Does landlocked Southeast Asian Luong really need an admiral? Does billiard-playing Prine Novisad Pakse, from a 30-years-ago spree in Paris, have an illegitimate son? Does Superintendent Bamsan Kiet, who turns nauseous when confronted with corpses, really have to fire the coup de grace at the execution of illegal rice-hoarder Feng Vu? Does Mary Beth Applebee, a too-savvy American missionary, love Bamsan's sex-starved adjutant, the Prince's by- blow, or, instead, the American air-conditioner salesman? Madame Saravane, hustling mystic, knows all--sort of--in this fifth loony Kiet adventure, which finds Luong in the midst of a drought; execution plans that would rival, in scope, the Super Bowl half- time entertainment; and the unwelcome visit of the Prince's unrecognized heir. The silliness is a bit less inspired than in previous outings, but, still, this one's very, very funny: Alexander has no competition for the role of court-jester to the mystery.
