Don't Eat Me: A Dr. Siri Paiboun Mystery

The 13th entry in Cotterill's popular series (after The Rat Catcher's Olympics) sees Siri, the former national coroner of Laos, married and settled down and ready to make a film using a camera that he and his longtime friend Civilai have smuggled across the Mekong River. But when a woman's skeleton is found, Dr. Siri must marshal his group of dedicated friends, plus the loyal customers of Madame Daeng's noodle house, to identify the murderers. In the process, more killings are discovered—not human ones, but those of wild animals taken under cruel conditions to other countries for zoos and medicinal uses. Into this complicated mix comes the slow realization that Judge Haeng may be in some way involved. Cotterill uses subtle humor and historical fact to write a compelling mystery in which marginalized people (the elderly, the mentally challenged, etc.) are integral characters.