Another enjoyable outing to Thailand in this third Matt Chance adventure. In this one, a gambling tycoon asks Matt's help in finding his missing daughter, who has disappeared while out nightclubbing with a friend. But Matt has extra incentive when he learns that his friend from Special Forces John Scales has already been on the case and has also disappeared. Matt's leads soon take him far out of Bangkok and on the trail of a nefarious cult leader.
I particularly enjoy a couple of different aspects of Crowley's writing. One is the detailed portrait of Bangkok, often of some of the more dangerous and seamier sides, but sometimes just impressions of what it's like to live in this busy, humid city. Another is the way he writes action adventure narratives out in the jungle and smaller towns of the country. A particularly effective scene occurs when he and John take part in a raid on the corrupt temple.
I'm liking the way Matt Chance's world grows as the series goes along. We already knew his girlfriend Noi and her devoted assistant Plato, genius hacker. John Scales and Matt's half brother Rick, CIA agent, return and now we have Jade Lee, the kickass ex-Army helicopter pilot who as a mixed race ex-military person has more in common with Matt--half American, half Thai--than Matt can first admit.
Looks very much like more exciting adventures await.
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