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Jimm Juree Case Files #1
Number One: The Funeral Photographer
The Funeral Photographer
was the first in a series of Colin Cotterill short stories written between 2017 and 2019 featuring his female news reporter and amateur detective, Jimm Juree. Fans of Jimm know her from the four novels where, with the help of the members of her strange family, she usually solves the crime.
In this story, Jimm, exiled from the north of Thailand and only just surviving in the south, finds a new career by accident using her old camera. Being Jimm, a crime is never far away. What is the secret in an old man’s death and funeral regarding the takeover of local farmers’ land by a large agribusiness?
Move over Miss Marple, Jimm Juree does it for the 21st Century.
In this story, Jimm, exiled from the north of Thailand and only just surviving in the south, finds a new career by accident using her old camera. Being Jimm, a crime is never far away. What is the secret in an old man’s death and funeral regarding the takeover of local farmers’ land by a large agribusiness?
Move over Miss Marple, Jimm Juree does it for the 21st Century.
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Published October 4, 2025
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About the author
Colin Cotterill
71 books1,022 followersColin Cotterill was born in London and trained as a teacher and set off on a world tour that didn't ever come to an end. He worked as a Physical Education instructor in Israel, a primary school teacher in Australia, a counselor for educationally handicapped adults in the US, and a university lecturer in Japan. But the greater part of his latter years has been spent in Southeast Asia. Colin has taught and trained teachers in Thailand and on the Burmese border. He spent several years in Laos, initially with UNESCO and wrote and produced a forty-programme language teaching series; English By Accident, for Thai national television.
Ten years ago, Colin became involved in child protection in the region and set up an NGO in Phuket which he ran for the first two years. After two more years of study in child abuse issues, and one more stint in Phuket, he moved on to ECPAT, an international organization combating child prostitution and pornography. He established their training program for caregivers.
All the while, Colin continued with his two other passions; cartooning and writing. He contributed regular columns for the Bangkok Post but had little time to write. It wasn't until his work with trafficked children that he found himself sufficiently stimulated to put together his first novel, The Night Bastard (Suk's Editions. 2000).
The reaction to that first attempt was so positive that Colin decided to take time off and write full-time. Since October 2001 he has written nine more novels. Two of these are child-protection based: Evil in the Land Without (Asia Books December 03), and Pool and Its Role in Asian Communism (Asia Books, Dec 05). These were followed by The Coroner’s Lunch (Soho Press. Dec 04), Thirty Three Teeth (Aug 05), Disco for the Departed (Aug 06), Anarchy and Old Dogs (Aug 07), and Curse of the Pogo Stick (Aug 08), The Merry Misogynist (Aug 09), Love Songs from a Shallow Grave (Aug 10) these last seven are set in Laos in the 1970’s.
On June 15, 2009 Colin Cotterill received the Crime Writers' Association Dagger in the Library award for being "the author of crime fiction whose work is currently giving the greatest enjoyment to library users".
When the Lao books gained in popularity, Cotterill set up a project to send books to Lao children and sponsor trainee teachers. The Books for Laos programme elicits support from fans of the books and is administered purely on a voluntary basis.
Since 1990, Colin has been a regular cartoonist for national publications. A Thai language translation of his cartoon scrapbook, Ethel and Joan Go to Phuket (Matichon May 04) and weekly social cartoons in the Nation newspaper, set him back onto the cartoon trail in 2004. On 4 April 2004, an illustrated bilingual column ‘cycle logical’ was launched in Matichon’s popular weekly news magazine. These have been published in book form.
Colin is married and lives in a fishing community on the Gulf of Siam with his wife, Kyoko, and ever-expanding pack of very annoying dogs.
Ten years ago, Colin became involved in child protection in the region and set up an NGO in Phuket which he ran for the first two years. After two more years of study in child abuse issues, and one more stint in Phuket, he moved on to ECPAT, an international organization combating child prostitution and pornography. He established their training program for caregivers.
All the while, Colin continued with his two other passions; cartooning and writing. He contributed regular columns for the Bangkok Post but had little time to write. It wasn't until his work with trafficked children that he found himself sufficiently stimulated to put together his first novel, The Night Bastard (Suk's Editions. 2000).
The reaction to that first attempt was so positive that Colin decided to take time off and write full-time. Since October 2001 he has written nine more novels. Two of these are child-protection based: Evil in the Land Without (Asia Books December 03), and Pool and Its Role in Asian Communism (Asia Books, Dec 05). These were followed by The Coroner’s Lunch (Soho Press. Dec 04), Thirty Three Teeth (Aug 05), Disco for the Departed (Aug 06), Anarchy and Old Dogs (Aug 07), and Curse of the Pogo Stick (Aug 08), The Merry Misogynist (Aug 09), Love Songs from a Shallow Grave (Aug 10) these last seven are set in Laos in the 1970’s.
