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William Diehl
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Thai Horse: A Novel Mass Market Paperback – January 13, 1989

by William Diehl (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 468 ratings
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"It's enough to make Ludlum seem humdrum."
ATLANTA JOURNAL & CONSTITUTION
Christian Hatcher, the licensed killer they call the Shadow Warrior, is out of jail and looking for the betrayer that got him there. With his body wasted and his spirit nearly crushed, Hatcher returns to Hong Kong and Bangkok--deadly stops on the heroine pipeline--and comes closer to a solution that he fears to discover . . . .
"Diehl knows how to tell a story, and his novel moves."
THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    416 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Ballantine Books
  4. Publication date
    January 13, 1989
  5. Dimensions
    4.16 x 0.91 x 6.8 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    9780345327451
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0345327451
  8. See all details
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All the Little Raindrops: A Novel
"All the Little Raindrops: A Novel" by Mia Sheridan for $10.39
The chilling story of the abduction of two teenagers, their escape, and the dark secrets that, years later, bring them back to the scene of the crime. | Learn more

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

William Diehl is the author of the bestselling Sharky’s Machine, Thai Horse, Hooligans, Chameleon, The Hunt (formerly titled 27), and the three Martin Vail novels: Primal Fear, Show of Evil, and Reign in Hell. He lives in Woodstock, Georgia, with his wife, Emmy Award winner Virginia Gunn.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0345327454
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Ballantine Books; Reissue edition (January 13, 1989)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 416 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780345327451
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0345327451
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.16 x 0.91 x 6.8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 468 ratings

About the author

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William Diehl

William Diehl

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
468 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Mike steffens
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read.
Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2016
Verified Purchase
Full of action and an interesting story about some of our vets who didn't come home for their own reasons. Fair amount of lingo that w a s nicely explained as it was used. Occasionally some phrases were used that were intuitively translated by the reader. Great cast of chracters. A real page turner.
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JaLouise
4.0 out of 5 stars totally worth the read!
Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2023
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I live on SSI, and enjoyed seeing references to our area. Believable characters, satisfying plot and twists. Will definitely read other books by this author.
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Bob in eastern Washington
5.0 out of 5 stars Complexity, treachery
Reviewed in the United States on September 22, 2014
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This was complex story focused on a shadowy government assassin. He'd thought he'd retired, but old ties dragged him back for one more job. The book has many characters, several sub-plots, and many flashbacks to fill in background. The book struck me as much longer than most I've read lately, but none of it was wasted verbiage.

If I had any criticism, it's the same that I have for just about everything I've read about secret government agents and their ilk: the super heroes are a little too super to be believable. But I accept that as a price I pay for reading these, and this one didn't carry it to extremes.

