Any fans of the Vincent Calvino series out there? Y'know, the crime novels by Christopher G. Moore about the half-Italian, half-Jewish ex-lawyer private eye based in Bangkok? Well, if that's you here's some good news: Chase Palmer, lately of scripting duties on the upcoming Dune, has been hired to adapt Spirit House, the first book in the series.
The story sees Calvino investigating the murder of a British computer whizzkid, Ben Hoadly. The Thai police have a confession from a (rather bruised looking) young drug addict, but there are some loose ends that the hard-drinkin', hard-livin' Calvino can't overlook. So he goes in search of the real killer, inevitably falling in with gangsters, assassins, drug addicts and call girls along the way.
Palmer's also currently working on Alfred Hitchcock story Number 13, which he'll be directing as well, and which is set to star Ben Kingsley, Emily Mortimer and, er, Dan Fogler as Hitch himself.