On June 15, 2009 Colin Cotterill received the Crime Writers' Association Dagger in the Library award for being "the author of crime fiction whose work is currently giving the greatest enjoyment to library users".
When the Lao books gained in popularity, Cotterill set up a project to send books to Lao children and sponsor trainee teachers. The Books for Laos programme elicits support from fans of the books and is administered purely on a voluntary basis.
Since 1990, Colin has been a regular cartoonist for national publications. A Thai language translation of his cartoon scrapbook, Ethel and Joan Go to Phuket (Matichon May 04) and weekly social cartoons in the Nation newspaper, set him back onto the cartoon trail in 2004. On 4 April 2004, an illustrated bilingual column ‘cycle logical’ was launched in Matichon’s popular weekly news magazine. These have been published in book form.
Colin is married and lives in a fishing community on the Gulf of Siam with his wife, Kyoko, and ever-expanding pack of very annoying dogs.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 1, 2020
A clever short story about gang politics in Thailand.
Introduction to Jimm
I’ll keep this brief because it still irks me to tell our story. My name is Jimm Juree and I was, at one stage, a mere liver failure away from fame and fortune in Chiang Mai. But our mother, Mair, dragged the family down south to run a decrepit seaside resort on the Gulf of Thailand. I’m a reporter. A real one. And as soon as the head of the crime desk at the Chiang Mai Mail completed his impending suicide by Mekhong Whisky, I was to step into his moldy old shoes; only the second female in the country to hold such a prestigious position.
Revenge is best served with hot curries and rum
Bung leaned in too close, lowered his head, and breathed hot rum fumes down my shirt collar.
‘We’re gonna bring ‘em down, darling,’ he slurred. ‘Bring ‘em all down. The whole necktie clan. We’re gonna wipe ‘em out. Get our land back. They’ll be sorry they messed with us.’
So believably real that perhaps it did actually happen - the author Colin Cotterill does live in Thailand.
Enjoy!
Introduction to Jimm
I’ll keep this brief because it still irks me to tell our story. My name is Jimm Juree and I was, at one stage, a mere liver failure away from fame and fortune in Chiang Mai. But our mother, Mair, dragged the family down south to run a decrepit seaside resort on the Gulf of Thailand. I’m a reporter. A real one. And as soon as the head of the crime desk at the Chiang Mai Mail completed his impending suicide by Mekhong Whisky, I was to step into his moldy old shoes; only the second female in the country to hold such a prestigious position.
Revenge is best served with hot curries and rum
Bung leaned in too close, lowered his head, and breathed hot rum fumes down my shirt collar.
‘We’re gonna bring ‘em down, darling,’ he slurred. ‘Bring ‘em all down. The whole necktie clan. We’re gonna wipe ‘em out. Get our land back. They’ll be sorry they messed with us.’
So believably real that perhaps it did actually happen - the author Colin Cotterill does live in Thailand.
Enjoy!
October 21, 2019
This short novella is a great introduction to a series of approximately a dozen short stories featuring female investigator, Jimm Juree. The author, Colin Cotterill, has written a series of popular mystery novels involving Dr. Siri Paiboun, The Chief coroner in Laos. There is also a full-sized novel featuring Jimm Juree in Thailand, ‘Killed at the Whim of a Hat.’ His books are mysteries set in interesting locations and told with a sense of humour.
Jimm Juree was working as a news reporter for the Chiangmai News. She moved to a rural area in the south of Thailand where her eccentric family planned to manage a run-down beach resort. Unfortunately, the resort was destroyed by a monsoon, and the now unemployed Jim Juree, has been picking up a few odd jobs, but she has an enterprising spirit.
On her way to sell an expensive camera, gifted to her in Chiangmai by a retiring photographer who admired her news reporting, she drops into a funeral feast. When the family sees her camera, they hire her to photograph the funeral party. She learns that their coconut plantation has been taken over by gangsters. The family is now forced to work on their former plantation at minimum wage. Later, during the rainy season, she learns that the plantation has burned to the ground and two people killed. Can her photos help the police in solving the crime?
Having read and enjoyed some of the Dr. Siri Paibourn books, I intend to read more of the Jimm Juree novellas, and the book featuring her further criminal investigations.
Jimm Juree was working as a news reporter for the Chiangmai News. She moved to a rural area in the south of Thailand where her eccentric family planned to manage a run-down beach resort. Unfortunately, the resort was destroyed by a monsoon, and the now unemployed Jim Juree, has been picking up a few odd jobs, but she has an enterprising spirit.
