Down and Out in Kathmandu

Zelda Richardson Mystery #0

by Jennifer S. Alderson

Librarian's Note: This is an Alternate Cover Edition for ASIN: B019GGAO0O.

Zelda wants to teach children English and “find herself” in Kathmandu. Ian wants to get stoned and trek the Himalayas. Tommy wants to get rich by smuggling diamonds. How their stories collide will leave you on the edge of your seat!

Travel from the dusty, tout-filled streets and holy sites of Nepal to the sultry metropolises and picture-perfect beaches of Thailand, as Zelda and Ian try to outsmart the smugglers and escape Asia alive.

This fast-paced, thrilling travel mystery set in Nepal and Thailand is sure to captivate readers thirsty for some armchair adventure. Down and Out in Kathmandu: A Backpacker Mystery is the perfect book for lovers of dark humor, backpacker fiction and (mis)adventure novels.

This novel is a PREQUEL to the amateur sleuth mysteries Zelda gets involved with in the Zelda Richardson Mystery Series.


Author's note: I removed several swear words from this novel and republished it on July 31, 2018. Same great story, now with less swearing! PG-13 rating.

Related subjects include: thrillers, action, adventure, suspense, intrigue, travel fiction, Asian travel, backpacking, smuggling, volunteering, Kathmandu, trekking, cultural heritage, dark humor, international adventure.

Genres: Mystery, Adventure, Fiction, Thriller, Contemporary

227 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 22, 2015

About the author

Hi! I am an American expat currently living in Amsterdam. After traveling extensively around Asia, Oceania, and Central America, I moved to Darwin, Australia, before finally settling in the Netherlands. When not writing, you can find me in a museum, biking around Amsterdam, or enjoying a coffee along the canal while planning my next research trip.

My love of travel, art, and culture inspires my award-winning Zelda Richardson Art Mystery series, Travel Can Be Murder Cozy Mysteries, and Carmen De Luca Art Sleuth Mysteries.

Connect with me here on Goodreads, Facebook, Instagram, or my website.

Thanks for stopping by!

Reviews

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

The blurb describes this book as an adventure by Zelda Richardson, a volunteer teacher in Nepal. She is not trained as a teacher, having quit her job in a computer company in Seattle. The book is told from the perspective of 3 people, Zelda, Ian, an Australian who has come to Nepal to use recreational drugs, and Tommy, a Canadian who smuggles diamonds.
Pros-- The author clearly has spent time in Nepal, describing in vivid detail the sights, sounds and smells unfamiliar to an American.
Quotes:
Exiting the airport--"As the doors slid open, her nasal cavities were assaulted by a wave of feces, unknown spices, and body odor."
Traffic--"Insane motorcyclists, belching buses, three wheeled breadboxes, kamikaze bicycles and brightly dressed woman competed with her cab for room."
Walking in Kathmandu--"By the time she had reached her first major turn, Zelda had stepped in too many piles of cow,goat, dog and human shit to count."
Cons-- There is too much time spent on describing Ian's buying and smoking marijuana(a whole chapter) and then another chapter on buying and smoking hashish. The author probably wanted to establish the fact that Ian was prone to making stupid decisions.

The plot resolves all the various threads satisfactorily. I rate it 3.5 out of 5 stars(rounded up to 4)
Thanks to the author for sending me this ebook.

[J. Schlenker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast paced and an easy read, and hard to put down. There were three main characters, Zelda, Ian and Tommy. I could relate to Zelda on a few different levels, her unpreparedness and not having too much of a clue. And, also the teacher part (have substituted and tutored) and taking off to a foreign country on her own. Have also done that, although, not Nepal. Still she managed to survive and I believe is wiser for the experience.

Ian - you have to have the rugged, handsome Australian trekker with dreadlocks to make the story complete. However, Ian didn't seem to do much trekking. He was more interested in smoking pot than anything else. His idea of love I found a bit shallow. I think the reward of his adventure was finding a true friend in Zelda.

As for Tommy, he was my least favorite character, but he was needed for the plot.

I could easily imagine the Nepal culture, as it seemed to be similar to the Indian culture, which I'm familiar with. The author paints a good picture.

