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The Coroner's Lunch
The Coroner's Lunch | Colin Cotterill
34 posts | 46 read | 49 to read
Dr. Siri Paiboun, one of the last doctors left in Laos after the communist takeover, has been drafted to be national coroner. He is untrained for the job, but this independent seventy-two-year-old has an outstanding qualification for it: curiosity. And he doesnt mind incurring the wrath of the Party hierarchy as he unravels mysterious murders, because the spirits of the dead are on his side. With the help of his newly appointed secretary, the ambitious and shrewd Dtui, and Mr. Geung, the Down syndromeafflicted morgue assistant, Dr. Paiboun performs autopsies and begins asking questions to solve the mysteries relating to the death of the wife of a government official and of the unidentified body fished out of the rivera body that was not drowned, but tortured with electricity. As it turns out, all is not peaceful and calm in the new communist paradise of Laos.
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AlaMich
The Coroner's Lunch | Colin Cotterill
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#Two4Tuesday @TheSpineView

1. Pineapple, even though it makes my mouth feel weird.
2. The whole Dr. Siri Paiboun series, because Dr. Siri marries a woman who owns a noodle shop in Laos and they often eat noodles together.

Thanks for the tag, @Sace

TheSpineView 💚🍍💚 Thanks for playing! 2mo
Sace Sounds like a good series! 2mo
AlaMich @Sace it is! It has a very unique setting, Laos right after the Vietnam War. 2mo
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DGRachel
The Coroner's Lunch | Colin Cotterill
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Pickpick

This was a fun mystery for #readingasia2021 #laos. I enjoyed the characters. The crimes weren‘t graphic, and there was no seedy domestic drama. I enjoyed the slight supernatural element and the snark woven throughout. You have to love a crime novel that makes you laugh.

BarbaraBB I‘m a bit disappointed I just bought another book for Laos! 3y
DGRachel @BarbaraBB Oh no! Hopefully you will enjoy it, too! 3y
AlaMich This is one of my favorite series, for just the reasons you listed. Great characters and setting, too! 3y
Librarybelle On my to read list! 3y
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Addison_Reads
The Coroner's Lunch | Colin Cotterill
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Pickpick

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks #ReadingAsia2021 @BarbaraBB @Librarybelle

Dr. Siri is such a fun character! I loved going on this journey with him as he tries to uncover the truth behind a strange death. There's mystery, snarky commentary, and I learned quite a bit about Laos.

I will have to try the next one in this series at some point.

BarbaraBB This might be a good one for me too for Laos. 4y
Librarybelle I‘m hearing so many good things about this one! 4y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 4y
Bojo2006 I just finished this book and really enjoyed it! 4y
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Cinfhen
The Coroner's Lunch | Colin Cotterill
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Pickpick

Another book I never would have picked up if it wasn‘t for #ReadingAsia21 Set in 1970‘s #Laos, this is Book 1 of a series featuring Dr. Siri Paiboun, the new country coroner. As dead bodies start mysteriously piling up, Dr. Siri with his quirky staff and band of misfit friends become amateur investigators. A solid mystery mixing Laos culture, politics, mythology and humor.
Fun and satisfying ~ audio narration was wonderful.

Cinfhen Thanks for the recommendation @jenniferw88 I really enjoyed & plan on reading on with the series 😄 4y
squirrelbrain Sounds wonderful - wish I‘d read this instead of my #laos book! 4y
Cinfhen Im lucky that Jenny put this one on my #ReadersRadar @squirrelbrain 💚 4y
See All 11 Comments
jenniferw88 Yay! 🎉🎉🎉 I will warn you that there is a bit of fat-shaming in the next book though 🙄 4y
Cinfhen Ugh 🤦🏼‍♀️ that‘s disappointing to hear @jenniferw88 but I‘m still gonna have a listen 🎧 there are 3 books so far, right? 4y
DGRachel I‘ve owned this one for years and it‘s my planned book for Laos, too. Good to know the audio is good, in case I decide to go that route! 4y
Librarybelle Definitely considering this for #Laos ! 4y
Cinfhen What ?!?! 😱15 books @jenniferw88 NO WAY!!! That‘s a commitment I might not be ready for 😳😳😳 4y
jenniferw88 @Cinfhen 😂😂 you could space them out... it's been 2 years between reading book 1 and reading book 2 for me! 4y
Cinfhen Hahah @jenniferw88 if I space it out like that I‘ll be in my 70‘s by the time I get to book 15 😂😂😂 4y
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Cinfhen
The Coroner's Lunch | Colin Cotterill
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#ReadingAsia21 #AudiblePlus Recommend to me by @jenniferw88 Set in 1970‘s #Laos
A retired doctor is appointed country coroner much to his dismay.
How can he investigate and find the truth, when the truth isn‘t wanted?

