Customer Reviews

14 reviews

• John Harkin

  The title has a Christie-esque feel to it and so does the murder investigation depicted in the story. When a dead body is discovered on a Cambodian tourist bus it’s not the absence of suspects that concerns Chief Inspector Michael Suon ¬– there’s a plethora of them! You can almost imagine how a certain Belgian sleuth might handle the case. Suon’s investigation uncovers the criminal motivations, back stories, and secrets of the victim’s fellow passengers as they fall under suspicion. Suon’s officers use American police slang based on the US detective shows they watch on TV, but he can't trust all of his crew. In a culture of political corruption, there is suspicion and paranoia everywhere. Set against a backdrop of potential civil war and Cambodia’s dark past, this is a very enjoyable novella length romp through a murder case that the authorities would rather keep hidden. Michael Suon ¬– our first person narrator – is a very engaging lead character; a good man, who maintains his own network of key political contacts and knows how to play the game. Robin Tones really brings Cambodia to life, its tropical heat, the vital importance of its tourism industry, and the corrupt practices of the authorities.

• Jake Surman

  Great to see a new writer with an updated take on a murder mystery. The exotic setting of Cambodia, the thrill of vicariously, travelling through Cambodia with the characters and good plot twists and turns as well as taking on the challenges of 21st-century technology in a way that Agatha Christie couldn’t!
  

• N

  Robin Tones has written an engaging trilogy of stories featuring a sleuthing Cambodian policeman.
  Each story is different, and all three are full of surprises. The setting is beautifully drawn, and as someone not at all familiar with SE Asia I was hooked by the atmosphere, busyness and local ways Robin so expertly laid out.
  To solve murders Chief Inspector Michael Suon has to swim against tides of lackadaisy, political interference and institutional corruption. His adventures are relayed with wit and whimsy.
  

• Mr P Jordan

  I've never been to Cambodia, but reading about the exploits of Chief Inspector Suon conjures up a great picture of the place, the people and the problems in the country. With clever story line and many twists and turns Robin Tones has created a very enjoyable read.
  

• Francofile

  I absolutely loved this clever and original novel. It shows the life of a police inspector in Cambodia and through that device we see some of the culture and politics of the country - sometimes similar and sometimes very different to our own. I do hope this is adapted for television and our hero joins the pantheon of great TV detectives such as Poirot, Maigret and Father Brown. Hugely enjoyable. Hoping for more from the author.

• SueP

  I enjoyed the main story, very entertaining and gives a good picture of how the authorities in Cambodia work. A lot of local knowledge brings the story alive. I then realised there were two more inter connected stories, revealing more about the main detective character, which was an added bonus.
  

• Stew

  Must read!

• Lubo Larsson

  The title has a Christie-esque feel to it and so does the murder investigation depicted in the story. When a dead body is discovered on a Cambodian tourist bus it’s not the absence of suspects that concerns Chief Inspector Michael Suon ¬– there’s a plethora of them! You can almost imagine how a certain Belgian sleuth might handle the case. Suon’s investigation uncovers the criminal motivations, back stories, and secrets of the victim’s fellow passengers as they fall under suspicion. Suon’s officers use American police slang based on the US detective shows they watch on TV, but he can't trust all of his crew. In a culture of political corruption, there is suspicion and paranoia everywhere. Set against a backdrop of potential civil war and Cambodia’s dark past, this is a very enjoyable novella length romp through a murder case that the authorities would rather keep hidden. Michael Suon ¬– our first person narrator – is a very engaging lead character; a good man, who maintains his own network of key political contacts and knows how to play the game. Robin Tones really brings Cambodia to life, its tropical heat, the vital importance of its tourism industry, and the corrupt practices of the authorities.

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