Book Review: DeKok and the Geese of Death

Reviewed By: Gina Metz - RAM

DeKok and the Geese of Death     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
A. C. Baantjer
Class/Genre:   Mystery
Series: Dekok
Speck Press; 2004; 194pp

DeKok and his partner, Vledder are in the middle of investigating the death of a wealthy old man and his wife. They have the guilty party, Igor Stablinsky, whom they believe is also responsible for a previous murder of a wealthy woman, although they were unable to convict him of this crime. Igor manages to escape and while DeKok and Vledder are busily trying to find him, they get pulled off the case and sent to the home of Isolde Bildijk.

Isolde is another wealthy widow whose name also happened to appear in Igor’s address book, however in another section than with the names of previous and possible next victims. Isolde is also an invalid and claims to fear for her life and that she is being threatened. She has had the gardner kill the guard dogs and purchased geese instead as a means of protection. When the geese are all poisoned, Isolde pulls political strings to get DeKok and Vledder assigned to her case as she believes the department in her jurisdiction are not taking the threats seriously.

DeKok is not surprising quite upset to be pulled off the chase of the murder, Igor, to investigate the deaths of Isolde’s geese. However, as the story moves on, DeKok is able to continue looking for Igor as the deaths continue to mount up around him.

A.C. Baantjer’s DeKok series is a great read for quick mysteries with unexpected endings. In this book DeKok and Vledder have been working together much longer than in earlier works I have read and I like the way their professional relationship has progressed. I look forward to further translations of Mr. Baantjer’s DeKok series.

Gina Metz - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Gina Metz - RAM