If you are into heroes, secret agent, shadowy crime figures, the occasional beautiful woman, and the jungles of South East Asia, read this book. But read it with a clear head and no distractions, it really has a complex story line.
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Margaret Gillham
5.0 out of 5 stars I don't like to give away much of the plot when I ...
Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2015
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William Diehl 's writing gets you gripped from the first page. The twists and turns of the plot keep you interested and hooked. All his main characters are flawed but likeable. I don't like to give away much of the plot when I review a book, but it is a must read. Every chapter is written in such a descriptive manner, you can imagine the scenario with ease. The tragedy is that he himself died and has left a legion of fans wanting more.
I have read all his books now and this is one of the greats!
One person found this helpful
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Tracey Gesell
5.0 out of 5 stars I get sucked right back into it each time
Reviewed in the United States on July 11, 2016
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I have read this book 6 times over the years and still find it fascinating and enjoyable. I get sucked right back into it each time. Great book, I wish they would make a movie out of it. The characters are all "real" people that you can believe, the pace is great, the settings and relationships are compelling. If you want a book to get hooked on, read this!
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Paper or Kindle
4.0 out of 5 stars An exotic trail to the past
Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2019
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Written in 1987, some of this book is undeniably dated, particularly in the lack of computers, cell phones, and the like. However, the story is so over-the-top and fast-paced that the reader will hardly notice. The tale begins in Vietnam, and a soldier, long-presumed dead, is being sought in the present by his dying father. The best person to find that lost soul...if he's alive...is a fellow soldier in arms, now imprisoned in a Latin hellhole. The setting skips from South America to North America to Asia. The characters are each one stranger than the previous one. Our hero, more or less, is Christian Hatcher, who has a ruined voice, a bad reputation, and an apparently endless supply of friends in high and low places. The author is weakest when it comes to male/female relationships, and strongest when it comes to action scenes. In fact, this ought to have been made into a mini-series - it's far too complex for a movie. If you're old enough that Vietnam was part of your world, this should certainly appeal to you.
4 people found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
3.0 out of 5 stars At times captivating, at times too much of a contrivance.
Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2015
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I first read this story about 20 years ago, and decided to revisit it to see what I thought of it now. William Diehl is a gifted writer and transmitter of imagery through the written word.At times, his storytelling is vivid, believable and well presented. At other times, even the most dedicated suspender of belief must scratch their heads and say "Where did that come from?"
THis story--about a team of soldiers who served together in Asia as brothers who then lost all touch with each other through events, starts off credibly and goes into accurate and painstaking detail in most of its scenes. From US soldiers turned renegades to the Tongs of Hong Kong and Macau, the trade in heroin and recitals of floating POW camps with formerly MIA soldiers running the trade, it seeks a huge reach. Unfortunately, it is too far a reach and this story becomes islands of episodic reality interspersed with beyond belief coincidence and synchronicity beyond any belief. As in several of Mr. Diehl's other works, the ending is just too contrived and is written as if he suddenly realized he had woven too complicated a story with too many loose ends; thus bring the tale to a ridiculous conclusion. It's an entertaining and well written work; if you want to read a good story without regard to your conscious consideration of what you are being asked to believe, this is a book for you.
8 people found this helpful
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Douglas Wolfe
5.0 out of 5 stars A thrill a minute
Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2014
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Despite the fact that I hate giving five stars - or perfect - to anyone or anything, I honestly can't understand why anyone who read it wouldn't immediately give this book that deserved honour.

The descriptions and characters were rich and vivid, as was the seat-of-the-pants action. Diehl is an author who clearly doesn't take his audience for granted. And no character is safe in the world that he paints.

I've never been to Thailand but feel that I've gotten a great glimpse into the culture of the place. The effect of his presentation of the country both attracted and repelled me. Suffice it to say - I don't think I'll be content until I've paid it at least one visit. If for no other reason than to satisfy my curiosity.

His protagonist wasn't portrayed as an absolute hero. He has flaws, like most people in real life. Yet he continually strives to be true to himself, while carrying out a mission of honour and compassion.

This is one of those thrillers that is nearly impossible to put down.
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

A. C.
5.0 out of 5 stars Classic book in this genre
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 18, 2019
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Like several other Diehl books, this has that fast paced, but very descriptive style. It's good guys vs bad guys yet everyone is "damaged " by the past so nothing is simple or straightforward. If you liked "Sharkey's Machine" or "Hooligans ", you're going to like this one too.
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Amazon カスタマーAtravis
3.0 out of 5 stars The past scars the soul
Reviewed in Japan on April 13, 2024
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Thai Horse's lead actor follows his violent past like a wicked knight from Camelot into snakes and thorns of dope and corruption of up river Asia. He reveals how love and honor is possible for the worst among us . A good read.
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Joost Van Os
5.0 out of 5 stars "Thai Horse" (William Diehl)
Reviewed in Germany on August 12, 2014
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Excellent reading, good story and a fast pace, that makes it hard to put "Thai Horse" down and get some sleep! I`m looking forward to the sequels!.
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Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 27, 2014
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A good fast paced and interesting tale.
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susie osbore
5.0 out of 5 stars Hatcher
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 2, 2018
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I have been reading this book for years. It’s timeless
Very well written. I love it. Now I have it on kindle even better
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