of the series.