What do you think?
Rate this book
Lotte Meerman #2
A Cold Case in Amsterdam Central
Detective Lotte Meerman is convinced the death of Frank Stapel, a painter and decorator, isn't an accident after she and his widow Tessa find a skeleton in a sports bag in his left luggage locker at Amsterdam Central train station.
The remains date from the Second World War and Lotte's colleagues consider it of minor importance . . . until forensic tests show that amongst the bones is the arm bone of a crime boss who recently went missing.
352 pages, Paperback
Published April 10, 2018
15 people are currently reading
272 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
April 15, 2022
Lotte Meerman is back at work with the Amsterdam police force after spending four months on leave to recover from a gunshot wound. Her team’s reaction to her return is mixed, with her partner Thomas telling her bluntly that he didn’t want her back.
Lotte doesn’t endear herself to Thomas when they investigate the death of Frank Stapel, a young man whose body is found on the sidewalk below the balcony of a building under construction. Thomas thinks it’s an open-and-shut case of an accidental fall, but when they discover that the young man had left a bag full of human bones in a luggage locker at Amsterdam Central Station on the day of his death, Lotte thinks that the bones may shed light on why the young man died and insists on investigating further.
Most of the bones belong to a World War II-era skeleton, which is not uncommon even decades after the war. But the forensic team determines that another bone in the bag is an arm bone of recent vintage. So the investigation widens to encompass the source of the bones as well as any possible connection to Frank’s death.
I liked this second Lotte Meerman book better than the first one. Although Lotte still bears psychological and physical scars from earlier cases and life experiences, and although she still has family issues, she seems more focused, more professional, and a little bit less “in her head” than she was in the earlier book. I also thought this case was more interesting and more intelligible (I found the financial crime in Book 1 somewhat difficult to follow). There are some surprises in the story that I didn’t see coming. All in all, it’s a solid police procedural story.
A bonus for me is the Amsterdam setting, since I will be traveling there soon. As Lotte describes it: “I liked to think of the map of the city as the dissection of a tree, where the canal rings were like year rings, building up as the city kept growing. It held true for a few centuries. The centre of the city was full of seventeenth-century idiosyncrasy, with houses as tall and narrow as they could build in those days. Then, like a river that had burst its banks, Amsterdam had outgrown its canal rings and, no longer restricted for space, spread more widely. Roads now had enough space for cars to pass each other. The houses had gardens and weren’t split up into shops, businesses and flats. The space didn’t last. Further out, the flats came back. Sixties and seventies blocks this time, apartments that looked as if the architect had designed them with a toddler’s colorful bricks.”
Lotte doesn’t endear herself to Thomas when they investigate the death of Frank Stapel, a young man whose body is found on the sidewalk below the balcony of a building under construction. Thomas thinks it’s an open-and-shut case of an accidental fall, but when they discover that the young man had left a bag full of human bones in a luggage locker at Amsterdam Central Station on the day of his death, Lotte thinks that the bones may shed light on why the young man died and insists on investigating further.
Most of the bones belong to a World War II-era skeleton, which is not uncommon even decades after the war. But the forensic team determines that another bone in the bag is an arm bone of recent vintage. So the investigation widens to encompass the source of the bones as well as any possible connection to Frank’s death.
I liked this second Lotte Meerman book better than the first one. Although Lotte still bears psychological and physical scars from earlier cases and life experiences, and although she still has family issues, she seems more focused, more professional, and a little bit less “in her head” than she was in the earlier book. I also thought this case was more interesting and more intelligible (I found the financial crime in Book 1 somewhat difficult to follow). There are some surprises in the story that I didn’t see coming. All in all, it’s a solid police procedural story.
A bonus for me is the Amsterdam setting, since I will be traveling there soon. As Lotte describes it: “I liked to think of the map of the city as the dissection of a tree, where the canal rings were like year rings, building up as the city kept growing. It held true for a few centuries. The centre of the city was full of seventeenth-century idiosyncrasy, with houses as tall and narrow as they could build in those days. Then, like a river that had burst its banks, Amsterdam had outgrown its canal rings and, no longer restricted for space, spread more widely. Roads now had enough space for cars to pass each other. The houses had gardens and weren’t split up into shops, businesses and flats. The space didn’t last. Further out, the flats came back. Sixties and seventies blocks this time, apartments that looked as if the architect had designed them with a toddler’s colorful bricks.”
