The Bangkok Asset

Sonchai Jitpleecheep, Book 6

By: John Burdett

Narrated by: Stephen Hogan

Sonchai Jitpleecheep is back! The Royal Thai Police detective, our wily, sometimes madly bold guide through the author's previous acclaimed Bangkok novels, is this time on the trail of an American conspiracy and once again - and closer than ever - on the trail of his American father.

With Sonchai on this case is the young female inspector, Krom. Like Sonchai, she's an outsider on the police force, but unlike him she is socially savvy and a technological prodigy. When they're called to a demonstration - in the midst of a typhoon - of the deadly, superhuman strength of an American man who is seemingly controlled by a CIA operative, they have no idea what they're actually witnessing or why. Their reliably obtuse and unequivocally crooked boss, Colonel Vikorn, explains some of it, but the most telling questions remain unanswered: Could the Americans have figured out a way to create a physically and psychologically enhanced super soldier? Are they testing him - or it - on Thai soil? And why is everyone, from the Bangkok police to the international community, so eager to turn a blind eye?

©2015 John Burdett (P)2015 Recorded Books

Amazing

Loved all the other books in the series although they started to be tailing off in my opinion. This one was great. Many of the negative reviews I read prior to listening were critical of the sci-fi aspect. I was expecting Sonchai to go to outer space and fight aliens or something just as disappointing. But it’s great, more of poetic license than sci-fi, and certainly the best book of the last 3. I hope Burdett keeps taking us on these adventures for many more years.

Bangkok Oddities

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The author's pontification of political oppression of the Asian theater gets tiring after about two thirds of the book. But it continues. The characters are back but do not spin the fabulous love story of the past books. A little disappointed with the results at the end of the book.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

I always find the author's description of everyday life in Bangkok to be totally immersive. Almost to the point of smelling the market and hearing the vendors. The plot of the story was ok but less intense than past books.

Which character – as performed by Stephen Hogan – was your favorite?

As always my favorite is the hero, Detective Sonchai Jitpleecheep. I also enjoy his wife and his mother is a real winner. Either would be a welcome companion at a Bangkok bar.

Do you think The Bangkok Asset needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Yes. The hero is still not whole and he needs further development. Plus his family life needs some closure.

Any additional comments?

My favorite author but not one of his better books. The narrator did a very good job with the many characters. I look forward to the next one.

Stunning, terrifying, must read in case this is our future

A truly frightening possible future, given the direction of technology and the desperately unenlightened behavior of the human race.

Though performed with admirably dramatic reading, the sound engineering is flawed for listening in any but the quietest environment. I listen while driving and the huge difference in volume between emphatic and whispered words--often in the same sentence--made it nearly impossible to find a usable volume setting. I had to frequently backspace, turn up the volume, relisten, then turn it down again.

But it was worth the effort. Get this book now. The best of the Bangkok series.

A step back

simply doesn't measure up to the other books in the story. I hope the next one is better

Terrible sound

This was really hard to get through. The plots have become increasingly complicated and unrealistic as the series goes on but the biggest problem with this book is the sound. The volume is all over the map. The narrator speaks in almost a whisper and on the next page is yelling. I never could get any consistent level so I was constantly adjusting the volume and rewinding tocatch what I missed. Very frustrating.

An incredible Ride

I loved three of his previous books that I read. This one is really wild. Where does the author get his ideas from?
It was hard to understand at times though as the voice volume keeps changing. Always enjoyed Stephen Hogan's readings but this one could do with a little remastering of the sounds.
Torn whether to recommend this book to somebody who loves sci-fi as an introduction to the author. Maybe one needs to read them in sequence. Still, I find it highly recommendable for its unique plots, language and insight into Asian culture.

Needs re-engineering

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The story is fine, and the narration is dramatically good. However, the reader began sentences loudly and finished in a whisper that was barely understandable. It was so frustrating to listen to while driving that I returned the selection.

Terrible narration

Story was rather novel and interesting. Quite a bit apart from the previous, more traditional crime stories in the series. I did find the ending rather unsatisfying, though. But the narration jolts from almost yelling to an almost inaudible whisper, often in the same sentence. If there is any background noise, such as in a car,it is almost impossible to follow.

Difficult to hear

I've enjoyed all the Burdett books except this one. The end of this one is shocking, but an even more significant problem is the narrator. His use of accents is excellent, but his voice tone goes back and forth from loud to quiet in a very brief time, so it was common for me to miss one the soft, quieter words. I found it very frustrating.

Awesome!

Burdett takes this series in a new direction with a semi science fiction aspect. His remarkable intelligence and imagination shine through.