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Van In #3
Les Masques de la nuit
Le squelette d'une femme retrouvé dans le jardin d'une ferme rénovée des environs de Bruges conduit le commissaire Van In et son équipe à enquêter sur cette maison, autrefois maison close fréquentée par des notables de la ville.
L'enquête se dirige vers les réseaux de prostitution et les policiers corrompus, mettant à mal la vie de cette ville provinciale flamande.
L'enquête se dirige vers les réseaux de prostitution et les policiers corrompus, mettant à mal la vie de cette ville provinciale flamande.
380 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
33 people are currently reading
601 people want to read
About the author
Pieter Aspe
72 books150 followersPieter Aspe was het pseudoniem van Pierre Aspeslag. Hij studeerde Latijn-Wetenschappen aan het Sint-Leocollege in Brugge. Na zijn humanoria volgde hij gedurende korte tijd de universitaire opleiding sociologie. Hierna werkte hij als magazijnier, verkoper, bediende, seizoenagent bij de zeevaartpolitie, fotograaf, studiemeester, handelaar in brocante, handelaar in wijn en conciërge van de Heilig-Bloedkapel in Brugge. Sinds 1996 was hij voltijds schrijver van misdaadromans.
Pieter Aspe in de Nederlandstalige Wikipedia
Pieter Aspe was the pseudonym of Pierre Aspeslag. He studied Latin-Sciences at the Sint-Leo College in Bruges.
Pieter Aspe was a full time writer since 1996. Aspe wrote crime fiction novels with inspector Pieter Van In and D.A. Hannelore Martens as principal characters, who become lovers in the first book Het vierkant van de wraak. Most of the stories are situated in Bruges, Belgium. Next to this series, Aspe also wrote two YA novels, Bloedband and the sequel Luchtpost and two novellas, Grof Wild and De Japanse Tuin.
In 2001 Aspe received the Hercule Poirot Price for his novel Zoenoffer.
The first ten novels of Aspe were made into a TV series called Aspe by VTM (Flemish TV channel). This was followed up by a second and third season, but they weren’t television adaptations of the books. However the storyline of the TV series was further developed under the supervision of Pieter Aspe himself. After the first season of the series Aspe, the number of book sales increased significantly. He has currently sold over 1.5 million books in Belgium and The Netherlands.
His 24th novel Misleid was released in April 2009.
Translated from source: www.aspe.be
Pieter Aspe in the English Wikipedia
Pieter Aspe (nom de plume de Pierre Aspeslag) est un écrivain flamand.
Pieter Aspe dans la Wikipédia française
Pieter Aspe in de Nederlandstalige Wikipedia
Pieter Aspe was the pseudonym of Pierre Aspeslag. He studied Latin-Sciences at the Sint-Leo College in Bruges.
Pieter Aspe was a full time writer since 1996. Aspe wrote crime fiction novels with inspector Pieter Van In and D.A. Hannelore Martens as principal characters, who become lovers in the first book Het vierkant van de wraak. Most of the stories are situated in Bruges, Belgium. Next to this series, Aspe also wrote two YA novels, Bloedband and the sequel Luchtpost and two novellas, Grof Wild and De Japanse Tuin.
In 2001 Aspe received the Hercule Poirot Price for his novel Zoenoffer.
The first ten novels of Aspe were made into a TV series called Aspe by VTM (Flemish TV channel). This was followed up by a second and third season, but they weren’t television adaptations of the books. However the storyline of the TV series was further developed under the supervision of Pieter Aspe himself. After the first season of the series Aspe, the number of book sales increased significantly. He has currently sold over 1.5 million books in Belgium and The Netherlands.
His 24th novel Misleid was released in April 2009.
Translated from source: www.aspe.be
Pieter Aspe in the English Wikipedia
Pieter Aspe (nom de plume de Pierre Aspeslag) est un écrivain flamand.
Pieter Aspe dans la Wikipédia française
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
November 5, 2022
Op het domein van een boerderij wordt een skelet ontdekt. Van In en zijn team komen er achter dat de boerderij voordien de Love heette, en een huis was waar rijke mannen hun sexuele fantasieën konden uitleven. Het blijkt echter moeilijk te zijn om achter de identiteit van de vermoorde te komen. Wel is zeker dat vele prominente personages bij de zaak betrokken zijn.
Maar dan wordt er nog een moord gepleegd: Yves Provoost, een vroegere vaste klant van de Love is het slachtoffer. Dit brengt de zaak zowat in een stroomversnelling, maar Van In moet toch enkele niet zo zuivere tactieken gebruiken om achter de waarheid te komen.
Spannend verhaal, een van de betere die ik van deze auteur al gelezen heb.
Maar dan wordt er nog een moord gepleegd: Yves Provoost, een vroegere vaste klant van de Love is het slachtoffer. Dit brengt de zaak zowat in een stroomversnelling, maar Van In moet toch enkele niet zo zuivere tactieken gebruiken om achter de waarheid te komen.
Spannend verhaal, een van de betere die ik van deze auteur al gelezen heb.
May 3, 2015
This author had been recommended to me when I was in Europe last month. He is very popular over there and I was excited to get this book to review. I love reading books in different places that really make the location come alive and this book does exactly that. It is set in Bruges, a city on my Bucket List, so I felt like I was heaven and was not disappointed.
Pieter Van In, a police inspector, and his wife Hannelore Martens, deputy public prosecutor, are expecting their first child when a skeleton from the mid -1980's is discovered at a house that used to be a charity home. As they scramble to find out who the skeleton is, the search leads them higher and higher to national political figures and rich business men. The plots had many twists and turns and, frankly, I did not see the ending coming.
Apparently names with V are popular in Belgium- Van In, Vermast, Vandaele, Versalel, are all featured in the novel and, at first, made it difficult to keep the characters first. The food is quite different too. The most notable to me is French fries served with both gravy and mayonnaise. I kept wondering what kind of gravy? Was it brown gravy? White? Tomato? I find those type of differences make the novel more interesting.
Van In is kind of a rogue cop. He hoses down a prisoner. He bursts into places without authority. He practices old time policing. He sends a very young and naïve policewoman undercover without permission or training. This leads to the lone, graphic scene of violence that really was upsetting. I was very angry at Van In for these horrific circumstances. It is not a violent book and just has the one incident.
I enjoyed this book very much. I have ordered the two earlier books. I thought it was great to read a book set in a new place for me. I am passing this on to friends so that's how much I enjoyed it.
Pieter Van In, a police inspector, and his wife Hannelore Martens, deputy public prosecutor, are expecting their first child when a skeleton from the mid -1980's is discovered at a house that used to be a charity home. As they scramble to find out who the skeleton is, the search leads them higher and higher to national political figures and rich business men. The plots had many twists and turns and, frankly, I did not see the ending coming.
Apparently names with V are popular in Belgium- Van In, Vermast, Vandaele, Versalel, are all featured in the novel and, at first, made it difficult to keep the characters first. The food is quite different too. The most notable to me is French fries served with both gravy and mayonnaise. I kept wondering what kind of gravy? Was it brown gravy? White? Tomato? I find those type of differences make the novel more interesting.
Van In is kind of a rogue cop. He hoses down a prisoner. He bursts into places without authority. He practices old time policing. He sends a very young and naïve policewoman undercover without permission or training. This leads to the lone, graphic scene of violence that really was upsetting. I was very angry at Van In for these horrific circumstances. It is not a violent book and just has the one incident.
I enjoyed this book very much. I have ordered the two earlier books. I thought it was great to read a book set in a new place for me. I am passing this on to friends so that's how much I enjoyed it.
July 13, 2015
Review: FROM BRUGES WITH LOVE by Pieter Aspe
As many hundreds of mysteries I've read, set in the U.S., Canada, the UK, Scandinavia, France, Germany, Austria, and Venice, I believe FROM BRUGES WITH LOVE is the very first set in Belgium. So the entire backdrop is new to me, as is the police and prosecutorial protocol. Yet the book is well-written, with subtle wry humour, very entertaining and a pleasure to read . I am reminded of that trite declaration, "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas." In this case, what happened 30 years ago was expected to stay concealed, especially with the fulcrum of wealth. But the truth will eventually out, and Inspector Van In, his deputy prosecutor wife, and his trusty second, Versavel, are determined to make it so. Leavened with Van In's edgy personality, his wife's pregnancy, and the likable Versavel, pages almost turn themselves.
As many hundreds of mysteries I've read, set in the U.S., Canada, the UK, Scandinavia, France, Germany, Austria, and Venice, I believe FROM BRUGES WITH LOVE is the very first set in Belgium. So the entire backdrop is new to me, as is the police and prosecutorial protocol. Yet the book is well-written, with subtle wry humour, very entertaining and a pleasure to read . I am reminded of that trite declaration, "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas." In this case, what happened 30 years ago was expected to stay concealed, especially with the fulcrum of wealth. But the truth will eventually out, and Inspector Van In, his deputy prosecutor wife, and his trusty second, Versavel, are determined to make it so. Leavened with Van In's edgy personality, his wife's pregnancy, and the likable Versavel, pages almost turn themselves.
December 10, 2016
Someone else might enjoy this crime story set in Belgium more than I did.
A skeleton is dug up on ground where a house is being renovated for a family. The land around was owned by a rich man who rented to a charity called Helping Our Own. In no time we're knee deep in bribe-taking cops, paedophiles in high status roles, more brothels than you could shake a stick at including every roadside café. One brothel is called the Love which is where the title is drawn from; there is not much genuine love evident in the tale. Husbands cheat on wives or take bribes so as to placate demanding women; pregnant women drink and smoke; no admirable or lovable characters appear. "Every married man drops his pants now and then," a policeman is told.
As for culture, we get a mention of the polders but not a real description of the landscape. Since Belgium is so flat, there is a lot of starry sky. Old ramshackle rural buildings are being sold for redevelopment and it seems everyone smokes foul smelling tobacco and drinks spirits to seal a deal. In the police building, maintenance has been cut to a minimum so only the windows the public can see are being cleaned. Methinks this would cause a rise in the electricity bill. By contrast, some historic family homes have been lavishly renovated. There's a side trip to friendly Malta via stinking Naples. Only in the last couple of chapters when an inanely stupid young policewoman is at risk undercover did I get worried about anyone.
I noticed the term Helsinki Syndrome used for what we'd normally call Stockholm Syndrome. I don't know if this is a translation issue or if that's what they say in Belgium. Another issue is that the pathologist says the buried man was killed between 1985 and 1986. I am still at a loss to know how this date was decided. Everyone else seems to be inept, fraudulent or on the take but the pathologist's word is accepted on this score. Francs are used, not the Euro, setting the date back. This work is given as originally in Flemish, De kinderen van Chronos, copyright © 1997.
There's strong language, violence and sexual brutality. The author may have been making a statement about some of the unpleasant rings of men which were uncovered in Belgium, but at least he spares us the worst scenes of the child abusers which came to trial. The book won't be for everyone, but sadly it may be for real.
A skeleton is dug up on ground where a house is being renovated for a family. The land around was owned by a rich man who rented to a charity called Helping Our Own. In no time we're knee deep in bribe-taking cops, paedophiles in high status roles, more brothels than you could shake a stick at including every roadside café. One brothel is called the Love which is where the title is drawn from; there is not much genuine love evident in the tale. Husbands cheat on wives or take bribes so as to placate demanding women; pregnant women drink and smoke; no admirable or lovable characters appear. "Every married man drops his pants now and then," a policeman is told.
