DeKok and the Mask of Death

De Cock #27

by A.C. Baantjer

“Baantjer’s laconic, rapid-fire storytelling has spun out a surprisingly complex web of mysteries.”—Kirkus Reviews

“DeKok is a careful, compassionate policeman in the tradition of Maigret; crime fans will enjoy this book.”—Library Journal

In this next book in the popular Inspector DeKok Investigates series, a strange incident leads DeKok to discover the disappearance of a woman from an Amsterdam hospital. Upon further investigation, he is surprised to find that three more women have disappeared in the same mysterious way. The seasoned detective soon finds himself following a trail with many twists and turns, losing his way many times but relying on his usual dogged determination and sharp observation to see him through.

Speck Press is translating and releasing for the first time in the United States all sixty volumes of the Inspector DeKok Investigates series, more than five million copies of which have been sold in the Netherlands and beyond. The riveting mysteries have achieved a large following among readers in Europe and inspired a popular television series, and they continue to receive much international acclaim.

A. C. Baantjer is the most widely read author in the Netherlands. A former detective inspector of the Amsterdam police, his fictional characters reflect the depth and personality of individuals encountered during his thirty-eight-year career in law enforcement. Baantjer holds the honor of being knighted by the Dutch monarchy.

Genres: Mystery, Detective, Crime, Ebooks, Fiction, Audiobook

181 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

AKA: Baantjer, Albert Cornelis Baantjer

ALBERT CORNELIS BAANTJER is the most widely read author in the Netherlands and has written more than fifty "De Kok" titles. He has also written other fiction and nonfiction and wrote a daily column in a Dutch newspaper. He was an inspector with the Amsterdam Police for thirty-eight years. Baantjer lived in Medemblik, Netherlands.

Reviews

[Joop · Rating 3 out of 5]

Al 35 jaar oud en toch al COVID achtige paniek.

[Lindsay Arts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hij is verrassend. Omdat hij niet begint met een moord. Dit boek begint met een vermissing. En lijkt alsmaar mysterieuzer te worden. Heerlijk om naar te luisteren!

[Angela (angie's cozy corner) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,75⭐️

[Agnes DiPietrantonio · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun book. Not too serious but just enough intrigue to provide mental exercise. Have seen the TV series and love Baantjer

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Baantjer's mysteries, even though they're usually slow. Dekok's character is so well-developed, I can picture him so clearly in my head. This particular story was no exception. The mystery itself was so-so but it all came together in the end.

To regain his breath more or less, he stopped for a while Then he discovered he was still carrying the megaphone. For just a moment he contemplated leaving it on the steps, but then his bureaucratic soul cried, City property! With a sigh, he resumed his climb.

[Greta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Baantjer writes about murder, drugs, prostitution, fine art, antique book forgeries and every thing in between that can happen and does happen in the Netherlands. His main character is DeKok, an investigator in the Amsterdam police force located in the red light district. Street smarts and long time underground contacts work overtime to produce the culprits.

[Art · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inspector DeKok is a very smart, very experienced Dutch detective who reasons out the solutions to the clever mysteries facing him. He's a good read and an interesting dip into the world of Amsterdam.

I liked him and may give him another read. But I am not up to the more than 60 books in the series.

Thanks for the intro, Clarence Library sale!

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

The reason for my rating lies in the very interesting plotting of the book. The characters are good but not particularly engaging although they do seem true to life. The plot involves four women who are referred to an out of town hospital by their doctor for blood tests. Unfortunately they check in but they don't check out and seem to have disappeared.

[Marc Blok · Rating 3 out of 5]

Een ander soort verhaal deze keer met een vermissing. Maar al snel wordt het natuurlijk toch een moordzaak. Het is redelijk voorspelbaar maar toch een aardig boek. Jammer dat het hoe en waarom van de vermissing(en) niet verder op de voorgrond traden. Nu bleef het verhaal beetje in standaard moord-oplos-mode.

[hugo van der wildt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terug naar de mooie Jordaan, de Prinsengracht enz.
Juist voor de Sail Amsterdam moet de De Cock een verdwijning oplossen. Alles lijkt vergezocht want hij kan geen info punten vinden.
Volgens Lowietje, zijn bevriende cafébaas, zijn er nog gelijkaardige verdwijningen.
De Cock kan alles echter terugvinden juist voor de Sail Amsterdam.
Het blijft een meester van de korte thrillers(136 bladzijden)

[Jielus Kuijntjes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Niet het sterkste verhaal met een vreemde wending aan het einde.

[Talkador · Rating 5 out of 5]

Baantjer boeken krijgen van mij altijd sowieso 5 sterren.

[José Muylaert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leuke zin(nen) :
"Zijn kleding was opzichtig, bijna potsierlijk. Vooral zijn wijd colbert van grove tweed viel op. De extreem grote ruiten in stralend geel deden denken aan een door een kleuter ingekleurde jas van Ollie B. Bommel, een Heer van Stand."

[Kate]

This book is an installment in Dutch author Baantjer's police procedural series featuring Amsterdam detective Inspector DeKok. It was my first foray into the series and, indeed, into Dutch crime fiction, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The mystery at the centre of the book was gratifyingly puzzling and Inspector DeKok is a most engaging detective. And although brief (180 pages), it nonetheless managed to offer up not just a tightly plotted mystery but also a solid sense of place and character as well as some entertaining dialogue between characters, particularly between DeKok and his young partner Vledder. There are more than 60 books in the series and I was happy to learn that 20+ of them have been published in English translation. I will definitely be seeking out more of them.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this mystery set in The Netherlands. Dekok is an older detective, smart and calculating. Velland is his younger, impetuous partner. Together they solve the mysterious disappearance of 4 young women who enter a hospital never to be seen again. Dekok is delightful, the other characters are interesting and believable, and the plot is well-structured and just twisty enough. Fun read.

[Magda · Rating 1 out of 5]

There is no wait queue for this book in the Clarence Regional Library. Always willing to try a new crime writer-especially somewhat dated and translated-I borrowed this tiny tome. Maybe when it was written in the 80's it was good crime reading but it has dated now. Soft in style and pace it will suit your elderly mother. I love the diversity of crime fiction. There's something to suit us all.

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting mystery set in Amsterdam. A Dutch detective investigates the disappearance of four young women who have gone to a hospital and were never seen again.

[Edana Cichanowicz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found this author via the STOP, YOU'RE KILLING ME website. Want to read everything translated into English. Read this in one sitting on Sunday.