[Janice Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. What a ride.
It isn't every day you find a book that keeps you up late and is hard to put down. Down and Out in Kathmandu was such a book.
We were all there once, young, idealistic and self-centered. Zelda, Ian, Tommy - looking for adventure and meaning, finally realizing that they were responsible for their own actions and happiness.
The story builds slowly, teasing you until the final chapters. I was holding my breath.
Definitely a 5 star read.

[Jennifer S. Alderson]

Loosely based on my own experiences traveling around Southeast Asia, Down and Out in Kathmandu is meant to be a somewhat silly, slightly cynical, travel adventure story. It offers a peek into the backpacker culture of Nepal and Thailand, and insight into what life can be like for a Westerner volunteering in a developing country. What do you think, did I succeed?

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't sure at first, whether the characters were likable enough to keep me reading. But as I got to know Zelda, who is hopelessly unprepared and naive to be taking a teaching job in Nepal, I found her sympathetic. Ian, an Australian teacher taking time off to come to Nepal for the best dope, doesn't seem like the best person to learn from. And Tommy, the friendless creep, who has gotten himself in deep with the gangster who moves drugs and cash between Thailand and Nepal, is pretty hard to care about. But somehow I wanted to know more, and was glad to see how much self knowledge Zelda had gained from her experience, and I look forward to the next book.

[Joanna Kafarowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zelda Richardson is burnt out and over-worked and decides to follow a dream and travel to Kathmandu, Nepal. She is giddy with excitement at the prospect of making a difference in the world by volunteering at a local school and living with a Nepali family. She wants to fully immerse herself in this vibrant culture. But she is brought down to earth with a bump as the gritty realities of Kathmandu life do not meet her rosy expectations. An on-again, off-again romance with a mysterious and rugged Australian drifter only makes life more complicated. She is determined to stay the course until she inexplicably becomes entangled with a ruthless gang of international smugglers. For every reader who has ever yearned of escaping- be careful what you wish for!

[Robyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reviewed for Mystery Thriller Week 2017

The Book
Zelda Richardson has hit that point in her life where it just doesn’t feel…right. Her job is not bringing her any fulfillment and she feels like she’s wasting her life and missing out on potentially incredible experiences while stuck behind her desk. Taking the decision to quit and sign up for a volunteer program teaching kids in Kathmandu, Nepal may not have been the easiest thing to do, but she’s going to make a go of it, even if it kills her. Meeting Ian at the airport little does she realise that their paths will cross with potentially devastating consequences.

What I liked
1. My aunt travelled to Nepal, she also stayed with locals and helped out at schools and I truly appreciated the personal connection that immediately came with this book. It felt like I knew the concept having read so many of my Aunts blog posts.
2. Zelda doesn’t go to Nepal bursting with confidence and I imagine that this’d be how I would react too… hesitant, a little unsure about whether it was the right decision. But still damned determined to make it work. It’s something many experience – that feeling that a change is needed – but that few follow through on.
3. There’s a subtle hint of humour and wit in Down and Out which I enjoyed, though I admit it may not capture many, I found myself chuckling at a few of the characters and their responses to the situations in which they found themselves.
4. Ian. Ah the underwhelming, slightly dodgy Aussie. I love Australians. My god father is Australian. My uncle and his family are too. He’s bumbling and silly and hopeless but has such an amazing heart and desire for adventure. I loved him.
5. Tommy. Now that guy. I initially didn’t like him. The typical macho male, arrogant and cocky and almost contaminated with ego issues. But, for some reason I really enjoyed him. He had me sitting there thinking that I really, really shouldn’t like him, but he’s so… oblivious, it’s funny. Like, he tries to be a badass but really just ends up looking like an emotional donkey.

What I disliked
1. It was a bit too slow in progression. I had anticipated far more action on the diamond lord front, and while we do get to see quite a bit of the dark underworld of diamond smuggling, it’s only much later in the book where it picks up to being really captivating.
2. The reaction she has when saying goodbye to her Nepalese family confused me. I mean, she spends most of her time disliking them, and I’ll admit I feel she was justified there, but then suddenly finds enlightenment and understanding only to still run away without looking back? I dunno… it just didn’t sit well with me.
3. In fact, her entire reaction to her family and their ways was a bit off. I mean, they’re opening their home up to you – be a little more pleasant about it? I dunno if I just caught the wrong end of the stick here though so yeah…
4. Zelda is waaaaayyyyy to judgy. I mean, she’s not exactly perfect but seems to spend a fair amount of time identifying the not-to-pleasant in others. Battling her own insecurities and fears I’d have expected her to embrace people with a bit more openness. Maybe I misunderstood her?

