鈥淭he Queen of Patpong,鈥 by Timothy Hallinan (William Morrow, 320 pp.) is the fourth in a series of novels following the exploits of travel writer Poke Rafferty. Finally settled with Rose and their adopted daughter, Rafferty is threatened by an evil man from his wife鈥檚 past. Years ago Rose鈥檚 circumstances forced her from her village to the red light district where she met Howard Horner. Now, it falls to Rafferty to confront this manipulative figure.