On her way to sell an expensive camera, gifted to her in Chiangmai by a retiring photographer who admired her news reporting, she drops into a funeral feast. When the family sees her camera, they hire her to photograph the funeral party. She learns that their coconut plantation has been taken over by gangsters. The family is now forced to work on their former plantation at minimum wage. Later, during the rainy season, she learns that the plantation has burned to the ground and two people killed. Can her photos help the police in solving the crime?
Having read and enjoyed some of the Dr. Siri Paibourn books, I intend to read more of the Jimm Juree novellas, and the book featuring her further criminal investigations.
September 17, 2017
Good story as always. I love Jimm Juree and, of course, Colin Cotterell.
Good story as always. Love Jimm Juree and, of course, Colin Cotterill. Just wish it was was a full book instead of a short story.
Good story as always. Love Jimm Juree and, of course, Colin Cotterill. Just wish it was was a full book instead of a short story.
October 17, 2017
A New Low. A New High for Jim
Lovely short story about JImm Jurree’s even shorter career as the Funeral Photographer. Here she has a chance to see justice done and show her skills. Hats off The this up and coming/down and out crime reporter.
Lovely short story about JImm Jurree’s even shorter career as the Funeral Photographer. Here she has a chance to see justice done and show her skills. Hats off The this up and coming/down and out crime reporter.
October 9, 2017
More of Jimm Juree please
I love her and her wacky family. I love how she always hangs in there through the absurdities of her environment.
I love her and her wacky family. I love how she always hangs in there through the absurdities of her environment.
June 1, 2024
There are short stories and there are very short stories. The Funeral Photographer is the latter. I picked it up because I had enjoyed Colin Cotterill's Jimm Juree series. I like his quirky characters, the humour and the glimpses of Thailand. In those regards, The Funeral Photographer does not disappoint. Jimm has stumbled into a new job (a hint is in the title) but there is not enough space to develop an intricate plot. Instead, she does stuff, she reads stuff, and she puts two and two together. Voilá. Everything solved.
February 21, 2025
Since her family’s beach resort in southern Thailand was washed away in a storm, Jimm Juree has been turning her hand to various occupations to make ends meet. Her business as a wedding photographer dried up because her photographs were full of shadows. As a last resort she has decided to sell her camera. But, on the way, she strays into a funeral and is asked to take some pictures, leading to a whole new business opportunity. A clever story, although too short.
September 26, 2018
This is number 1 in a series of short ebooks available featuring Jimm Juree, a crime reporter/investigator in Thailand. Filled with the irreverent humor and superb settings of Cotterill's South East Asia, it is brief and wonderfully written. It reminds me of the old "Twilight Zone" episodes from the 60's - 30 minutes of irony and a kicker/moral at the end. A great addition to Cotterill's writings, I will continue to locate and enjoy them. A very good read.
December 9, 2018
"The Funeral Photographer" is all about how a group of poor countryfolk seeks revenge on the rich people who swindled them. All the stories in this series are enjoyable, and all show Cotterill's talent with ingenious puzzles, humor, and a wide range of characters who prove that all people, no matter their circumstances, have value. I'm definitely looking forward to Jimm's next case.
May 11, 2023
Juree Case Files
Colin Cotterill never disappoints. His books almost read like oral stories. He creates characters that feel real in one's mind. And he knows Southeast Asia well.
Colin Cotterill never disappoints. His books almost read like oral stories. He creates characters that feel real in one's mind. And he knows Southeast Asia well.
March 18, 2020
Thai Crime Reporter turns Funeral Photog
Review of the DCO Books Kindle edition (2017)
The Funeral Photographer is the first of Colin Cotterill's short stories continuation series of the Jimm Juree Case Files (2017 - present day) following on from his original Jimm Juree novels and prequels (2011-2013).
This has the feel of a re-boot of Cotterill's character as it starts off with a complete background of how Jimm Juree had to leave her job as a crime reporter for the Chiang Mai Daily Mail when her family moves to Southern Thailand. On the verge of pawning her reporter camera, she is mistaken for a funeral photographer at a wake where she had simply gone to get some of the free food available to mourners. She takes up this new career while observing the local rural farming community who have been grifted by a big city gang nicknamed the "neckties".
Jimm Juree really doesn't do any investigating here and is more of an observer to events as they unfold. Still, Cotterill portrays characters and atmosphere very well even in the space of a relatively short story (33 pages in the Kindle version that I read). I don't know how easy it is to track down the earlier longer novels at this stage but the new dozen short stories are easily available.
Trivia and Link
I tracked down DCO Books in Thailand but it appears they have sold off the rights to the Jimm Juree books as they are no longer available at their website.
Review of the DCO Books Kindle edition (2017)
The Funeral Photographer is the first of Colin Cotterill's short stories continuation series of the Jimm Juree Case Files (2017 - present day) following on from his original Jimm Juree novels and prequels (2011-2013).
