DeKok and the Dead Harlequin

by A.C. Baantjer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Amsterdam Police Station

Inspector DeKok gets a note requesting an appointment at 8:00PM from an unknown man. DeKok  and his subordinate Vledder meet the  the man at the police station and he appears to be a well-to-do accountant. The purpose for the meeting was to establish an alibi. He plans on committing the perfect crime. He tells the police that there will be a murder at a local hotel.

 At this very time in a hotel not far away a man is killed by a weighted hockey stick.  He has been left in a posed position that looks like a puppet whose strings have been cut. DeKok  calls him the harlequin until he gets to know the victim better.  Under the body there is a note to the victim warning him as well that a murder is planned. In this way the accountant cannot be charged with failure to inform either the police or the victim of the crime to be committed.

Utrecht

As DeKok  continues his investigation it appears to lead to a gang  or group of men planning a major crime, but all the details don't mesh and the puzzle deepens.  The victim and the accountant both come from a nearby city, Utrecht and DeKok spends time there as he chases every clue. He says it is a very nice city but the canals can't match those in Amsterdam.

It is more an American thing to belong to a gang. As Vledder points out, in Nato exercises the Dutch army always gets the worst ratings, but on the other hand the Dutch soldier is always rated first in guerilla warfare.

Utrecht

DeKok is well regarded in his district. He gets respect from the solid citizens as well as the pimps and whores. They all knew he interpreted dozens of regulations elastically. He did not violate the law, rather he had a unique vision of the letter of the law. Using his skill and insight there is no doubt that justice will be done.  Sometimes justice is a little slow and more death will follow before DeKok  gets it right.

This is a wonderful series and I always look forward to the next book in line.