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John Dolan
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Everyone Burns (Time, Blood and Karma Book 1) Kindle Edition

by John Dolan (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
3.9 3.9 out of 5 stars 1,054 ratings
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'He opens a drawer of his desk, casually takes out a pistol, flicks off the safety catch and points it at my head.
He says almost sorrowfully, "Do you imagine me to be a gangster, Mr Braddock?"'

It is January 2005, and the charred remains of two Europeans have been discovered on the Thai island of Samui.
Local Police Chief Charoenkul, sidelined by his superiors, enlists the reluctant David Braddock, a burnt-out private detective, to assist in an ‘unofficial’ investigation.
But Braddock has problems of his own, including an affair with the same Police Chief’s wife ...

Peppered with irreverent humour and some pithy comments on everyday life in the Land of Smiles, Everyone Burns is much more than a crime novel. It is also a carefully-crafted psychological study of an anti-hero for our time.


The Time, Blood and Karma series will appeal to lovers of the following book categories: mystery, thriller, crime, Thailand fiction, private investigators, British detectives, and amateur sleuths.

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  1. Book 1 of 4
    Time, Blood and Karma
  2. Print length
    349 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publication date
    January 4, 2014
  6. File size
    1785 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
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  9. Enhanced typesetting
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B008I6GXM2
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Tention Publishing Limited (January 4, 2014)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 4, 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1785 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 349 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.9 3.9 out of 5 stars 1,054 ratings

About the author

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John Dolan

John Dolan

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"Makes a living by travelling, talking a lot and sometimes writing stuff down. Galericulate author, polymath and occasional smarty-pants."

John Dolan hails from a small town in the North-East of England. Before turning to writing, his career encompassed law and finance. He has run businesses in Europe, South and Central America, Africa and Asia. He and his wife Fiona currently divide their time between Thailand and the UK.

He is the author of the 'Time, Blood and Karma' mystery series and the 'Children of Karma' mystery trilogy.

Customer reviews

3.9 out of 5 stars
3.9 out of 5
1,054 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Cam Brown
5.0 out of 5 stars By turns gritty, tender, introspective, darkly funny, clever, sad, dangerous and sexy.
Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2013
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I was introduced to John Dolan when he graciously agreed to participate in a writing project on my blog earlier this year. I have been curious about "Everyone Burns" ever since. The charm, wit, and humor in John Dolan's Twitter, G+ feeds and blog are infectious, and his writing is rich without being heavy.

"Everyone Burns" is by turns gritty, tender, introspective, darkly funny, clever, sad, dangerous and sexy. Mr. Dolan draws the reader into the Thai landscape and culture, spins a tricky mystery, and releases into the story a wholly engaging and diverse cast.

I was particularly delighted with David Braddock's complex (and brilliantly flawed) relationships with the women in his life.

The first-person point of view is unabashedly intellectual; Braddock is a storyteller of a protagonist, taking the reader through the events of his life through the filter of a man who is literate, self-aware, kind, generous, coarse and full of human failings. In short, the best kind of man.

The resolution is satisfying without being obvious, with unexpected twists and timely reveals.

I am very much looking forward to the next novel in the series.
67 people found this helpful
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John R. Lindermuth
4.0 out of 5 stars Not Your Average PI
Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2013
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David Braddock isn't your average detective. Based on an island in Thailand, he does handle investigations--though the majority of them involve checking the behavior of bar girls on behalf of entranced farang (foreigners). Another part of his business is serving as personal counselor to private clients--a good portion of whom appear to be Thai women with marital or romantic problems. Not a bad life for an expatriate.

Then a problem of another sort intrudes. Foreigners are being murdered and their bodies torched. And the Police Chief Charoenkul is miffed because the investigation has been taken out of his hands. Charoenkul summons Braddock and assigns him the task of unofficially investigating. The detective has no choice in the matter since he's told in no uncertain terms his unlicensed business would be in jeopardy should he refuse. Braddock is also leery of the situation because he's been having an affair with the chief's beautiful wife.

As a counselor himself, Braddock knows the value of seeking advice from others. His advisor is a pragmatic Buddhist monk who has no truck with Braddock's self-pity and offers pithy insights which ultimately help him solve the crime--but not before a few missteps which add tribulation to his life.

