The Coroner’s Lunch by Colin Cotterill, Book Review

Not a new book, but so much fun. Set in 1976, during the early stages of a communist Laos, the book features the 72 year old coroner, Dr Siri Paiboun, who, to the annoyance of many, interprets his role as chief (and only) pathologist in this fledgling country, to include finding the killers of the murdered corpses who end up on his slab. Annoying party officials isn’t good, as you can be sent up North for re-education, but annoying murderers is potentially even more lifestyle limiting. 

This book is entertaining on so many levels: A charming protagonist, a quirky supporting cast, lovely descriptions of an exotic Asian location, and a political and social set-up so alien to most of us. Being of an older generation and having grown up in central Europe, I’m familiar with Communism in a way that many young readers today wouldn’t be. The concept that individualism is an evil concept that needs to be stamped out, added to the stubborn survival of superstition, religion, witchcraft and tradition in a rational atheistic (albeit corrupt) regime make a fascinating backdrop to several murders and Siri’s persistent if inconvenient quest for the truth. 

Discovering an engaging crime series with a back catalogue of books new to me is a treat and I apologize to new crime authors if I take some time out to read about Dr Siri Paiboun, former freedom fighter, revolutionary, battlefield surgeon and now chief pathologist in Laos and investigator extraordinaire. 

The Coroner’s Lunch was first published in Britain by Quercus in 2007. The author, Colin Cotterill, has led an adventurous life travelling the world, but in recent years has lived and worked in Laos and Thailand. In addition to his teaching, art work and writing, he has worked for several charities to combat child prostitution and to further the education for Lao children. In 2009 Colin Cotterill received the Crime Writers’ Association Dagger in the Library Award for being "the author of crime fiction whose work is currently giving the greatest enjoyment to library users." I second that.