Amazon.com Review
If you're looking for a change from the grim world of police procedurals inhabited by the likes of Lawrence Block's hard-bitten Matthew Scudder or Michael Connelly's cynical Harry Bosch, consider Inspector DeKok, a Dutch copper. Unlike his American counterparts, DeKok has a sunny disposition and a kindly nature. You won't find him beating information out of a suspect; he's more likely to make a polite request. In DeKok and Murder in Ecstasy, the courteous cop investigates a murder and robbery, managing to unravel the complex threads of the plot without ever loosing his customary cool or innate courtesy.
Review
Despite a translation (by H.G. Smittenaar) that suffers from odd grammatical seizures, Baantjer delivers a plot that is nice and complicated and a hero who is just plain nice. -- The New York Times Book Review, Marilyn Stasio
Reading Dekok is like reading Tin-tin. The English is competent but, at certain points, it's not quite there yet. However, once you allow for certain gaps that two differing languages can't bridge, you may discover the wonder of old idioms side by side with current street slang. The experience can be jarring but the oddity can also be a happy surprise. Imagine finding out that the Netherlands State Police patrol in Porsches! Dekok creator, A. C. Baantjer can weave a tale. Dekok and Murder in Ecstasy is the 17th in a series but the craftsmanship belies the number. An unlikely detective, Dekok is more like Hercule Poirot. If you like Columbo and prefer your sleuth to be super because of an agile mind, you'll like Dekok. -- From Independent Publisher
Reading Dekok is like reading Tin-tin. The English is competent but, at certain points, it's not quite there yet. However, once you allow for certain gaps that two differing languages can't bridge, you may discover the wonder of old idioms side by side with current street slang. The experience can be jarring but the oddity can also be a happy surprise. Imagine finding out that the Netherlands State Police patrol in Porsches! Dekok creator, A. C. Baantjer can weave a tale. Dekok and Murder in Ecstasy is the 17th in a series but the craftsmanship belies the number. An unlikely detective, Dekok is more like Hercule Poirot. If you like Columbo and prefer your sleuth to be super because of an agile mind, you'll like Dekok. -- From Independent Publisher
