One seems to be on a satisfying streak book-wise, chiefly being because of the settings playing such a part. After rural Italy and then Hong Kong, here I am now in Bangkok. For some reason this city started showing up on nightly video sessions on YouTube, and consequently I have walked the length and breadth of its markets.

So when hero Poke (!) Rafferty, author of popular travel books, goes about his somewhat complicated life and ducks in an out of alleys in and around, say, Phetchaburi, I feel a great thrill of recognition. Not that this is the only draw of course. Poke is a likeable character, and in this second of the series he's living happily with Rose and their adopted daughter Miaow. Unfortunately things just happen to Poke, it seems: this time it's Rose who gets tangled up in a counterfeit money scam through her domestic helper agency. And then the FBI is on the case, and then Poke's long-gone father shows up, and he's on the run from some very nasty Chinese gang types...

Phew. The action is relentless, but it's all leavened by a considerable funny streak. Rafferty is a bit of a comic, ready with deadpan one-liners. His friendship with cop Arthit has plenty of such dry gems of exchanges, and together with the smart-alecy daughter and wife, and not to mention even the main criminal and antagonists, it's all very palatable. I must confess the whole scheme at the end involving the swap of the counterfeit dough got too sphagetti-like for my dull brain to follow exactly. But I followed along anyway.

Another good series, yay! There's plenty more where this came from, and I'm eager to see how many I read before we actually make it to Bangkok in real life. Rafferty and co. will be even more pleasing then, I'm guessing. ( )

To say that Timothy Hallinan’s second installment in the Bangkok series starts off with a bang is…well, exactly what it does…from that initial blast to the closing words you are immersed in the chaotic world of Poke Rafferty. Whether you’re an international traveler, well versed in Asian cultures or a homebody like me, The Fourth Watcher brings Bangkok to life. The vivid, lush imagery, believable characters, and high stakes plotline will keep you turning pages. Hallinan utilizes every tool at his disposal to deliver a complete reading experience. Even the chapter titles add flavor to this remarkable read!

Poke is an ever-so- likable character you simply can‘t help but cheer for! He‘s quick-witted and absolutely devoted to his fiancee’ Rose and their eight-year-old, adopted daughter Miaow. Determined to provide a better life for his two best girls, he decides to write an espionage thriller. Realizing he needs to be familiar with the topic in order to be authentic, he hires Ex-CIA Agent Arnold Prettyman to assist him with his research. Stumbling upon information concerning a recent flood of counterfeit money from North Korea puts Poke and Rose in the Secret Service’s crosshairs. However, the plot thickens when Rose is accused of passing the fake bills through her cleaning business.

If this weren’t enough to complicate their lives, Frank, Poke’s estranged Father re-enters the picture after years of silence…and he isn’t alone. Poke is apprehensive, but Rose encourages him to give his father a second chance. As usual, where Frank is concerned, trouble is not far behind and this time his connections to the underworld have endangered Poke’s family too.

Throughout the novel, Miaow is nothing short of a subtle hero. The adorable, streetwise Miaow displays a degree of maturity that is far beyond her tender years. This child’s ability to rise above all the tough, lonely times she endured is amazing, but to do so without becoming jaded is a testament to the power of the human spirit and the healing power of love. The Fourth Watcher is masterfully written, highlighting Hallinan’s knowledge of the culture and his genuine affection for its people. Rich, alluring details draw the reader in, providing a deeply satisfying read. The characters have been assembled with the care of a loving parent and the scenic imagery is worthy of a spot in Louve. I recommend this book to all who enjoy an intriguing story with memorable characters, some easy to love, others, very easy to despise. And with the third book in the series releasing this summer, now is the ideal time to get to know Timothy Hallinan’s, Poke Rafferty.

Happy Reading!

~ RJ

In a nutshell the title of chapter 14 says it best, “It’s not coming from the direction you expect.” ( )

Compelling international thriller. ( )

Fans of the Poke Rafferty series will, of course, know that The Fourth Watcher (2008) was Timothy Hallinan’s second entry into the series. As the novel opens, Poke has decided that his new family (Rose, the former bar girl he hopes to marry, and Miaow, the little girl he plucked off the streets of Bangkok for her own good) is the most important thing in the world to him. He wants to abandon the travel book series he’s been writing so that the three of them can settle comfortably into a stable lifestyle.

If only her were so lucky.

Rose and her business partner Peachy are finally having a bit of success with the maid service they run using former bar girls as cleaning crews. By now, with the help of Poke’s investment into the business, Rose and Peachy have given several young women the opportunity to leave the sordid lifestyle associated with Thailand’s sex trade industry. But now, the business has inadvertently become linked to what appears to be a North Korean counterfeiting ring – an operation that takes no prisoners.

And then things really get complicated. Two people from Poke’s past, one of whom he didn’t even know existed, come into his world just when he can least afford the distraction. Poke already has an American Secret Service man after him who would love nothing better than to lock him up for a good long time; now he has to deal with a reunion that will prove to be as dangerously deadly as anything he has ever faced in his life. He and Arthit, the Thai policeman who is Poke’s best friend in the world, are going to have to scramble if they are going to save the lives of those closest to them.

The real strength of the Poke Rafferty series is Hallinan’s well-developed recurring characters. Poke, Rose, Miaow, and Arthit all come with emotional baggage of their own but they meld into a unit that offers each of them exactly the emotional support, love, and friendship they need to finally make something good of their lives. It won’t be easy, but let it be known that they are still doing fine some five books (and counting, I hope) after The Fourth Watcher.

That said, because I have read the series out of order, I can also tell you that the books get even better as the series ages. This one emphasizes the “thriller” aspect of the plot to the point that it becomes a bit overcomplicated in the end. I prefer more “literary” thrillers (yes, I believe there is such a thing), and that’s exactly the direction Hallinan, over time, moves the Poke Rafferty series. Don’t miss ‘em. ( )

Poke Rafferty is one of the happiest men in Bangkok because Rose has agreed to marry him and he is going to have a family, something he has longed for since he was a child. He is planning on writing a book about spying and this will keep him in funds. He is practicing evading tails as experience for his book and now with the help of a former CIA agent he can spot up to three followers. Unknown to him there are others interested in what he is up to and he fails to identify the fourth watcher. This leads him into some adventures that are too dangerous for his safety, as well as the safety of his family, not to mention his friends. The pace is furious and your pulse is rapid as you become a follower yourself. This is a very good series. ( )