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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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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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Must read!
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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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I've read a lot of crime fiction over the years and Robin Tones has created a fantastic new crime-busting hero to rival Poirot or Marple or Rebus. The Cambodian setting is fascinating for a reader who has never visited that part of the world and adds a refreshing element to the dead-body-on-a-bus story (no spoilers!) Tones packs in a great deal of local and regional social and political history as context for this multi-layered tale but this in no way hinders the pace or excitement of the novel. Murder On The Angkor Express is a great read! I look forward to more from Tones in the future.
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Tones creates characters with the dimensions, lyricism and wit of the grand master he evokes in the title. Combining a classic mystery narrative with twists and a tantalizing setting, “Angkor” has you chomping at the bit before you race to the first page. More, Robin! More!
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An enjoyable trilogy of inter-related stories. My signed copy was the first book I’d read in a couple of years and I hope to be able to read more from the same author.
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This is a warm and entertaining book, consisting of three short stories featuring the same characters. The plot of each story is engaging enough to maintain interest and comes to a satisfactory conclusion, but the charm of this book is the way the writer draws the characters with good humour, sharp observation and deprecating wit. We are transported with a few deft details to the steamy heat of Cambodia, the machinations of its military, its politicians and its police force, seen through the eyes of the long-suffering main character trying to do the right thing against a background of a difficult domestic life and incompetent and corrupt colleagues.
In the interests of transparency, I was sent a review copy of this book by the author, who is a member of a writing group to which I also belong. But I am happy to say without bias that I enjoyed reading it and I hope other people will too.
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A main character, a police officer, trying to solve a murder mystery and somehow juggling local, office and political 'sensitivities' to get it done!
Think 'Agatha Christie Solving Crimes While Walking a Tightrope NOT Of Her Choosing!'
The author weaves this intricate plot...... and it works!
I suspect we have not heard the last of Chief Inspector Suon!
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I thoroughly enjoyed Robin's first book. Set in a land few of us have been to, it gives some interesting facts that are well involved and included to make the story a fun and interesting read. To parallel, as an avid reader, it has been a pleasure to experience my favorite writer, that being Randy Wayne White, and his progression and improvement as I've worked through his many books. I wish the same results for Robin as he continues in his writing endeavors! Keep at it, Robin!
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