Enjoyable
I think the author struggles a bit as the series continues to come up with plausible situations for his elderly characters to become involved with, but they remain interesting and fun.
The supernatural elements get more play as the series continues, from not being sure he housed a spirit to occassionally vanishing into the spirit world is a long journey, and those who are just coming in to the series now would probably find it puzzling. Olympic setting was nice, added a feeling of camaraderie and hopefulness, though it was the olympics that the western democracies gave a pass to.
All in all, a fairly standard addition to the series ( )

Love this series but it's getting repetitive.

Another in the delightful series about Dr. Siri and company, this time set in the Soviet Union at the 1980 Olympics, the one most of the western countries boycotted. Laos has been invited at the last minute to send a team, and Civillai is the so-called manager of the trip. Of course Dr. Siri and Deung and Dtui end up going, and of course there is a murder - two in fact! And a lot of gawking from those of the third world Laos was at the time. Siri and Deung are as irrepressible as ever. ( )

Always a romp. Love the characters and their humor. ( )

I am still laughing. The idea of the People’s Democratic Republic of Laos, in 1980, sending a team to the Olympic games in Moscow, which were boycotted by most of the Western world, is hilarious. They didn't have athletes. In fact the Russians come to train them. The trainer's advice to the boxers, 'Take the hit, then lie on the mat until the counting is finished' gives you some idea of the standards.

If you have not met Colin Cotterill's Dr Siri Paiboun, his wife, and misfit/crazy companions you are missing a chance to poke fun at politicians, politics, bureaucracy, and the human race. And laugh out loud as you read.

Siri is an elderly retired coroner, his companions are all a little odd, his wife is delightful. When news breaks that a Laotian team is heading to Moscow there is no way Siri is going to miss out. Forbidden by the government as not a good representative for their country he manages, by devious means, to be the only doctor available.

Of course when they get to Moscow for the 1980 Olympic Games they soon find themselves involved in a murder mystery. One of their team is accused of murder, and it soon becomes a race between Siri and the Moscow authorities to clear up the muddle and clear the Laotian team.

And the rats? Well that is one competition they don't lose.

One of the better Siri novels and well worth a read. ( )