Vientiane, 1980: Dr. Siri, the former national coroner of Laos, is doing remarkably well - especially considering the fact that he is possessed by a thousand-year-old Hmong shaman. That is, until he finds a death threat tied to his dog, Ugly's, tail. And whoever wrote the note claims the job will be executed in two weeks. Thus, at the urging of his wife and his motley crew of faithful friends, Dr. Siri must figure out who wants him dead, and there will be grave consequences in the present if he can't decipher the clues from his past.