May 19, 2017
Detective Lotte Meerman is back at work, and while she has recovered well from being shot, the scar and the memories have far from faded, and despite the fact that she has been cleared by Internal Investigations, she is acutely aware that she can't afford to make any mistakes on this case. But that's easier said than done. The death of Frank Stapel, a painter and decorator, appears to be an accident, but then Lotte and Frank's widow, Tessa, find a skeleton in a luggage locker Frank rented in Amsterdam Central train station, and Lotte is convinced that the two incidents are connected. Her colleagues, a competent Detective who holds a grudge against Lotte after her handling of her previous case, and a younger, female officer who specifically asked to work with Lotte, whom she idolises, in the hope of learning from her, reluctantly investigate until forensic tests discover the arm bone of a major criminal, who recently went missing, alongside a skeleton from the Second World War. And as if Lotte needed anything more to deal with, one of the men involved in the case is an old friend from Lotte's, perhaps best forgotten, past.
I flew through this one, reading it in just three nights. I really liked Lotte's character and the way she was portrayed, and her interactions with some other excellent characters. The mystery itself was complex enough to keep me hooked throughout, but far from convoluted. The only thing I would say, is that there were some details of Lotte's past which weren't quite explained fully, presumably details from the first book in the series (which I haven't read). While this book can definitely be enjoyed on its own, I would advise reading the first book in the series first in order to get a better sense of Lotte's background, as there are still several details I'm unclear on, having finished this book. Otherwise, I found A Cold Case in Amsterdam Central to be a highly enjoyable read, with some interesting twists on a solid genre.
I flew through this one, reading it in just three nights. I really liked Lotte's character and the way she was portrayed, and her interactions with some other excellent characters. The mystery itself was complex enough to keep me hooked throughout, but far from convoluted. The only thing I would say, is that there were some details of Lotte's past which weren't quite explained fully, presumably details from the first book in the series (which I haven't read). While this book can definitely be enjoyed on its own, I would advise reading the first book in the series first in order to get a better sense of Lotte's background, as there are still several details I'm unclear on, having finished this book. Otherwise, I found A Cold Case in Amsterdam Central to be a highly enjoyable read, with some interesting twists on a solid genre.
October 12, 2018
I hadn't read the original book before this but it is quite well explained at the start. In the first book, Lotte gets in to a relationship with the eventual murderer and is shot at the climax. So, at the start of this one, she comes back to work and needs to prove herself again to her colleagues. There is a body who seems to have died accidentally until some bones are found in his left luggage locker at Amsterdam Central, which complicates the situation. What follows is a pretty average police procedural. One thing that did annoy me, apparently for the second book in the series, is that Lotte ended up sleeping with one of the suspects again. In this one, he wasn't guilty at the end but was arrested and suspected for a short time. It is not an unusual trope to have the detective get emotionally involved with a suspect but not in every book. I won't bother reading another one of these.
September 16, 2018
This book took me ages to get thru. I will admit for the most part the last third of it was quite interesting but the story consistently referred back to a previous case and a previous story only illuminating tiny slivers of what had come before. I found that very irritating and would advise people to read the books predecessor before embarking on this one.
Other than that is was a fairly easy to read whodunnit. Nothing outstanding and I probably wouldn’t go seeking out books by this particular author in the future.
Other than that is was a fairly easy to read whodunnit. Nothing outstanding and I probably wouldn’t go seeking out books by this particular author in the future.
April 13, 2018
A crime novel somewhat out of the ordinary. Set in Amsterdam, everyone's favourite city, the protagonist is a middle aged detective, whose conscience appears burdened with secrets and their consequences which are revealed as the novel progresses.
The writer is Dutch but writes in English which gives the writing a stark clarity which is refreshing. There is a lack of the sort of cliches one finds in English crime writing. Another plus. Looking forward to the nest Lotte Meerman novel.
Tot ziens!
The writer is Dutch but writes in English which gives the writing a stark clarity which is refreshing. There is a lack of the sort of cliches one finds in English crime writing. Another plus. Looking forward to the nest Lotte Meerman novel.
Tot ziens!
January 7, 2026
I really enjoyed this book, much more than #1 in the series. The characters seem better developed and the plot is intriguing and twisty. I look forward to reading more in this series.
November 25, 2025
Read this series in order. This is book 2 and I enjoyed it even more when I reread it after book 1.
