Vincent Calvino Crime Novel set in Cambodia

• Book: Zero Hour in Phnom Penh
• Location: Cambodia, Phnom Penh
• Author: Christopher G Moore

I am a fan of Mr. Moore’s writing and usually stick with his Bangkok based fiction. This time he took me to unfamiliar territory: Cambodia and I am glad I went along for the ride. Moore blends history, colorful characters, current events and descriptive narrative among the best of the Asian thriller and crime fiction writers. While ZERO HOUR was written a few years back the story-line and back story hold up well today and the latter is back in the news – an unresolved jewel theft by a Thai national of a Saudi Prince and the subsequent real life murders that remain a political embarrassment as well as a real life mystery that Calvino could probably solve in two weeks time. I like Moore’s writing on a number of level’s, mostly because he helps me know characters I would like to meet – Colonel Pratt and Calvino being just two – as well as enabling me to get to know places and people I prefer to avoid while traveling. Moore does a great job in Zero Hour of depicting two places I hope to never go – a seedy lakeside brothel, which doubles as a murder scene and the inside of a real life Cambodian prison. If you are unfamiliar with Mr. Moore’s novels start with Spirit House and then pick your poisen and pleasure after that. I also liked Missing in Rangoon, which is a must read for Myanmar/Burma background and The Big Weird and A Killing Smile for expat life in Bangkok, Thailand. Mr. Moore also was the editor of a fine anthology called Phnom Penh Noir, with many notable authors included among the 15 dark Cambodian tales.

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