Anyway, the book is excellent for a first book, but it was confusing, at times, and some of the things which occurred were very implausible, and I was always thinking in terms of, well, would this really happen in real life, would people really react this way? Sometimes, I would say to myself, no, real people would not care, would not be that smart, etc. Other quibbles would be the dialogue - it's like, Pattison constructed so many of his characters' dialogues assuming that 1. our mindsets are Chinese or Buddhist; and 2. we are all following the convoluted plot, and making the same conclusions as the protagonist. It's difficult to explain, but if you read the book, you'll soon see what I mean. Something like, "Sylvia, did you put the dog out?" "Joe, how DARE you! How can you ASK me such a question?" End of conversation. Like, WHAT?? Many of the dialogues go like that, with people making numerous seemingly nonsensical responses to questions or statements, and Pattison assumes we are all following the inuendos.
But for the most part, the book moves quickly, is enjoyable and a good mystery, especially for a first book. I want to buy Water Touching Stone, and hope it's just as good!
I found this story to be a great education and also very entertaining. Tibet, Buddhism and the Chinese regime are indeed interesting subjects and all invoking different and personal emotions. The characters seemed so real and although a few times I did get a little lost (probably my fault, not the authors) it all came together and I was not quite ready for it to end. I am off now to get the next book...
For a first novel, The Skull Mantra is excellent. Shan is every bit as complex and sympathetic a character as Arkady Renko, Marcus Didius Falco, Ian Rutledge, and Smilla Jasperson (both Gorky Park and Smilla's Sense of Snow are cited on my version of The Skull Mantra as comparable debut novels). Yes, there are some coincidences, but one thing life has taught me is that truth really is stranger than fiction, and when authors forget that, and try to edit their storylines to make things seem more plausible, things can really get dull.
The pace is very good, and the dialogue is witty even while being minimalist; there is very little artificial "narration through dialogue" one often encounters while reading fiction in exotic locales. Actually, this may be another reason some reviewers found it confusing. If anything, I personally found Pattison's style more engaging and thought-provoking.
The boldness with which Pattison touches on China's exploitation of Tibet is laudable, and his willingness to play with Tibetan and Chinese spiritualism as plot elements only adds to the unpredictability and entertainment.
All in all, I found this to be an excellent first novel. Though I haven't yet read any of the sequels, they are now on my "Must Read" list.