Enjoyable book with a definite sense of place, I could almost smell the canal water. You could see it as formulaic - detective back from suspension, friction within the team, telegraphed mistakes - but it’s done with a fresh charm that I warmed to. Have bought and will read more in this series.
Enjoyable book with a definite sense of place, I could almost smell the canal water. You could see it as formulaic - detective back from suspension, friction within the team, telegraphed mistakes - but it’s done with a fresh charm that I warmed to. Have bought and will read more in this series.
May 17, 2019
I was excited to read this book because I always like to read crime from different countries. This one was slow and didn’t really keep me on the edge. For me, it’s very important in a book that it causes that ”wow, I could have never imagined this to happen or that guy to be the murderer!” - this one caused just kind of a shrug (a bit of an anti-climax that the murderer is found out just because he says he did it!)
The characters were shallow and unlikeable. Usually in my opinion, the main character should be somewhat likeable to the reader. Even if he/she is a kind of an unpleasant person (i.e. Amos Decker, Carl Mörck and Harry Hole), you still start to like them and understand their motivation. I am all for female detectives but Lotte was just annoying and I didn’t get to know her as well as I would’ve hoped. Maybe the other books will help in that.
Will not read this series further, and I didn’t read the first book. I am looking forward to exploring more Dutch writers which are more to my liking. One star from the venue, Amsterdam, which is a fantastic city!
The characters were shallow and unlikeable. Usually in my opinion, the main character should be somewhat likeable to the reader. Even if he/she is a kind of an unpleasant person (i.e. Amos Decker, Carl Mörck and Harry Hole), you still start to like them and understand their motivation. I am all for female detectives but Lotte was just annoying and I didn’t get to know her as well as I would’ve hoped. Maybe the other books will help in that.
Will not read this series further, and I didn’t read the first book. I am looking forward to exploring more Dutch writers which are more to my liking. One star from the venue, Amsterdam, which is a fantastic city!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 29, 2025
Set in contemporary Amsterdam, this is Book 2 of a series of six and features flawed detective Lotte Meerman, who is returning to work after being shot on her last assignment. Now, several months after her injury, the office seems a different place as colleagues have been jockeying for position in her absence, so coming back presents her with challenges. When a builder falls to his death from a tall building it’s thought to be a tragic accident or suicide, until a left luggage ticket found in his pocket causes the police to discover a bag of bones, which date from WW2. Suddenly the case isn’t quite so straightforward. What I enjoyed about this was that the author brings Amsterdam to life as a living, breathing place, and also shines a light on the complexity of war experiences in an occupied country. Also, Lotte is a complex, feisty and unpredictable protagonist and I thought the discovery of what really had happened to the builder was ingenious.
Review by Silent Witness, Oundle Crime
Review by Silent Witness, Oundle Crime
December 18, 2018
This was book 2 in the series but the relevance to the book 1 plot was clearly explained. Once again, we have a detective who needs to behave impeccably at work (because of the book 1 plot aftermath) but still decides to go it alone, get involved with persons of interest in a case and generally act like the typical maverick cop. I found the protagonist, Lotte, unconvincing at times and struggled to believe that she was a top-notch police officer. If I'd been her boss she'd have been on a Final Warning. The other characters, too, came across as diluted as did the plot as there was no feeling of suspense or tension for me and the storyline was lacklustre. This was an easy read but not a book I'd recommend. On the plus side, I did learn a lot about Amsterdam and how WWII affected its citizens both of which were interesting.
September 6, 2021
It has been 4 month since Lotte Mermaan has been shot. Since then she has gone through different surgeries, testify in court against a child murderer and put him in prison, and on holiday. She also got closer to her estrange father, but this ruin her relationship with her mother.
Its time to get back to work: an open and shut case. But, is it? Thu time around Lotte needs to navigate a colleague that doesn't believe she is over previous mistake and who didn't want her back to work; a new colleague that is using her as a role model; an old friend with whom she share a traumatic event. Plus, she will soon find bones at Amsterdam Centraal. Can she id the skeleton? And the suicide, was it really a suicide?
Once again we are brought into a world of a woman that has to balance different and contrapposing aspect of her life. We see her struggle, physically and psychologically, and you come also to doubt yourself and the chapter. The writing is simple, beautiful but can evoke the suspect and all the emotion that the mystery requires for being solved.
Its time to get back to work: an open and shut case. But, is it? Thu time around Lotte needs to navigate a colleague that doesn't believe she is over previous mistake and who didn't want her back to work; a new colleague that is using her as a role model; an old friend with whom she share a traumatic event. Plus, she will soon find bones at Amsterdam Centraal. Can she id the skeleton? And the suicide, was it really a suicide?
