DeKok
and the Dead Harlequin
An
Inspector DeKok Mystery
A.
C. Baantjer
Speck
Press (Trade Paperback)
ISBN-10: 1-933108-27-4 (1933108274)
ISBN-13: 978-1-933108-27-8 (9781933108278)
Publication Date: February 2009
List Price: $14.00
Synopsis (from the publisher): Faced with murder victims found looking like macabre wooden harlequins, Inspector DeKok must unravel clues from two unexpected characters: a six-year-old girl who has trouble sleeping and a respected accountant who seeks DeKok's advice on committing the perfect crime. In a surprising twist, DeKok meets with the murderer and tries everything possible to prevent the man from giving himself up to the police.
Review:
A murder suspect uses Inspector DeKok as his air-tight alibi, not once
but twice, in DeKok and the Dead
Harlequin, the 6th mystery
chronologically in this series by Dutch mystery writer A. C. Baantjer,
but the 10th published in new trade paperback editions by Speck Press.
One morning DeKok receives a puzzling, and most troubling letter, from
one Pierre Brassel who states, quite unambiguously, that he has decided
to kill a man and would like to meet with the Inspector at 8 PM exactly
to discuss a few unimportant details. When a man is murdered at exactly
8 PM in a nearby hotel, DeKok suspects Brassel is behind the crime but
has nothing to directly connect him to it. After all, he has the
perfect alibi. Just two days later Brassel invites DeKok and his wife
to a charity event which the Inspector believes is a prelude to another
murder. He quickly realizes how right he is but is unable to prevent a
second man from being killed in a remarkably similar manner as the
first.
Rarely does a mystery capture the attention of the reader as suddenly
and as firmly as the first page of DeKok
and the Dead
Harlequin does. It is clear
to all (DeKok and the reader) that Brassel is involved in these crimes,
but the method and motive are unknown. The author's spare writing style
keeps the investigation moving along quite briskly with DeKok
connecting Brassel, an accountant, to a loosely organized crime
syndicate. Still, when he reaches a dead end it is ultimately a chance
encounter with a child that gives him the clue he needs to bring the
case to a close.
Though much of the story is absolutely riveting, the conclusion is
somewhat disappointing -- not as result of DeKok's controversial
actions (or lack thereof) -- but because the ending isn't nearly as
intriguing as the opening chapter promised. DeKok actually mocks
Brassel at their second meeting, showing him, as it were, how to create
a credible alibi involving everyday people. Yet for all practical
purposes, Brassel doesn't need an alibi at all. Therefore, what was the
point of the letter? Still, DeKok
and the Dead
Harlequin is a captivating
mystery, DeKok an entertaining and likeable character, and is highly
recommended.
A footnote on the edition reviewed: DeKok and the Dead Harlequin was
originally published in The Netherlands in 1969 with its first American
translation in 1992. In this 2009 edition a modern update was clearly
attempted with mixed results (and though not affecting the plot in any
meaningful way, is somewhat amusing nonetheless). Examples include the
use of databases and computers by the police but cell phones appear yet
to be invented. A reference is also made as the present being the "end
of the century" but the currency in use is the euro which wasn't
introduced until 2002. And finally, apparently DeKok spelling his name
every name he meets someone is a running gag through the series, but
the humor is likely to be lost on many, or at least one, American
reader(s).
Special thanks to Speck Press for providing an ARC of DeKok and the Dead Harlequin for this review.
Review Copyright © 2009 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved
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DeKok
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Omnimystery
keywords for DeKok and the Dead
Harlequin ...
Location(s) referenced: Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
