About Erich R. Sysak
Erich R. Sysak grew up in Florida and New Orleans. He now lives part of the year in northeast Thailand. His books include the real books Dog Catcher (2006) and Stage IV (2011). He also published an ebook crime novel (set in Hua Hin) in 2010 'Water Heart'. Judging by his photos online, he is still quiet young (as opposed to most of the English-language crime writers in Thailand).
Stage IV - Healing in Thailand can also be murder Lawson Banks suffers from Stage IV pancreatic cancer. Actually he has been suffering for 7 years, and should long be dead. When he was diagnosed and already sick, he viaticated his life insurance. The 'beneficiaries' (instead of his former family) are a disenchanted-with-life and eternally looking for money trio in the U.S.
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Stage IV by Erich R. Sysak |
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Banks decided to spend his remaining and dying days in Thailand. When there he settles in the southern city of Hua Hin. For some time he mindlessly enjoys the local nightlife and the local ladies, untill he settles for one particular bargirl, named Benz (of course, she is beautiful), who is also willing to take care of his recurring medical problems.
We all know the reputation of Pattaya. There is of course the naughty nightlife. But likely related to that scene, there are many unexplained deaths in town, rarely reported in the national news papers (like the Bangkok Post of The Nation). People fall off high-rise buildings, many are found with their hands tied behind their backs, and a plastic bag over the head. Almost invariably these deaths are considered suicides by the local police, but anyone with just something between the ears, knows better. If the author of Stage IV is to be believed, a similar scene is nowadays at work in Hua Hin.
Bar girls in Thailand are not to be trusted. When given half a chance, they will have you parted from your money, and if you have to much attachment to your own money, you will possibly be taken care off in the process. Lawson Banks is well aware of all the above. So when someone is out to kill him, and almost succeeds, he suspects his live-in girlfriend. Despite his suspicions, he actually continues staying with her for a while, after all he is dependent on her nursing services and he loves her.
Readers of this story know well in advance of Lawson who actually is behind the murder attempts. Of course, there is the trio from the United States, who long expected Lawson to die (they likely have been paying the insurance premiums for 7 years now, and want to cash in). On the other hand, a crooked police officer also plays an important part, and may want Lawson out of the way.
The story is mostly set in Hua Hin. However, Erich Sysak does not mention names and places, so basically the story could have been set anywhere in Thailand.
The storyline is interesting. The writing is promising, although at times the author gets lost in his sentences (and he does not reread his copy, and there is no proper editor to help him out). That said, there is a truly remarkable chapter close to the end of the book (if we recall well it was chapter 14), where Lawson is struggling with his medical condition, and trying to move places.
Often, there are flashbacks, which is quite OK. However, there is not even a line break in the story when the action continues in another time or space. So when reading a bit fast, you suddenly question yourself as to what the heck is going on, and then realize you started another 'unannounced' chapter.
Erich R. Sysak is a welcome new addition to the (already) many crime writers based in Thailand. We hope he continues writing stories based in the country.
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