Killed at the Whim of a Hat

When crime reporter Jimm Juree finds herself in a tiny coastal village in Thailand, she thinks her career is over. But soon she’s investigating a murdered abbot and the discovery of two dead hippies who’ve been buried for decades in their van. During the course of this humorous mystery, protagonist Jimm describes her odd patois: “I speak English with a sort of Thai accent that makes words sound as if they don’t have endings.” That’s a tall order for any narrator, but Jeany Park does her best to fill it, providing Jimm with odd vocal cadences and an affected, non-native British accent. However, the book’s ultra-whimsical characters and leisurely pace are themselves something of a test for listener perseverance. And that is unfortunate, because once the quirky plot begins to gel, Park’s performance proves as entertaining as it is charming. Additionally enjoyable are the malapropisms—read by Park without accent—that serve as the book’s title and chapter headings. A Minotaur Books hardcover. (July)