Librarybelle I have this one on my radar! 4y
jenniferw88 Hope you enjoy it - I have a friend with Down's Syndrome so one of the characters has a special place in my heart! 4y
Cinfhen It‘s truly delightful so far @Librarybelle @jenniferw88 I‘m really enjoying the refreshing characters 😍 4y
AlaMich I love this series!! My favorite thing is the unique setting, but the characters are great, too. I ♥️ Dr. Siri! 4y
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Smarkies
The Coroner's Lunch | Colin Cotterill
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Pickpick

Glad to find out that there is a mystery series located in #laos . The author weaved some Laos history into the story. There is also some of the south east asian supernatural included in it.
#readingasia2021
@Librarybelle
@BarbaraBB

rockpools Yay! These are fun reads. 4y
Librarybelle I‘m looking forward to reading this one! 4y
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Bookboss
The Coroner's Lunch | Colin Cotterill
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Pickpick

This is a great mystery featuring a coroner as the amateur detective. I believe this may be the first book that I have read that is set in Laos. Dr. Siri, the coroner, is presented some puzzling cases that compel him to investigate further. The book is set in 1976, so he doesn‘t have today‘s technology to assist him, but he does have two charming assistants. I was a bit startled at the introduction of a supernatural element, but I loved it.

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Butterfinger
The Coroner's Lunch | Colin Cotterill
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Day 15 #20Series20Days @Andrew65

This series was a delightful surprise. Set in Loas during the 70s. An elderly man is coerced to be the local coroner Quirky characters for levity and spying neighbors ready to turn on one another.

I found this series while doing an Around the World Challenge.

Andrew65 Not read these yet. 4y
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pdever
The Coroner's Lunch | Colin Cotterill
Pickpick

My uncle recommended reading a Dr. Siri Paiboun Mystery several years ago, and I finally picked one up. It's delightful: A quick read, fun, and well written. I like mysteries with detectives from other times and places: 1975 in Laos certainly counts! It's a quirky mix of the supernatural world of spirits and ancestors and the here and now concerns of not getting blown up by corrupt officials who are threatened by Siri's pursuit of truth.

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Butterfinger
The Coroner's Lunch | Colin Cotterill
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@TheSpineView 3- Little Women, Little Men, and Three Musketeers

My favorite December read is a tie between As Bright as Heaven and The Coroner's Lunch. What does it say about me that both books center on taking care of corpses? Seriously, they are both great books.

TheSpineView Thanks for playing! Happy Tuesday! 😍 5y
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Butterfinger
The Coroner's Lunch | Colin Cotterill
Pickpick

I can't believe two days before the new year and I am reading one of my all-time favorites. Dr. Siri reminds me of the Count in A Gentleman in Moscow with his witty remarks. He is 70+ year old man forced to become a Communist coroner in Laos. He has no idea what he is doing when bizarre murders occur. That itself would make a great book, but he dreams about the murdered ghosts who help him solve the crime. Genius!!

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jenniferw88
The Coroner's Lunch | Colin Cotterill
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Thank you @Morr_Books - they arrived safely today!

Morr_Books Hooray! Enjoy! 📚💕 6y
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Morr_Books
The Coroner's Lunch | Colin Cotterill
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Pickpick

This book had everything I look for in a mystery and more - a cast of likable, and at times humorous, characters; a thrilling mystery plot that kept you guessing to the end; a descriptive setting with a glimpse into life and culture in Laos during the 1970s; and even a little bit of fantasy. Great read. Find my full review here: https://greatmorrisonmigration.wordpress.com/2019/01/16/book-club-review-the-cor...

