The Wisdom of Beer

by Christopher G. Moore

The annual Cobra Gold joint military operation arrives in Pattaya dumping thousands of US naval and marine personnel on the city. Russian Mafia and local Chinese-Thai gangsters decide this is a good time to rob a warehouse filled with war weapons. Duvel, a retired American, a caretaker for his aged Thai stepmother, also looks over the well-being of foreign expats as a member of the Pattaya Foreign Volunteer Police. Duvel, who leads a US Navy shore patrol down Walking Street, becomes entangled in the lives of criminals planning a warehouse heist. Meanwhile, Duvel’s mother, with the assistance of a macaw and a Moscow escort worker, slowly unravels the ancient secret formula of hell beer. As the double-crosses multiply, the fate of the heist and hell beer formula is in the hands of the winner of a Pattaya katoey beauty pageant.

310 pages, Paperback

First published January 9, 2012

About the author

Christopher G. Moore is a Canadian author who has lived in Thailand since 1988. Formerly a law professor at the University of British Columbia and a practicing lawyer, Moore has become a public figure in Southeast Asia, known for his novels and essays that have captured the spirit and social transformation of Southeast Asia over the past three decades.

Moore has written over 30 fiction and non-fiction books, including the Vincent Calvino novels which have won including the Shamus Award and German Critics Award and have been translated to over a dozen languages. Moore’s books and essays are a study of human nature, culture, power, justice, technological change and its implications on society and human rights.

Starting in 2017, the London-based Christopher G. Moore Foundation awards an annual literary prize to books advancing awareness on human rights. He’s also the founder of Changing Climate, Changing Lives Film Festival 2020.

Reviews

[Lisabet Sarai · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a tongue-in-cheek, over-the-top story about Chinese godfathers, Russian mafiosos, Thai ladyboys, American marines and beer -- lots and lots of heavenly beer, made from a secret Chinese recipe passed down through the generations. In the midst of the very broad humor, you'll find nuggets of cultural insight and a few really great characters. Alisa, the Russian prostitute turned criminal mastermind, is not someone I'll forget.

As someone who has spent a lot of time in Southeast Asia, I will warn you -- don't take this novel too seriously. Nevertheless, it's a lot of fun.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

A light, fun and suspenseful tale of greed, guns and culture clash set amongst Thailand's expat enclave of Pattaya.

Start with a powerful Thai-Chinese godfather, his screw up son and gangster cronies. Then prepare a kiniving Russian escort and her mobster friend obsessed with Tarantino's Kill Bill. Don't forget a few American expats; one a bar owner and another a Tourist Police volunteer. Then stir with a maurading pack of US Navy on shore leave, a few ladyboys, a secret Chinese Hell Beer recipe, a special parrot, Obama's long lost brother and a warehouse full of weapons.

Moore does a superb job of juggling an army of characters, cultural nuances and an incredible sense of place - somehow making it seem effortless. A very enjoyable.

[Anthony Irven · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad read. The plot was a bit thin and I thought the story was over complicated for what it was! Moore portrayed Pattaya as it is and the difference a US Naval vessel visiting can make!
A quick light read probably on your way or way back from Thailand.

[Mary Macleod · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was OK. At times it made me laugh at loud and other times it had me confused. The setting is what got me reading this book (just south of Bangkok), but I don't know if I'll be reading any more of the authors Thailand based books.

[Mark Hand · Rating 3 out of 5]

Got my booked signed in Pattaya at a weekly ex-pats club meeting. Enjoyed the book. It's always interesting to me when a story takes place in the town you live in.