Crime detective novel set in Thailand about Jim Jury, Colin Cotterill’s fictional detective. For fans of Colin Cotterill’s Jim Jury mystery series, here’s a new novel for your enjoyment. This is a prequel to three published books about our intrepid journalist and her rather unique family who still live in Chiang Mai. After becoming an extra with her two brothers, Arnie and Sissy, in an American movie about Hollywood stars being shot in northern Thailand, she stumbles upon murder and mayhem while also taking part in the hunt for ancient treasures. As always, it would be wrong for bad guys to underestimate Jim.
The new book is a prequel, so Jimm’s mom still has to get the family out of Chiang Mai. Jimm gets an assignment from her newspaper as an extra in a movie, a major Hollywood production that purports to represent the history of Thailand, but with anachronistic American leads. Sissy and Arnie are riding together.
Joining Juri on their cinematic adventures is the Burmese academic historian Khin, a wonderful character I hope to meet again. She leads the trio on parallel quests for King Mangray’s hidden treasure when they’re not investigating a murder, a mysterious group of extras from Myanmar, and other shenanigans with the occasional Hollywood sidekick.
Although I was a little disappointed there wasn’t much going on in Chiang Mai, the sense of place in the languid surroundings of the Fang is such that it makes me dream of Lann’s other destination.
Fast-paced, fun and with plenty of humor, The Amok Runners is a fantastic addition to the Jim Jury series.