Maier is a German detective, a former war correspondent, who is hired to track down the heir to a Hamburg coffee empire. The hunt will take Maier into some of the darkest corners of Cambodia where he will encounter many horrifying, historical figures that Cambodia might otherwise prefer to keep secret, such as the White Spider, a Nazi war criminal who reigns over an ancient Khmer temple deep in the jungle.

Maier will uncover an event of mass murder that is far from over and he realizes that he will have to be the one to stand up and stop the murderer before more innocent lives are lost.

It's been about nine years since I read the second book in this Maier Mystery series and I'd been hoping to get back and read this first installment. It's hard to play catch-up when there are so many great new books released every year!

As with my reading of the other volume in the series, I'm impressed with the character of Maier. He seems like the epitome of the anti-hero. While he's not exactly looking to become the hero, he's also not turning his back on it or trying to get rid of the responsibility. He sees a job and he gets it done.

I noted in my review of the second book that Maier maybe relies on luck or good fortune to see him through a job but I didn't notice that as much here. The few times this might occur, I think an argument could be made that he provides for his own good fortune, setting himself in opportunities where good luck is likely to occur.

The book is dark and often depressing. This isn't your typical mystery - it starts that way (the search for a missing person) but it becomes an epic, slow-moving thriller with a movie vibe to it. Author Tom Vater brings the story to life with authentic characters and a deep, involved story.

Looking for a good book? The Cambodian Book of the Dead by Tom Vater is a dark, missing person mystery that becomes a major, mass murder thriller.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

A well-written and interesting thriller/mystery.
THE CAMBODIAN BOOK OF THE DEAD has an intriguing premise: a German private eye is sent to Cambodia to search for a missing heir to a coffee empire. This made the novel stand out from many others currently available.

Maier is a good protagonist, and a good guide to Cambodia - as a foreigner himself, we get to learn about Cambodia and its history through his eyes and over the course of his investigation. His investigation leads him to learn about the darker moments of the country's history, as well as connections to Nazis, etc.

An interesting read. Recommended if you're looking for something a little different.