Complete with an exotic setting, eccentric characters, a bit of humor, an entertaining plot with lots of twists and turns, "Everybody Burns" was a delight to read and I'm looking forward to the next adventure of Braddock and company.
2 people found this helpful
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Brenda Best
3.0 out of 5 stars Great Hodgepodge
Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2015
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A pseudo-PI/counselor, a police chief, and a jâo phâw walk into a bar. Well, not exactly. Take these three characters, put them on a Thailand island (sounds better in your head than out loud), add family, friends, and clients, murder, sex, Buddhism, Alice in Wonderland, and rhinoceros beetles. What do you get? This hodgepodge of a book that was a fun read. Not something I would normally read, but I think I want to read the next book by John Dolan.
2 people found this helpful
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Anthony Mcmanus
5.0 out of 5 stars A Fine Well Written Novel: An Excellent Read.
Reviewed in the United States on April 21, 2014
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I read Everyone Burns while lying on my back in a Chiang Mai hospital bed (nothing serious I must state) and it did wonders in repelling the boredom of a ten day layup.
Told in the first person by the protagonist and private investigator, David Braddock, the story is set in the exotic Thai island of Samui; a place one does not normally associate with a grisly serial killer, burned bodies, fear, loathing and police corruption. Bangkok, yes, naturally; Kho Samui, hardly. So it makes a refreshing change.
Braddock, a Brit who somehow washed up on Samui’s shores, is dragooned by the Chief of Police to help in the hunt for the killer. Braddock is flawed, as protagonists should be. He’s a jaded philosopher, has great wit, self doubt, a wry sense of humor and is a storyteller to boot. A great guy in other words.
The narrative flow is mined with sub-plots and red herrings and twists which I found delightful. One such twist is Braddock’s risky affair with the Police Chief’s wife; a lovely touch. I also liked the denouement; very satisfying to a guy with a vengeful bent, like me. I recommend it highly.
John Dolan is a “one off”; an excellent writer with a singular style that’s his alone. I now look forward to reading the sequel: Hungry Ghosts.
4 people found this helpful
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tony b
4.0 out of 5 stars A good old fashioned "who done it" with the wonderful detail of So. East Asian culture.
Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2015
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The story is crafted with care to keep the reader enthralled to it's surprise ending. Dolan paints a vivid picture of life in "old colonial" Asia that still lingers on today between the native populous and White European visitor ex-patriots. He sprinkles a little Chinese culture that is present in nearly every corner of the world and provides those of us who are not yet enlightened beings on the teachings of Buddha. I was glad that he didn't dwell on the seedier aspects of European travelers, but only drew enough to build the characters in the story. We are left to wonder about the ultimate karma of the primary character who is really an every man. Good deep inside, frail to life's trappings and man's desires yet wandering through that life in what seems like an uncharted course. The book series properly titled time ( which one can not stop ), blood ( which we all must shed in fact or fiction ) and karma ( which we can only hope is real ) to guide our path.

A great suspense read, without complicated wording and a travel adventure. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
One person found this helpful
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Amazon Shopper
2.0 out of 5 stars Did Not Like The Protagonist
Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2015
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There are books that you don't want to end and there are books that seem like they will never end. This, for me, was a book that seemed to go on and on. The book plods along and it seemed like the protagonist spent more time endlessly smoking cigarettes that doing any actual detective work. I think that the bottom line is that I found that the main character was just not likable.
6 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Yorkshire lass
5.0 out of 5 stars A riveting read from an impressive writer
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 4, 2022
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I was inspired to pick up a copy of Everyone Burns, first book in John Dolan’s time, blood and karma series, after reading the prequel (The Poison Tree). It didn’t disappoint.

The blurb covers the main theme of the plot; however, there is so much more to this story as we come to fully understand the turmoil bubbling in the protagonist, David Braddock’s mind and how it threatens to derail him. It’s a slow unravelling of the complicated threads of his life that have led him to this point until he is inevitably forced to confront his demons.

Aside from the Thai murder investigation itself, there is a lot going on with plenty of twists and turns, Braddock’s dual roles as (unregistered) PI and counsellor, bringing into play a host of well-rounded characters, both good and bad. We’re taken to the girlie bars and seedy haunts of the capital, Bangkok, on stake-outs for jealous husbands/wives and meet some unlikely characters that go to his office to seek his advice. Throw into the mix Braddock’s reckless affair with the Police Chief’s wife – a potential recipe for disaster – and it’s easy to see why his mind is awash with anxiety. When summoned to the Bophut Police station, on coming face-to-face with the chief, he fears the game is up and ponders his fate...

‘I checked the chair was not attached to the mains and then sat.’

