Vientiane, 1980: Laos is celebrating its fifth anniversary of communist rule, and Dr. Siri and his crew couldn't be less thrilled. But really, things could be a lot worse. Madame Daeng's noodle shop is thriving, Tukta and Geung are on their honeymoon, and Siri and Civilai are still plotting their directorial debut. But before things get too comfortable, Dr. Siri finds something odd tied with pink ribbon to his dog, Ugly's, tail: a mysterious note written in English. The quirky fourteenth Dr. Siri Paiboun mystery set in Communist Laos.