Conclusion
While it could have been a little quicker in pace, I really enjoyed it. It shows just how easily one can succumb to temptation, and also that every dog does indeed get his day. Adventure, diamonds, travel and culture abound and while I may not have seen eye to eye with her, I look forward to meeting Zelda again on her next adventure.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actual rating is probably 4.75 stars. The missing quarter star is for the few quirks I describe below. However, for the sake of the Goodreads rating system I'm giving this book 5 recorded stars

Wow, this was a really fun book to read. It made me want to dig out an old backpack from storage and hit the road for a month long trek to "nowhere". Ok, maybe life itself sends me fantasizing about this scenario without the help of the book BUT it still was a fun read. I've traveled all over Europe but have never made it to Asia. Someday I would love to get to Kathmandu, Mongolia, and Tibet (I can dream, right?) but in the meantime it was fun reading about it instead.

The author Jennifer S. Alderson is extremely talented! I loved her writing. I cannot understand why she has not been published by any number of the big companies. (Forgive me for my naiveté if the lack of publication is a personal choice) However, I can see where it might be difficult to find the correct landing place for her book. I myself have trouble coming up with exactly what genre this book falls into. Which in no way is a bad thing! I actually think it is part of this book's charm as it covers so many genres and is very unique and not a copycat of any other book I've read. Now having said all of that, I could see this book being marketed as a more sophisticated cozy type mystery. Now wait.!!!!! I know when I say "cozy mystery" some people will scoff off and roll their eyes because those stories sometimes are so cutsie you fear saccharine poisoning. But THIS book could be a whole new sub-genre in cozies. A "cozy mystery" for a younger set. A "cozy" for people who live in the real word. A "cozy" with an edge! A cozy with sex and real life problems! I would for sure read these books. (I guess I should say this here..... I do plan on continuing with this series too.)
Ok, now that I've digressed far from the review of THIS book, let me get back to it. I am so close to giving this book an extremely rare 5 star rating except for a couple of nit picking craw stickers.
1. The lead character Zelda just seems a bit "off" to me. She is kind of dumb, I don't think it's inexperience but rather she comes across as kind of an airhead. (forgive me Jennifer if she truly is based on you. I don't think so because the other characters are so well written and have not got this flaw). I'd like to see Zelda somehow grow up really QUICKLY.
2. I think I got a contact buzz just from reading. Holy smokes (haha I crack myself up) there was a lot of spliff talk in this book. Maybe I'm just old and not the exact intended demographic but I could have used a little less drug use without consequence. I keep thinking about all the evil of drugs talks I've given my son lately. (He's 14)

So-- friends read this book! Take a chance, give it a try. I suspect you will not be disappointed. Support a great Indie writer!

In compliance with FTC guidelines------I received this book free from Goodreads Giveaway in exchange for an honest review. The content of this review is not influenced by that fact. The feelings expressed are solely mine. I sincerely appreciate the chance to read and review this book.

[Pamela Allegretto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zelda Richardson ditches her secure computer-programming job in Seattle and heads to Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, to work as a volunteer English teacher, in what turns out to be an undisciplined, free-for-all classroom. Nevertheless, this somewhat naïve but gutsy young woman is determined not to allow this country and its 25-plus million people get the better of her, even as her preconceived romanticized notions are quickly squelched. However, it’s not only the country she collides with, but also, the charming Australian trekker who ends up more fixed on drugs and alcohol than scaling the Nepalese peaks.

Alderson’s portrayal allows the reader to view the underbelly of the city, with all its smells and sounds, its chaos and pathos. In fact, Kathmandu becomes its own character and leaves the reader to decide if it’s an antagonist or protagonist.

This is a well-researched (on site experience) and entertaining read for both armchair travelers and trekkers.

[Robert Krenzel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Down and Out in Kathmandu takes the reader not only to Nepal, but also into the minds of self-centered twenty-somethings as they fumble their way toward self-discovery and perhaps a little bit of wisdom.

The author brings Nepal to life. The descriptive detail leaves no doubt that she has been there and done that, and the vivid prose takes the reader along for the ride.

The characters are brilliantly conceived. They are not necessarily likable, but they are very real. Their many flaws make them all the more relatable.

