The Coroner's Lunch

This mystery by Colin Cotteril was recommended by a coworker. She picked it up for the pretty cover. Dr. Siri Paiboun is the state coroner for Laos and he is confronted with a poisoning and three more bodies that could spell trouble for international relations for his country. He uses clues picked up through his medical examination as well as an ability to commune with the dead in his sleep to discover what happened. My coworker liked the book for its humor and its insight into Laotian culture. This is the first book in a planned series.