A Nail Through the Heart

Timothy Hallinan

6/27/2007

Poke Rafferty went to Bangkok looking for trouble - so he could write another of his quirky travel books. At first that's what he found. Then he found Miaow, an orphan wandering the streets. Then he found Rose, a dancer and prostitute. Now Poke is an expat American bound by his love for the two females. He helps Rose start her own business. He takes Miaow into his home and wants to adopt her.

A policeman friend directed an Australian woman his direction. She wants her missing uncle found. Poke agrees to see what he can find about the beloved Uncle Claus. When beginning his search he is directed to the home of a shadowy woman who hides in a fortress type home in Bangkok. She hires him to find some information stolen from her that is now being used as blackmail. With the money from the two jobs Poke hopes to have enough to adopt Miaow and give Rose more funds as her business struggles to break even.

These two quests lead Poke Rafferty into worlds he would have preferred not to known had existed. He has seen and lived in the sexual fantasyland of Bangkok. He is beginning to understand the Asian culture even if it is difficult to comprehend. But these worlds lead him to different, gruesome lifestyles. If Poke is able to survive the hunts he still isn's sure how he'll live with the knowledge he has gained.

A Nail Through the Heart is a fascinating novel. Timothy Hallinan lives in Los Angeles and Bangkok, so he has the unique insight needed to people his novel with the expatriot American trying to comprehend a completely different way of life. There are numerous short conversations and references to the differences of his way of thinking and that of people from Thailand between himself and Rose. At one point Poke even mentions that not everyone wants to be like or think like an American. These contrasts throughout the book give A Nail Through the Heart character.

This tale is craftily woven together from the two different mysteries to Miaow's friend from the street that she insists Poke take in to his policeman friend. Poke is a reformed "bad boy" type who loved the seamy side of life until he met Miaow and Rose. He is a good man and protects those he loves. I believe that Timothy Hallinan may be beginning a series - I'd like to meet Poke, Rose, and Miaow again.

You can find more about this book at .

Notice: Sexual situations and violence

A Nail Through the Heart
The Fourth Watcher