Review: DEKOK AND THE GEESE OF DEATH, A. C. Baantjer

• (Dutch title: De Cock en de ganzen van de dood, 20th in series, originally published 1983)
• translated from Dutch by H. G. Smittenaar 2004 and published by Speck Press
• ISBN 0-9725776-6-1
• 185 pages
• volume includes short story DeKok and the Grinning Strangler
• source: my local library

Synopsis (Amazon)

In The Geese of Death, DeKok takes on Igor Stablinsky, a man accused of bludgeoning a wealthy old man and his wife.

To DeKok’s unfailing eye the killing urge is visibly present in the suspect during questioning, but did he commit this particular crime?

All signs point to one of the few remaining estates in Holland. The answer lies within a strange family, suspicions of incest, deadly geese and a horrifying mansion. Baantjer’s perceptive style brings to light the essences of his characters, touching his audience with subtle wit and irony.

My Take

Another enjoyable title from this series, which is now definitely on my list of reliable quick reads.

DeKok and his colleague Vledder are working all the hours they can to find out who has been brutally murdering elderly people. The accused man, Igor Stablinsky, has what appears to be an agenda, a list of names and addresses in his pocket, and the names of the two dead people are on it. In a careless moment in his office, with the crowbar used for the last murder on his desk, DeKok turns his back on Stablinsky, who seizes the opportunity to attack the Inspector.

At the same time a Mrs Bildjik rings the police station about her geese. Her name is also on Stablinsky's list. The Bildjik family proves to be a strange one, with all its members having names beginning with the letter I. The matriarch Isolde Bildjik is wealthy, and invalid, confined to a wheelchair, and convinced that someone is determined to kill her. DeKok's curiosity is roused particularly after her geese, bought to raise the alarm of intruders, are all poisoned. The plot is a bit convoluted with three more murders and then one foiled.

There are some quirky bits to these stories: the way DeKok's eyebrows ripple like black caterpillars, the dilapidated old VW he and Vledder travel in, Lowee the barkeeper whom they visit from time to time for underworld information, the way DeKok's feet hurt and his legs itch when he is making no progress in a case, and then the way the final explanations take place at a supper party hosted at home by Mrs DeKok. Just enough to bring a smile to the reader's face. At the same time clues stimulate the grey cells.

My rating: 4.3

I have already reviewed
DEKOK AND THE DEAD HARLEQUIN
DEKOK AND MURDER BY INSTALLMENT 

Review: MURDER BY INSTALLMENT, A.C. Baantjer

• originally published in Dutch 1985, De Cock en moord op termijn
• translated from Dutch into English in 2007 by H.G. Smittenauer and published by Speck Press
• ISBN 978-1-933108-07-0
• 189 pages
• #24 in the De Cock series
• source: my public library

Synopsis (publisher)

Although at first it seemed to be a case for the narcotics division, this latest crime soon evolves into a series of sinister and almost impossible murders.

Never before have inspectors DeKok and his partner Vledder been so involved in a case whereby murder, drug smuggling, and child prostitution are almost daily occurrences.

Blackmail enters the picture and bodies continue to be found. DeKok even finds himself allowing one of the suspects in the serial crimes to go free.

To darken the days a bit more, in the past a single murder used to dominate the front pages of the newspapers for weeks, but now they get maybe four or six lines on page fourteen, third column, near the bottom. Death has become commonplace in the news, but never for DeKok.

My Take

Earlier last month I thoroughly enjoyed DEKOK AND THE DEAD HARLEQUIN and was delighted to find my library could offer some more.

These stories feel like a cross between Maigret and Agatha Christie, although the publisher tells us that Baantjer is known as the "Dutch Conan Doyle".

The first murder in this story is a puzzle. The weapon is eventually identified and then a second, almost identical murder occurs. When the third happens DeKok knows enough to predict who the fourth will be.  But who is the murderer?

In a way these are old fashioned police procedurals, with a few red herrings, and just enough clues to keep the reader guessing.  As with DEKOK AND THE DEAD HARLEQUIN the final explanations occur around the tea table at DeKok's apartment with Mrs DeKok present too.

My rating: 4.5

List of the titles published by Speck Press - see also here for their Amazon listing

This week this is also my contribution to  Friday's Forgotten Books being hosted by Todd Mason at Sweet Freedom.