Curse of the Pogo Stick

is the fifth novel in the series by Colin Cotterill featuring Dr Siri Paiboun, national coroner of Laos, south-east Asia.

THIS Cotterill himself lived there for many years where he worked with non-governmental social services organisations. He uses his knowledge of the culture and intricate politics of the country to write stories that are funny and engaging, yet there is a dark side to his humour which gently pokes fun at a corrupt, inefficient communist administration.

The hero of the series is the endearing 70-year-old, Dr Siri who, as well as being a coroner, also has shamanic gifts. After being insolent to the Justice Department, he is forced to go on a road trip with Judge Haeng. In the jungle they are ambushed by Hmong rebels and Siri is kidnapped.

His only chance of freedom is to exorcise the village of its demon which seems to possess Shamee, daughter of the headman, and lift the curse of the pogo stick. In the meantime, Judge Haeng is lost in the jungle.

Siri leaves behind his fiancé, Madame Daeng, and his nurse, Dtui. When they don’t hear from Siri, the two women start their own investigations, aided by Inspector Dhosi by whom Dtui is pregnant.

They realise that someone is trying to wipe out the mortuary staff when a newly-arrived corpse explodes, almost killing them. When two mortuary staff are poisoned, Inspector Dhosi and Dtui set off on his police-issue lilac Vespa to look for the Lizard, whom they believe to be the perpetrator.

The clever and resourceful Lizard turns out to be an old lady who is looking for revenge for the deaths of her husband and son.

This book is a very easy read, although it is full of accurate history and ironic commentary on the foibles of a totalitarian state. Cotterill’s language is often lyrical, his imagery beautiful and his characters amusing. It’s an attractive read.