Cross Currents

The fifth novel from Shors (Beneath a Marble Sky) features young Americans so unworldly as to strain credulity, local Thais so saintly and industrious as to be unintentionally patronizing, and a questionable use of the 2004 Asian Tsunami for deus ex machina purposes. After punching a Bangkok policeman during a botched drug deal, Patch (a young American tourist) flees to the beautiful, remote island of Kho Phi Phi, where he plans to hide until he can either sneak out of the country or muster the courage to turn himself in and serve a year in Thai prison. He is soon taken in by Lek and Sarai, the owners of the beachfront Rainbow Resort. Despite the resort's idyllic location, the couple struggles to make ends meet and constantly worry that they will have to look for work in Bangkok. Soon, Patch's older brother Ryan and Ryan's girlfriend Brooke arrive to try and persuade Patch to turn himself in. After a few days, Brooke is unsure which brother is right for her: priggish, well-meaning Ryan or wild, soulful Patch. Unfortunately, the novel doesn't even function as a tropical soap opera%E2%80%94only the morbidly curious will read on to the mildly distasteful finale. (Sept.)