Interview: John Burdett on his new crime novel The Bangkok Asset

British crime writer John Burdett's half-Thai, half-American Buddhist detective, Sonchai Jitpleecheep, who first appeared in 2003, is back in the sixth novel of the bestselling series, , to be published on August 4. "I think the latest book is the best thing I have ever written," he says. The series, set largely in Bangkok's seedy red-light district, delves into the philosophical musings of the detective as he battles his personal demons while investigating often gruesome crimes. "I have a lurid side to my imagination, but a lot of people seem to have that in common," he says. "A little old grandmother in the US asked me if there were to be more murder victims with worms crawling out of their mouths. When I said I didn't think so, she said, 'Oh, that's a shame'." Burdett always wanted to be a writer, but after studying English and American literature, writer's block forced him to take up law, a profession which took him to Hong Kong for 12 years where he worked in government and private practice. As soon as he could afford to he reverted to his original ambition to be a full-time writer. His first novel was based in 1970s London and the second, , was set in Hong Kong in the last days before the handover to China in 1997. He now divides his time with his Thai partner between his homes in France and Thailand. He talks to

My starting point was Bangkok, a city that continues to intrigue me, and it had to be some kind of police thriller. I needed a vehicle and was drawn to the first-person narrative. I find it far more vivid than the third person. I knew I could not do an indigenous Thai voice, on the other hand the "Western investigator in an Asian city" had already been done. I had to take a deep breath before daring to create a Eurasian cop [there are no Eurasian police officers in Thailand] because I knew I would be accused of arrogance. Nevertheless, as soon as I began to write with that voice I knew it was the only way to achieve the tone and perspective I needed.

I spend a lot of time with Thais from every walk of life and I continue to study the language. Learning about another country is a journey without end and the map is constantly amended. The main thing is to rid one's mind of stereotypes by absorbing as much street-real detail as possible. The novels are a kind of learning in progress.