Book Review: Murder in Amsterdam

Reviewed By: Woodstock - RAM

Murder in Amsterdam     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
A. C. Baantjer
Class/Genre:   Mystery
Series: Dekok

Baantjer is a very popular writer in his native Netherlands. He is a long time veteran of the Amsterdam police force. His works have just recently been available in English translation, and definitely are worth the wait!

Inspector deKok is stationed in the city center, near the red light district and the famous canals which loop through the historic part of Amsterdam.

This books contains two enjoyable novellas featuring deKok and his partner Vledder, new to homicide investigation. In the first "DeKok and the Sunday Strangler" the police investigate a series of deaths by strangulation of prostitutes working in Amsterdam. In the second "DeKok and the Corpse on Christmas Eve," the body of a young woman is fished from the canal as the Christmas holiday is beginning.

The inspector's familiarity with the city of Amsterdam plays an important role in the books. Baantjer successfully uses many familiar themes of detective fiction, as we watch deKok cope with impatient top brass, methodical evidence technicians, assistance from assorted denizens of the dark side of the big city, and so on!

Very enjoyable - I hope we have more coming from Baantjer!

Woodstock - RAM

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