The plot is really several plots that all converge at the end. I am still undecided as to whether Tommy and his storyline make the plot stronger or weaker.

Overall, Down and Out is a fun read, and I look forward to Zelda's next adventure!

[Kathy]

one of several books I tried out with a view toward trying out authors new to me...this one is not for me

[Tripfiction]

Novel set in Nepal and Thailand (“a silly carefree tourist”)

This review first appeared on our blog: http://www.tripfiction.com/novel-set-...

Three strong characters appear in this novel, Zelda, Ian and Tommy. How their paths cross is part of the storyline’s progression and the reader is kept guessing until the end.

Zelda is from Canada, has stepped off the work treadmill for a while, and opted to join a charitable scheme for a few weeks based in Nepal, teaching local children. Her accommodation is provided and she is soon, somewhat uncomfortably, ensconced with her family. She had hoped for authentic lodgings, with thangkas on the wall, and other local paraphernalia to colour her life, but sadly she finds herself in a bit of a concrete jungle.

She is not a natural traveller (she the silly carefree tourist of the title) and finds her bile rising as she succumbs to scams. Teaching is not her natural forte, consequently she finds herself challenged on more fronts than she can tolerate. She is also focussed on comparisons between home and Nepal, and although she tries to catch herself doing it, she does stray into the territory of the whinger. And a whinging tourist doesn’t make for an edifying read.

Ian has taken a break from teaching in Australia, is a bit of a pothead, and he is a fast worker as he has grown his hair into dreadlocks especially for this adventure. Needless to say he gets himself into some scrapes along the way.

Tommy is based in Thailand – a bit of a surprise bearing in mind the title – and a fair proportion of the story takes place there. He is an unlikeable waster, who thinks he has an eye for the girls, but is an insecure pretend playboy. An insufferable buffoon, basically.

All three in their different ways take on gangland mobsters, and this is where the story becomes a little implausible. Amateur travellers take on big time gangsters. Goons and henchmen abound and ‘the boys in blue” also get a look-in. It is in the latter half of the book that the competent writing at the start begins to wane, and annoying typos creep in – is body order the same as body odour, I wondered? If not, what is it? “what a second, should, I imagine, be wait a second and a sentence like “..taking him for a fool just like him mom” left me scrabbling for the sense. The Khao San Road morphs into the Kho San Road and whether the sentence “it was the same day she’d gone on a hike with Ganesh the other volunteers in the Kathmandu Valley..” is missing punctuation, a word or simply features a typo, I am not sure. More than a couple of errors can rather impact on the reading experience. It is imperative, always, as an author to engage the services of a reputable proof reader.

Interestingly the author has chosen to have the content type set to the left. Books are usually (just check any random book on your shelf) centred and there is a reason for this. The eye, as it skims across the text from one side to the other, needs the regular straight boundary at the edge of the block text, both left and right. However, when the eye has to keep searching out the end of the line, the fluidity is jarred and the reading experience is impaired. It becomes a ragged read rather than smooth flowing and pleasurable.

The locale is certainly hot and steamy and successfully brings to life the trip Zelda undertakes in the company of her guide, Khamel, to, for example, Swayambhunath Monkey Temple – this outing is well rendered (the temple was sadly damaged in the Nepal Earthquake of 25 April, 2015). Kathmandu really doesn’t come across as an easy place. Money is the main language and Zelda finds herself preoccupied with the dirt and squalor.

Finally to the cover. Block colours are often shorthand for a manual rather than a novel. “Adventures in Backpacking” which appears under the main orange title is pretty much lost, as black on dark blue simply doesn’t stand out sufficiently clearly. Nor am I sure that the composition works – is the main image a stupa? And what of those rather beady orange eyes looking out at the potential reader? They left me feeling a bit creeped out. I think I would also find it irritating, as an author, that the cover artwork isn’t centred, that there is more red background on the right than on the left…. but hey, each to their own about what is acceptable and what isn’t…

This book is however a reasonably solid read, and if some of the content issues are addressed in the next print run, then it is worthy of a good 3.75* book to take to Kathmandu because it does convey the venal, buzzy feel of the city.

[Elizabeth Lloyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Down and Out in Kathmandu" is the first adventure of Zelda Richardson. I came to it having already met the determined Zelda on her second adventure in "The Lover’s Portrait." In this earlier story, Zelda has just left her secure IT job in Seattle to volunteer as an English teacher near Kathmandu for 3 months. Nepal proves to be a culture shock and the work a hard task for a young woman with no teaching experience or training. She must live with a Nepali family who live a more western life than she had expected and yet she has to adapt to a very different diet including freshly slaughtered goat.

