The Merry Misogynist has just murdered his fifth wife and is ready to move on to the sixth at the opening of Colin Cotterill's latest (well, latest available in paperback) entry in the Dr. Siri Paiboun series. However, the body of Wife #5 is discovered, and soon Dr. Siri, the 73-year-old coroner of Laos, and his cohorts are on the trail of the killer. Dr. Siri, who sees ghosts and serves as host to the spirit of ancient shaman Yeh Ming, also embarks on a quest to find Crazy Rajid, a homeless Indian who hasn't been seen at any of his usual haunts. Accompanied by his new wife, Madame Daeng (who makes the best noodles in Vientiane), Dr. Siri pursues both investigations, despite his age and declining health.The book takes place in Laos in the late 1970s, after the Communist takeover. Dr. Siri's joyous, mischievous, and irascible personality, as well as his loyalty to anyone who needs his help, tempters the grimness of the Pathet Lao regime.
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