The Hot Countries: A Poke Rafferty Novel    by Timothy Hallinan Order:  USA  Can Soho, 2015 (2015) Hardcover, e-Book      Reviewed by Bob Walch Poke Rafferty fans will want to get a copy of this latest thriller in the successful series set in Thailand and follow the American writer's travails trying to keep millions of dollars and a local street girl out of the clutches of a sinister villain. Rafferty encounters Arthur Varney at Bangkok's Expat Bar and soon realizes this stranger is on a quest to locate a street child named Treasure. Varney knew the girl's dead father and he is supposedly the child's guardian. As the reader will see, it is not the girl's welfare he really cares about but the millions of dollars she has inherited from her father. Familiar with not only the child's deceased father but the family she is staying with, Rafferty is the link to finding her, but he also feels an obligation to protect her from Varney, a criminal who operates throughout Asia. Rafferty's own Thai daughter and pregnant wife will be drawn into the struggle to protect Treasure as will the men who meet at the Expat Bar. In fact, they will play a pivotal role in this thriller which once again is set against the background of Bangkok. If you have followed the progress of this series that now numbers seven stories, you'll know all about Rafferty and his Thai wife and family. Watching this character develop has been nearly as enjoyable as having a ringside seat for the adventures he has had in this exotic setting that Timothy Hallinan is intimately familiar with since he spends a lot of time in Thailand as well. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Mystery books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews