Originally reviewed for Shelf Awareness, published here with permission.
Colin Cotterill, author of the Dr. Siri series set in 1970s Laos, introduces a new sleuth in Killed at the Whim of a Hat. Though Jimm Juree lives in present day, she may feel like she’s in backwater country. Jimm is a Thai crime reporter and rising star for the Chiang Mai Mail until she’s forced to move with her family to a rural village. Life mainly consists of gutting fish and kitchen duties until an old Volkswagen van is discovered buried under a farmer’s land with a pair of skeletons inside, one wearing a hat. Soon after, an abbot is found brutally murdered at a nearby temple, with an incongruous, orange hat perched on his head. Seeing a chance to recapture her former journalistic glory, Jimm jumps on the stories and gets help from unexpected sources on her way to solving the mysteries.
The main selling points are the characters and Cotterill’s humor. Jimm observes that a red herring is “a good source of Vitamin D,” and encounters dogs so ugly that they’re like “Fellini dog extras.” The title is based on, and each chapter is headed by, an actual George W. Bush maloprism, and the running joke is tangentially relevant to the story.
Jimm and her family are a wacky bunch, with entertaining interactions and dinner conversations. They have reasons for being eccentric and their collective heart gently reveals itself at unexpected moments. The resolution to the abbot’s murder is a bit odd, but one can argue that this unconventional novel and its inhabitants deserve nothing less.
Nerd verdict: Whimsy with substance
Buy it now from Amazon
What are you reading this weekend?
14 Comments
EIREGO
October 14, 2011 at 8:37 amLove the title! Don’t know Colin Cotterill’s work, but this sounds like a good read.
Lauren
October 14, 2011 at 9:24 amThis is one I can’t wait to read, both because you and Jen have raved about it and because Colin was such a delight at Bouchercon. Further proof that your best PR can be yourself. Thanks for the review, E!
Shell Sherree
October 14, 2011 at 6:15 pmYes, I love the title, too! It’s very whimsical, so it sounds like a perfect fit for the book. I’m all for a healthy dose of whimsy, as you know. Have a beautiful weekend, PCN!
Pop Culture Nerd
October 15, 2011 at 2:08 pmEIREGO—This would be a good place to start since it’s the first of a new series.
Lauren—I agree that authors can sell books by simply being cool.
Shell—I believe you do know a thing or two about whimsy. Enjoy your weekend, too!
Paulette
October 15, 2011 at 7:44 pmYes, I agree. I will read his work now for both reasons you mentioned. Thanks, Elyse, for a charming review. I am intrigued to read the W Malapropisms. This weekend I am working my way through Zoe Sharp’s Charlie Fox series….she is kicking ass!
Paulette
October 15, 2011 at 7:55 pmI was referring to Lauren’s comments…
Christine
February 24, 2012 at 10:39 amI just finished the first in Colin’s Dr. Siri series, The Coroner’s Lunch. I was excited when this book was added to our book club list. Honestly, the thought of reading a book with the main character being a 72 yo coroner in late-1970s Laos probably wouldn’t have gotten my attention unless it was recommended or I enjoyed meeting the author which in my case was at Bouchercon as well. 🙂 The book did not disappoint and I plan to catch-up on the rest of the series. I wasn’t expecting the bit of mysticism, but it did not detract or distract from the story for me. And I love his humor. So, in addition to the rest of Dr. Siri’s novels, I’ll also add this book to the TBR library. 😉
Lauren
February 24, 2012 at 10:45 amI had to laugh when this comment popped up in my inbox. I wondered, “Man, who is THIS far behind the times on PCN’s blog?” Of course, it was you, my favorite. I’m glad you posted this, because this book has been sitting on my shelf since B’Con for the same reason, because CC was so utterly charming. And I have also been thinking it’s not really ‘my bag’ and just haven’t gotten around to it. So thanks for doing the heavy lifting and posting about it, now I’ll move it up the stack!
xoxo
Christine
February 24, 2012 at 10:53 amThat’s me…bringing up the rear. Haha! I would also recommend checking out his website: http://www.colincotterill.com or these vacation posts on the International crimewriters blog, http://www.internationalcrimeauthors.com/?cat=4. He’s just so funny!
xoxo
Pop Culture Nerd
February 24, 2012 at 10:58 amOh, goodness, yes, check out those sites. He cracks me up.
I’m so glad you’re convincing Lauren to read him, Christine. She doesn’t listen to anything I say.
Lauren
February 24, 2012 at 11:05 amThoroughly enjoyed him at B’Con. Will try and check sites, but I’m not very good at that unless stuff shows up unannounced and uninvited in my inbox like PCN’s stuff. Though I guess at one point I must have invited it. How do I turn that feature off?
And yes, Sherpa endorsement outweighs complete avoidance of anything E recommends, so I’m in.
P.S. I miss you guys.
Christine
February 24, 2012 at 11:12 amSherpa trumps Nerd? Only if you like being behind the curve. 😉 Miss you guys, too! xo
Lauren
February 24, 2012 at 11:44 amWe may need to have a Death Match. I’ll sell t-shirts.
Paulette
February 24, 2012 at 5:56 pmtoo much fun! I just finished the second Dr. Siri book and will start Disco For The Departed sometime this weekend (? school work, Saturday night Craisiness, golf and Oscars, but I will squeeze it in). Hmmmm, perhaps I should jump to Whim first? Decisions, desicions…