I hated a lot of "Toxic Spirits". It had some rather good and interesting descriptions of Thailand but was bogged down by its plot and its characters. Relationships between 17 years olds and older men is pretty gross to me so it certainly didn't help this story any.

I started this book and found that it was not for me. I didn't want to rate a book that I wasn't able to finish.

This is a unique thriller set in Thailand. Interspersed with limitless skullduggery, and a lot of colorful characters, this is a fun and unique story.

I have spent a lot of time in Thailand and also work in the pharmaceutical industry. Top marks for plot, action and the Thai locale, but B- on the pharma accuracy. I didn't deduct any points though because it is a genuinely entertaining read.

Talk about a very strange and interesting thriller! Bento loses his wife and retires and decides to move to Thailand. That’s where it all starts to get, let’s just say very interesting! This is the first book that I have read by this author but I don’t think it will be my last! Thank you Inderjeet Mani for writing such a great book!

Living the retired life in Thailand after his wife died of cancer in the US, our hero, an ex-CIA agent, gets involved in complex plot. Evil pharma companies are trying to test mediciines against the gene mututions of an old tribe, with some pretty horrid consequences. Lots of hallucinatory dialogues on the part of both hero and victims, which make Toxic Spirits quite an interesting read.

Beautiful imagery and realistic characters; it was a fascinating read about a country I know little about.

Toxic Spirits was toxic to read. The relationship between a teenager and a middle aged man was a no go for no matter was country you are in.

Confusing, gross, and disappointing. I am bailing about 1/3 of the way through, but leaving feedback because I believe my views are valid and appropriate to share. . I was promised espionage a la John Le Carre and what I got was a mess of a retired CIA agent falling into the clutches of a twisted doctor in Thailand, serious medical malpractice, hallucinations, and graphic descriptions of bodily functions, with apparently a sexual relationship between the MC and a 17 year-old to look forward to. No thank you. The descriptions of Thailand were exquisite and evocative, hence the two stars for the setting. But the plot and characters are not strong enough to carry the violence and compel me to read through the objectionable elements. I’m not invested in the MC, and quite frankly, if he’s dumb enough to walk into what he “thinks” is going to be a trap, then he deserves whatever is coming to him.

I knew, before I started reading “Toxic Spirits, that my mind was in for a workout because the author, Inderjeet Mani, is an intellectual. He was a scientist and professor with ties to such institutes of higher education as Georgetown University, Cambridge University, Brandeis University and MIT. He retired to pursue creative writing and took his intelligence with him. I always know that I will be challenged as I face that sort of mind, because mine falls horribly short of those qualities. But I dove in.

The author is wise in the sense that he knew to talk down to my level and bring on some understanding and appreciation for his story. It goes like this. An intelligence analyst retires and moves to Thailand where he spends a lot of time hanging around bars, drinking margaritas, and lamenting over his dead wife, Sylvia. He discovers that a rock singer he’s become infatuated with has disappeared. He finds out that she has been a critic of certain drug experiments being conducted among her people, Thai hill dwellers, and, in his eagerness to find her, gets involved in the deadly trials himself. He begins to change in unexpected ways and gets more involved in the mysterious realm of hidden Thai plants and vegetation that form the base for the drugs. Not all of his experiences are personally enjoyable.

There are lengthy descriptions of physical side effects and tormenting mind changes that are occurring, some of which he experiences and others that he observes. Elaborate backstories and interests that seem a little ambitious dull the plot at times because the author seems to be trying to build a structure that gets unwieldy. But the adventures that raise questions about medical ethics and scientific technologies are interesting and, no doubt, were created using the author’s intellect.

Mani’s construction reminds me of the 3-piece walking cane I see advertised. Old codgers are depicted trying to assemble the 3 pieces into something that will support them as they toddle off, leaving all of us to wonder how far they’ll get before the device succumbs to their weight and disintegrates, leaving them sprawled on the floor. Nothing that drastic happens, but the thought was there for me.

