The Hollow-Eyed Angel

Amsterdam Cops Mysteries #13

by Janwillem van de Wetering

The thirteenth Amsterdam Cops mysteryThe commissaris is about to retire from the Amsterdam police force when volunteer officer Johan Termeer approaches him for help. Johan fears his elderly uncle has been murdered in faraway New York, the corpse found decimated by animals in Central Park. The commissaris agrees to look into the matter since he’s already heading to New York for a law enforcement convention, and brings Sergeant de Gier along with him.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Detective, Mystery Thriller, Suspense

258 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Jan Willem Lincoln "Janwillem" van de Wetering was the author of a number of works in English and Dutch.

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

The old Commisaris (Chief of Police) goes to an conference in the last days of his active duty, he should have been retired a long time ago but always chose to remain active but now the end is unavoidable.
He also travels to New York to look into the death of a Dutch citizen and contacts the police in the Big Apple to have a second look at a closed case. However the old man is not feeling well so henceforth sergeant de Gier is send as well to keep an eye on the commisaris and to do his legwork in the US.
In the Netherlands Grijpstra and Cardozo are looking in the same case for clues as guided by their fearless leader.
This is a story of Buddhism and about the question of culpability that a human being can feel, namely the good versus the bad.

Once again a great tale from the series as written by van de Wetering, still enjoyable even if the curtain falls for one of them.

[R · Rating 2 out of 5]

**MINOR SPOILERS**
This book is the part of the in the Amsterdam Cops/Grijpstra - DeGier series.
The commisaris of a murder unit in Amsterdam is asked by a police officer to look into the death of his uncle. The uncle died in New York and the local police believe it was due to a heart attack. However, the body was mutilated by animals and the conclusion is not definite. It is interesting to read about the contrast between the police in the US (New York specifically) and Amsterdam.
While pursuing clues in New York, the commisaris asks Grijpstra and DeGier to check into something for him in Amsterdam. They discover a possible murder that could also have been an accident. This is implied but left alone.
The book has a strong gay/transvestite theme.
The basic facts of the mystery were repeated several times in the early part of the book. I thought the overall book was a little light on facts. The resolution at the end involved a twist that involved a sad circumstance.
DeGrier and Grijpstra make frequent casual references to sex. When Grijpstra meets DeGrier early in the book, he thinks that he caught him between f**king and fighting. Grijpstra has several children by different women. Throughout the book, there are references to s*x in multiple spots. For example, the commisaris looks back fondly at his own s*xual experience.
There are several references to books and some philosophical thoughts. Most of these do not seem to have much to do with the case(s).
The commisaris has an attraction to an Amsterdam bus driver who is a hollow eyed angel. He has intuitive/psychic moments at times. He also sees a New York bus driver and feels it is a sign to continue looking into the case when it appears to be a foregone conclusion that it is accidental.
I read this book almost 25 years after it was published. There are editing/translation errors that should have been caught.
I do not plan to continue reading this series. I kept reading a few pages then setting the book down.

[Frank McAdam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read several of van de Wetering's Amsterdam police mysteries and thought this one was easily the best, not least because it takes place in NYC rather than Amsterdam. (What's better than sitting in Central Park reading a mystery about a murder that takes place in Central Park?) Van de Wetering's offbeat Zen style works perfectly here without ever becoming contrived. It's not that difficult to figure who the culprit is, but I have a feeling the author planned it that way. It certainly didn't make the book any less enjoyable a read.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Found this at a book sale. i had read the series 25 years ago but had missed this one. This series was different from other mystery series. The mystery would often take a backseat as the book meandered from one eclectic topic to another. The mysteries would precede at a leisurely pace. This book was more leisurely than most. The main theme this time is guilt but the detectives covered many facets of the human condition. The repartee between detectives is stellar as always and the book offers a good look as the commasaris faces aging.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second time reading this book. I will reread all of this series, I liked them that much. I love the conversations between the main characters, and the seemingly aimless approach by which murders are solved by these experienced detectives of Amsterdam. This one is partly set in NYC which is extra fun for me.

[Rita Walton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this mystery series. I'm not sure if I read this book before or not - but I'll repeat read these books every now and then to relax. I had to speed read it because I had to get the book back to the library.

[Linda Chrisman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another crazy outing with my favorite Amsterdam cops. Actually it is their boss and his wife I most enjoy. Quirky, oddball and totally unlike any other detective duo - these are a can’t miss series.

[Yooperprof · Rating 4 out of 5]

On of the most amusing, and Zen-ish, of the series.

[Stefan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, this is the 13th and penultimate book of the Grijpstra & de Gier series and I must say, I was not impressed by this one at all. Not sure if the tank is just getting down to fumes for Janwillem van de Wetering and these characters, but this was far worse than any of the other books I have read so far in this series, and I have found at least two others on the less than desirable side of the fence.

As the story goes... The Uncle of a Dutch auxiliary police officer is found dead in Central Park in New York City. He suspects foul play and a cover-up by the NYPD. So, he asks the commissaris to look into the matter if he could. Lo and behold, the commissaris just happens to be heading to NYC for a police conference (how convenient). Of course, he cannot go it alone, and de Gier ends up in NYC with the commissaris to aid in the case and to look after the ailing old man... and of course to woo the lovely female character of the story as always.

The story is all over the place at times, and includes some meaningless filler that really wasn't necessary at all, which I think was added to keep the other characters in the story as much as possible. I kept putting the book down for days at a time as I just could not get into a groove with this one.

The other thing about this book, really, the previous book, Just a Corpse at Twilight, is that in the previous book, all the main characters are retired. Now in this book, they are all back on the force and the commissaris is getting set to retire. Huh? Did I miss something? Did van de Wetering want to wrap this series up with Just a Corpse at Twilight but then changed his mind and had to bring them back into the force? Who knows.

