Customer Reviews

Tumbleweed

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While Janwillem van de Wetering's "Tumbleweed" can not lay claim to the most fascinating mystery or the most suspenseful story in detective fiction history, it still manages to entertain and keep its readers interested to the end. The primary policemen involved in the case, Grijpstra, DeGier, and the commissaris, are a continually interesting and entertaining lot, and Grijpstra and DeGier's ongoing banter, in particular, lends the book a touch of levity that is greatly appreciated in a genre that often becomes bogged down in the seriousness of its heroes and villains. Beyond the usual conventions of detective fiction, van de Wetering also provides some interesting literary touches, particularly in his depictions of isolated characters and their geographical mirrors, the islands of Curacao and Schiermonnikoog. Perhaps its not particularly exceptional for a detective novel to feature isolated, unusual characters in its villains and victims, but van de Wetering's exploration of these characters can be called exceptional. And through this character exploration we also gain insight into Dutch character in general. In fact, those not inclined towards reading "Tumbleweed" as a mystery novel might be able to appreciate it as a travel story as well, especially since van de Wetering extends his portrayal of the Netherlands into its Caribbean territory, Curacao. All things considered, "Tumbleweed" is a novel I feel I can recommend to almost any reader as a good, quick read that goes a little deeper than the normal good, quick read.

Tumbleweed is a thoughtful and entertaining read, which mystery enthousiasts will appreciate. No smoke and mirrors here; only a plainly set situation which unravels quite interestingly. Wetering offers his readers the chance to experience the climates of Hollands various nooks & crannies, lifesyles, and home-spun characters, while offering their interesting mindsets to contemplation. Though the writing style at times seems to be very representative of Dutch coloquilisms, it still resounds well and clearly to anyone who would enjoy a peek at Dutch language, custom, and characters. This is terrific for anyone such as myself who usually enjoys something just a tad different from the standards, such as Christie, who is always a pleasure to read! A quick read, I would buy this book to enjoy over an evening or two, to escape to Holland and the canals of Amsterdam.

Janwillem van de Wetering creates an artsy, yet accessible portrayal of a typical detective story with Tumbleweed. The novel, set in Holland, begins with the murder of a high-class prostitute, Maria van Buren. The detective team Grijpstra and DeGier are assigned to the case, led by their Commisaris. The plot advances as the team discovers van Buren's interest in witchcraft and sorcery. They begin to create a profile of a woman who ably controlled and held power over her clientele. The investigation of van Buren's four clients leads the detectives on a rather straightforward hunt for her murderer, a man capable of throwing a WWII English commando knife straight into her back, killing her instantly. While the plot carries the reader along with no unusual surprises, it is the imagery and themes that van de Wetering explores which makes this novel an unusual and enjoyable read. In consistently using the literary device of parallelism, van de Wetering creates an overall thematic based on oppositional forces. In a clever manipulation of the typical antagonistic mystery portrayal of good versus evil, van de Wetering goes further in driving home the nature of the world in which we live. Where there is the barren, as represented by the island of Curacao, there is also the fertile, the island of Schiermonnikoog. Yet as is typical of a mystery novel, the twist van de Wetering provides is to undermine the oppositions he has created to illustrate that the world around us cannot be viewed by such polar extremes. The island of Curacao, with its hot dry climate, brings new life to the worn out Commisaris as his pains from rheumatism fade; and it is on the life-giving island of Schiermonnikoog, a lush bird sanctuary, that the murderer of Maria is found. Just as with the title, the tumbleweed, which becomes the symbolic representation of the murderer, is seemingly a dead lifeless corpse; its purpose is to spread its seeds, in this way insuring its ability in the future to propagate. However, as is illustrated with the murderer himself, the power to insure his future is revealed as illusory. Thus, van de Wetering's primary investigation in this novel concludes by having the reader examine what is real and what is illusion in their own world.

Janwillem van de Wetering was an unusual man and writer. Born in Holland was a young teen during the German occupation during WW2. Though he was a journeyman traveler (he spent a year in a zen monastery in Japan, South Africa, Peru) he finally settled in Maine where he did most of his writing. Unlike most authors, Wetering wrote his own English translations of his books that were all originally written in Dutch. People who have read his books in both languages say that he was able to adjust the stories so that they made sense for readers who didn't have his knowledge of the two different cultures. His most famous books are those in the "Grijpstra & de Gier" series much of whose background is based on his time as a "part-time policeman". In Holland (a least during Wetering's time) you could do your 'national service' in other ways as opposed to being in the military. Wetering chose to be in a type of 'police national guard' who served a number of days per year and could be called out in emergencies. He mostly served in Amsterdam.

This book (second in the series) takes place in the early 1970s when Holland was still a very provincial place outside its big cities. Though Amsterdam was 'awash' with drugs in the 60's and 70's, it had not yet infected Dutch society and was seen as an immigrant and 'hippie' problem. Murder was almost unheard of, and Wetering has his 'cops' complaining that there is not 'true' homicide bureau as part of the Amsterdam Police because there aren't enough murders to keep them busy year round. They talk about the number of murders in America as if it was the 'promised land' for homicide cops. The title of this book which will seem 'odd' to Americans (bringing up images of the southwest deserts and old westerns) has more to do with the philosophical part of the book then any of the action related to the murder and the police investigation.

The story itself is the murder of a woman from Curacao who is found on her houseboat with a military style knife stuck in her back. But the knife is not used by the Dutch military nor has it ever been, it's a copper handled British commando's weapon. The woman turns out to have been the mistress to three men, one in the American military, a Belgian Diplomat and a wealthy Dutchman. This book is now an historical novel since it was published in 1976 and is over 35 years old. It's interesting to see how the Police worked before there was DNA confirmation and most records weren't computerized and European police authorities were just beginning to work across government borders. The action is nothing special but does keep you interested, but the byplay among the characters, from metropolitan Amsterdam, provincials from the Frisian Islands, and colonials from the Dutch Antillies, to me is the most interesting part of the novel.

Zeb Kantrowitz

Grijpstra shared a room with de Gier. Grijpstra claims that nothing ever happens in Amsterdam. A woman living on a houseboat is visited regularly by three different men. It seems the Secret Service is interested in the woman, Maria van Buren.

The woman is murdered. A neighbor feels she bled men dry and that someone has been violent. The victim cultivated the plants belladonna and nightshade. The book is a police procedural of great skill and imagination.

Van de Wetering's Amsterdam detectives return in the second book of this terrific mystery series. An exotically beautiful hooker involved in witchcraft is killed with the literal knife in the back on her expensive houseboat. Grijpstra and DeGier are tasked with solving the murder.
There are (of course) a multiple of high profile suspects (was it espionage, jealousy, rage, revenge?) most of whom have alibis. In this book (214 pages) we get to learn more about G & D's boss, the commissaris who is an interesting character in his own right (although not nearly as cerebral or amusing as the detectives). He travels to Curacao (the birthplace of the dead prostitute) as well as a small northern island (Schiermonnikoog) where he meets up with an ill Grijpstra and DeGier as they try to solve this intriguing mystery.
This novel is fast-paced like its predecessor (the terrific, "Outsider in Amsterdam"), but the dialogue is not as entertaining or thought provoking--perhaps because the reader gets to spend less time with Grijpstra and DeGier. Nevertheless, the characters are interesting, the mystery a good one, and the solution reached in good form. All in all, a very good read from one of the best mystery writers (and series) on the market. Recommended.