I found the writing to be well done, and the dialogue to be adequately presented. Keeping my mind in step with the author’s was difficult at times, but I thought he was patient as he coaxed me along. I would recommend this book for its descriptions of Thailand, its food, the people, and vegetable drug experiences. Apparently the author has designs on creating a trilogy.

You might have to be a little more alert than usual if the nuances are to be enjoyed. But it is a good read.

3.5 unique stars.
There is some beautiful writing here, and I very much enjoyed this unique novel I was pulled in. However, I found the plot a little hard to follow and got lost…I feel like I need to read it again later, as I am sure there’s a five star reading experience for me here. Reading the blurb I found it intriguing. And that’s how I would sum up the reading experience, very intriguing. There is an awful lot I like about this book. I think the author does have a beautiful descriptive style. I appreciated this as a reader, especially as I love location based stories in far away places. I also really loved all the characters, they all jumped out and really are well developed. The main character himself Benton, he was really funny at times and like-able.

I also loved that this novel has such a multicultural feel, it’s set in Thailand yes, but characters are from as far as Scotland and all over the world. I loved it.

I also really loved the uniqueness and how the story unfolds around a demographic of people. The Palin’s and their history, from a scientific and historical POV.

I did find the story engaging, it did whip through the first fifty percent, but it got a bit challenging. By this I mean, we are introduced to LOTS of characters early on, at first I could not understand the ‘link’ to the plot, then it started to tie up. By then, I kind of was a bit lost in what was happening. I do pay a lot of attention as a reader, especially when it’s a complex plot such as this, but I still got a bit lost in the overall structure. Like I said, I would re-read it and try to absorb it better. It’s a trilogy and I would read more from this author for sure. I love his writing style and ability to create some great characters…not to mention a very complex plot!

If it were a little more easier to read through first time, I think I would say I had a five star reading experience. In all honesty, there is nothing I dislike! It really boiled down to getting a bit lost at times. Which resulted in it taking me much longer than average to read a book of just 250 pages. Overall, 3.5 unique, engaging stars! I’d read more.

Retired intelligence analyst Benton decides to move to Thailand after his wife dies, just waiting for his own time to come. He rents a small space to live and frequents an expat bar where he meets people from around the world who have also decided to call the exotic land their home. One evening he is intrigued by a young woman who is playing in a band at the bar, and his curiosity about her is piqued. He learns soon after that she has disappeared, and it’s likely due to her outspokenness about foreigners doing secret drug trials on her hill tribe.

Benton, with nothing else to do with his time and with his experience in Washington giving him some help, decides to investigate. He ends up becoming another subject in the illegal drug trials that are happening. The genetically engineered drugs give him strange hallucinations at times but make him much fitter and leaner, so he’s enjoying that benefit even while feeling leery of the strange and even evil man who is running these trials. He starts collecting evidence of what is happening to try to take down the operation and save these innocent indigenous people — and perhaps even the ecosystem they live in.

I was intrigued by the premise of this novel but was put off by the language and sexual content. I was particularly disgusted by the sexual relationship the much-older Benton ends up having with a young woman who’s only 17. Honestly, it felt like the novel was fantasy concocted by an older male writer, and while I appreciate that it’s (unfortunately) likely a reflection of the realities of what things are available in these developing areas, it was distasteful and I would have been happy not to read it.

On the story and the writing itself, I found the book to be filled with detailed descriptions of the countryside and Thailand’s inhabitants, which were often interesting but sometimes just a bit too much, and the plot uneven. It could have used a good editor reining it in and giving it some order and guidance.

Got 28% into the book but stopped reading there. It was written well so five starts. Just wasn’t my cup of tea.

