Bangkok Burning

by Robin Newbold

‘Bangkok Burning’ is a brilliantly unsettling thriller about the dark side of desire. It is also something of a warped love letter to a place teeming with a rogues’ gallery of characters, for this is not just about one man’s struggle but a portrait of a whole city on the brink. Closeted forty-year-old Graham Floyd, trapped by anxiety issues and an abusive marriage, finally escapes, running away from his lifeless existence on a smile and a whim, swapping dreary south London for the brutal chaos of Bangkok. He soon finds himself prey not only to Natasha, the transsexual nightclub schemer he loses his heart to, but in thrall to the slimy American millionaire Svengali who owns her. In a place where Graham is at last true to himself, will he triumph in a fight to the death to get what he really wants?

Paperback

Published January 4, 2021

About the author

Robin Newbold is an author and journalist. Fourth novel, thriller When the Darkness Swallowed the Sun, is out now on Amazon. His work has appeared in Time Out, the South China Morning Post, Bangkok Metro and Gay Times. He is a Crystal Palace fan and lives in sunny Hove.

Reviews

[BA_Wonderer · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Bangkok Burning' is the third novel by Robin Newbold, albeit following seven years after his last effort. It offers some familiar themes: an escape from 'dreary south London' to somewhat hotter and more dangerous climes, these once again being the Thai capital. Newbold follows the advice with respect to writing what you know about (he lived in Bangkok for six years and continues to visit periodically) and in this case, it pays off. This is a better structured and more mature read, and demonstrates an authentic knowledge and experience of Bangkok - its places, spaces and culture - a sense added to by the political backdrop which informs Newbold's storytelling and adds a further layer of malice to the narrative. The rest, however, is fiction. Bangkok Burning follows Graham and his imperfect relationship with Natasha. Escaping from a toxic marriage back at home, at first, Natasha appears to offer Graham what he is looking for - as do his business ventures with her. Unfortunately, Graham finds himself with newer, higher stakes challenges to deal with as his relationship to Natasha leads him to several unsavoury characters. These characters are particularly well imagined. Newbold explores the underbelly of business in the Far East, the consequences of which are often brutal and perhaps not to the taste of all readers. Amongst Newbold's rather detailed descriptions, it is also initially difficult to know how to relate to Graham, courageous in some senses but complicit in one of the story's crimes too. However, it's all too fast moving to enable much lingering and, importantly, humanity eventually comes through.'BB' may leave one or two readers feeling a little queasy, like Graham himself, but it also conveys some evocative prose and serious messages.

[Gemma · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is unlike anything I have read before and I am pleased to say that I really enjoyed it. Newbold's research, knowledge and experience of Bangkok really comes through in the story and brought the city to life, to a point where it became like its own character. A vibrant, dangerous and hedonistic world for individuals to lose themselves in.

Our protagonist Graham is a complex and well-developed character. Initially I struggled to understand his decisions and motivations for his actions however, as the story unfolded and we learned of his backstory and abusive marriage, the pieces fell into place. He is vulnerable in so many ways through his low self esteem and ignorance of the city he has decided to live in. The opportunity to finally be open about his sexuality and fulfill his dream of opening his own club in Bangkok doesn't turn out at all like he expects and we follow him as he becomes embroiled in conflicts with dangerous individuals and is exploited by Natasha, the transsexual woman he loves.

This is a plot driven story with plenty of tension and unexpected moments in the narrative that make you want to keep reading. I became really invested in Graham's journey and I was rooting for him throughout to find his confidence and strength to stand up for himself and seek a better life for his future. It is a bleak read though with very little light among all the darkness. I could have done with some more moments of positivity and happiness to alleviate that a bit and perhaps to give more context for why Graham was so drawn to Bangkok in the first place and determined to stay.

Overall this was a dark and compelling thriller with memorable characters and a book I would recommend for an escapist and gripping read.

Thank you to Reedsy Discovery, The Conrad Press and Robin Newbold for the ARC.

[David Gee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forty-year-old Londoner Graham leaves his wife to start a new life in Bangkok, opening a cabaret bar with a ladyboy lover. The obstacles to this enterprise include corrupt policemen and an American hardman who muscles in on both the business and Graham’s lover. Other rivals meet grisly deaths.

Robin Newbold does not dwell on the glamour and camp of the cabaret scene. He highlights the squalid streets of Patpong and the intense trafficking of young flesh for those visitors who are not in Thailand to admire its temples and beaches. When Graham goes to Cambodia to renew his visa he doesn’t tour Angkor Wat: he visits a genocide museum and bars with teenage prostitutes. Bangkok Burning is a grim, unflinching read.

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thriller of a book with 40 year old Graham leaving Blighty behind for the bright lights of Bangkok to discover himself and to be with Natasha, the nightclub performer he loves.

You are taken on a journey from the backstreets of the Thai capital to South London and back again with an intriguing story of diverse and interesting characters, surrounded by the heady mix of sex, booze and music! Some of them thrive, others just about survive and some are destined to die? Will Graham survive Bangkok Burning?

Passed on!

[Ida Umphers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Graham and Natasha are complex characters similar to ones you'd find in Elmore Leonard or James Ellroy. You'll be alternatively fascinated by them, rooting for them and repelled by them. Their different shadings fit perfectly into the dizzying world that is Bangkok. The author took me into a completely unfamiliar world and spun my head in all kinds of different directions. Need more of this author and this kind of Thai noir fiction.

[Ash HC · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5
Bullet points:
—Why was Graham so fucking naive?
—What happened to Newbold in the last 150 pages? Did he stop caring? Was he bored? Did he suffer a serious injury that caused him to forget how to write? Not that the first 150 pages were brilliant but they were very readable at least. After that I couldn’t tell you what happened. I’ve read better material on the back of a carton of Oat milk.

