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Tom Vater
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The Devil's Road To Kathmandu Kindle Edition

by Tom Vater (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
3.8 out of 5 stars 70 ratings

In 1976, four friends - Dan, Fred, Tim and Thierry - are on a bus along the hippie trail from London to Kathmandu. But everything is not going according to plan.

After a drug deal goes wrong, the boys barely escape with their lives. Thousands of kilometers, numerous acid trips, accidents, nightclubs and a pair of beautiful Siamese twins later, they finally reach the counter-culture capital of the world, Kathmandu, and Fred disappears with the drug money.

A quarter-century later, mysterious emails invite the other three to pick up their share of the money, and they decide to reunite in Kathmandu. Soon, a trail of kidnapping and murder leads them across the Roof of the World.

With the help of Dan’s backpacking son, a tattooed lady and a Buddhist angel, the ageing hippies try to solve a 25-year old mystery that takes them amongst Himalayan peaks, and towards the inevitable showdown with their past.

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  1. Print length
    314 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Accessibility
    Learn more
  4. Publication date
    May 23, 2021
  5. File size
    1.7 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
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  8. Enhanced typesetting
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Tom Vater has written non-fiction and fiction books, travel guides, documentary screenplays, and countless feature articles investigating cultural and political trends and oddities in Asia. His stories have appeared in publications such as The Asia Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, The Times, Marie Claire, Penthouse and The Daily Telegraph. He co-wrote The Most Secret Place on Earth, a feature documentary on the CIA’s secret war in Laos, which has been broadcast in 25 countries. His bestselling book Sacred Skin (www.sacredskinthailand.com), the first English language title on Thailand’s sacred tattoos, has received more than 30 reviews. Tom’s work has led him across the Himalayas, given him the opportunity to dive with hundreds of sharks in the Philippines, and to witness the Maha Khumb Mela, the largest gathering of people in the world. On assignments, he has joined sea gypsies and nomads, pilgrims, sex workers, serial killers, rebels and soldiers, politicians and secret agents, artists, pirates, hippies, gangsters, police men and prophets. Some of them have become close friends.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B095PGZNFB
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Next Chapter
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 23, 2021
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 2nd
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.7 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 314 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.8 out of 5 stars 70 ratings

About the author

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Tom Vater

Tom Vater

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Tom Vater is a writer and editor working mostly in South and Southeast Asia.

Tom has published six crime novels. In 2022, he sold the film rights to his debut novel, The Devil's Road to Kathmandu, to 108 Media.

Tom has written some twenty non-fiction books, including the bestsellers Sacred Skin with Aroon Thaewchatturat, and Cambodia: A Journey through the Land of the Khmer with Kraig Lieb.

Tom's work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The Economist, The Times, The Guardian, Nikkei Asia, CNN, Marie Claire, Geographical, Eco-Business, The Mekong Review and many others. He is the Thailand Daily Telegraph destination expert and has authored guidebooks on Thailand and Cambodia.

He is the co-author of several documentaries, including the highly praised The Most Secret Place On Earth, a feature on the CIA’s secret war in Laos.

From 2012 to 2021, Tom was co-owner of Crime Wave Press, a Hong Kong based crime fiction imprint which published 36 novels .

Tom writes and edits reports for UNDP, IFC, the EU, Fauna & Flora and others.

Tom is represented by London-based literary agency Marjacq.

Tom's latest book, SHARKMAN, is a true crime non fiction about a kidnapping in West Africa and tiger sharks in Thailand.

Customer reviews

3.8 out of 5 stars
70 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book's plot engaging, with one mentioning it's a well-written story that carries the reader nicely. Moreover, they appreciate the travel and adventure elements, with one customer describing it as an adventure on the Hippie Trail. Additionally, the book receives positive feedback for its descriptions, with one customer noting its beautiful depictions of locations.

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PlotAdventureDescription
10 customers mention "Plot"8 positive2 negative

Customers enjoy the plot of the book, with several noting that it carries the reader nicely, and one describing it as really well written.

"This is a really well written story...." Read more

"...There are some finely-tuned lines in this book--some really inspired writing, and Vater is careful not to go over-the-top into a froth or..." Read more

"...The idea for the story was interesting but it just did not execute well, at least for me...." Read more

"...same trip overland three times in the early 70’s, I took great delight in reading this book...." Read more

3 customers mention "Adventure"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the adventure in the book, with one describing it as a fabulous trip along the Hippie Trail.

"...I recommend it to anyone who loves travel and adventure, but also to anyone who loves the written word." Read more

"...Cheers to Tom Vater for his fabulous trip. Thank you. Bruce & Jen" Read more

"A great ride..." Read more

3 customers mention "Description"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the beautiful descriptions of the locations in the book, with one customer describing them as picturesque and ethereal.

