Dr Siri Paiboun, reluctant national coroner of the People's Democratic Republic of Laos, is summoned to a remote location in the mountains of Huaphan Province, where for years the leaders of the current government had hidden out in caves, waiting to assume power. Now, as a major celebration of the new regime is scheduled to take place, an arm is found protruding from the concrete walk that had been laid from the President's former cave hideout to his new house beneath the cliffs. Dr Siri is ordered to supervise the disinterment of the body attached to the arm, identify the corpse, and discover how he died.

The autopsy provides some surprises but it is his gifts as a shaman that enable the seventy-two-year old doctor to discover why the victim was buried alive and the identity of his killer.

"Set in the People's Democratic Republic of Laos in 1977, Cotterill's engrossing third mystery (after 2005's Thirty-three Teeth) takes series hero Dr. Siri Paiboun, the 73-year-old national coroner who has recently discovered his shaman ancestry, and Nurse Dtui, his no-nonsense associate, from the capital, Vientiane, to remote Vieng Xai, where a cement-entombed corpse has turned up at the Laotian president's compound. At Kilometer 8 Hospital, Paiboun and Dtui meet Dr. Santiago, a charismatic surgeon on loan from Cuba, who uncovers crucial information about the victim's identity. As they close in on the killer, Paiboun and company must deal with soul-transfer, a marriage proposal, ancient rituals, frenetic dancing, racism and more murders. Horrific sacrificial rituals coexist seamlessly with the endless, banal red tape that hampers the investigation. Paiboun's gift for conversing with the dead comes in handy as he endures such strange happenings as nightly disco music only he can hear. This witty and unusual series just keeps getting better." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

"With such a compelling cast of characters, the twisty mystery comes as a nice bonus." Booklist

"Once again, Cotterill demonstrates his extensive knowledge of Laotian history and his ability to create memorable characters." Library Journal (Starred Review)

"With its snappy character titles and emphasis on character, this third installment in Cotterill's series will especially appeal to fans returning from earlier episodes." Kirkus Reviews

"Cotterill is a crack storyteller and an impressive guide to a little-known culture." The Washington Post

Praise for Colin Cotterill’s Dr Siri Series:

“Wonderfully fresh and exotic.... The multiple cases spread out on Siri’s examining table are not cozy entertainments but substantial crimes that take us into the thick of political intrigue.”—The New York Times Book Review

“A fresh and innovative detective who goes straight to the heart and soul, without any sappy sentiment. The author gives us exotic locations; a world that few of us know well; crisp, intelligent, and often witty writing; and most of all a hero unlike any other.”—Philadelphia Inquirer

Dr Siri Paiboun, reluctant national coroner of the People’s Democratic Republic of Laos, is summoned to a remote location in the mountains of Huaphan Province, where for years the leaders of the current government had hidden out in caves, waiting to assume power. Now, as a major celebration of the new regime is scheduled to take place, an arm is found protruding from the concrete walk that had been laid from the President’s former cave hideout to his new house beneath the cliffs. Dr Siri is ordered to supervise the disinterment of the body attached to the arm, identify the corpse, and discover how he died.

For more information, visit www.colincotterill.com 

Dr Siri Paiboun, reluctant national coroner of the People's Democratic Republic of Laos, is summoned to a remote location in the mountains of Huaphan Province to supervise the disinterment of a body, identify the corpse, and discover how he died.

Colin Cotterill was born in London in 1952. He has taught in Australia, the U.S. and Japan, and has lived in Thailand, on the Burmese border and in Laos. He lives in Chiang Mai, in northern Thailand.