As for culture, we get a mention of the polders but not a real description of the landscape. Since Belgium is so flat, there is a lot of starry sky. Old ramshackle rural buildings are being sold for redevelopment and it seems everyone smokes foul smelling tobacco and drinks spirits to seal a deal. In the police building, maintenance has been cut to a minimum so only the windows the public can see are being cleaned. Methinks this would cause a rise in the electricity bill. By contrast, some historic family homes have been lavishly renovated. There's a side trip to friendly Malta via stinking Naples. Only in the last couple of chapters when an inanely stupid young policewoman is at risk undercover did I get worried about anyone.
I noticed the term Helsinki Syndrome used for what we'd normally call Stockholm Syndrome. I don't know if this is a translation issue or if that's what they say in Belgium. Another issue is that the pathologist says the buried man was killed between 1985 and 1986. I am still at a loss to know how this date was decided. Everyone else seems to be inept, fraudulent or on the take but the pathologist's word is accepted on this score. Francs are used, not the Euro, setting the date back. This work is given as originally in Flemish, De kinderen van Chronos, copyright © 1997.
There's strong language, violence and sexual brutality. The author may have been making a statement about some of the unpleasant rings of men which were uncovered in Belgium, but at least he spares us the worst scenes of the child abusers which came to trial. The book won't be for everyone, but sadly it may be for real.
May 21, 2015
Not so much my thing. Full review to come.
Complete review:
I've been a lifelong mystery novel nut, from my first taste of the genre thanks to Nancy Drew to all the variety that has been offered as of late thanks to translations. In general, while I like a good mystery novel set in the U.S., I really enjoy reading translations because I like the varied moods conveyed by Scandinavian fiction or Japanese fiction, so I was eager to read this book. However, it never really clicked with me, due mainly to my disconnect with the characters. Some spoilers to follow.
Neither Van In nor Hannelore did much for me. They both had very volatile mood swings that I found difficult to keep up with, and I'm never a fan of the stereotypical male character who's always on the edge of violence. At times their relationship smacked a little too much of a tendency toward domestic violence, and that made me uncomfortable, particularly as Hannelore is pregnant. I do want to stress I don't remember any particular incidents, but there is the sense that the two are right on the edge of Van In hitting his wife and Hannelore throwing things at him. Couple this with Hannelore's and Van In's rather excessive drinking and smoking, and the whole thing pretty much fell apart for me. I found it especially ridiculous that one subplot has to do with Hannelore's fears that something will go wrong with her pregnancy, yet there are a few incidents where she drinks a questionable amount, and she smokes quite often. Since science has known for a fact for some time that smoking is detrimental to fetal health, I found it very strange that a woman who has amniocentesis because she's concerned about the health of her baby nevertheless smokes plenty of cigarettes.
On the plus side, I did like that there was a gay character and that his being gay wasn't an issue for Van In. This is my first experience with Belgian literature, so I'm viewing this through an American lens, which means I have no idea how common this is in Belgian literature. From my American perspective, though, it's nice to see that kind of diversity in a book. Plus, the fact that Versavel is gay isn't the thing that defines him, it's just an aspect of him, much like Van In's being heterosexual is simply a part of who he is. Van In's friendship with Versavel is strong and nicely conveyed, even to the extent of Van In going out of his way to be there for Versavel when he sinks into a depression due to a traumatic event in his life. I really liked the dynamic between these two characters because I did get a strong vibe of friendship between the two.
Yet for as strong as that aspect of the book is, its exploration of sex crimes is far more problematic. I was especially displeased with the way Carine is treated. She's portrayed as being overenthusiastic to the point that she defies her bosses orders and ends up getting in over her head. Everyone is very concerned about her, but when the extreme trauma she's suffered has been revealed, the book doesn't give it the weight it should. It also seems that the only reason Carine does suffer is to prove a point: that she should have listened to her boss. Never mind that fact that the reason she ends up where she does is because he breaks police protocols. Her fate also serves to raise the stakes for her fellow police officers, and is used as a device to show the depths of depravity and evil of the villains the police are dealing with. In other words, her trials serve more as plot devices than as any real exploration of the impact of the sex trade on its victims. Of course, mysteries do tend to treat terrible crimes as plot devices--what else would you center a mystery around, after all--but it disturbed me that Carine's plight was shrugged off and the ending had something of a "all's well that ends well" feel to it. All is certainly not going to be well for Carine.
The mystery itself is interesting, but the books has a tendency to meander. Van In spends a lot of time drinking beer, which bogs things down. I do like a good literary mystery in which we learn a lot about the characters and their surroundings, but something about this book struck me as kind of cavalier at times. The characters seem to go through cycles where they feel a sense of urgency about the crimes, then don't seem to worry about them as much, then feel a sense of urgency again. I found this very strange. It might be due to the fact that this book packs a lot of social and cultural issues into it, along with the personal issues the characters face, which means it doesn't end up dealing with any of them with a great deal of depth.
In the end, I didn't dislike this book, but it didn't do much for me either. It certainly won't stop me from picking up other translated novels in the future, but I have no plans to continue with this particular series.
Complete review:
I've been a lifelong mystery novel nut, from my first taste of the genre thanks to Nancy Drew to all the variety that has been offered as of late thanks to translations. In general, while I like a good mystery novel set in the U.S., I really enjoy reading translations because I like the varied moods conveyed by Scandinavian fiction or Japanese fiction, so I was eager to read this book. However, it never really clicked with me, due mainly to my disconnect with the characters. Some spoilers to follow.
