Book Review: DeKok and the Geese of Death

Reviewed By: Cheryl - RAM

DeKok and the Geese of Death     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
A. C. Baantjer
Class/Genre:   Mystery
Series: Dekok

"DeKok and the Geese of Death" is a recent addition to the popular Dutch series featuring Inspector DeKok of the Amsterdam police. DeKok, a detective of the old school, may have seen his former colleagues rise far above him in the police service, and may depend on his partner to handle such unwelcome innovations as the computer. Nevertheless, his knowledge of the most disreputable reaches of his district and his passion for crime-solving remain unmatched.

At the beginning of the book, DeKok is attempting to obtain a confession to some particularly cowardly murders from one of the lowlifes in his district when he receives a call from a woman talking about her guard geese. This would normally be of no interest to him since no crime has yet been committed involving her and she does not even live in his district. But there is a link between her and the very dangerous man DeKok is convinced is a murderer, so DeKok investigates her complaints.

The plot is cleverly and professionally worked out, It involves, besides the geese, one of the most peculiar families I have read about in some time. Although the language of the translation is sometimes a bit jarring - the translator must have had difficulty representing a Dutch criminals' dialect in English - the book generally reads easily and well. Fans of the traditional police procedural will probably enjoy this book.

Cheryl - RAM

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