Overview
“Shrewd, compassionate, and dedicated, DeKok makes a formidable opponent for criminals and a worthwhile competitor for the attention of Simenon’s Maigret fans.”—Library Journal
“It’s easy to understand the appeal of Amsterdam police detective DeKok; he hides his intelligence behind a phlegmatic demeanor, like an old dog that lazes by the fireplace and only shows his teeth when the house is threatened.”—Los Angeles Times
Although at first it seemed to be a case for the narcotics division, this latest crime soon evolves into a series of sinister and almost impossible murders. Never before have inspectors DeKok and his partner Vledder been so involved in a case in which murder, drug smuggling, and child prostitution are almost daily occurrences.
Blackmail enters the picture, and bodies continue to be found. DeKok even finds himself allowing one of the suspects in the serial crimes to go free.
To darken the days a bit more, in the past a single murder used to dominate the front pages of the newspapers for weeks, but now they get maybe four or six lines on page fourteen, third column, near the bottom. Death has become commonplace in the news, but never for DeKok.
Synopsis
The notorious Inspector DeKok encounters a case steeped in murder, drugs, and child prostitution.
Jo Ann Vicarel Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information - Library Journal
The body of a lawyer, who has sustained an unusual head wound, is found on the sidewalk by the door of his office. That same night, a young man is arrested for possession of a large amount of cocaine. When he is searched, the police find 100,000 euros in a bag tied around his waist. Anyone who reads this long-running series (this is the 22nd book featuring DeKok) knows that the intrepid inspector is at his best when faced with no crime-scene evidence and people who appear to be helpful but are deceitful. When another murder occurs, DeKok begins to piece together the scraps of information that he and his partner have gathered. Baantjer, a former detective inspector for the Amsterdam police, writes with tongue-in-cheek wit and a captivating charm that make these tales outstanding. [See Prepub Mystery, LJ11/1/06.]
Editorials
Library Journal
The body of a lawyer, who has sustained an unusual head wound, is found on the sidewalk by the door of his office. That same night, a young man is arrested for possession of a large amount of cocaine. When he is searched, the police find 100,000 euros in a bag tied around his waist. Anyone who reads this long-running series (this is the 22nd book featuring DeKok) knows that the intrepid inspector is at his best when faced with no crime-scene evidence and people who appear to be helpful but are deceitful. When another murder occurs, DeKok begins to piece together the scraps of information that he and his partner have gathered. Baantjer, a former detective inspector for the Amsterdam police, writes with tongue-in-cheek wit and a captivating charm that make these tales outstanding. [See Prepub Mystery, LJ11/1/06.]
—Jo Ann Vicarel Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information