The dark humour wasn’t lost on me – one of the things I enjoy about this author’s writing. Even in the darkest moments, it shines through. Without a doubt, he is a great storyteller. Another thing that makes Dolan’s stories so interesting is the way they are interspersed with peaceful and poetic episodes that make for a striking contrast to all the drama....

‘The hot bright sky looks down on this impromptu ritual as the smoke rises upwards and the green leaves wobble distortedly in the haze.’

There is a ring of truth to all of the characters and the way they interact. Braddock’s housekeeper, Wayan, and his secretary, Da being, the most likeable – not forgetting the enigmatic old monk whom I loved!

Once you have sampled this riveting start to the series, it’s a given that you’ll feel compelled to move onto the next, as I am about to do. I can highly recommend this fine author’s work. 5*
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MOJO
5.0 out of 5 stars Everyone burns
Reviewed in Canada on August 5, 2015
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Fantastic, holds you totally, this really surprises you, great read, I would recommend this for you who love a good read.
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jeanniell
5.0 out of 5 stars Calling all série noire fans
Reviewed in France on August 20, 2014
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I downloaded 'Everyone Burns' when it was on free promo but didn’t get round to reading it until a couple of months later. Now, thinking I could easily have missed it, plus the following two books, is enough to have me reaching with a shaking hand for the hero’s bottle of Bells. (Which, I might add, completely irrelevantly, was also my Dad’s favourite whisky. Fall into a swoon DI Rebus, I love you as well).
The action starts line 1, as the narrator-hero (flawed à la perfection) swings into a description of the brawl that’s just put paid to his quiet evening in the Mosquito Bar. Ahhh. Cheap booze, sweat and cigarette smoke, and... something else...The scent is unmistakeable to all Chandler/Crais/Parker/ et al junkies. We lift our heads, sniff, and a big grin starts to form. We only need to step over the fallen bodies to get to the line:
‘I turn to the Russian. “The name’s Braddock, by the way,” I say proffering my hand.’
And that’s it, Braddock is born, we just know we’re in for a good read. And good gets better. Then better still.
Finishing Book One in John Dolan’s series ('Time Blood and Karma') I immediately bought Book 2 ('Hungry Ghosts'), read it in one sitting as couldn’t stand the suspense, then started all over again more slowly in order to really savour other ingredients (the fine writing, the wit, the délicatesse, the angst). Then, back on-line for Book Three ('The Poison Tree'). Quick, before it sold out or Amazon got hit by an asteroid.
French série noire fans, if you haven’t yet discovered Time, Blood and Karma, you’re in for a treat. Read the rave reviews on Amazon com, others have said it all. (They’re shown below the French reviews. But avoid the ‘spoilers’).
Just one thing I would add, from a personal point of view -read the novels in order. As the series develops two things happen. Various secrets begin to appear out of the mists of Samui. In perfect sync, the writer’s style changes. By the time we have finished Book 3, we are closer to the heart of the real David Braddock, and have just one idea in our heads – roll on 2015 and Book 4.
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K J Marshall
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in Canada on May 17, 2015
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Good story line
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Harmony Kent
4.0 out of 5 stars A thoroughly good read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 12, 2014
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This is a crime novel with a difference. It is set on the Thai island of Sammui in early 2005, and is peppered with red-herrings, wrong turns, humour, buddhist wisdom, and a highly flawed good guy. Braddock, an unregistered private investigator, is doing a good job of staying under the wire, until the local police chief pulls him in to assist in the investigation of the murder of two Europeans. And then it gets worse--the police chief asks Braddock to tail his wife, to see if she is having an affair, and--of course--she is ... with Braddock! The plot thickens.

I loved this book, and it kept me guessing all the way through. There are some nice and unexpected twists, as well as loads of humour. The world building, plot, pacing, and character development are all done very well. On this basis, I would say this is a resounding five star read. However, there are too many spelling errors, missing words, and that kind of thing. So, a proofread is definitely needed. Also, the tense keeps changing from past to present, sometimes in its own section/chapter and sometimes not. I found this disconcerting. No sooner had I gotten used to the one style, when it would change to the other, and then back again. The point of view is written in the First Person and remains delightfully consistent throughout. There are some clumsy and overly long sentence constructions and a distinct lack of comma usage in introductory clauses and in general, which forces the reader to go back and re-read sentences for sense time and again. All of which ruins the flow. Having said that, there are also some brilliant lines, and this writer is a master of description ad expression.

So, despite it's need for a further edit and proofread, it is a brilliant book and highly entertaining. It gets a strong four stars from me.
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