But first Zelda encounters Ian, an Australian backpacker who has taken a break in his teaching career to find pleasure and marijuana in Kathmandu. They spend time together exploring the city, but part when Zelda commences her volunteer work. With his dreadlocks and casual attitude, Ian seems less appealing than Zelda, but gradually I warmed to him.

The third character in the novel was a surprise. Tommy is an unpleasant wastrel, bumming around in Thailand but wishing to return to Toronto as a successful man. He decides to make his fortune by double-crossing the Greek, a gangster for whom he smuggles jewels. He is doomed to fail but what can this have to do with Ian and Zelda?

The three threads are drawn together towards the end of the story after we follow Zelda’s failure as a teacher and her anger at the way the Rana family try to use her to further their ambitions for their children. Jennifer Alderson’s knowledge of Kathmandu bring the poverty, dirt, danger and beauty to life and add credibility to the dramatic later chapters. It is events in the city which most caught my imagination but Zelda’s experiences based on Jennifer’s life are very interesting. I would like to have read more about her experiences but this would have weakened the structure of the dramatic events.

A very readable story set in a fascinating world and a great introduction to this likeable heroine and I will follow my interest in Nepal and Thailand by reading Jennifer’s book "Notes of a Naive Traveler."

[Jacqueline (Fall In Love With The Sound of Words) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has been on my radar for some time when I came across it in a Goodreads giveaway. I was fortunate enough to come across it again during the Mystery Thriller Week. Needless to say, I was pretty damn excited to be able to reach out to the author and read her novel.
I am an avid adventurer! I love everything about going out and traveling the world, getting lost and finding yourself. I was totally jealous of Zelda Richardson’s ability to leave everything behind and start an adventure. I can really get behind her need to experience the nitty gritty of the culture. However, Zelda’s naivety of the touch western culture has on just about everything was her downfall. The second downfall was how angry she got at anything that did not go her way! She came off often as privileged and entitled. However, she was still a very likable character, whom I felt really grew as she continued through her experiences.
I kind of adored Ian, despite his obsession with getting high…but hey, he was on vacation. He was very chill, and just kind of wanted to have a good time. I think he was very good at smoothing Zelda’s sharpness.
I have to say I wasn’t too thrilled with the middle of this story. It drags on a bit with very little action, romance, or even adventuring. You get to see Zelda interacting with her students and her new family, but most of the time she is whiny and feeling sorry for herself, granted the family wasn’t so great. Ian was the one who did all the adventuring but his parts were small. I would have loved to see more of the Nepalese setting.
However, the ending was amazing. It was fast paced and I had no idea which direction it would go. I am very happy with the outcome, and I can’t wait to read more of Zelda Richardson’s travels!
Happy Reading,
Jackie

[Melissa Burovac · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I initially took to be a story about a traveler teaching English in Nepal turned out to be a thriller with a gang of diamond smugglers and intrigue.
I loved the detail of Kathmandu and Thailand, the main characters, the families and the villains. I would have liked to hear more about the children she taught, but I could feel her humiliation as a teacher.
Full of confidence as she began her trip, Zelda goes back and forth between that and complete self-doubt, depending on what situation she finds herself in. As a traveler, I could identify with that!
I enjoyed this book, it kept me interested until the end.

[Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to check the genre tags a few times while listening to this book. This wasn't a mystery, there was nothing mysterious going on. Nothing to unravel. 80% of the book was Zelda complaining about the volunteer teaching situation she was in and the people she was surrounded by and Ian smoking up. The only suspenseful piece was at the very end of the book and that lasted a few pages.

This book was more a journey of a couple people in a poor foreign country for a couple months who talk about their experiences. Then-something-happens-the-end.

The writing was good... I didn't hate this book, but it was not what I expected when reading the synopsis and some reviews. I was really confused for a while, I kept expecting something to happen and it never really did. There was nothing fast-paced about this book. If you want a cozy mystery without the mystery then this might be a good book for you.

