Dekok and the Sorrowing Tomcat [Hardcover]

Albert C. Baantjer (Author), H.G. Smittenaar (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1993

Albert Cornelis Baantjer is the Netherland's most widely read author and his hero DeKok is adored and highly praised. The cases DeKok faces are so real that sometimes he and his creator are thought to be the same person since Baantjer worked as a homicide detective in Amsterdam for twenty-five years. In this latest adventure to make it over seas, DeKok investigates the murder of a young conman with whom he used to deal.

On the sand dunes that protect the low lands of the Netherlands, an early morning jogger makes a gruesome discovery-the body of a man with a dagger protruding from his back. The corpse of Peter Geffel, better known as "Cunning" Pete, is identified, but the local police cannot find any clues.

When the call goes out to notify other jurisdictions of the discovery, Homicide Detective DeKok feels drawn to the case because he knew the victim. Along with his inseparable side-kick Vledder, DeKok searches the city of Amsterdam for answers. Soon there is another corpse and, unlikely as it may seem, the killing of Cunning Pete is connected to a killing in higher social circles.

With his usual laconic style, Baantjer brings readers another sterling entry in the series and paints a fascinating portrait of the Netherlands along the way.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"Cunning Pete" Geffel is the type of lowlife crook Detective-Inspector DeKok likes. An "innocent blackmailer," Geffel plays by a set of ambiguous moral rules that are always shifting but that cry out for vengeance when violated. Now, someone has violated them--with a dagger right between Geffel's shoulder blades, and DeKok is about to jump into the fray when ordered by his superior to investigate a $3 million robbery. Soon the two investigations intertwine and the plot's twists and turns include the discovery of a suspect's body in a car, atop a pile of $750,000 in bills. DeKok is up to his old tricks: staging an arrest, breaking and entering, drinking Cognac at Little Lowee's criminal hangout. DeKok also receives help from a source he'd rather not have: Geffel's revenge-seeking girlfriend. In the end, however, the inspector's solution relies on his knowledge of those ambiguous moral rules by which Amsterdam's petty crooks and red-light-district denizens abide. This formulaic entry is far from Baantjer's ( DeKok and the Dead Harlequin ) best, but the pages turn easily and DeKok's offbeat personality keeps readers interested. 35,000 first printing; author tour.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Language Notes

Text: Dutch
Original Language: English

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Intercontinental Pub Inc; First Edition edition (September 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1881164616
• ISBN-13: 978-1881164616
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,392,868 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars My introduction to a new Dutch master, April 30, 2004

By 

R. Kenyon van Lier "rakvl" (Indianapolis, IN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: DeKok and the Sorrowing Tomcat (Hardcover)

This was my first Dekok mystery, but I was never confused by the characters or their "unspoken history". However, it was evident throughout that the author was very comfortable in the character's skin. The novel read like an old friend, well plotted, quick moving, and yet not revealing itself until the last page. From this introduction, I look forward to reading more of the adventures of Dekok and his partner Vledder.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great series that deserves more recognition, March 8, 2006

By 

M. S. Handley (Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: DeKok and the Sorrowing Tomcat (Hardcover)

"DeKok and the Sorrowing Tomcat" is the second of DeKok books that I've read and I am now on a quest to find them all. The DeKok books are police procedural mysteries with an old world flavor to them since they take place in Amsterdam.

If you enjoy the Maigret books by Simenon then you will enjoy the DeKok books. In fact, I liked this book better than many of the Maigret books that I have read. While investigating a murder and armored car robbery, DeKok has to deal both with criminals and persons in the world of high finance and is able handle all with aplomb. I like the relationship between DeKok and his underling Vledders, who, in the tradition of all the great sidekicks, can't always follow the thought processes of the great detective, but still manges to make his contributions to the investigation. The plot is tightly woven and the story is fast paced.

In general, the translation by Smittenaar is very good. There is no stilted language as can sometimes happen with translations and there are occasional footnotes that help explain things such as the difference between Dutch and American police ranks. The one thing that I have a quibble with is that I think Smittenaar may have updated the technology used. They use desktop computers and fax machines, neither of which were in widespread use at the the time the original was written in the the early 1970's. It's a minor point since it really doesn't affect the flow of the story, but I'm kind of a stickler for maintaining the original story in translations and little changes like that make you wonder if the translator changed anything else.

If you are looking for mystery series, give the DeKok books a try. There is a wide body of work and used editions seem to be readily available.