[Ciara Cunnane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gritty and compelling thriller that focuses on the dark underbelly of the expat scene in the Thai capital. The main character Graham is on a quest to find his true self and his naivety ensures he faces plenty of testing experiences on the way. Despite a lot of darkness and encounters with people of few redeeming characteristics, his journey of self-discovery reaches a satisfying conclusion.

[Martti Orson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bangkok Burning is one of those novels that gets under your skin slowly, then all at once. I finished it feeling unsettled, impressed, and oddly sympathetic toward a protagonist I didn’t always like, but never stopped believing.

Graham Floyd is a deeply flawed central character, and that’s very much the point. A 40-year-old man locked inside his own fears, routines, and self-denial, he arrives in Bangkok carrying more emotional baggage than his suitcase. Newbold captures Graham’s anxiety with uncomfortable precision: the looping thoughts, the social paralysis, the constant self-judgment. It feels lived-in rather than performative, and that authenticity grounds even the book’s more extreme turns.

Bangkok itself is not treated as an exotic playground or mere backdrop. Instead, it’s chaotic, predatory, intoxicating, and strangely honest, a city that strips Graham of his illusions faster than he’s prepared for. The heat, the crowds, the nightlife, and the constant sense of danger all mirror his internal collapse and awakening. Newbold’s prose here is sharp and sensory without being indulgent; you can feel the sweat and tension in nearly every scene.

Natasha is one of the novel’s most compelling figures. She’s not romanticized, nor is she reduced to a trope. Her intelligence, vulnerability, and self-interest coexist in a way that feels painfully real. The relationship between her and Graham is charged, uneven, and morally complicated, which makes it far more believable than a straightforward love story. Likewise, the American “Svengali” who controls her world is suitably repellent, less a cartoon villain than a chilling embodiment of power exercised without conscience.

What surprised me most was how the novel shifts gears in its final stretch. What begins as psychological and emotional disintegration edges into something darker and more primal. The “fight to the death” theme isn’t just literal, it’s about identity, ownership of self, and whether Graham is capable of choosing authenticity over fear. The ending doesn’t offer easy catharsis, but it does feel earned.

Bangkok Burning isn’t a comfortable read, and it doesn’t try to be. It’s a novel about desire, exploitation, self-deception, and the cost of waking up too late or just in time. Robin Newbold takes risks with both subject matter and tone, and while that won’t work for every reader, it worked for me. This is a grim, provocative, and emotionally bruising book that lingers well after the final page.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tired of living a lie, henpecked Graham leaves behind dreary south London and his loveless marriage to start a new life as the owner of a sleazy cabaret bar in Bangkok. This wild throw of the dice sets the scene for a rollercoaster ride through the seamy side of the Thai capital. The pace is relentless as Graham fights for the heart of scheming transsexual Natasha while taking on rival club bosses, pimps, corrupt police and a cast of world-weary ex-pats armed with razor-sharp quips - and worse. Alongside Graham’s struggle to survive Bangkok’s dark underbelly, an unexpected backstory emerges that has the reader rooting for an unlikely hero as he fights for what he deserves.

[Evelyn James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bangkok Burning is a gripping, intense thriller that brilliantly captures both the chaos of Bangkok and the complexity of human desire. The story is thrilling and emotionally charged, with Graham’s journey from repression to self-discovery keeping readers on edge. The characters are vividly drawn, from the scheming Natasha to the menacing Svengali, making every interaction tense and unpredictable. The book is as much a love letter to the city as it is a psychological thriller, blending suspense, danger, and emotional depth. A captivating and unforgettable read that will stay with you long after the last page.

[Nicole Moynahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I admire about Robin Newbold’s writing is that it doesn’t flinch. The scenes in Bangkok Burning are often raw and shocking, but they never feel gratuitous. Instead, they reveal the vulnerability and desperation of the characters.
The moments where Graham thinks about his daughter Emmy were especially powerful. Beneath all the chaos and obsession, he’s still a grieving father and a man who longs to be loved. That emotional thread is what makes the book more than just a gritty portrait of Bangkok nightlife.

[Novel Crush · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Bangkok Burning” by Robin is a gripping and darkly immersive thriller that dives into the complexities of desire and self-discovery. Graham Floyd’s escape from a suffocating life in London to the chaotic streets of Bangkok is both thrilling and unsettling, as he navigates dangerous characters like Natasha and the manipulative Svengali. Robin masterfully captures the city’s energy while exploring themes of love, identity, and survival. Bangkok Burning is a must-read for anyone who enjoys suspense with a raw, emotional edge.

[Olivia Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bangkok Burning is unforgettable because it doesn’t sugarcoat anything. Love here is messy, survival is costly, and escape is often an illusion. Graham’s journey is painful to watch at times, but it’s honest.
I loved how the city is portrayed; vibrant, dangerous, and always burning with contradictions. It’s both the setting and the metaphor for Graham’s own life.
This is the kind of book that stays with you. It’s not easy, but it’s powerful, emotional, and thought-provoking.

[Glen Hudson]

I feel like I need a shower having finished that book.
A book full with hideous characters with no redeeming features who are all the lowest of the low. Even the lead character is a pathetic limp man with no moral high ground

[Amy Aed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant book - I devoured it in a day!

40 year old Graham leaves his old life behind, replacing it with the bright lights of Bangkok. He finds himself caught up in the fast-paced, intense, and somewhat dark dramas within the Thai capital.... and I loved every second.