I usually enjoy medical mysteries, if this can be classed as such, but this one just missed the mark. On principle it sounds like an exciting plot, a retired US government employee retires to Thailand, and becomes ensnared in a cutting edge gene editing program. An eccentric scientist named Pierre hopes to eradicate cancer by supplementing a rare protein into test subjects. The results can have deadly consequences. While the writing is competent and the descriptions of Thailand and the culture feel authentic, it also was very choppy, with certain characters entering out of nowhere and exciting just as quickly with little overall importance to the overall story. Some the motivations of the characters were also a little vague for me. I also found myself getting lost in vivid descriptions that seem to be hallucinations, but their placement mixed in with the rest of the text left me wondering what in the world was going on. Story is written as a trilogy and may indeed get better as the story continues. I will probably sit the sequels out myself. Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

The book is well written and the author has a good understanding of Thai culture. However, I am not convinced by the plot. Some of the characters seem a bit cliché, like Dr Pierre who, after a very traumatic childhood, becomes obsessed with finding a cure for cancer at all costs. Thai girls are portrayed as materialistic and prepared to sell their body to any old western man that comes along. Again, a cliché. I have lived in Thailand and, needless to say, they are not all like that. But, overall, the book is easy to read and entertaining and you can gain an insight on scientific experiments carried out on hill tribes.

ARC from Net Galley


I was shocked, I read this or started it to NOT LIKE IT.

Wow what a travel guide of Thailand wrapped in a novel about Benton. He has his own soul wounds and perhaps this is the driving force as he searches for new love lost and the manipulation of the innocent. Truly;y impressed for the most part

Given the author's bonafides and the topic chosen, this could have been quite a book. Perhaps my low rating is a reflection of the let down. The characters are fine and the setting probably accurate, but it's hard to give credibility to the Asian teenager- old white man true love story with its uneven power dynamics and perhaps unintended not-so-subtle exploitation. With its focus on the return of virility associated with a 17-year old girlfriend, it sounds like it's written in for lascivious men. And I could have done without the graphic hallucinations and descriptions, too. The genetic threads and the exploitation themes are the most interesting and could have been developed more. The writing itself is a mixed bag, sometimes decent and sometimes not. The 'cover' had a comparison to le Carré but neither the calibre of the writing nor the introspection of the characters nor the feel of the novel justify it in any way.

The writing is vivid. What a great job of giving the reader a sense of each moment as it unfolds. The story is rich in culture, science, and emotion.
There were times when I found it hard to follow. And for such depth throughout, I wanted more out of the ending.
Overall, it deserves 4 stars. I have not decided if I will read the sequel yet.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my review.

Overall, I enjoyed the book, and feel comfortable with a 3 star rating. Some of the writing was really good, clear and descriptive. But some portions were a bit unclear, a bit 'muddy' and confusing. Since this was an ARC, and an uncorrected proof, I hope that the editing helps clean up and clear up the story. After publication, I would be interested in re-reading this - or maybe listening to the audio - to see what the final product is like. Lots of potential here.

Lou Jacobs's Reviews > Toxic Spirits

Toxic Spirits by Inderjeet Mani

Retired intelligence officer, Benton, attempts to find peace as an ex-pat in Thailand after his beloved wife dies. He soon realizes that finding even a modicum of peace is far from possible. Confronted in an ex-pat bar he is beguiled by the band singer, Siri. After becoming immediately infatuated with her exotic beauty and talent .. she mysteriously disappears. He discovers she has been speaking out about the serious side-effects of drug trials being foisted on members of her hill-tribe, the Palin. Nothing can stop his probing and personal investigation ... which implicates Pierre, a seriously disturbed Indo-Cambodian doctor, who heads the "Foundation" behind the trials.
Mani's evocation of the exotic world of Thailand is reminiscent of the best novels of John Burdett (Bangkok 8 & Bangkok Tattoo). His prose is densely atmospheric and immerses the reader into the unsettling world of Thailand ... filled with a foreboding sense of dread .. and populated by beautiful women, prostitutes, corrupt cops and military. Mani with masterful prose fleshes out multiple characters in a cinematic fashion.
The only weak point of this Debut Novel is the denouement ... which petered out rather than unwinding to a flourishing finish. I did not realize that this novel was the first in a contemplated trilogy ... perhaps a 5 Star rating would've resulted. Thanks to NetGalley and Calumet Editions for supplying an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review.
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