Deafening Chaos
Adapted into a drama-film hybrid aired on One31 channel
In 1943, Bangkok was engulfed in the shadows of war and fear.
Vetwank Piromrut, a young detective, faces a horrific murder case when the body of a young girl is found in a gruesome state.
Mysterious tattoos appear on her forehead, wrists, and ankles, spelling out: “Yao Jao Phae Thing Phong.”
Fate leads him to unravel a series of connected murders, hidden beneath the turmoil and secrets of Siam!
Forgotten ancient poetry intertwines with the strange tattoo symbols—
enigmatic marks no one understands.
Who is the killer? What is the meaning behind the tattoo code?
An exceptional detective novel that will make your heart race,
woven with unexpected twists and clues,
and a truth that echoes loudly in every reader’s memory…
Deafening Chaos
- Categories: Fiction, Literature
“DEAFENING CHAOS” by Prapt unfolds a tale of intricate murders set against the backdrop of World War II, enriched with traditional Thai poems as the key to solving the mysterious crimes. Adapted into a popular Thai TV drama series, the novel has garnered numerous awards and is widely read in high schools as part of the curriculum, maintaining its status as a best-seller in Thailand.
In 1943 A.D., amid the chaos of WWII, Pol.Lt.Col. Wethang receives a disturbing report of the murder of a girl named Waad near a famous Thai Temple. Waad’s body bears cryptic tattoos – the words home, itself, goat, drop, race – and her death is shrouded in mystery. As Wethang investigates, he uncovers a connection to Mr. Chom, Waad’s father, who is on the run due to a gambling debt.
After tracing at Siriraj Hospital, Chom’s workplace, Mr. Kla, one of Chom’s colleagues, told Wethang that Chom had used to ask him to bring Waad for the tattoo. Chom had told him that this is the command of his creditor. Regarding the autopsy result, Wethang anticipated Chom could be the murderer. During that time, Wethang was notified about another similar tattoo case.
The plot thickens with another tattoo-related case at another famous temple, where monks are rendered unconscious, and valuable items are stolen. The living monk, Sucheep, is marked with the words lonesome, branch, drought, break, island. Simultaneously, details emerge about a previous case involving Mr. Lu, a deceased man found in Ong-Ang canal with tattooed words monk, scorched, afterward, jump, steep. Despite a confession from Mr. Teng, the autopsy suggests Lu’s death was natural.
Wethang dispatches Pol.Lt. Shan to Chinatown to track down Chom. Shan discovers Kim Tho, tortured and chained, the wife of gambling house owner Mr. Huad. Chom becomes a crucial witness, but a tragic end ensues. Teng’s background investigation reveals a peaceful man with unusual recent behaviors, and progress is made in the monk case with the sighting of a suspicious unknown monk.
Wethang unravels a complex web, concluding that someone manipulated Chom into believing he owed a debt. The twisted plot involves a command to kill Waad, leading to Chom’s regrettable suicide. The connections between Lu and Kim Tho are revealed, and Shan narrowly escapes danger, successfully completing his mission.
A new tattoo case emerges, involving the victim, Mr. Phadungsak, found cut and burned in a closed snack shop. Wethang deciphers the clues, linking the incidents to dates and locations on the city map. The arrangement of tattoo words into an ancient Thai poem reveals a mind-blowing truth connected to Thailand’s historical wounds and someone close to Wethang.
“DEAFENING CHAOS” is a riveting exploration of mystery, deception, and historical intrigue that continues to captivate readers in Thailand and beyond.
– Naiin Award for Best Novel, 2014
– Honorable Mention in the Outstanding Book Awards by the Office of the Basic Education Commission, 2015
– Second Runner-up, Seven Book Awards, 2015