TiredLibrarian I love this series! 6y
Morr_Books @TiredLibrarian I'm excited about continuing the series. I hear there will be another book out later this year. 💕 6y
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KellyHunsakerReads
The Coroner's Lunch | Colin Cotterill
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This mystery series is set in #Laos and is lots of fun. #audiobook

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JanT
The Coroner's Lunch | Colin Cotterill
Pickpick

Great book! Great series! Set in late 1970's Laos, Dr Siri Paiboun is one part bush surgeon, one part untrained national coroner, one part shaman, one part Inspector Maigre, and a whole lot of fun. Reviews for each are on LibraryThing

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rockpools
The Coroner's Lunch | Colin Cotterill
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Pickpick

This book has had a lot of covers! Half are beautiful, moody atmospheric images, others are more cartoony & actually more in keeping with the tone of the book.

I loved getting to know the setting of 1970s Laos, and Siri & his morgue assistants, all of whom regularly defy expectations. The plot itself had everything plus the kitchen sink thrown in, and got a little convoluted. Now the backstory's set up, I'll definitely read the next book though!

ReadingEnvy I liked this one but haven't gone farther in the series. I will await your review! 7y
rockpools @ReadingEnvy Have you read anything else set in Laos? I could see that a couple of things have been translated into English, but they seem v difficult to get hold of! 7y
ReadingEnvy @RachelO I haven't! This is why I read the Cotterill! 7y
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rockpools
The Coroner's Lunch | Colin Cotterill
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Really enjoying this story of an irreverent coroner investigating deaths in early-communist Laos, assisted by equally irreverent friends. And the spirits of the dead (of course).

Narration by Gareth Armstrong is fascinating- in a good way. Probably the first audiobook I've listened to where none of characters would actually be speaking English. So they get a range of UK English/Irish accents. It took a little getting used to, but it works. 👇

rockpools The Vietnamese have an Irish accent, the Hmong are lancashire, we have Essex, westcountry etc etc. Is this a standard trick? It's certainly less cringey than some audio accents I've heard? 7y
rockpools Pic: by Elyob on flickr https://flic.kr/p/C9YvHh 7y
drokka I wish I'd know this was avail me as an audiobook. I bought a copy for my #PassportLitsy Laos selection. Glad to hear it's good. 7y
rockpools @drokka It's daft but fun - great characters! And I've discovered how little I know about Laos. Would love to read more from/about the country. 7y
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rockpools
The Coroner's Lunch | Colin Cotterill
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-We have allotted you a role of great responsibility

The words left Kham as a reward, but hit Siri like a splintery wooden club across the face. He needed responsibility like he needed another head.

-Why?
-Because you are the best man we have for the job.
-I've never been the best man for any job, ever.

***
Trying this on audio. It's fun! When the Communist party took control, Siri expected to retire. Instead he reluctantly became Head Coroner

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annamae
The Coroner's Lunch | Colin Cotterill
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Pickpick

Finished my first book of summer! This was such a fun mystery. I loved being immersed in the setting of 1970s Laos. This is an area of the world and a time period that I am not as familiar with. This book taught me a lot and was really entertaining. Glad there are so many more books in this series. 🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 #ReadHarderChallenge #set5000milesaway

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annamae
The Coroner's Lunch | Colin Cotterill
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Well-ReadNeck
The Coroner's Lunch | Colin Cotterill
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Pickpick

A fun rainy day book. In Laos, a reluctant coroner becomes an even more reluctant sleuth. Lots of humor with a tinge of the supernatural (the dead bodies speak to him in dreams, helping to solve their deaths).

Seshat I adore Dr. Siri. So quotable! 8y
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Well-ReadNeck
The Coroner's Lunch | Colin Cotterill
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#junetunz #soulmeetsbody #currentread

Today's prompt fits my current read. Our mystery solving coroner, Dr. Siri Paiboun, performs autopsies by day and his patients/crime victims communicate with him in his dreams at night.

Cinfhen Ooooh, very cool! Perfect book for the prompt 🤗 7y
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RealLifeReading
The Coroner's Lunch | Colin Cotterill
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#maybookflowers day 6: #supernaturalmysteries
Hmm I don't seem to have read very many - at least I can't really think of others at the moment. But this is a fun series where the chief coroner of Laos investigates murders with a little help from the spirits of the dead.