I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[Lucia Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zelda leaves Seattle for Nepal...and that's where it starts. This books pulls you in slowly, but keeps a good hold. Nepal's descriptions are fascinating, and definitely go far beyond the experiences of the casual visitor. Zelda seems a bit naive as a traveler, especially in the beginning, but it made me admire her courage even more, to experience a country like Nepal by immersing herself in the Nepalese culture, teaching English, and learning Nepali. The book doesn't shy away from the misunderstandings between cultures that occur as Zelda tries to navigate her journey. The story woven through Zelda's experience—of thugs, missing diamonds, fellow travelers, and the adventures of Tommy and Ian—make the book a fun and captivating read!

[Sandy McKenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent read.

A well written and unputdownable read set in Nepal and Thailand.
Zelda is in Nepal as a volunteer teacher with no experience, Ian is an Aussie teacher come hippie on a backpacking holiday , and would-be man of the world, Tommy is looking for adventure in Thailand. The three innocently become embroiled in some rather nerve wracking escapades along the way.
Brilliantly written and nail biting at times; I thoroughly enjoyed this book and cannot recommend it highly enough.

[M.P. Tonnesen · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an adventurous ride!
Gorgeous descriptions of exotic settings make this exciting tale of Zelda's adventures come alive.
I loved joining the ups and downs of travelling and volunteering in Nepal, vividly told through the three very different stories of dubious Canadian Tommy, laid-back Australian Ian, and of course, spirited American Zelda.
A great read for globetrotters and armchair travellers alike!

[Andrew Cairns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. After about twenty pages or so, you find yourself immersed in the sights, smells, sounds, and squalor of Kathmandu - following the adventures of the two main characters, Zelda and Ian. From then on, it's a real page-turner / screen-swiper as the thrills unfold. Part travelogue, part thriller, and part voyage of self-discovery - the book works well in all these genres. I would have liked to have found out a bit more about the various beliefs and practices of people in Nepal, which are described rather briefly here; I suppose I will have to check out her other book, "Notes of a Naive Traveler: Nepal and Thailand", which goes into more detail on this.

[Dora Ilieva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Down and Out in Kathmandu: a Backpacker Mystery by Jennifer S. Alderson is the funny and exciting story of Zelda Richardson, a young American who, fed up with her all-consuming Seattle job, signs up as a volunteer teacher in Nepal. With empathy and realism, the author describes the daily struggles and frequent disappointments of the naïve, pure-hearted young woman. The book offers vivid descriptions of the Nepalese capital and intriguing insights into the culture and customs of the local population. Added to the valuable depiction of a world many of us don’t really know is the thrilling story of a diamond-running ring whose suave, but ruthless boss threatens the life and security of the already beleaguered heroine. I had a lot of fun reading the book and also learned a few things that I hadn’t thought about earlier. I look forward to reading Notes of a Naïve Traveller by the same author.

[Beth Baer · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 really

[251 Things To Do · Rating 5 out of 5]

Down and Out Kathmandu includes adventurous tall tales of the virgin backpacker. Along the way, the protagonist. meets Ian the seductive Australian, and Tommy the twit. Nepal and Thailand are the highlighted countries where the author divulges cultural content and life lessons from her experiences. Nothing is as she expects…which is why traveling is so awesome, always full of surprises, especially when it’s done blindly.

An excellent novel full of travel stories for the new or current backpacker. Anyone who has backpacked, thrown themselves naively into another culture, will be able to relate to this, and should read it. The story events become more extreme bordering between non-fiction and fiction, but that’s all part of the fun!

[Emma Debruyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

GOODREADS GIVEAWAY
I would love to travel but unfortunatly I do not have the money for it. That is one of the reasons why I love to read, it's my way to travel. This week I went to Kathmandu for 3 months to volunteer at a Nepalese school, I've met an Australian guy and escaped the whrath of a diamond smuggler. Quite an eventfull trip but I loved it!

[Isa (Bookishlifetime)]

I can't wait to read this book! It might have to wait untill I am finisched with my tbr-shelf but I will tro to read it as soon as possible! Thank you for the possibility to win this book!

[Nix Buttons]

I started reading this book but couldn't continue for a few weeks and have to read it again from the start.