Neither Van In nor Hannelore did much for me. They both had very volatile mood swings that I found difficult to keep up with, and I'm never a fan of the stereotypical male character who's always on the edge of violence. At times their relationship smacked a little too much of a tendency toward domestic violence, and that made me uncomfortable, particularly as Hannelore is pregnant. I do want to stress I don't remember any particular incidents, but there is the sense that the two are right on the edge of Van In hitting his wife and Hannelore throwing things at him. Couple this with Hannelore's and Van In's rather excessive drinking and smoking, and the whole thing pretty much fell apart for me. I found it especially ridiculous that one subplot has to do with Hannelore's fears that something will go wrong with her pregnancy, yet there are a few incidents where she drinks a questionable amount, and she smokes quite often. Since science has known for a fact for some time that smoking is detrimental to fetal health, I found it very strange that a woman who has amniocentesis because she's concerned about the health of her baby nevertheless smokes plenty of cigarettes.
On the plus side, I did like that there was a gay character and that his being gay wasn't an issue for Van In. This is my first experience with Belgian literature, so I'm viewing this through an American lens, which means I have no idea how common this is in Belgian literature. From my American perspective, though, it's nice to see that kind of diversity in a book. Plus, the fact that Versavel is gay isn't the thing that defines him, it's just an aspect of him, much like Van In's being heterosexual is simply a part of who he is. Van In's friendship with Versavel is strong and nicely conveyed, even to the extent of Van In going out of his way to be there for Versavel when he sinks into a depression due to a traumatic event in his life. I really liked the dynamic between these two characters because I did get a strong vibe of friendship between the two.
Yet for as strong as that aspect of the book is, its exploration of sex crimes is far more problematic. I was especially displeased with the way Carine is treated. She's portrayed as being overenthusiastic to the point that she defies her bosses orders and ends up getting in over her head. Everyone is very concerned about her, but when the extreme trauma she's suffered has been revealed, the book doesn't give it the weight it should. It also seems that the only reason Carine does suffer is to prove a point: that she should have listened to her boss. Never mind that fact that the reason she ends up where she does is because he breaks police protocols. Her fate also serves to raise the stakes for her fellow police officers, and is used as a device to show the depths of depravity and evil of the villains the police are dealing with. In other words, her trials serve more as plot devices than as any real exploration of the impact of the sex trade on its victims. Of course, mysteries do tend to treat terrible crimes as plot devices--what else would you center a mystery around, after all--but it disturbed me that Carine's plight was shrugged off and the ending had something of a "all's well that ends well" feel to it. All is certainly not going to be well for Carine.
The mystery itself is interesting, but the books has a tendency to meander. Van In spends a lot of time drinking beer, which bogs things down. I do like a good literary mystery in which we learn a lot about the characters and their surroundings, but something about this book struck me as kind of cavalier at times. The characters seem to go through cycles where they feel a sense of urgency about the crimes, then don't seem to worry about them as much, then feel a sense of urgency again. I found this very strange. It might be due to the fact that this book packs a lot of social and cultural issues into it, along with the personal issues the characters face, which means it doesn't end up dealing with any of them with a great deal of depth.
In the end, I didn't dislike this book, but it didn't do much for me either. It certainly won't stop me from picking up other translated novels in the future, but I have no plans to continue with this particular series.
May 19, 2015
It’s those unexpected incidents that disturb us most.
For Hugo Vermast it’s those bones his hyperactive little girl dug up. Hugo might have dismissed them. But his wife, a nurse, recognized them immediately for what they were and insisted he call the police.
Inspector Pieter Van In would like to resolve the case quickly so he can take his pregnant wife, Hannelore, the deputy public prosecutor, on vacation before the birth of their child.
But the situation proves more difficult than it first appears. The Vermasts acquired the property from a charity but it has an earlier history as a brothel for the elite, including some prominent governmental figures. The investigation is certain to step on some important toes, and that may be the least of Van In’s problems. The complexity of the case increases when Vermast’s child makes another discovery and one of those troubling officials is murdered in a bizarre manner.
Van In, a somewhat gruff character who isn’t afraid to step on toes and take extreme measures to convince a suspect to talk, reminds me of some of Simenon’s creations, particularly in his affection for his wife and his love of food, drink and smoking. The banter between him and Hannelore is reminiscent of Nick and Norah Charles. There are also some interesting exchanges between the inspector and his gay sergeant, Versavel.
But this is by no means a cozy. The story is gritty and turns decidedly dark as a female undercover officer goes missing.
For Hugo Vermast it’s those bones his hyperactive little girl dug up. Hugo might have dismissed them. But his wife, a nurse, recognized them immediately for what they were and insisted he call the police.
Inspector Pieter Van In would like to resolve the case quickly so he can take his pregnant wife, Hannelore, the deputy public prosecutor, on vacation before the birth of their child.
But the situation proves more difficult than it first appears. The Vermasts acquired the property from a charity but it has an earlier history as a brothel for the elite, including some prominent governmental figures. The investigation is certain to step on some important toes, and that may be the least of Van In’s problems. The complexity of the case increases when Vermast’s child makes another discovery and one of those troubling officials is murdered in a bizarre manner.
Van In, a somewhat gruff character who isn’t afraid to step on toes and take extreme measures to convince a suspect to talk, reminds me of some of Simenon’s creations, particularly in his affection for his wife and his love of food, drink and smoking. The banter between him and Hannelore is reminiscent of Nick and Norah Charles. There are also some interesting exchanges between the inspector and his gay sergeant, Versavel.
But this is by no means a cozy. The story is gritty and turns decidedly dark as a female undercover officer goes missing.
August 31, 2015
3.5 stars. A good, suspenseful mystery with lots of complicated threads and the right amount of twists and turns. I especially enjoyed the Belgian setting. I had a few quibbles that may be a result of being translated form the original, such as a character's words saying one thing but seeming to have an entirely different emotional meaning or a character shouting or whispering something for no apparent reason. In other places, however, I was very impressed with the translation, so I'm not sure what was up. The main character seems to be a pretty good detective, but rather an ass with regard to his opinions about women and relationships--I don't know what his girlfriend sees in him!
Note: Thanks to the publisher for providing a free eARC of this book via NetGalley.
Note: Thanks to the publisher for providing a free eARC of this book via NetGalley.
Want to read
April 6, 2015Creo que voy a casarme con NETGALLEY.
¡Otra joyita más para leer!
(I got a free copy of this ebook from NetGalley in exchange for a review.)
¡Otra joyita más para leer!
(I got a free copy of this ebook from NetGalley in exchange for a review.)
January 11, 2021
Boek nagenoeg in 1 ruk uitgelezen wat zeer ongewoon is voor mij!
Heel spannend en intrigerend verhaal met een interessante verhaallijn en verschillende invalshoeken.
Zeker niet voorspelbaar!
Mijn favoriete Van In tot nu toe.
Heel spannend en intrigerend verhaal met een interessante verhaallijn en verschillende invalshoeken.
Zeker niet voorspelbaar!
Mijn favoriete Van In tot nu toe.
October 8, 2015
This is the third book in a long series of police procedural novels by Belgian author Pieter Aspe. It was originally published in 1997 as De kinderen van Chronos. Open Road Media has published the first three books in English-language translations.
I enjoy reading books that give me a view of how policemen work in other countries. As a proscecutor, Van In's wife Hannelore works directly with the police during an investigation. Van In is a maverick and often goes more on intuition than evidence, but he is known for getting results. He is also cantankerous and moody, with his co-workers and at home. He and his wife are both dealing with the uncertainty of what their life will be like after a child is born.
I really haven't figured out why I like this series so much, but the fact is, I do. The style of writing is not what I am used to, definitely not lyrical, but often subtly humorous. The policemen are not all likable, and have their foibles. Yet they are friends and very loyal to each other. Van In and Hannelore can be very irritating at times, but I like their relationship. They accept each other and support each other.
Of the three books I have read in this series, this book has the least flavor of Bruges, not that I have visited Bruges or am an expert on the subject. The first book did focus a lot on the city of Bruges. and the second featured a cache of treasure from World War II buried nearby. In all three of the novels, corruption in the government and in police and judicial departments is a theme. Some of the crimes covered in this story are pretty sordid, but to say more would tell more of the story than I care to. Thus this series does not fall into the cozyish type of police procedural, even though the husband and wife both work together.
I enjoy reading books that give me a view of how policemen work in other countries. As a proscecutor, Van In's wife Hannelore works directly with the police during an investigation. Van In is a maverick and often goes more on intuition than evidence, but he is known for getting results. He is also cantankerous and moody, with his co-workers and at home. He and his wife are both dealing with the uncertainty of what their life will be like after a child is born.
I really haven't figured out why I like this series so much, but the fact is, I do. The style of writing is not what I am used to, definitely not lyrical, but often subtly humorous. The policemen are not all likable, and have their foibles. Yet they are friends and very loyal to each other. Van In and Hannelore can be very irritating at times, but I like their relationship. They accept each other and support each other.
Of the three books I have read in this series, this book has the least flavor of Bruges, not that I have visited Bruges or am an expert on the subject. The first book did focus a lot on the city of Bruges. and the second featured a cache of treasure from World War II buried nearby. In all three of the novels, corruption in the government and in police and judicial departments is a theme. Some of the crimes covered in this story are pretty sordid, but to say more would tell more of the story than I care to. Thus this series does not fall into the cozyish type of police procedural, even though the husband and wife both work together.
July 7, 2015
I received this book via NetGalley to give an honest review.
When I read the blurb I really enjoyed the way it sounded, though when I started the book I wasn't too invested in it. The skeleton being found intrigued me but then after that it went sorta downhill as at times I was getting confused by which characters were who. I didn't find the character Hannelore to be a very good character as she plays a big role but she spent have the time smoking and drinking while pregnant, though I know women do do this it just is a big turn off for me in a book. Also I didn't understand why a rookie cop who has no experience in being undercover was given that role in this book. It was just screaming of something bad happening. At the end when it did happen I would have like to have learn how she dealt with it because what was done was horrible.
It was a decent mystery as to who was the killer and I did enjoy how it all came back ten-fold on those that had a past with the person who was the skeleton. Other than that I wasn't heed over heels liking the book. Not sure if it was because the book was translated and it was a bit confusing with the characters or the story line but something just didn't click for me. Would I read more from this series umm that is a question that is tossed up in the air. I do think the author should rename his characters so they are easy to remember.
When I read the blurb I really enjoyed the way it sounded, though when I started the book I wasn't too invested in it. The skeleton being found intrigued me but then after that it went sorta downhill as at times I was getting confused by which characters were who. I didn't find the character Hannelore to be a very good character as she plays a big role but she spent have the time smoking and drinking while pregnant, though I know women do do this it just is a big turn off for me in a book. Also I didn't understand why a rookie cop who has no experience in being undercover was given that role in this book. It was just screaming of something bad happening. At the end when it did happen I would have like to have learn how she dealt with it because what was done was horrible.
It was a decent mystery as to who was the killer and I did enjoy how it all came back ten-fold on those that had a past with the person who was the skeleton. Other than that I wasn't heed over heels liking the book. Not sure if it was because the book was translated and it was a bit confusing with the characters or the story line but something just didn't click for me. Would I read more from this series umm that is a question that is tossed up in the air. I do think the author should rename his characters so they are easy to remember.
March 22, 2022
One of the few books I decided not to finish. Didn’t like the main characters, found all the V names confusing (probably my fault), and the plot was thin.
November 2, 2017
I liked it. It was a good, standard police procedural - a bit grisly but not too bad, a plausible plot, good characters and well written. I especially like that the primary detective is pretty stable - I get tired of the angst and emotional vacillation in many of the books of this type.
The plot was a bit involved and because the style of names was new to me, I had some trouble keeping the characters straight.
I do wish the translator or author had included a chart explaining the organization of police departments in Belgium.
The plot was a bit involved and because the style of names was new to me, I had some trouble keeping the characters straight.
I do wish the translator or author had included a chart explaining the organization of police departments in Belgium.
Read
January 3, 2024Livre dnf après 1 ans
Peut être qu'un jour je finirai cette histoire dieu seul sait
27/07/23
J’ai commencé ce livre y’a un an pile le 2 janvier 2023 et qu’est ce que c’était boring, je ne pense pas le finir un jour. J’ai lu 45% et c’était bien assez pour me faire comprendre que les romans policier belges de l’époque ne sont pas fait pour moi. Histoire à rallonge comme les noms des personnages. On pert le fil du truc et on s’endort avant d’arriver a un moment intéressant où les choses bouges (pas de souvenirs de chose comme ça) bref plus jamais les histoires de monsieur van jsp quoo agent de police
Peut être qu'un jour je finirai cette histoire dieu seul sait
27/07/23
J’ai commencé ce livre y’a un an pile le 2 janvier 2023 et qu’est ce que c’était boring, je ne pense pas le finir un jour. J’ai lu 45% et c’était bien assez pour me faire comprendre que les romans policier belges de l’époque ne sont pas fait pour moi. Histoire à rallonge comme les noms des personnages. On pert le fil du truc et on s’endort avant d’arriver a un moment intéressant où les choses bouges (pas de souvenirs de chose comme ça) bref plus jamais les histoires de monsieur van jsp quoo agent de police
June 25, 2017
Mijn eerste Aspe en ik weet niet waar de hype vandaan kwam. Ik vond dit een verwarrend verhaal met veel personages die afwisselend met voor- en achternaam worden aangesproken, zonder extra aanwijzingen om ze onmiddellijk te identificeren. Vlakke personages ook, al bij al, en overvloedig alcohol- en vleesverbruik. De plot was wel oké, maar spannend of geïntrigeerd was ik toch niet. Mwoah. Niet voor herhaling vatbaar.
December 7, 2018
Looking for a detective story in a new setting, I found this at the library and was rewarded for the try. The bad guys are nastier than I'm comfortable with but justice is served (on a wobbly platter) and the main characters are likeable though not paragons of police protocol. Another one by this author is on the horizon.
October 9, 2018
Quick read and interesting/unexpected plot. But protagonist is unlikeable, the translation is crass and vernacular, and background of characters interrupts the flow of the story. Unsatisfactory ending.
June 24, 2017
Een beter opgebouwd verhaal dan De Midasmoorden. Maar de figuur Van In moet volgens mij nog rijpen voor me. Nooit geweten dat een hoofdpersonage in een boekenreeks me zo slecht kon bevallen...
August 3, 2017
Net soos die eerste een was dit 'n baie interessant boek en het ek dit baie geniet.
January 28, 2021
A lot of plot. A lot of characters. Very little character development. It was set in Bruges. Loved the name of the police supervisor, Pietor Van In!
August 23, 2021
Aspe is altijd leuk om te lezen!
October 15, 2021
not really my kind of book...didn't really get in to it.
October 30, 2022
Creepy
February 14, 2023
Much fun as ascerbic DI Van In must wade thru many obstacles to solve sev murders related to a prostitution ring (as much fun as the film).
August 3, 2024
Good book, hell of an ending. Found following the characters tricky for the first half of the book. Would read another in the series if I came across it, but wouldn’t actively seek one out.
July 20, 2015
Read my full review here: http://mimi-cyberlibrarian.blogspot.c...
You might call From Bruges with Love a police procedural, but the policeman, Inspector Pieter Van In, solves crimes by his gut instinct rather than from "police procedures," and he runs into constant trouble for his efforts. This is the third of Aspe's mysteries in this series to be translated into English, and the first that I have read, but from the reviews I read, Van In seems always to be going to extremes to solve the crimes.
As mysteries go, From Bruges with Love has a lot of twists and turns, made a bit difficult because of the number of characters and their unfamiliar names. However, as a resident of the Dutch community of Kalamazoo, I am pretty familiar with names beginning with Van. The hardest was Van In because I kept reading it with a small "i" as in Van in and putting the preposition into the sentence.
The plot hinges around a piece of property at the outskirts of the medieval city of Bruges, Belgium. A family has just bought the farm property, and in the midst of the remodel, a skeleton is unearthed in the vacant field. Van In is called in as is his wife, Hannelore (isn't that a gorgeous name), who is the deputy prosecutor. Van In, in what appears to be his inimitable style, bungles his way through the solution to the murder—and then the second murder—getting a subordinate into grave danger and exposing a sordid sex ring involving people in high places in Bruges politics and society, to the dismay of the police commissioner.
I really enjoyed the variety of characters, all deftly crafted. The relationship between Hannelore and Van In is also delightful, as she tries to reform the alcoholic, overweight inspector. It is easy to see why this is a very popular series. Publishers Weekly notes that the series has sold more than a million copies in Europe alone.
Some of the translation is a hoot. Here is a sample: "a stationary sea of people blocking access to Blinde Ezel Street like a herd of dull-witted cattle" and "Food and drink was the cheapest form of corruption in Flanders."
Here is one of the things that I love about murder mysteries. They take you to places that you might not visit in real life. I have never visited Bruges, but we drove through Belgium about 40 years ago, watching a life chess match in the square of Brussels—about as exciting as you can imagine. We also spent the night in Mons, Belgium, which we dearly loved. So, to get the feel of Bruges, which is in the part of Belgium called Flanders, I watched the 2000 movie In Bruges for a second time. It starred Colin Farrell, Brendon Gleason, and Ralph Fiennes. You really get a feel for the city from this movie, so I would suggest that you get the movie on Netflix before you begin the book.
You might call From Bruges with Love a police procedural, but the policeman, Inspector Pieter Van In, solves crimes by his gut instinct rather than from "police procedures," and he runs into constant trouble for his efforts. This is the third of Aspe's mysteries in this series to be translated into English, and the first that I have read, but from the reviews I read, Van In seems always to be going to extremes to solve the crimes.
As mysteries go, From Bruges with Love has a lot of twists and turns, made a bit difficult because of the number of characters and their unfamiliar names. However, as a resident of the Dutch community of Kalamazoo, I am pretty familiar with names beginning with Van. The hardest was Van In because I kept reading it with a small "i" as in Van in and putting the preposition into the sentence.
The plot hinges around a piece of property at the outskirts of the medieval city of Bruges, Belgium. A family has just bought the farm property, and in the midst of the remodel, a skeleton is unearthed in the vacant field. Van In is called in as is his wife, Hannelore (isn't that a gorgeous name), who is the deputy prosecutor. Van In, in what appears to be his inimitable style, bungles his way through the solution to the murder—and then the second murder—getting a subordinate into grave danger and exposing a sordid sex ring involving people in high places in Bruges politics and society, to the dismay of the police commissioner.
I really enjoyed the variety of characters, all deftly crafted. The relationship between Hannelore and Van In is also delightful, as she tries to reform the alcoholic, overweight inspector. It is easy to see why this is a very popular series. Publishers Weekly notes that the series has sold more than a million copies in Europe alone.
Some of the translation is a hoot. Here is a sample: "a stationary sea of people blocking access to Blinde Ezel Street like a herd of dull-witted cattle" and "Food and drink was the cheapest form of corruption in Flanders."
Here is one of the things that I love about murder mysteries. They take you to places that you might not visit in real life. I have never visited Bruges, but we drove through Belgium about 40 years ago, watching a life chess match in the square of Brussels—about as exciting as you can imagine. We also spent the night in Mons, Belgium, which we dearly loved. So, to get the feel of Bruges, which is in the part of Belgium called Flanders, I watched the 2000 movie In Bruges for a second time. It starred Colin Farrell, Brendon Gleason, and Ralph Fiennes. You really get a feel for the city from this movie, so I would suggest that you get the movie on Netflix before you begin the book.
July 23, 2016
(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)
Inspector Pieter Van In is begrudgingly finishing up a healthy lunch when he hears the news: While restoring their farmhouse, the Vermasts have found a skeleton in the backyard. Van In, who happens to be married to the deputy public prosecutor, is determined to solve the case in double-quick time and squeeze in one last vacation before the birth of his first child.
But this murder is trickier than it looks, and Van In soon finds himself in murky waters. The Vermasts' land belonged to the most prominent businessman in West Flanders before it was suddenly handed over to a right-wing charity. The heavily endowed foundation appears to have no expenditures or investments. So who's financing it—and why?
Before he knows it, Van In finds himself in the middle of a complex web—one that involves high-level officials, local law enforcement, and common thugs. The harder he tries to unravel the thread, the more difficult it becomes to uncover the secrets that the charity's benefactors are trying to hide. This time Van In will have to risk lives to find out the truth.
I am not too sure what to say about this book...see, the book has definite up-and-downsides to it and, overall, it averages out to be, well, average.
The positives? Definitely the plot. It has all the hallmarks of a great mystery novel: a 30-year old secret that people will do anything to keep hidden; a rogue cop (up to a point) who will do anything to get the result needed; shadowy corporations; and a life-and-death struggle for the truth. It was all there, and so very well put together that the ending caught me by surprise...
However, one of the things that really dragged my feelings to this book down a lot was the lack of "location" - although set in Belguim, it really could have been anywhere as I got no real feel for the location. You know, sometimes you read a book set in a foreign country and after reading it, you just want to go there? Well, I really didn't get any sense of "where" in this story.
The other thing that disappointed me were the characters. Especially Van In and Hannelore. There was just something a little dated about their attitudes and didn't seem to sit very well. An example (which I see a lot of reviewers have mentioned) is the fact that, although Hannelore is pregnant, she smokes and drinks like it is going out of fashion. Maybe that is a cultural thing. I don't know but it was very disappointing to read that.
Overall, I really good mystery/thriller that went backwards due to a few issues. Will probably try another of this series, just to make a more balanced opinion.
Paul
ARH
Inspector Pieter Van In is begrudgingly finishing up a healthy lunch when he hears the news: While restoring their farmhouse, the Vermasts have found a skeleton in the backyard. Van In, who happens to be married to the deputy public prosecutor, is determined to solve the case in double-quick time and squeeze in one last vacation before the birth of his first child.
But this murder is trickier than it looks, and Van In soon finds himself in murky waters. The Vermasts' land belonged to the most prominent businessman in West Flanders before it was suddenly handed over to a right-wing charity. The heavily endowed foundation appears to have no expenditures or investments. So who's financing it—and why?
Before he knows it, Van In finds himself in the middle of a complex web—one that involves high-level officials, local law enforcement, and common thugs. The harder he tries to unravel the thread, the more difficult it becomes to uncover the secrets that the charity's benefactors are trying to hide. This time Van In will have to risk lives to find out the truth.
I am not too sure what to say about this book...see, the book has definite up-and-downsides to it and, overall, it averages out to be, well, average.
The positives? Definitely the plot. It has all the hallmarks of a great mystery novel: a 30-year old secret that people will do anything to keep hidden; a rogue cop (up to a point) who will do anything to get the result needed; shadowy corporations; and a life-and-death struggle for the truth. It was all there, and so very well put together that the ending caught me by surprise...
However, one of the things that really dragged my feelings to this book down a lot was the lack of "location" - although set in Belguim, it really could have been anywhere as I got no real feel for the location. You know, sometimes you read a book set in a foreign country and after reading it, you just want to go there? Well, I really didn't get any sense of "where" in this story.
The other thing that disappointed me were the characters. Especially Van In and Hannelore. There was just something a little dated about their attitudes and didn't seem to sit very well. An example (which I see a lot of reviewers have mentioned) is the fact that, although Hannelore is pregnant, she smokes and drinks like it is going out of fashion. Maybe that is a cultural thing. I don't know but it was very disappointing to read that.
Overall, I really good mystery/thriller that went backwards due to a few issues. Will probably try another of this series, just to make a more balanced opinion.
Paul
ARH
June 11, 2015
I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The author, Pieter Aspe is very popular in Europe. I guess a lot of the problems/difficulty I had with this book comes from the fact that Europe is not the US, and there are differences in humor and interest in books in the two places. Inspector Van In is called up because a skeleton is found during a farmhouse restoration. Van In, married to the public defender, who just happens to be very pregnant with their child, goes to the case determined to solve it quickly so he can squeeze I one last vacation before the blessed event. However, the case has more to it than meets the eye initially. The land where the skeleton was found belonged to the most prominent businessman in West Flanders before it was suddenly handed over to a right-wing charity. Where the money to finance the purchase comes from is a big unknown. The investigation leads Van In to a myriad of people, from well-connected businessmen to common thugs. Can Van In figure out what exactly is going on with the skeleton and where it came from? Van In quickly becomes embroiled in a search that will require every bit of concentration and effort from him, including risks he must be willing to take, as he strives to uncover the truth.
There’s a lot more to this book than meets the eye at first glance. There is a lot of humor, but I did have some difficulty understanding it because I am not very familiar with the culture, country or citizens. It was interesting to be privy to the inner workings between Van and his wife. As is the case with many couples, Van In’s wife’s dietary restrictions to eliminate Van In’s spare tire become rather important play a big role in their relationship, while lending a bit of humor to the story. In the end, despite his sometimes dubious procedures, Van In manages to ferret out the villains.
This book may not be for every reader, as a lot of it can be confusing or misunderstood by the reader, unless the reader understands and has a good grasp of the country’s culture and people. Still, it does provide a good overview of the city and can give any reader a different perspective on how detectives work in other countries and what detective novels are like there.
There’s a lot more to this book than meets the eye at first glance. There is a lot of humor, but I did have some difficulty understanding it because I am not very familiar with the culture, country or citizens. It was interesting to be privy to the inner workings between Van and his wife. As is the case with many couples, Van In’s wife’s dietary restrictions to eliminate Van In’s spare tire become rather important play a big role in their relationship, while lending a bit of humor to the story. In the end, despite his sometimes dubious procedures, Van In manages to ferret out the villains.
This book may not be for every reader, as a lot of it can be confusing or misunderstood by the reader, unless the reader understands and has a good grasp of the country’s culture and people. Still, it does provide a good overview of the city and can give any reader a different perspective on how detectives work in other countries and what detective novels are like there.
July 7, 2015
This book is a new translation of a Belgian bestseller that was published in the late 90s. This is the third book in the “Pieter Van In Mystery” series to be published by Open Road in the United States. I read and reviewed The Square of Revenge in 2013. I can understand why this series is so popular in Europe. Commissioner Van In is an old school type detective. He uses forensic evidence, but doesn’t depend on it. He makes connections that some other officers may miss. He also crosses the line sometimes. His methods are unconventional but they get results.
Van In’s new wife, Hannelore Martens, is a deputy public prosecutor, and also is pregnant with Pieter’s child. They work together on this case, but aren’t partners. Sergeant Versavel is Van Inn’s partner. Hugo Vermast’s daughter has found a human bone in their backyard. One bone leads to an unexpected discovery of corruption and depravity running rampant beneath the proper Bruges populace.
I have trouble keeping the characters straight when I first start reading these books. I’m not used to so many last names starting with Ver or Van. I get bogged down if I try to keep them all straight, so I found that if I just keep reading and don’t worry about it, they all work themselves out by the end. Maybe I’ll remember that when I read the next book in the series.
I really do enjoy this series. It’s entertaining and fun. Brian Doyle has kept the Belgian feel in the translation. From Bruges With Love had enough twists and side stories going on so that I really never knew how it was going to end. I enjoy the characters. They are multifaceted and believable. I will look forward to reading the next book in this series.
I give From Bruges With Love 4 Stars out of 5 and a Thumbs Up. If you are in the mood for a quirky Belgian mystery, this one will fit the bill.
I received a Digital Readers Copy from the publisher.
Van In’s new wife, Hannelore Martens, is a deputy public prosecutor, and also is pregnant with Pieter’s child. They work together on this case, but aren’t partners. Sergeant Versavel is Van Inn’s partner. Hugo Vermast’s daughter has found a human bone in their backyard. One bone leads to an unexpected discovery of corruption and depravity running rampant beneath the proper Bruges populace.
I have trouble keeping the characters straight when I first start reading these books. I’m not used to so many last names starting with Ver or Van. I get bogged down if I try to keep them all straight, so I found that if I just keep reading and don’t worry about it, they all work themselves out by the end. Maybe I’ll remember that when I read the next book in the series.
I really do enjoy this series. It’s entertaining and fun. Brian Doyle has kept the Belgian feel in the translation. From Bruges With Love had enough twists and side stories going on so that I really never knew how it was going to end. I enjoy the characters. They are multifaceted and believable. I will look forward to reading the next book in this series.
I give From Bruges With Love 4 Stars out of 5 and a Thumbs Up. If you are in the mood for a quirky Belgian mystery, this one will fit the bill.
I received a Digital Readers Copy from the publisher.
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