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A Nail Through the Heart by Timothy Hallinan
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A Nail Through the Heart (original 2007; edition 2008)

by Timothy Hallinan

Series: Poke Rafferty (1)

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
3601970,886 (4)18
Travel writer Poke Rafferty was good at looking for trouble--so good that he made a little money writing a few offbeat travel guides for the young and terminally bored. But that was before Bangkok stole his heart. Now the expat American is happily playing family with Rose, the former go-go dancer he wants to marry, and with Miaow, the wary street child he wants to adopt. Yet just when everything is beginning to work out, trouble comes looking for Poke in the guise of good intentions. First he takes in Miaow's friend, a troubled and terrifying street urchin named Superman. Then he agrees to find a distraught Aussie woman's missing uncle--and accept an old woman's generous payment to find a blackmailing theif. Soon, these three seemingly disparate events begin to overlap, pulling Poke deeper into dark, unfamiliar terrain. Gradually he realizes that he's been gliding across the surface of a culture he really doesn't understand--and that what he doesn't know is about to hurt him and everyone he loves. Beautifully crafted, relentlessly paced, A Nail Through the Heart is an exciting and enticing read that will leave readers hungry for more from the gifted Timothy Hallinan.… (more)
Member:jgsn
Title:A Nail Through the Heart
Authors:Timothy Hallinan
Info:HarperCollins e-books (2008), Edition: Reprint, Kindle Edition, 352 pages
Collections:Your library, Fiction, Kindle
Rating:*****
Tags:Roman, US, Bangkok, Kambodscha

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A Nail Through the Heart by Timothy Hallinan (2007)

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» See also 18 mentions

Showing 1-5 of 19 (next | show all)
like the Bangkok 8 series, this book gives a horrifying idea of what life is like in Thailand. It is not for the faint of heart. be prepared to encounter the worst kind of depravity and abuse you can imagine, with children as victims. That said, I felt the overall tone of the book was optimistic. It feels a bit noir-like, people with their own code trying to survive in a dark world. Will try more
( )
  cspiwak | Mar 6, 2024 |
After an indifferent start, the book gathered pace halfway through and ended literally with a bang. I loved the beautifully crafted descriptions and the endearing sincerity of the characters. Entertaining, passionate, heavy and amusing at times - glad I read it. ( )
  cuteseal | Aug 17, 2022 |
Beautifully written, this book has one subplot that deals unflinchingly with the seediest of the seedy Bangkok underbelly and the sad fate of some Thai children. For that reason, it is not going to be for everyone. But the characters are terrific and this book is well worth the read if you can handle the darker stuff. Just don't mistake it for a cozy, or anything. ( )
  jimgysin | Jun 19, 2017 |
First book in the Poke Rafferty series. The story is an odd assemblage but the qualities in Hallinan's writing makes it an enjoyable read. ( )
  rwt42 | Feb 1, 2017 |
Interesting start to a series. ( )
  cygnet81 | Jan 17, 2016 |
Showing 1-5 of 19 (next | show all)
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The Blue Rises Up
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Moon and river. House and trees.
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Wikipedia in English (1)

Travel writer Poke Rafferty was good at looking for trouble--so good that he made a little money writing a few offbeat travel guides for the young and terminally bored. But that was before Bangkok stole his heart. Now the expat American is happily playing family with Rose, the former go-go dancer he wants to marry, and with Miaow, the wary street child he wants to adopt. Yet just when everything is beginning to work out, trouble comes looking for Poke in the guise of good intentions. First he takes in Miaow's friend, a troubled and terrifying street urchin named Superman. Then he agrees to find a distraught Aussie woman's missing uncle--and accept an old woman's generous payment to find a blackmailing theif. Soon, these three seemingly disparate events begin to overlap, pulling Poke deeper into dark, unfamiliar terrain. Gradually he realizes that he's been gliding across the surface of a culture he really doesn't understand--and that what he doesn't know is about to hurt him and everyone he loves. Beautifully crafted, relentlessly paced, A Nail Through the Heart is an exciting and enticing read that will leave readers hungry for more from the gifted Timothy Hallinan.

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