Now he is called in to consult in the excavation of the body of an American fighter pilot whose aircraft went down in northern Laos a decade earlier. Since Dr. Siri speaks little English and the American delegation is looking into the search for the body of the downed pilot, the intrepid coroner is being assisted by a young girl whose English is perfect owing to the fact that she is the daughter of missionaries and was born in Laos. Peach, her English name, proves to be an invaluable asset to Dr. Siri in dealing with the Americans.

Equally important to the plot is the emotional climate in Laos at the time the story takes place. Only a small contingent of Americans remain after the official cessation of the Vietnam War. Most Americans are providing aid though a few military personnel are present. The military attitude toward the Laotians is strained. They have learned little about the native people and even less of their language. Having witnessed firsthand the slash and burn techniques employed by the Americans during the conflict in Vietnam the limited tolerance of the indigenous population is understandable.

While there is an obvious message underlying the story of the search for the body of a missing American and the ancillary problems that emerge, there is a lighter tone in Dr. Siri's relationships with his assistants and his wife. The obvious respect that each character has for his friends and associates and the tolerance for unorthodox behavior is testimony to the goodness of these people. Dr. Siri has been advised by a fortune teller that he has but a few years to live which he accepts with equanimity. He also shows his respect for a morgue assistant who has Down Syndrome.

The mystery of the missing fighter pilot and the possibility that a recent death is related to this earlier disaster frames a background for the presentation of a abridged history of what happened in southeast Asia during the seventies. What life was like for the Laotian people and how they were affected by the presence of the American military is as educational as the motives behind the deaths that are the basis for the mystery story. As is true of many tales set in Asia, the understanding or lack thereof of Westerners and Americans in particular teaches an important lesson in respect for the ways and beliefs of others.

The mystery itself is not obvious unless one has some background knowledge of covert activities of American in the region during the seventies. It is certainly believable and logical when the motives and methods are revealed, but not easy for a reader with a sketchy knowledge of what Americans were doing in the area apart from their military duties.

--Andy Plonka