☰Ghosts of Manila

James Hamilton-Paterson's novel plunges into the darker side of Manila -- the violence, the poverty, the underground economies, and the secret dramas that play out in a city of extremes. The story follows a forensic pathologist and a street kid whose lives intersect in unexpected ways, painting a portrait of the Philippines' capital that most travel writing avoids entirely. It is not a comfortable read, but it captures something real about the city that guidebooks never will.