PREMISE: Colombo, 1990. Maali Almeida—war photographer, gambler, and closet queen—has woken up dead in what seems like a celestial visa office. His dismembered body is sinking in the serene Beira Lake and he has no idea who killed him. In a country where scores are settled by death squads, suicide bombers, and hired goons, the list of suspects is depressingly long, as the ghouls and ghosts with grudges who cluster round can attest. But even in the afterlife, time is running out for Maali. He has seven moons to contact the man and woman he loves most and lead them to the photos that will rock Sri Lanka.
Weird one, this. No idea if I liked it or not. Well, I did. But I also didn’t. Or did I? I don’t think I did, but I may have done. In fact, I know I did, but I’m actually not sure if that’s true or not. I guess it may be. In fact, it’s absolutely true. As far as I know, anyway. Which isn’t much so the chances are it’s completely false. So, to sum up…this may or may not be a cracking book. I’ve no idea.
Well…I’ve some idea. This book is hugely readable and features real-life characters and events, which I love in fiction. And provided me with a shit-load of history on Sri Lanka of which I wasn’t aware, so all-in-all, a win on all fronts.
Portable Wonderland 