AlaMich I love Dr. Siri! ❤️❤️ 8y
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azulaco
The Coroner's Lunch | Colin Cotterill
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For those looking for books #setinsoutheastasia, may I suggest Colin Cotterill? He writes two mystery series - one set in Laos, starring Dr. Siri Paiboun; one set in Thailand, starring ex-crime reporter Jimm Juree. I've only read the Siri Paiboun books so far, but liked them a lot. #aprilbookshowers day 11

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Listener15
Coroner's Lunch | Colin Cotterill
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Pickpick

Funny bits, set in a time and place you don't see often, with a protagonist of an age you rarely see in books. I am still iffy about the narrator, Clive Chafer. I'm pretty sure the accent is wrong for this setting, but I could be wrong in that since I don't know much about 1970s Laos. His dialogue narration was excellent but the narrative parts took getting used to. Not sure if I'll continue this series in audio but will definitely in books.

Linsy Diddo about the narrator and the accent...? I ended up switching to reading. 5y
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Listener15
Coroner's Lunch | Colin Cotterill
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Picked this up in an Audible sale. Only 10mins into it and I'm not too sure of the narrator, Clive Chafer. I'm enjoying his reading of dialogue but the narration of the rest of the story sounds a bit mechanical. I'm going to give it a bit more, I think I can get used to it but if I enjoy the story I will probably pick up a paperback. Spring cleaning means a whole lot more audiobooks and less physical books.

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annamae
Coroner's Lunch | Colin Cotterill
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Starting a new book and it is set 5,000 miles away from my location! #ReadHarder

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Dogearedcopy
Coroner's Lunch | Colin Cotterill
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Pickpick

Dr. Siri is a coroner who must do his job in an environment that is always political, mystical, and short on resources. Beautiful atmospheric writing and excellent character portrayals; though Cotterill relies heavily on the spirit world for case resolution instead of forensics & logic. (Image: Rand McNally World Map; Color Splash app)

EloisaJames I love these books! 8y
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Dogearedcopy
Coroner's Lunch | Colin Cotterill
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Half-Way Status Update: So far, this is less a forensic mystery than a historic fiction contrasting the political & bureaucratic realities of Communist Laos vs the superstitions of the area/culture (Image: Cropped photo of Hmong shaman, Chengmengmai village, Northern Thailand; University of Minnesota Duluth, Psychological Anthropology online syllabus)

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Dogearedcopy
Coroner's Lunch | Colin Cotterill
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I've tried this mystery first-in-series in print & audio, but it was years ago when the timing just wasn't right. I pulled it from the stacks last night and was intrigued by the opening: A coroner in 1970s Communist Laos who is haunted by the dead... I haven't gotten to the crime yet; but it's interesting what a little time can do to refresh perspective! #TBRTuesday

Godmotherx5 Oh my, that's sounds really good. 8y
audiothing What a horrible title, coroner and lunch don't seem well, seemly. I'm sure it is a very nice book though! 8y
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rayna
Coroner's Lunch | Colin Cotterill
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When the cat's away the mouse will wake up at 7AM on a Saturday to read all day.

#saturdayreads #weekendread

Tav Great photo! 📷 8y
rayna @Tav thanks! 8y
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rayna
Coroner's Lunch | Colin Cotterill
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Squeezing in some reading before class. #readingspot #mystery #readtheworld

MrBook Fantastic!!!! 😁👏🏻👍🏻👌🏻 8y
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rayna
Coroner's Lunch | Colin Cotterill
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New library haul. Which should I start this weekend?

#happyfriday #library #bookstack #tbr

brendanmleonard Gods looks really interesting, but I'm a sucker for SoHo Crime! 8y
rayna @brendanmleonard Right? Too many good choices! 8y
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NancyAZ
The Coroner's Lunch | Colin Cotterill
Pickpick

"This book was like a breath of fresh air. It is written very well with just the right amount of humor included with the mystery. Dr. Siri is a hoot!

Any book that can make me laugh out loud gets a bigs thumbs up from me. I can't wait to read more in the series."