Asia Hand

In this 1993 novel, our hero, detective Vinnie Calvino, says that he gives himself, at best, another 20 years. After all, his is a dangerous profession, especially in Bangkok. But if we have to wait 17 years for the novels, then Vinnie will be long dead before we read about his last exploits. Sad, huh? Asia Hand is full of typos and other language mistakes, the characters enter the most improbable of relationships, yet I give it four stars. Why? Because it has charm in abundance. You cannot help but like the good guys in the novel, nor can you hate Bangkok even given its numerous faults- and improbable relationships. The city is alive if nothing else, and Asia Hand entertains despite its faults. And making us wait 17 years is definitely a fault!

Yes,once again Christopher G. Moore has scored a direct hit in his unique--and highly qualified--outlook at the world of expatriates living in Bangkok.Vinnie Calvino and Col.Pratt are back together again going through all the weird-little-worlds occupied by farang expats and the Thai people they both mesh and clash with,particularly the bargirls of Sukhumvit Road. If you want to see and learn what life is like for the expats, this is the best way to go.If you've lived in Thailand or visit it on a regular basis,as I do,you'll feel very much at home with the storyline,the characters and the general mentality of all those you meet and observe.As other reviewers have pointed out,this tale IS somewhat scary but as far as reading entertainment goes,you'll have fun with this tale,I promise. What I also find great sanuk,in my usual overly-cynnical manner,is that the worst of the "bad guys" are either Americans or contolled by American forces.I have met both these people and the Vinnie Calvinos--BOTH groups "Asia Hands"--and what can be more than somewhat scary is that,in most cases,the "bad guys" outnumber the Calvinos.Still,even dealing with one Calvino personality reminds me of why I keep returning to my beloved Thailand and why the kingdom WILL be my permenant home in the future.Please read "Asia Hand" and do what most of us do:enjoy the hell out of it!!!

I read this book while living my fourth of five years in Bangkok. This book maps the reality many expats live and fear each day. I could trace my own footsteps through the pages.Recommended if you want to read the reality and fear the consequences. For those of you wanting an adventure, your stomachs will churn.

Asia Hand was one of the first books that C.G. Moore wrote about the Bangkok based private investigator named Vincent Calvino and his friend in the Bangkok police, LTC Pratt. The Calvino series are great (easy) reading and many foreign visitors could learn from "Calvino's rules." My favorite Calvino's rule is "only marry an orphan." This novel follows Calvino throughout Bangkok in search of the killer of a foreigner. Hints of the occult and insite into the Thai ways of thinking about life around them makes every page interesting.