The Godfather of Kathmandu

"Detective Sonchai Jitpleecheep has been summoned to the scene of a murder so unsavory it makes most other murders in Bangkok look tame. The victim is a Hollywood director and solving the case could mean a promotion. But Sonchai, reeling from a recent personal tragedy, doesn't want much of anything except spiritual guidance from a Tibetan lama who may be able to lead Sonchai finally into the life dedicated to Buddha that he has always yearned for. But there are obstacles in Sonchai's path to Nirvana. There's his boss, Police Colonel Vikorn, who has just appointed Sonchai to be his consigliere (he's been studying The Godfather on DVD) in his ongoing battle with Army General Zinna. There's the Tibetan lama, Tietsin, who may be enlightened and eerily charismatic, but he's also determined to broker a deal with Vikorn and Zinna that would put 40 million dollars heroin on the streets of Bangkok with Sonchai as his go-between. Throw in the involvement of a woman whose intimate knowledge of pharmaceuticals gives her sorceress-like powers - and what you have is Sonchai put to the extreme test as a cop, as a Buddhist, and as an impossibly earth-bound man."