This has the feel of a re-boot of Cotterill's character as it starts off with a complete background of how Jimm Juree had to leave her job as a crime reporter for the Chiang Mai Daily Mail when her family moves to Southern Thailand. On the verge of pawning her reporter camera, she is mistaken for a funeral photographer at a wake where she had simply gone to get some of the free food available to mourners. She takes up this new career while observing the local rural farming community who have been grifted by a big city gang nicknamed the "neckties".
Jimm Juree really doesn't do any investigating here and is more of an observer to events as they unfold. Still, Cotterill portrays characters and atmosphere very well even in the space of a relatively short story (33 pages in the Kindle version that I read). I don't know how easy it is to track down the earlier longer novels at this stage but the new dozen short stories are easily available.
Trivia and Link
I tracked down DCO Books in Thailand but it appears they have sold off the rights to the Jimm Juree books as they are no longer available at their website.
November 25, 2025
Number One: The Funeral Photographer
Jimm Juree Case Files #1
Colin Cotterill
"There is a time when a woman is so filled with mysteries that she either seeks the answers or explodes like a stick of dynamite in a jelly fish."
This is book one in a new series by Colin Cotterill. I read every one of the 17 book in his previous series, Dr Siri Paiboun and enjoyed them all. This series, The Jimm Juree Case Files appears to have 4 books thus far. The Funeral Photographer is the introduction to the series. We meet the Photographer (also the narrator and protagonist), her original assignment as a part-time social events reporter and learn that her real interest is crime journalism. She also discloses how she came to work as a funeral photographer.
Her mother, she notes, purchased a rundown resort by selling the family home without advanced notice to any of them. The Lovely Bay Resort and Restaurant was subsequently demolished by a monsoon. They learned that her family is terrible at running a resort but, oddly, are quite good at solving crimes.
This book is a a short story or novella, the subsequent books are all about the same length. It is a fun, quick read taking place in Thailand. Naturally, it introduces the reader to the upcoming crimes. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#EmptyNestReader #TheFuneralPhotographer #NumberOne #JimmJureeCaseFiles #ColinCotterill #mysteryfiction #Humorous #NovemberReads #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagramalabama #bookstagrammichigan #bookreviews #bookreviewer #bookrecommendations #readalittlelearnalittlelivealittle #ebooks #librarybooks #Hoopla
Jimm Juree Case Files #1
Colin Cotterill
"There is a time when a woman is so filled with mysteries that she either seeks the answers or explodes like a stick of dynamite in a jelly fish."
This is book one in a new series by Colin Cotterill. I read every one of the 17 book in his previous series, Dr Siri Paiboun and enjoyed them all. This series, The Jimm Juree Case Files appears to have 4 books thus far. The Funeral Photographer is the introduction to the series. We meet the Photographer (also the narrator and protagonist), her original assignment as a part-time social events reporter and learn that her real interest is crime journalism. She also discloses how she came to work as a funeral photographer.
Her mother, she notes, purchased a rundown resort by selling the family home without advanced notice to any of them. The Lovely Bay Resort and Restaurant was subsequently demolished by a monsoon. They learned that her family is terrible at running a resort but, oddly, are quite good at solving crimes.
This book is a a short story or novella, the subsequent books are all about the same length. It is a fun, quick read taking place in Thailand. Naturally, it introduces the reader to the upcoming crimes. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#EmptyNestReader #TheFuneralPhotographer #NumberOne #JimmJureeCaseFiles #ColinCotterill #mysteryfiction #Humorous #NovemberReads #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagramalabama #bookstagrammichigan #bookreviews #bookreviewer #bookrecommendations #readalittlelearnalittlelivealittle #ebooks #librarybooks #Hoopla
March 28, 2023
I have just read and thoroughly enjoyed The Motion Picture Teller by the same author and while looking up the author found this series. Another series by this author had for a long time been one of my favourites and so I jumped at the chance of this one even though I had not really got on with the the full length books about Jimm Juree.
I have to say that I really didnt see the point of this short story. May be I missed something but I didnt really understand which part of this short story was the 'case' that the introduction, apart from being an advert for the full length stories about this character, told me that it was.
Sorry, I wont be continuing with.them.
I have to say that I really didnt see the point of this short story. May be I missed something but I didnt really understand which part of this short story was the 'case' that the introduction, apart from being an advert for the full length stories about this character, told me that it was.
Sorry, I wont be continuing with.them.
March 26, 2024
The first book in this series has just been set to free.
December 19, 2020
I downloaded Kindle just to read these and it was absolutely worth it. I love Colin Cotterill, and I love Jimm Juree. She may be my favorite female protagonist. This was a delightful short story, period. I look forward to reading them all.
October 9, 2021
This was a quick fun short story. I like the authors humor. I will look forward to reading more by him.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews