Rating: 
Summary: Excellent book
Review: I just finished reading it, and couldn't put it down. Very suspenseful and also poignant, as the main character is the son of a Thai prostitute and a white American soldier. He gives a moving picture of life in the ... trade, life as a half caste in Thailand, and life as a Thai Buddhist. This last was fascinating and a big part of why I recommend this book. It's a page turner of a murder mystery, starting with a dead marine and a beautiful suspect, but the best part is following what we have come to think of as a standard story through the viewpoint of a Buddhist cop working in a corrupt, if "compassionate" culture. It's hilarious at times, and at times heartbreaking, and if you happen to guess who the murderer is, you'll still never guess why. To people who say the ending is a letdown, well, that is one of the drawbacks of this type of book. It's always a letdown to solve a tantalizing case and end a compelling read. This book was definitely worth it, and I've already bought another of his books to read asap.
Rating:
Summary: Great Murder Mystery
Review: I read lots of mysteries, but this is one is so unique that I'm doing a rare review. Between the interesting detective, the insights into Thailand, the insights into the sex trade, and frequent insights from Buddhism, this gets my highest recommendation. Of course, I am a Buddhist so it is nice to have a Buddhist detective for a change but the book should be a fun and educational read for anyone who isn't into one of the fundamentalist religions of the Middle-east. It's definitely more a "guy book" than for women, but my wife did also enjoy it, more for the twisted ending than for all stuff about the sex trade.
Rating: 
Summary: Horrific dual killing opens this book
Review: John Burdett's 3rd novel sets a detective story in contemporary Bangkok with a surprisingly seductive and engaging local protagonist, the Thai partner of a dead Bangkok cop who diet during a horrific dual killing with which the book opens. The most unusual aspect of the book, which is otherwise just a really good cop story, is the Buddhist spirituality of Sonchai Jitpleecheep (the detective). It adds a welcome 4th dimension. Good stuff here.
Rating:
Summary: Exotic
Review: Very different. Very interesting. Is the oriental mind that different? A tale much like and unlike what you have read before. Snakes, sex, money and Buddha.
Rating:
Summary: Somewhat Dark, Somewhat Seductive
Review: Bangkok 8 certainly has an interesting plot that will keep you in suspense until the climax. But it's the glimpse and the earthy feel of the Thai flesh trade sub-culture that will keep you intrigued and riveted to the book. In his endeavors to solve a bizarre murder case Detective Sonchai Jitpleecheep, a devout Buddhist and son of a prostitute, takes an all too familiar search through the bars and brothels of Bangkok and through the Asian underworld. Author John Burdett gives the reader some fascinating insights into Thai culture and into the Buddhist soul. Well written and well worth taking a shot to read.
Rating:
Summary: Best in a long time
Review: I haven't read such a unique novel in what seems like decades. The characters are intriguing and they bring the book to life. It is a genuine page-turner.
Rating: 
Summary: Sonchai saves the book.
Review: I read this book on the recommendation of a Russian writer Victor Pelevin, himself a Buddhist. Now, after finishing the book, I realize that if not for Sonchai, monk turned cop, this book will fall apart under the weight of bizarre tiresome convoluted plot, many unrealized characters, cliches, cultural truisms and propaganda like anti americanism. Sonchai, the Buddhist cop, endlessly self doubting romantic, vulnerable, and smart, saves this mediocre book.
Rating: 
Summary: Great start, head-scratching finish.
Review: ...I did not hate this book. The first few chapters - which are short and manageable throughout the book - had me hooked. Burdett establishes Sonchai as an understandable protagonist, even for those unfamiliar with Bangkok and Thai culture. Over the first half of the book, Burdett builds an excellent storyline - albeit a bit too close to Martin Cruz Smith's Gorky Park (quite possibly the best of this genre) - in one of the most stylistic narrative styles I have encountered. Unfortunately, the book becomes rather convoluted. Burdett establishes too many subplots, and seems intent on mashing them all together. The end product is a conclusion that makes about as much sense as a David Lynch film or Doors lyrics.
Rating:
Summary: Surreal, Magical, Gritty
Review: Great Surreal, yet gritty Portrait of Bangkok, a "why'd-they-do-it", magical, Spicey, with a fresh, funky ending. Does not follow dogmatic, petrified-wood thriller formula. Ignore the folks complaining this is anti-American or whatever....I think most people can tell by the book title that it's about Bangkok. If you want a really, really patriotic American story....I don't know, maybe look for a book that doesn't have Bangkok in the title. You have 2 childhood friends, Sonchai and Pinchai, troublemakers sent to the Bhuddist Monastery for a year by their prostitute mothers, then placed on the police force. They are so spiritual, devout, they could ascend to heaven now, but resist to pay for their sins. Being in the monastery apparently rewired their delinquent brains, as they seem to be more sensitive to the environment, people, and possibly, the nonvisible universe. Yet, for all his straining for spiritual ideals, he is accidentally always around westerners, drawn to top-of-the-line clothing and perfumes. He has a yearning for connection to his mysterious caucasian father, and that the only males to spend quality time with him were westerners. They are sent to tail a US Marine, only to find him murdered in a freaky revenge killing, and our lead's pal is accidentally killed. For all his buddist values, he vows deadly revenge.
There's a lot of atmosphere building, lots of background which is fascinating, especially the lifestyle and treatment of prostitutes, and their children, especially the half-asian ones. He and the FBI team to work on this case, only it starts to get sticky politically, starts reaching far up the American foodchain. He is paired up with some americans but eventually ends up with MS. FBI who seems to be pursuing this in her own vendetta, and she has twisted the facts in order to pursue the culprit against top-brass orders. It is interesting to see the clash of styles in personal dynamics between Ms. FBI and him. He's used to female Thai behavior, their flirting, approachability and sexuality. She is slow to warm up, very business-like and assertive, which to him is manlike. It is very interesting to see them alternately flirting, then offending each other, getting turned off, yet still being drawn to each other, despite what they think is commonsense, and their pride and mutual stereotypes get in the way. He can't see it at all, which is rather funny. They do hammer each other with their dumb mutual stereotypes of what America & Americans are like vs. Thailand and Thai folks are like. (This happens at my work too, when one Thai guy says that Thai schools are so much better, so I "innocently" ask if everybody can fight like Jackie Chan & fly through the air.) They are both conflicted about themselves. He's supposed to be free of desires, yet lonely, can't seem to not flirt or allow physical proximaty. She's supposed to be professional, robot-like, yet very lonely, alternately wanting professionalism yet starving for connection and romance. His police boss, although corrupt, is a caring, responsible man, who has done the best he could in life. His mother is one smart ex-prostitute business woman, and she scares him a little with her ambition and brains. A lot of the things you see in the news about SE Asia are tied together here in vivid grit. The Russians, moonshiners, spirits, ghosts, bribery, artwork, plastic surgery and the drug and sex trade---all portrayed in very interesting fashion. I did not want to have this story end.
Rating:
Summary: Bangkok 8 delivers
Review: I'm listening to this book on CD and unfortunately, I'm nearly finished. It's great -- really well written in terms of suspense but also incredibly atmospheric. I love it. The only problem now is deciding whether to give it to friends as a book or on CD.
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