[Norma · Rating 3 out of 5]

( Format : Audiobook )
"money seemed to be the most worshipped... "
Love the cover.
In the review of her own story, author Jennifer Alderson describes her book, Down and Out in Kathmandu, as, 'a somewhat silly, slightly cynical, travel adventure story,' and wonders if she has succeeded in providing the reader with this. Absolutely! Two twenty somethings meet in the visa queue at the airport to enter Nepal, neither having had the foresight to equip themselves with one before travelling. Zelda, from Seattle, is a successful computer programmer who still doesn't know what she wants to do with her life. So she'd quit her job for three months of volunteer teaching the unfortunate in Nepal. Ian, from Australia, is a teacher, and he knows exactly what he wants: to fill his sabbatical with some tracking (but not too much) and the lots and lots of cheap drugs friends have told him are easily available there. Both, but especially silly Zelda, are somewhat naive, self pitying and, again, in Zelda' s case, almost perpetually whiny. Had they been teenagers, just freed from parental apron strings, they would still have been pathetic, but understandable. In mid to late twenties? Then there's Tommy, a Canadian, based in Thailand who has fallen in with a smuggling operation.

There is very little traveling in this story, although there are momentary glimpsess of the Nepal experience, the teeming streets, tottering buildings, animals, colour, smiling faces and smells. But not enough. There's far more scent of pot wafting through the cafe. And Ian and Zelda's relationship felt force and unrealistic. Plus where, exactly, was the mystery promised in the title? Beyond Zelda's experience being nothing like the one she had anticipated, blogging really adventurous happens until close to the ending when there is a flurry of excitement and action.

So much depends on the narrator for the successful presentation of an Audiobook and, sadly, despite the pleasurable timbre of Renee Dodd's mellow voice, combined with good intonation and clear reading, her Australian accent when voicing Jan was so dreadful, this reader cringed at almost every. syllable. Still, and surpisingly, it was a pleasant read, and my thanks go to the rights holder who, at my request via Audiobook Boom, freely gifted me with a complimentary copy. Would I recommend this book? Yes, but only to a young adult intent on taking the far Eastern backpacking trail of discovery for themselves as a warning to go without unrealistic expectations.

[Randi Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zelda Richardson is burnt out in Seattle and decides to quit her job to volunteer as a teacher in Nepal for three months. She ignores the comment that teaching experience is preferred-after all, it didn't say required. She is very naïve and is hopelessly unprepared for what she find in Nepal, probably like a lot of us privileged westerners would be. This book is loosely based on the author's experience volunteering and traveling around Southeast Asia, and it seems very realistic. She took us behind the scenes to the real country. I could see the filth and feel the throngs of people in the downtown areas, much different from glamorous travelogue photos of the area. The book was stilled lighthearted and funny at times as we watch Zelda learn to teach without cussing at her students or killing them. The first half of the book moves a little slowly describing all this. It also follows Australian teacher/hippie Ian on his backpacking adventure and Canadian Tommy who gets in with the wrong man on a money making venture gone wrong. The last part of the book sees more adventure and all these characters are connected and it ends on a good note. I read this book for the Bon Voyage Book Challenge prompt for Southern Asia. It described the area and life there well and was quite enjoyable.

[Amy Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charming & Adventurous

There's something to be said about reading the dedication of a book. It gives insight behind the writer, and sometimes there is that inkling of who the author is, behind their words, their characters. This is the second book of Alderson's that I've read, and I love this one, too. Adventures in Backpacking to say the least. I love Zelda. She's one of those characters that just stand out because she is relatable. Who doesn't want to escape from burnout, grab a backpack and lead yourself on an adventure. As any good story, Zelda becomes in over her head, and her entanglement is clearly terrifying. I had to read this book from start to finish in one sitting, as I couldn't put it down, not even for a second. The ending had me stunned, finding closure, and hoping for another adventure at the same time. And, always take the time to read the acknowledgement at the end of the book. It's worth the read!

[Aliya DalRae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Colorful descriptions made me feel like I was there

Down and Out in Kathmandu is an exciting journey following three main characters, Zelda, Ian and Tommy. The characters and their journeys couldn’t be any more diverse. While they are each on a path toward “finding themselves”, one wonders how their worlds could possibly collide, and yet Alderson brings them together in a manner that will have your heart racing. However, the thing I enjoyed most about this book were the descriptions. Told in such vivid detail, I truly felt like I was there with Zelda through the sights, sounds and (ugh) smells of Nepal. I can’t say I’m eager to visit in person, but I’m thrilled to have been able to live the experiences through this book. If you like exciting mysteries set in exotic locales, this is the book for you.