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Scott Sterling is an ex-CIA agent who calls Bangkok home. He lives above the Boots and Saddle Saloon -- one of the most popular bars with expatriates like Sterling. To keep his work visa, Sterling teaches scuba diving. His detective work consists of low-paying searches for Thai women who have taken off with some foreigner's money. Sometimes he's hired by Western women checking up on their husbands in Thailand. In SKYTRAIN TO MURDER, Sterling finds himself looking into the murder of American Lisa Avery. He has a personal interest. He was the last person to see Lisa alive. When you enter Scott Sterling's world in Bangkok you leave the everyday world as we know it behind. Different rules apply in Bangkok. "Bangkok is the kind of town that presents you with every vice known to man -- and if you have a modicum of character and something to keep yourself busy, you'll only dabble." The Thai are a people known for their "beautiful smiles and graceful charm" and yet they have "the highest murder rate in the world." Barrett's descriptions are vibrant and the writing is entertaining, sharp and precise. He presents us with a world that captures the reader's imagination and attention. His sense of place and pacing are excellent. The author has a gift for creating a detailed world rife with many layered intrigues and immensely personable characters. We meet Winny -- Sterling's landlord who is "cultivating a beer belly." Dao, Sterling's girlfriend, and her family runs a muay-Thai boxing school. Loan sharks threaten to kidnap a 12-year-old girl and use her as a prostitute to pay off a family debt. The many layers are woven together as Barrett deftly moves toward a satisfying conclusion. Barrett is another author who writes what he knows. He served in Asia as a Chinese linguist with the Army during the Vietnam War. He has a Masters degree in Asian Studies and has written other books set in Asia and Thailand.
Reviewed by Lane Wright, January 2004
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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