Dekok and the Somber Nude [Paperback]

A. C. Baantjer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1992

Along with such peers as Ed McBain and Georges Simenon, [Baantjer] has created a longrunning and uniformly engaging police series. They are smart, suspenseful, and bettercrafted than most in the field. Mystery Scene..... This latest installment of the internationally popular Inspector DeKok series finds the gray sleuth dealing with a most gruesome murder. A beautiful, freespirited young woman, Nanette Bogaard, has gone missing, and those closest to her fear her to be dead. Inspector DeKok is soon called upon to find out her whereabouts. It quickly becomes unveiled that Nanette, known by a scorned paramour as a Wild Daisy, may have harbored a dark side, one that embraced blackmail, emotional cruelty, and a wicked selfishness. The more DeKok learns of the beguiling Nanette, the more he identifies possible suspects related to her disapperance. DeKok feels it in his gut that he is on the trail of a dead woman. DeKoks suspicions are confirmed with one phone call. The dismembered body of a young woman has been found at the city dump. Now DeKok has to find the bloodied hands responsible for the sombereyed womans murder. 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 fortyyear career in law enforcement. Known as the Dutch Conan Doyle, Baantjer has been knighted by the Dutch monarchy for his lifetime achievements.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...enjoy this series when I'm in the mode for laidback detectives with quirks who still manage to discover the truth." -- Reviewingtheevidence.com, April 2008

"...welcome change from many British police procedurals...Fans will like the economical plotting and stabs at truths about human condition." -- Telegraph, May 10, 2008

"Fans of this superb Dutch police procedural series will gain immense pleasure from the latest translation." -- Midwest Book Review, April 2008 --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Dutch

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 232 pages
• Publisher: Intercontinental Pub Inc; First American Edition edition (June 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1881164012
• ISBN-13: 978-1881164012
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,405,817 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars superb Dutch police procedural, February 11, 2008

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: DeKok and the Somber Nude (Inspector Dekok) (Paperback)

On a rainy day, Kristel van Daalen with two A's comes to Amsterdam's Warmoes Street police station to report her nineteen years old cousin Nanette Bogaard with a double A is missing. Kristel explains to Inspectors DeKok and Vledders that she and Nanette co-own the Ye Three Roses floral shop, which they bought with money they inherited. She further explains that Nanette is an artistic free spirit, but always came home to the apartment they share above the store. Kristel believes Nanette is dead.

Vledders thinks it is too soon to assume foul play, but DeKok has a hunch that something bad has occurred to Nanette. They begin making inquiries starting with a spawned reporter Barry Weilen that lead to Kristel's addict brother, a "Somber Nude" painting done by Pierre Popko and aging paramour Staaten and his adult son. They see a picture of a mesmerizing serpent wearing an angel's garb before the dismembered corpse of Nanette is found in a garbage dump. The now murder investigation keeps tilting like a pin ball game that flickers back and forth between anyone who was in Nanette's sphere.

This is a fabulous DeKok mystery once readers accept the inspectors take on the missing person case (most will agree with Vledders that its pouring rain, less than 24 hours, and she is nineteen). The story line is driven by DeKok's investigation as each new clue he uncovers seems to open more questions rather than resolving any of them. Fans of this superb Dutch police procedural series will gain immense pleasure from the latest translation.

Harriet Klausner

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars DeKok and the Somber Nude, October 17, 2007

By 

Connie Griffin-Woodring (Banning, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dekok and the Somber Nude (Paperback)

This is a great series starring Detective-Inspector DeKok of the Amsterdam Municipal Police, Homicide. Albert Baantjer is the most
widely read author in the Netherlands. This series is "rapid-fire
storytelling" with the laconic detective-inspector calling the shots.
The SOMBER NUDE deals with a dismembered body and DeKok's relentless
pursuit of the murderer.
If you like JANWILLEM VAN DE WETERING's police novels and GEORGES
SIMENON's Maigret series, you will enjoy the DeKok mysteries. The
covers of the American editions are bright and sometimes garish
and may put off some readers. What is inside the cover is just a
"good read".

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a treasure to behold, July 15, 2008

By 

ernie*s mom (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: DeKok and the Somber Nude (Inspector Dekok) (Paperback)

This is the first book of this series that I have had the pleasure to read. It is a page turner of a police procedural that allows development of believable protagonists. Mr. Baantjer takes us on the hunt for a beautiful, and at first, likeable, missing young woman. She is found, only to be not as beautiful as she first appears. All characters are multi-dimensional.
Great read!