"...The Devil's Road is at times gritty and at times ethereal, almost tranquil...." Read more

"...While it is true there were very picturesque descriptions of the lands through which they travelled, their actual adventures and experiences were..." Read more

"...'s experience writing travel guides is obvious in the beautiful descriptions of the locations in this book...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Marion Thompson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great story
    Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2021
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    This is a really well written story. Great descriptions of Acid trips, border crossings, road weariness, the adventurous optimism of youth and the limitations of middle aged wisdom. If you’ve spent time as traveler in Asia you will recognize some archetypal characters, and scenery. If you’ve experienced drug induced ego death, you will be comfortable with the decisions those characters make. I backpacked in Nepal in the early nineties, and this book brought back a flood (or maybe an avalanche) of memories of that time in my life.
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  • G.Anderson
    4.0 out of 5 stars Action, Adventure on the Hippie Trail
    Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Tom Vater's The Devil's Road to Katmandu is a carefully crafted work, surprisingly so, as a matter of fact. In a genre (travel, adventure)that requires one to be well-experienced in the travel/adventure department but not necessarily well-skilled in the writing department, Vater's work stands head and shoulders above the rest. There are some finely-tuned lines in this book--some really inspired writing, and Vater is careful not to go over-the-top into a froth or sentimentality. The Devil's Road is at times gritty and at times ethereal, almost tranquil. But it's the plot and the action that keeps the reader turning pages,as Dan and his band of misfits and hippies undertake the hippie trail on the promise of a large drug payout. The plot is neatly interwoven in two different strands, twenty years apart. It's a nifty trick and one that can be hard to do. But Vater's footing is secure and the plot carries the reader nicely through to the end. It's a book that would surprise many people who might otherwise overlook it. I recommend it to anyone who loves travel and adventure, but also to anyone who loves the written word.
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  • Weimdogz
    3.0 out of 5 stars Hippie world 1970's style thru Asia then and now today
    Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    I was not as impressed with this book as I had hoped. While it is true there were very picturesque descriptions of the lands through which they travelled, their actual adventures and experiences were more lackluster and/or dreary. The characters were not that interesting for the most part. The 25 years later part was also not very appealing except for the very last part with Marlowe and the conclusion. The idea for the story was interesting but it just did not execute well, at least for me. I guess I wanted a book more like what I envisaged it was like; of course I was not there nor was I part of the counterculture.
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  • Joseph Appler
    5.0 out of 5 stars I had a hard time setting it down.
    Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Having made that same trip overland three times in the early 70’s, I took great delight in reading this book. It brought back many memories of a time that was a world away. Thank you for the nostalgia. Thankfully, my trips did not have all the drama.
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  • Sharon L Telgemeier
    2.0 out of 5 stars had some violence and in general not the type of book I like.
    Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    This book dealt with a lot of drug experiences, had some violence and in general not the type of book I like.
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  • avid kindler
    4.0 out of 5 stars Exotic - but no more so than the truth of those times
    Reviewed in the United States on November 3, 2021
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I liked this book. A long time back I was friends with people that had done the hippy trail, way back in the 1960s or 70s before Turkey was a tourist zone or Afghanistan a warzone, when kids with almost no money could hitch-hike overland through Europe and the middle east all the way to Asia, through countries where drugs were freely available and gurus from religions that none of them had heard of would dispense the secret of life. This book tells the story of a trip like that, and although it's exotic and far-fetched - siamese twins, murders, an avalanche - it doesn't seem more far fetched than the stories my friends told me were true. It's cut with a later story , set twenty five years later, in the grown up futures of those kids - as they head back through a more modern Asia to sort out some uninished business which turns out to be much more complicated and dangerous than any of them realised. You can learn a lot from this book, and it's a good read too!
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  • Amy E Sparks
    3.0 out of 5 stars Worthwhile read - especially if it's outside of your comfort zone
    Reviewed in the United States on June 29, 2021
    Format: Kindle
    Once in a while, I like to step out of my comfort zone and try books that aren’t my typical reads. They may share some of the characteristics of books I’ve previously enjoyed, but they’re way different from others. These are the books that people who know me would wrinkle their noses and say, “really?”

    The Devil’s Road To Kathmandu is not a typical read for me. I do like road books. I also like books set in other parts of the world. But the story of hippies driving their bus through Asia to smuggle drugs while regularly partaking on the way? That’s definitely not the kind of book that would appeal to me. But author Tom Vater asked me to read it, so I decided to leave my comfort zone firmly in the dust to check it out.

    It didn’t take long for me to think I might have made a mistake. I couldn’t identify with the characters. I didn’t understand the characters’ thought processes. I would be confused who these people they encountered were and why they mattered. I wondered where the plot was.  I was ready to give up reading the book.

    But then it hit me - of course I was reacting that way. I was too focused on the destination when the book’s focus was on the journey itself.