Well, now to find the 14th and last book in the series, The Perfidious Parrot and hope that it is better than this one and ends the series on a high note. I hope it does. We will see.

[James Proctor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fine addition to the zen mystery series. This eleventh installment (incarnation?) finds our intrepid Amsterdam detectives, de Gier and Grijpstra, investigating the mysterious death of a free spirited Dutch bookseller in Central Park. Did his hairstylist son do him in or was it that kick in the head from a policewoman's horse? Full of deft touches of character and incident, the author crafts a light tale with spiritual undertones. In each book there is always something that stands out for me that makes it special and this one continues that trend in a very unlikely way, by building a seduction scene around one of my favorite movies, The Road Warrior. Sounds unusual, yet he pulls it off and creates a whimsical scene. Every seduction should have a bit of whimsy in it, wouldn't you say? That he is also able to use the scene to propel the main plot forward is one of many qualities that mark this work by a master.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh, this is a weird one. The mystery seems here to mainly be an excuse for all kinds of interesting discussions between the characters, concerning Zen and other forms of Buddhist philosophy, as well as the nature of guilt, the purpose of punishment, the truth or meaning of dreams, and a raft of other things. As a one-time student of philosophy with a keen interest in Eastern thought, I thought that stuff was great. The problem is, I wanted to read a copy mystery starring my favorite Dutch detectives, Grijpstra and De Gier, and they barely even touch the main crime, which is actually investigated, for the most part, by their about-to-retire superior.

So, if you're in the mood for musings and meditations on a host of subjects, pick this up. But if you feel like reading a great crime story, this might be one to pass over.

[Catherine Woodman · Rating 3 out of 5]

an de Wetering continues his search for the true meaning of being and nothingness. The commissaris and Sergeant de Gier travel to New York to investigate the death of an uncle of a member of the Amsterdam Police Reserve. Throughout the course of their investigation, the Dutch detectives continue their own personal search for enlightenment. Van de Wetering has a talent for giving his readers more than a casual glimpse of the philosophy of Zen Buddhism, yet he manages to do so without preaching about it. As always, he makes us laugh along the way. This book did not feature as much interaction between Adjutant Gripstra and Sergeant de Gier as some of Van de Wetering's previous efforts, as Gripstra did not travel to Manhattan with his colleagues. The focus in this story was the commissaris

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had to laugh that I picked up this Dutch mystery and was reading it as I sat in a coffee shop near Central Park (a cold rain kept me out of the park itself). The plot involves a mysterious corpse found in Central Park, whose Dutch connections bring the Commissaris, Grijpstra, and De Gier into the investigation. The plot here is fairly improbable, but the mystery is of such secondary importance to the Zen-like conversations. The characters are remarkably developed, the discussions funny and philosophical, just a delight to read, especially after so many books (I think this is my sixth or so, obviously not in order). This might not be the perfect entrance into the series, but having spent considerable time with these characters it was a delight that ended too quickly.

[Stuart Lutzenhiser · Rating 3 out of 5]

A dutch ex-pat dies in Central Park in New York City and his nephew comes to the Amsterdam murder brigade to ask that they investigate his death as the police in NYC seem to not be doing much. The nephew is a volunteer policeman himself and calls in the favor to get them to do it. They spend a fair amount of time trying to get to the bottom of it - which they do - but they also spend a fair amount of time discussing the nature of good and evil, the various ways at looking at existence and moral responsibility. As with all of these crime novels, it is less detective or procedural and more character driven. Enjoyable although getting a bit dated looking back almost 20 years from when it was written.

[Sandie · Rating 3 out of 5]

For years I had read about Janwillem van de Wetering and recently a friend gave me one of his books as a present. Nothing to do but read it! This one takes place on both sides of the Atlantic pond, with Dutch detectives in New York and Amsterdam coordinating on the sleuthing. A volunteer policeman comes to the commisaris because his uncle's body has been found under a bush in Central Park and the local police do not think he was murdered. The author was once a Buddhist monk, which influences the story.

This one was a bit dark for me but I still liked reading it and liked the author. I found the Dutch names unpronounceable. I would read more of this author.

[Mikee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a marvelous book. Not your typical novel, where things move from beginning to end, being mostly believable as you go. There is no beginning. There is no end. What there is is the unique style of van der Wetering, along with a healthy splash of zen and some great characterizations. Believable? Not really, at least until it all comes together at the end, but of what importance is that?

[Jason Paulios · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love these cops...words I never thought I'd write. A mystery novel actually made me wander about yesterday pondering human nature, the need for forgiveness, the abstract idea of nothingness and whether you can ever get to "nothing" through doing...which is "something". I forgot how much I like thinking! Which is sad.

[Millicent Swinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I deduct a star only because this book doesn't quite attain the dizzying heights to which Van de Wetering rather often soars. It's still very, very good, and I probably would've liked it more if I'd seen The Road Warrior.

[Veerle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did read these books some years agoo, but this one I only found recently. I forgot how good they are. Stories about the Amsterdam ( the Netherlands) police. This one takes place partly in New York and in Amsterdam.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read all the van de Wetering mysteries we could get our hands on, but in the pre-BookCrossing/Goodreads days. Really want to re-read, but need to get some jenever and herring in the house, first.

[Tammy]

Recommended in the book Tolstoy and the Purple Chair.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series is great! I always enjoy them, and I'm not a real mystery lover either.

[Kirsten]

Sometimes you gotta take your surrealism wherever you can find it.

[Katherine · Rating 1 out of 5]

There was one paragraph I liked a lot.