A young Malay imprisoned for rape reinvents himself as a Siamese aristocrat in royal service. A beautiful young Thai woman seizes control of the family casino and defies the king's ban on gambling to form an underground criminal operation. A guilt-ridden Thai-Chinese sailor seeks enlightenment and purpose as a wandering Buddhist monk. A former slave fights to escape the domination of a Chinese secret society gangster and rises in the increasingly powerful police force. A recreation of life in southern Siam at a time of wrenching change, Beads on a String weaves together these stories and others, immersing readers in a gripping epic, full of intrigue and insight.
Ploi, a bold and beautiful woman, struggles to expand her casino empire in the patriarchal society of southern Siam. Her obsession with success endangers her marriage and her family. Political change, a deadly epidemic and conflict among Thais, Chinese and Malays roil the region. Ploi needs the help of a violence-prone lover, a Buddhist monk, and a royal official hiding his own secret. Struggling to free herself of karma darkened by misdeeds, Ploi is unaware she is the target of a man obsessed with revenge and backed by a powerful secret society. She must make terrible choices as the plot against her mounts to a violent conclusion. Written by two experts in Thai history, Dark Karma brings to life a little known time and place. It presents a compelling family saga showing the enduring struggles of the human heart.The thrilling sequel to 2022's Beads on a String, ISBN 9786164510487