    I was trying to apply logic to an illogical situation. I’m one of those travelers who meticulously  researches and plans out a trip that typically includes reservations for lodging and special events prior to starting the trip. Once I threw logic out the window, I could focus on the people and places and activities. Then I could enjoy the book and fly through the rest of it wanting to know what was happening next.

    These characters were the exact opposite of me. Yes, they knew what they wanted to smuggle drugs and had a basic idea of what they would need to do, but they weren’t so committed to their goal that they ignored the people and places around them. On the contrary, they were eager to experience what was happening along the way. They did it on their terms, which typically involved indulging in the opium, hashish, etc. they encountered along the way. Witnessing a tattoo artist using a tiger’s tooth to create a complex masterpiece on a woman’s back or melting into the rapture of conjoined twin singers were unusual experiences that drew me into the story to see how the situations touched the characters.

    Once I let go of control and let the author guide me through the story the way he wanted to tell it, I enjoyed it. The places and experiences were captivating and exposed me to a new world that I appreciated seeing. The book reminded me of the good that comes from getting out of one’s comfort zone and being open to new experiences.
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  • Bruce Bart
    5.0 out of 5 stars Review of The Devil's Road to Kathmandu
    Reviewed in the United States on December 9, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    The journey taken throughout "THE DEVIL'S ROAD TO KATHMANDU" was so gripping and fun that it has inspired us to go to India; Nepal; and Bhutan this Feb and part of March.

    Cheers to Tom Vater for his fabulous trip.

    Thank you.

    Bruce & Jen
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Sheepish
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Devil's Road to Kathmandu
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 9, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    I was saving this title for holiday reading but picked it up late one night and pretty much read it straight through. I thoroughly enjoyed the story, it is a page turner (or clicker) and has good pace.
    It cleverly juxtaposes an overland trip to the 'East' in the mid 70's with a trip in 2000. The story line is threaded nicely between both eras with sympathetic and believable characters.
    You don't need to have been there to enjoy this but if you were, it will take you right back.
    A good read and I'll probably re-read it at some point.
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  • Pütti Neuling
    5.0 out of 5 stars on the Hippie Trail
    Reviewed in Germany on February 27, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    The Devil’s Road to Kathmandu

    In 1976 when three English lads – Dan the dreamer, Fred the expert on drugs and Tim the most sensible of the companions – together with Thierry the Frenchman who joins them somewhere on the way – embark upon the road to Kathmandu they have no sense of what lies ahead. The plan is to purchase a lot of dope in Afghanistan, smuggle it into Nepal, sell it with a high profit and return to Britain. The master plan of course is a new outlook of life, experience of the Other. In order to pay for the petrol they take passengers on board the old Bedford and thus come across a motley crew of young travelers from all over Europe. Beneath the sequence of sometimes hilarious adventures (when the Bedford that got stuck is pushed back to the road by a group of school kids) or fierce border guards who can be pacified with a pair of NHS sun glasses a dark and threatening destiny is looming. It all begins when the four hippies/travelers witness the gruesome execution of a young couple in Afghanistan because of a family feud. The young men are shattered but make it to Kathmandu, sell the dope and separate. Dan and Tim start a family, but Fred disappears, while Thierry apparently stays in Asia till they are summoned to Kathmandu by email 25 years later with the promise of loads of money from their drug deals years ago. With ever increasing suspense the book reaches its surprising conclusion 25 years later in the Himalayas. Dan, Tim and Thierry meet in Kathmandu where by chance Dan’s son Robbie is staying as well and gets drawn into the drama of his Dad’s walk on the wild side. From there they move on to the foot of Mount Everest to face the results of their past.
    The book not only has a thrilling plot. It contains very poetic descriptions of the landscape, brilliant characterizations of the very different characters whether minor or main, gripping narration of a tattoo ceremony and funny glimpses at a group of drug addicts suffering from or enjoying the effects of good dope.
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  • ld
    5.0 out of 5 stars fast paced and thrilling
    Reviewed in Germany on February 27, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    What a read! This book is a fast paced ride that does take you down the devil's road to Kathmandu, grips you the balls and won't let you go before you're done. It's not just thrilling, but a very informative insight to a place in this world, past and present. Recommended!
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  • Karen
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 1, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Strong characters that pull you in to their journey from the first page. Descriptions of far flung destinations that are so textured you can smell the markets, cities and mountains. A journey that spans two generations, and the cost of love, greed and freedom. Loved it!
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  • Lagoon
    2.0 out of 5 stars Not for me.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 29, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    The exotic, and seriously underused, locations appealed to me. That was the real lure. Sadly, I don’t think the author capitalised on them. There were some nice passages about sunsets and the like but for the most part, the story could have been taking place anywhere.

    The premise sounded fine and suggested skulduggery, broken promises and fierce reunions. But I felt like a passenger. Whatever threats there were quickly melted away and I just could not get a foothold on what was happening or why or when or where. No characters resonated and the dialogue was flat.

    Just didn’t do it for me I’m afraid.
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