The Phantom Lover and Other Thrilling Tales of Thailand by Jim Algie. Most of the stories in this book are good. Probably the one I enjoyed the most is the story of See Ouey, who was a convicted multiple murderer in the past century. Ouey immigrated from China to Thailand after fighting in World War II. He experienced a great deal of barbaric times, and the author gives detailed descriptions of the kind of carnage that seemed common back then, when troops often had to fight the enemy with their bare hands. Disembowelment was a quite common order from Ouey’s commanders. Ouey certainly saw a lot during the war and apparently developed deep post-traumatic stress disorder.
Upon arrival, Ouey was not only mentally disturbed but hopelessly poor as well. He epitomized the expression “traveling with a pot and a mat,” which describes a trip with very little means. He worked as a laborer for some time, and soon the demons in his mind began driving him to kill people and eat his victims afterward. He had a particular craving for their liver.
Ouey killed and ate about eight people before he was finally arrested and spent time in prison, where another hell awaited him. Eventually, he was executed, and since then, his body has been on display in a museum in Bangkok as a reminder of how life and bad luck can turn a normal human being into a savage killer.