For the Dead

This is Tim Hallinan's world. We just live in it.

Where does For the Dead rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It's way up there. Tim's writing is unique. It is hard to make comparisons. Each book is filled with humor. There are several serious chuckles on every page. I guarantee it. In addition, there is the beautiful family that Poke has created: his wife, Rose, their street-urchin daughter, Miaow (if you don't laugh at that name, then there may be no hope for you), a surprise character whom I will not name, as I don't want to be a spoiler; and Miaow's boyfriend, Andrew Nguyen, who is self-conscious, comes from a wealthy family, is a very gawky and awkward adolescent AND has diabetes: this is a well of inventiveness that it is a pleasure to jump into. I believe there is no bottom (not to stretch that analogy too far). The family also includes Poke's best friend, Arthit, a Bangkok policeman, who lets us see the corruption that the BPD is crippled by, as well as the individual well of human kindness that reaches into Arthit's soul. This is quite a band of characters, and Tim keeps us jumping from one scenario to the next. This is writing skill at its highest level. Tim is starting to win awards. The reviews from his colleagues are glittering. The cream has risen to the top. In the thriller/detective/quasi-detective genre (did I really write that?) Tim stands right up there with Thomas Perry. Fine company indeed.

What did you like best about this story?

I addressed some of this above. I think that the relationships between Poke and Rose, and the budding relationship between Miaow and Andrew: my interest in these will keep me coming back; that, and almost every other aspect of Tim's books. There is nothing that I didn't like about the book.

Which scene was your favorite?

Again, hard to pick. The chase scene in which Miaow and Andrew scramble through the heating ducts in the old abandoned hotel: this one is particularly mesmerizing. The use of Andrew's diabetes kit as a weapon is so creative that you just have to tip your hat to him.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I guess I am going to spoil it after all: the moment when Rose tells Poke that she is pregnant...if you don't get all warm and fuzzy here, then you are missing something really deep and astonishingly personal. Remember that Rose was a bar-girl (read: prostitute) for many years, and in this moment she has risen to the ultimate in love, acceptance, belonging, and pure, unadulterated pleasure. I didn't cry, but I coulda. Tim has almost created his own genre here, in the manner of Thomas Perry. I will buy every book that each of them writes until I die.

14 of 15 people found this review helpful

Timothy Hallinan has my appreciation!

I've not enough time to go back and review each book in the Poke Rafferty series, and rarely write reviews, but Mr. Hallinan has created an exotic, captivating core of characters large and small, and opened a window to a world many of us know little about. This series has become my favorite in recent years and each book has cost me hours at night- listening when I should have been sleeping! Hoping the series continues for many years to come!!

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

The best in an already good series

What did you love best about For the Dead?

The way that Miao and Rose handle all the Hard Things that Miao is dealing with. The unspoken richness of the relationships.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

There were stretches, especially when Miao and her friend are trying to get away from some pursuers, that are nerve-wracking. But most of this is less a thriller than some previous -- there's no shooting "on screen," for example. Still, fighting powerful figures is always risky, so it's satisfying to see our protagonists coming together...

What about Victor Bevine’s performance did you like?

He's really the voice of the series for me already, but he added to it here with his realistic handling of the speech of a deaf woman and a couple other bits.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Definitely teared up at several points, but I don't want to spoil them for other readers. Let's just say... Rose moments.

Any additional comments?

These books are really a treasure -- the immersion in a particular culture and city, its mix of ethnicities, its power dynamics, its inhumanities. Add that to a wonderful set of main players and their deep and complex relationships, and throw in some danger, and I look forward to every new release. Great stuff!

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

great!

another fabulously exciting book about poke Rafferty! you cannot stop listening to this until it is over!

Good series

I really like this series, but some of the things that happen to the characters in a culture not like I am used to can be disturbing, that is the only reason I gave it a 4.

Another fantastic listen

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

The characterization is spot on, especially for the kids. If you enjoy high drama in exotic locales, then Hallinan is the author for you.

What other book might you compare For the Dead to and why?

Tough call. Tim Hallinan's recent work is unique in both subject matter and character development

Have you listened to any of Victor Bevine’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes. Victor is becoming one of my favorite voice artists.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It inspires strong emotions for the homeless and underprivileged kids of Thailand. I think sometimes we tend to ignore the extreme poor. In these books it's impossible to do.

Any additional comments?

Read the books. The Poke Rafferty series is one of the best going right now.

In an exotic setting with realistic characters.

Does a terrific job of spinning what is essentially a murder Mistry into a tale deeply involving the personalities of all of the characters. With deep family ties of the main characters and even the peripheral characters the reader becomes intensely involved in the backstory as well as the main plot lines. This is a very good read and I recommend it highly.