Books about Baantjer from Amazon.com

Inspector DeKok and his partner, Vledder, are ordered to protect a millionaire's art treasures, exhibited during a special showing in Amsterdam Barely recovered from the shock of witnessing the treasures' owner verbally abuse an old lady, the two detectives are called away to a nearby building to help prevent the execution of a young man chained to the pipes of the central heating system. That same night, a priceless silver jug is stolen from the exhibition.

Readers face, at first, a jigsaw puzzle of more-than-usual difficulty, then slowly see a mathematically precise course of events. As with all of A.C. Baantjer's books, nothing is ever what it seems and there is never such a thing as an isolated incident. DeKok's investigations always deliver a chain reaction of events with dead ends, winding paths, and surprising endings..
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"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

The trail of a recent crime leads Inspector DeKok to Bloedberg (Blood Mountain), Belgium, a neighborhood in Antwerp. It seems a man was fished from the Scheldt River, and DeKok has been summoned to help with the investigation.

At a funeral back in Amsterdam, things are just as murky as the corpse's river when DeKok discovers a man among the mourners who has been officially dead for at least two years. Events further darken DeKok's view of the case when the widow of the recently buried victim files a complaint of forgery; her deceased husband's bank account has been emptied.

DeKok soon finds himself drawn back to Bloedberg, amidst one of the most bizarre and cunning crime syndicates the old, gray sleuth has faced yet.

A.C. Baantjer is the most widely read author in the Netherlands. A former detective inspector of the Amsterdam police, his fictional characters reflect the depth and personality of individuals encountered during his thirty-eight-year career in law enforcement. He was recently knighted by the Dutch monarchy.

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Price: $3.02 [Notify me when price goes down.]

"DeKok's maverick personality certainly makes him a compassionate judge of other outsiders and an astute analyst of antisocial behavior."-The New York Times Book Review

"Baantjer has created an odd police detective who roams Amsterdam interacting with the widest possible range of antisocial types. This series is the answer to an insomniac's worst fears."-The Boston Globe

"Baantjer's laconic, rapid-fire storytelling has spun out a surprisingly complex web of mysteries."-Kirkus Reviews

"DeKok is a careful, compassionate policeman in the -tradition of Maigret; crime fans will enjoy this . . ." -Library Journal

"It's easy to understand the appeal of Amsterdam police detective DeKok."-The Los Angeles Times

Renowned mystery author A.C. Baantjer brings to life Inspector DeKok in another stirring potboiler full of suspenseful twists and unusual conclusions.

In The Geese of Death, DeKok takes on Igor Stablinsky, a man accused of bludgeoning a wealthy old man and his wife. To DeKok's unfailing eye the killing urge is visibly present in the suspect during questioning, but did he commit this particular crime?

All signs point to one of the few remaining estates in Holland. The answer lies within a strange family, suspicions of incest, deadly geese and a horrifying mansion. Baantjer's perceptive style brings to light the essences of his characters, touching his audience with subtle wit and irony.

A.C. Baantjer is one of the most widely read authors in the Netherlands. A former detective inspector of the Amsterdam Police, his fictional characters reflect the depth and personality of individuals encountered during his 38-year career in law enforcement.

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Price: $5.43 [Notify me when price goes down.]

"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..
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"There are touches of the 87th Precinct, Maigret and Janwillem van de Wetering, but Baantjer is in a category all his own."-The Globe and Mail

This latest installment of the internationally popular Inspector DeKok series finds the gray sleuth dealing with a most gruesome murder.

The oldest of the four men turned to DeKok, "You're from homicide?"

DeKok nodded. The seasoned inspector wiped the raindrops from his face, bent down gingerly, and carefully lifted a corner of the canvas. Slowly the head became visible: a severed girl's head. DeKok felt the blood drain from his face, his stomach turning into an icy cold pit. "Is that all you found?" he asked.

"A little farther," the man answered with sad disbelief, "is the rest."

Spread out among the dirt and refuse were the remaining parts of the body: the arms, the long, slender legs, and the petite torso. There was no clothing.

DeKok faces death as an inevitable part of life, but when things turn this macabre, it's a hard reality to stomach.

A.C. Baantjer is the most widely read author in the Netherlands. He is a former detective inspector of the Amsterdam police, and his fictional characters reflect the depth and personality of individuals encountered during his nearly forty-year career in law enforcement.

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Price: $3.75 [Notify me when price goes down.]

"Death," observes DeKok, "is entitled to our respect Especially when it manifests itself in a violent manner." The phenomenon of sudden death has long intrigued Inspector DeKok. From the moment he confronted his first corpse, at the beginning of a very long career, he knew it was never going to get any easier. The numbness will never set in, even after solving many mysteries, bringing to light many dark dealings and unraveling many a puzzle. For DeKok, death will always remain an enigma.

Mustering his decorated experience and reverence for the dead once more, a triple murder in the Amsterdam Concert Gebouw has DeKok unveiling the truth behind two dead ex-junkies and their housekeeper.

Dekok and Murder By Melody is the second new release by Speck in the celebrated Baantjer series. With an emphasis on the best possible translations, editorial consistency and attractive cover art, this sleek series will prove that DeKok can claim success equal to that achieved in Europe, where he is on a par with Maigret and Poirot.

A.C. Baantjer is one of the most widely read authors in the Netherlands. A former detective inspector of the Amsterdam police, his fictional characters reflect the depth and personality of individuals encountered during his 38-year career in law enforcement. He was recently knighted by the Dutch monarchy.

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Price: $7.55 [Notify me when price goes down.]

One of the most widely read authors in the Netherlands, A.C. Baantjer continues to captivate a growing audience of American readers. This volume contains two of his favorite stories.

"DeKok and the Sunday Strangler" opens with the strangling death of Fat Sonja, an Amsterdam prostitute of whom Inspector DeKok was fond. Soon a second prostitute is killed, and along with his assistant, Viedder, DeKok begins down a trail of twisted motives and hidden agendas.

"DeKok and the Corpse on Christmas Eve" proves that DeKok himself is not above breaking the law to serve the interest of justice, as he engages a burglar to commit a break-in and then tampers with evidence to entrap the murderer of a young woman.

"Inspector DeKok is part Columbo, part Clouseau, part genius, part imp."-West Coast Review of Books

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Price: $6.96 [Notify me when price goes down.]

"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

While investigating a high-stakes jewel theft, Inspector DeKok is called to check out the death of a clown found floating in a raft down the canal, an enormous knife protruding from its back.

Without the slightest trace, a unique, antique jewel collection disappears from a house along the Gentlemen's Canal. As DeKok begins the investigation, his assistant, Vledder, receives a call regarding a dead clown at the foot of Crier's Tower. The connection of the crimes initially eludes him, but DeKok's profession, his calling, pushes him toward the answer.

DeKok and the Death of a Clown is the third new release by Speck in the celebrated Baantjer series. With an emphasis on the best possible translations, editorial consistency, and attractive cover art, this sleek series will prove that DeKok can claim success equal to that achieved in Europe, where he is on a par with Maigret and Poirot.

A.C. Baantjer is the most widely read author in the Netherlands. A former detective inspector of the Amsterdam police, his fictional characters reflect the depth and personality of individuals encountered during his 38-year career in law enforcement. He was recently knighted by the Dutch monarchy for his lifetime achievements.

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Price: $6.95 [Notify me when price goes down.]