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Bangkok Delusions
Scott Marshall was something of a cliché. Divorced and alone he headed to Bangkok in search of something, anything. Ting, shy and innocent caught his eye. She smiled at him. For the first time in his life Marshall left his inhibitions to one side and dived in to an exciting new life. But was the delectable Ting all that she seemed? On his journey he meets the affable but hopeless Bob Lowe; economically trapped in Thailand and addicted to the sex and booze so readily available on the streets of the Big Mango. With equal amounts of joy, despair and even at times hope Zach J Brodsky takes us on a tour of an array of absurd characters all milling around a small area of Bangkok. Laugh out loud humour interspersed with tragedy.
229 pages, ebook
Published November 26, 2018
100 people are currently reading
58 people want to read
About the author
Zach J. Brodsky
6 books6 followersZach J Brodsky spent much of his youth traipsing around the world where he was fascinated by observing people and creating absurd back stories in his mind about their lives and with it he created an endless list of characters. He roamed around East and Southern Africa in the early 1990s sneaking into what was Zaire to spend some time with mountain gorillas, and later travelled extensively in India, Nepal, South East Asia and the West Coast of the USA. Zach experimented with traditional employment for many years before deciding to base himself in Bangkok where he began to observe all the oddities that Bangkok has to offer. Ultimately motivating him to try and patch some characters together in creating his first full novel "Bangkok Delusions".
Zach continues to roam the globe milling around South East Asia and quietly observing places and events that might inspire a new storyline.
Zach continues to roam the globe milling around South East Asia and quietly observing places and events that might inspire a new storyline.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 24, 2019
A fun read! It took a few chapters to warm up, but I was quickly sucked into the lives of the characters and was eager to read on to see how their stories developed. A fascinating look at the various corners of the expat scene in big Asian cities. In the same spirit as Crazy Rich Asians, but a look at the seedy underbelly instead of the ritzy social elite.
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February 20, 2020It was very interesting and sucked you into the world of Nana. Though I had a hard time believing Scotty was THAT dumb!
January 28, 2025
Zach Brodsky’s Bangkok Delusions offers a vivid and unapologetic glimpse into the lives of its protagonists, painting an intricate portrait of Bangkok’s underbelly. The novel weaves together the personal journeys of a handful of characters, each grappling with their own flaws, choices, and circumstances. What sets this book apart is how Brodsky crafts endings that, while not tragic, are deeply poignant—each character’s shortcomings are justified through their humanity. As the narrative reminds us, as adults, we must bear the responsibility of our own decisions, however flawed they may be.
Take, for instance, Scotty Marshall, whose story is among the most tragic yet illuminating. Scotty, utterly duped by Ting and her cunning mentor Pinky, represents the archetypal "freshly picked farang moron" (page 39). Pinky, a jaded 34-year-old veteran of nearly two decades in the trade, is a character readers may despise, but her backstory invites a grudging empathy. Her actions, while ruthless, are almost inevitable given her circumstances. Brodsky doesn't ask for sympathy but forces readers to understand the mechanisms that fuel such exploitation.
Alf Hayes, on the other hand, fancies himself a savvy navigator of Bangkok’s murky world, believing he knows the threads that hold the city’s chaos together. Yet even Alf faces moments of moral reckoning, as seen on page 16, where he rebukes taunting punters and delivers a half-hearted sermon on morality to a pregnant woman roaming the streets. These glimpses of his humanity underscore the tension between his self-perceived control and the city’s overpowering reality.
Then there’s Rob Lowe, whose existence is deliberately depicted as vermin-like, a life that parallels cockroaches and rats. Brodsky uses Rob’s comfort in his squalor to reflect his complete resignation to the grim realities of his life. His encounter with Susie Horare, a tragic tryst between two individuals at their lowest points, feels less like a romantic arc and more like a mutual surrender to despair—a trade in tragedy rather than love.
Brodsky’s descriptive vocabulary and keen eye for detail elevate the novel, immersing the reader in both the setting and the characters. The sights, smells, and sounds of Bangkok are rendered with such precision that the city becomes more than just a backdrop—it’s a living, breathing entity that shapes and consumes its inhabitants. Every protagonist, no matter how flawed, is imbued with enough depth to evoke empathy, even if their decisions are hard to stomach.
Bangkok Delusions is not a tale of redemption but rather an unfiltered exploration of human choices and the environments that shape them. Brodsky’s ability to balance humor, tragedy, and sharp social commentary makes this book a compelling, if unsettling, read. It’s a reminder that life, much like Bangkok itself, is chaotic, zany, and often unforgiving.
Take, for instance, Scotty Marshall, whose story is among the most tragic yet illuminating. Scotty, utterly duped by Ting and her cunning mentor Pinky, represents the archetypal "freshly picked farang moron" (page 39). Pinky, a jaded 34-year-old veteran of nearly two decades in the trade, is a character readers may despise, but her backstory invites a grudging empathy. Her actions, while ruthless, are almost inevitable given her circumstances. Brodsky doesn't ask for sympathy but forces readers to understand the mechanisms that fuel such exploitation.
Alf Hayes, on the other hand, fancies himself a savvy navigator of Bangkok’s murky world, believing he knows the threads that hold the city’s chaos together. Yet even Alf faces moments of moral reckoning, as seen on page 16, where he rebukes taunting punters and delivers a half-hearted sermon on morality to a pregnant woman roaming the streets. These glimpses of his humanity underscore the tension between his self-perceived control and the city’s overpowering reality.
Then there’s Rob Lowe, whose existence is deliberately depicted as vermin-like, a life that parallels cockroaches and rats. Brodsky uses Rob’s comfort in his squalor to reflect his complete resignation to the grim realities of his life. His encounter with Susie Horare, a tragic tryst between two individuals at their lowest points, feels less like a romantic arc and more like a mutual surrender to despair—a trade in tragedy rather than love.
Brodsky’s descriptive vocabulary and keen eye for detail elevate the novel, immersing the reader in both the setting and the characters. The sights, smells, and sounds of Bangkok are rendered with such precision that the city becomes more than just a backdrop—it’s a living, breathing entity that shapes and consumes its inhabitants. Every protagonist, no matter how flawed, is imbued with enough depth to evoke empathy, even if their decisions are hard to stomach.
Bangkok Delusions is not a tale of redemption but rather an unfiltered exploration of human choices and the environments that shape them. Brodsky’s ability to balance humor, tragedy, and sharp social commentary makes this book a compelling, if unsettling, read. It’s a reminder that life, much like Bangkok itself, is chaotic, zany, and often unforgiving.
September 27, 2025
A new "Lowe"
If you have ever heard of (or even if you haven't) Bob Lowe you will enjoy Bangkok Delusions. If you've read any of the "Bob Lowe" mystery this is for all intents and purposes, a prequel. You'll read about "Lowe 1.0" and a cast of other characters. If you haven't read any of the Bob Lowe books, then this is a good starting point. You get all the backstory first. I would definitely recommend this book and the others in the series. Great light reading and they're relatively short. Brodsky is a good author. I think you'll like him.
If you have ever heard of (or even if you haven't) Bob Lowe you will enjoy Bangkok Delusions. If you've read any of the "Bob Lowe" mystery this is for all intents and purposes, a prequel. You'll read about "Lowe 1.0" and a cast of other characters. If you haven't read any of the Bob Lowe books, then this is a good starting point. You get all the backstory first. I would definitely recommend this book and the others in the series. Great light reading and they're relatively short. Brodsky is a good author. I think you'll like him.
October 24, 2020
A fun, quick read.
November 23, 2020
No Plot
I am not sure how to describe this book. It basically tells of the misadventures of prostitution and the drug trade with scamming in both.
I am not sure how to describe this book. It basically tells of the misadventures of prostitution and the drug trade with scamming in both.
November 18, 2022
When someone is so focused on chasing their dreams, they usually miss warning signs.
September 16, 2024
Fun and quirky look into the seedy underbelly of Bangkok.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews