Opium

Opium #1

by Colin Falconer

Laos 1960. A sleepy post-colonial backwater, run by generals and at war with the communist Pathet Lao in the north. Corsican gangsters, left behind after the French departure five years before, run the opium trade, flying raw opium out of the mountains to Bangkok and Saigon.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Crime, Mystery, Adventure, Romance, Thriller, War

683 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published October 20, 1994

About the author

Colin Falconer writes fast-paced historical adventures that sweep readers across centuries and continents, from the battlefields of Rome to the intrigues of forgotten empires. His novels blend action, danger, and unforgettable characters in richly imagined worlds.

Born in London, Colin now lives in Australia with his wife and their cocker spaniels. Click FOLLOW for updates on new releases, or join his mailing list for exclusive offers.

Reviews

[T.W. Dittmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This tale of the opium business in Laos starts in the late 1950s, just after the French were ousted from Vietnam.

It is extremely well written, thoroughly researched, and has a great cast of characters. There are a few typographical errors, but the story line is so strong that it's easy to ignore them.

I thoroughly enjoyed it, and would highly recommend it. I'm looking forward to continuing the series.

[Danny Pilling · Rating 5 out of 5]

I originally picked up this book in WH Smiths in the UK when it came out on paperback via Coronet Books in 1994. I had just come back from my first trip around South East Asia and was really suffering from the holiday blues when Larry Rostant's front cover really caught my eye. The full complete book is quite a big read at just under 700 pages and what a read it is! It is quite the epic saga. Following the paths of a number of very interesting characters over 20 years and how there stories are connected is a fascinating read (almost like the movie pulp fiction). This is a true book of escapism and the descriptions are so so vivid especially if you have been to this part of the world. I always wondered over the years why this book was never made into a film? Think The Killing Fields, Air America, Pulp Fiction, The Godfather and Blood Sport all rolled into one. That is the best way to describe this book. Now there's a film I'd like to see!

Opium can easily compete against the likes of The Beach by Alex Garland or the DaVinci Code by Dan Brown. These two books I enjoyed and where made into movies but I think if the same was done to Opium it could lay waste to them both. I have read this book several times over the years and worn out a few paperbacks. Nice to see it digital but I wish it was complete and not in a series.

I don't see Triad listed here which follow's Opium's timeline and has a few surprises thrown in. If you have read the full Opium series, your gonna love Triad!

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where did OPIUM stop and AIR OPIUM start? What mysteries are yet to be felt and savored or seen and abhorred on the peninsula where Viet Nam and Laos lie? The USA is in Viet Nam fighting Communist aggression. Are they welcomed by South Viet Nam or is the USA stupidly strutting while the underworld does not let a stupid strut go to waste? The author reminds the reader through his characters that there are more questions than answers about that war. The steamy heat permeates and heightens the senses to the odors of sex, drugs and murder.

I felt the author taking me deeper into the intrigues of the opium underworld and of the people who populate it. More people, locales, and crimes enter the story, but I find no new redeeming entity.

'Truth is three dimensional so it looks different depending on where you are standing.'

There are no white hats.

Thank you, Mr. Falconer, for a good read.

[Michael Nolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read this book about 20 years ago on this old fashioned substance they called paper & I remember loving it. When I noticed it was on Kindle Unlimited for free I immediately downloaded it to read again.
I still REALLY enjoyed it, don't get me wrong but there's a niggling doubt in my head that this edition has been very heavily edited compared to the version I read 2 decades or so ago. I remember that version being a bit more epic. A bit more 'Godfatherly' ?

I might be wrong. It might be my memory playing tricks on me. Or maybe it's just the Opium? 😜
Anyway apart from nostalgia or real page cuts brining my rating down a star I still heavily recommend this book.👍🏻

[Frangipani · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was an unputdownable book, but I couldn't say that I liked the story?! It was the first time that I ever skipped paragraphs because I found the violence a little too stomach churning (and irrelevant to my understanding of the story). But the twists and turns of the plot were outstanding and devious. Wow, what a story.
Synopsis available at:
[http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/f/c...]

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr. Falconer writes like George Strait sings--straight, no frills, no fluff. His descriptive talent is excellent. Through this book I felt the pain of childbirth, the dirtiest of dirt on my body and clothes, the disregard for other human life, and the despondency that sent people to the Opium dens.

Thank you, Mr. Falconer, for a good read.

[Richard Sutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like every Colin Falconer book I've read, Opium is a real page-turner, but what surprised me is the depth of the family story it reveals and the impact of many of the scenes. It is also a much-needed education. The author reveals a very ugly side of the American Involvement in Southeast Asia in an immersive and relentless way. I felt as if I had been plunged into the back alleys of Vientienne, Saigon and Hong Kong, complete with smells and all the shock of the exotic and the dangerous. The multinational organization at the heart of the title trafficking, surpasses even La Cosa Nostra in the extent of its reach and those it ensnares. More than once, I was reminded of Mario Puzo's The Godfather in how the business irreversibly corrupts everyone whom it touches. Some, touched much worse than others. No one gets a free ride here, or a bail-out. But the power of women stuck into impossible situations, is investigated here very thoroughly and retribution, if not salvation, is possible. The time arc covers decades very convincingly. The characters are real and powerful as is the emotional range they express. I believe this may be Mr. Falconer's best work so far and I look forward to the series opening up from this read. For anyone with an interest in a full view of our Southeast Asian sojourn, this will increase your understanding in many ways that would have been impossible back in the day.

[Irene Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free advance e-copy of this book and have chosen to write an honest and unbiased review. I have no personal affiliation with the author. Another great piece of historical fiction by Colin Falconer. This time he writes about smuggling opium in Asia, the triads and American involvement. This is an extremely well written book with a great plot and excellent development of some very interesting characters one of which is Ruby Wen. Colin tells it like it is. He doesn’t go off half-cocked. He is an author who does his research in order to portray the era and the lay of the land as accurately as possible. He is a true storyteller. ‘Opium’ is well worth the read and I look forward to reading more in this series from Colin in the future.

[Lindsey L. Fay · Rating 5 out of 5]

First book in the series. Loved everyone. I travel quite a bit in this part of the world. So very interesting. You will not put this series down.

[Timo Schmidt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting book that takes you through one of the most turbulent times in Southeast Asian history

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I re-read this book in two days. The read was better the second time.

Again, Mr. Falconer, thank you for a good read.

[Chromatic Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down,it has everything to keep you gripped till the last page

[Alan Porter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional...
Completely brilliant

[Shirley Dagle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Colin Falconer and his publisher should be ashamed.

I just finished the 5 book Opium series. They were very good. I really liked the first 4. Didn't care so much for 5. I don't want to review any of them because I am so upset with the quality of the e-books themselves. I cannot believe the amount of publishing errors, grammar, spelling, incomplete sentences. I am not an English major by any means, however, the errors in all 5 of these books are maddening. I find this to be wide spread in the e-book industry. Whatever happened to simple PROOFREADING? Authors and publishers should be ashamed of themselves. Too bad Mr. Falconer. I have enjoyed your writing but will be very hesitant to purchase any more of your novels. Publishers need to start being responsible for their work. These were just too shoddy.

[Judie · Rating 3 out of 5]

As in Opium, Air Opium soffers from very poor editing - in fact it's even sloppier in Air Opium. While the story is good, I'm abandonning this series due to the poor editing. The sentences aren't complete, there are extra words, missing words, extra punctuation, etc. No book should be put on the market in this state.

Get it right or don't expect people to pay for your less than stellar efforts.

[Jim Galford · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have rated this book this high only because of the historical setting and events described. The story itself is mundane and dripping of unrealistic romance.

[Elizabeth Saunders · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not really my genre - I liked the historical details. The story clips along and I kept reading through to the end. I don't know if I'll read the sequel, though. All of the characters are flawed. You want to know what happens next, but I'm not sure if there are any "good" guys in this story. I received a review copy of this book.

[Divaesque Princess · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, I have mixed thoughts. There were parts I loved, but it seemed to end abruptly and the characters' stories felt unfinished. I am unsure why the stories of the triads were linked to the main characters (unless it was just "background" info?). Anyhow, I would give it 3.5 stars :)

[Judie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and would have given it another star if it had been properly edited and a Francophone had reviewed the French. Mr. Falconer is responsible for the French and for allowing a poorly edited book to be sold. So only 3 stars.

[Jelena Vojvodic · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and exciting book. It reveals a world unfamiliar to me: Indochina, triads, opium smugglers... Some descriptions are so vivid that you could almost sense a sweet smell of opium.

[Don O'goodreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads First Reads giveaway on July 25, 2013. I have not received a copy of the book, thus I have not read it. The rating is just the average reported on Good Reads.

[Rachel]

*downloaded for free on ARE