Once again we are brought into a world of a woman that has to balance different and contrapposing aspect of her life. We see her struggle, physically and psychologically, and you come also to doubt yourself and the chapter. The writing is simple, beautiful but can evoke the suspect and all the emotion that the mystery requires for being solved.
February 28, 2023
After picking up one of the later Lotte Meerman books from the library, I'm now trying to work through them in order. Annoyingly, the first title isn't available from the library, but I felt that anything from the first story that I needed to know was adequately worked into this story.
I love the setting - my only experience of Amsterdam was a 3-day trip as a child, so I can't say how accurate it is, but it 'feels' right, and makes me want to revisit the area. The characters are realistic too - varying degrees of niceness and nastiness, but no one is unbelievably perfect or unbelievably evil either. The historical information was sprinkled in with a light hand, and I appreciated the way in which a little-mentioned aspect of the aftermath of the war was mentioned. I'm looking forward to reading the rest in this series.
I love the setting - my only experience of Amsterdam was a 3-day trip as a child, so I can't say how accurate it is, but it 'feels' right, and makes me want to revisit the area. The characters are realistic too - varying degrees of niceness and nastiness, but no one is unbelievably perfect or unbelievably evil either. The historical information was sprinkled in with a light hand, and I appreciated the way in which a little-mentioned aspect of the aftermath of the war was mentioned. I'm looking forward to reading the rest in this series.
September 6, 2018
A man falls to his death on a building site and his widow finds out that he had stored a skeleton in the left luggage lockers at Amsterdam Central. However it transpires that not all the skeleton is from the same person.
This is the second cold case novel featuring Detective Lotte Meerman. Here she endeavours to discover the origins of the skeletons and, battling against her colleagues, has to prove that the worker’s fall was not just an accident. The investigation unearths a dark and sinister past linking old war crimes to more recent events.
Another enjoyable crime novel set against the streets and canals of Amsterdam. I’m getting to know and like Lotte. Oh, and she rescues a cat.
Rob D
This is the second cold case novel featuring Detective Lotte Meerman. Here she endeavours to discover the origins of the skeletons and, battling against her colleagues, has to prove that the worker’s fall was not just an accident. The investigation unearths a dark and sinister past linking old war crimes to more recent events.
Another enjoyable crime novel set against the streets and canals of Amsterdam. I’m getting to know and like Lotte. Oh, and she rescues a cat.
Rob D
January 26, 2020
One always wants to read whodunnits taking place at the city they live in, plus have a lady detective as their main character.
The story unfolds quite well, although at some point certain things don't make sense. I liked the part of the unearthed skeletons, especially the World War II part.
However, I had problems connecting with any of the characters in the book (why does everybody have to be damaged through and through?), especially the main one, the detective. Besides the hostile attitude (in a way justifiable), what bothered me was her lack of professionalism, which apparently was there in the first book as well. No reason to follow her investigations further.
The story unfolds quite well, although at some point certain things don't make sense. I liked the part of the unearthed skeletons, especially the World War II part.
However, I had problems connecting with any of the characters in the book (why does everybody have to be damaged through and through?), especially the main one, the detective. Besides the hostile attitude (in a way justifiable), what bothered me was her lack of professionalism, which apparently was there in the first book as well. No reason to follow her investigations further.
October 7, 2021
Excellent follow up to first novel in the series
In the second chapter of Lotte’s series de Jager has continued to developed a strong, flawed, deeply feeling investigator that combines the intensity of a Sam Spade with the introspection of Sylvia Plath. A solid new voice in the procedural category. The snippets of life in Amsterdam add depth and color to the complicated and rich plot, for us “Yankees”. I’ve had the good luck to have visited Amsterdam several times, and it was great having the chance to recapture how much I enjoyed my travels there. Would definitely buy the next book in the series.
In the second chapter of Lotte’s series de Jager has continued to developed a strong, flawed, deeply feeling investigator that combines the intensity of a Sam Spade with the introspection of Sylvia Plath. A solid new voice in the procedural category. The snippets of life in Amsterdam add depth and color to the complicated and rich plot, for us “Yankees”. I’ve had the good luck to have visited Amsterdam several times, and it was great having the chance to recapture how much I enjoyed my travels there. Would definitely buy the next book in the series.
September 30, 2019
The main reason for reading this book was to see how it depicted the Dutch and the Netherlands today. In this respect, the writer did a good job. The background is realistic and believable. Similarly, the story is realistic: a web that untangles in a few simple events and a few causal or accidental relations. There's a lot of backstory that doesn't make reading the first chapters easy but the main problem is that too many elements from the backstory connect neatly in the final solution. I'd expect that from a story in a village but not in a big city.
February 10, 2020
Brisk, efficient and well-conceived crime procedural, set with undeniable authenticity in Amsterdam. Lotte Meerman is an appealing character for those who like their detectives upright but flawed, I would happily read more of her cases. She does have some self-destructive tendencies when she allows her personal life and work life to intermingle, and while this is not a problem, there is some quality lacking in the straightforward prose to make this aspect of her character 100% believable.
Read
February 21, 2021De Jager writes in the first person. Her protagonist detective is fleshed out a little more in this, the second novel featuring Lotte Meerstrom – the reasons why she is as she is. Recovering from the bullet in the first book is the least of her drivers. Her mind is often frenetic and she does not hide from her insecurities, so the reader is privy to them. Constantly. For me, the effect is similar to the stage beyond the buzz of too much caffeine.
June 21, 2023
I enjoyed this second book in the series more than the first. There was less verbal wrangling, more direct action and clearer events. Once again though, Lotte is in a bit of emotional state, this time over a murder that occurred when she was very young. Lotte’s relationship with her mother is always very significant in the plot. Weather is mild, well described countryside locations, bit of town travel too.
July 27, 2018
This novel is very easy to read and the storyline is excellent and there were little bits added in. Reading from the perspective of the character is always good for me. There is one bit I was confused with, there was a bit in the novel where Tony and his dad were arguing, how did Lotte get injured? there was no mention of this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 24, 2018
Good read set in Amsterdam. I like cop novels set in different places, Donna Leon and Barbara Nadel are really good at it and this caught my eye in a charity shop. The basic story revives round a supposed accident and two skeletons found in a bag in central stations locker room. The characters are good and the story is quite fast paced and I would certainly read more by the author.
September 25, 2019
A lackluster sequel but does redeem itself in the end. Just find the main character a little unreal (I doubt a middle age woman career cop would be so dismissive of her career and repeat the same mistakes just after a internal investigation). Still a worthy series.
--again, i'm marking it ok because that's what it was...somehow it seems we are supposed to give 5 stars to everything these days??
--again, i'm marking it ok because that's what it was...somehow it seems we are supposed to give 5 stars to everything these days??
April 13, 2021
Having lived in Amsterdam, I was keen to read this series. I enjoyed this story a little more than the first, however the English narrator of the audiobook really ruined the experience. Why have an English actor voice this with a weird german accent when the Dutch speak perfect English with an authentic Dutch accent?
March 23, 2024
An enjoyable read, which kept me interested throughout. I really like the main character, Lotte Meerman, and I rooted for her while she tried to rebuild her reputation but also deal with being a bit of a celebrity. The main story was solid enough, even if it was a little silly in points. Overall, I liked it and I would definitely read the next book in the series.
February 24, 2019
A well woven tale, with a decent few twists and turns, and a credible background as well as evidential trail. Might have benefited from reading the first book introducing Lotte for a fuller background and scene setting. Read this in wto sittings so it is engaging enough.
November 28, 2019
I really liked the writing style and how the plot of the first book was explained. I'd not read the first so this was very helpful. I particularly liked Lotte's character. Only complaint is that I found the ending a bit anticlimactic because everything seemed to happen a bit too easily
June 2, 2020
I found this easy enough to get through but it didn't really spark much interest in me. I thought the way all the central characters colleagues treated her was awful and I'm glad I don't work there but maybe reading the first book in the series would have clarified that. I just found it meh.
September 19, 2023
great mystery read!
This author is very good at multiple stories in both of her first two books. This story keeps you guessing about who the guilty party is until the very last chapter.
This author is very good at multiple stories in both of her first two books. This story keeps you guessing about who the guilty party is until the very last chapter.
June 15, 2025
Excellent. The characters are realistic, memorable and interesting. The plot (skeletons discovered) was great….i didn’t see it coming until very close to the end. Will definitely look out for more of her work.
May 24, 2018
Very interesting. Has a different flow than British procedurals. And of course the Amsterdam setting and the experiences during the war were vastly different.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews