The first I’ve tried in the series. A sort of locked room mystery, almost. Jury is still out, plot was clever enough, for the time. I like the idea of the inspector questioning justice and revenge. Will try another ( )

I really should write immediately after reading. I've slipped and now it is months since I read this one.

DeKok gets a message from a murderer, stating that he is about to kill a man, and to please meet with him about the details.

What follows are the murders of more than one person, dressed as Harlequins. DeKok races around in his inimitable style, spouting snide remarks. I can't recall much else. I am not a big fan of DeKok's. I feel there is too much telling and not enough showing. ( )

As a teenager in Switzerland, I discovered George Simenon's Maigret series. These police procedurals took place in Paris and featured the unflappable and compassionate Inspector (later Superintendent) Maigret, who had this wonderful relationship with his wife, enjoyed the requisite alcoholic moments in French bars and cafes, yet through his intimate knowledge of the community always solved the crime, no matter how bizarre. I read every Maigret I could find.

Several years ago, I stumbled on a reference to [a:A.C. Baantjer|183513|A.C. Baantjer|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1231449715p2/183513.jpg], whose Inspector DeKok novels are wildly popular in the Netherlands. Most have been translated into English, but have gone out of print. I hopped on to Amazon and bought a couple for ridiculously low prices, e.g.,$1.50 and lower, read them, and have become an enthusiast. DeKok reminds me of Maigret. He tolerates, but understand the needs of his superiors, prefers the old methods, knows the community, patiently explains things to Vledder, his assistance, and intrepidly collects data until he has the solution. Like Maigret, he has his little peculiarities: a winning smile, felt hat, is always whistling Christmas carols off-key, and interminable patience.

In DeKok and the Dead Harlequin he is presented with a most peculiar situation: a note is delivered to him by an accountant, Pierre Brassel, who insist on meeting with him at exactly 8:00 a.m. on the following morning to discuss a murder he intends to commit. While at DeKok's office Brassel mentions that a man has been murdered at a nearby hotel. Sure enough, it is soon established that Jan Brets, a well-known burglar, had his head bashed in with a hockey stick while Brassel was talking with the inspector. DeKok is soon faced with a myriad of interlocking pieces to a puzzle that at first appears my be the perfect crime.

If you are looking for lots of guns and violence, these are not for you, but if you enjoy well-crafted police procedurals with human characters, they are perfect. ( )

Lekker ontspannend... En natuurlijk ook wel spannend. :-) ( )

Inspector DeKok gets a note requesting an appointment at 8:00PM from an unknown man. DeKok and his subordinate Vledder meet the the man at the police station and he appears to be a well-to-do accountant. The purpose for the meeting was to establish an alibi. He plans on committing the perfect crime. At this very time in a motel not far away a man is killed by a weighted hockey stick. He has been left in a posed position that looks like a puppet whose strings have been cut. DeKok calls him the harlequin until he gets to know the victim better. Under the body there is a note to the victim warning him as well that a murder is planned. In this way the accountant cannot be charged with failure to inform either the police or the victim of the crime to be committed.

As DeKok continues his investigation it appears to lead to a gang or group of men planning a major crime, but all the details don't mesh and the puzzle deepens. It is more an American thing to belong to a gang. As Vledder points out, in Nato exercises the Dutch army always gets the worst ratings, but on the other hand the Dutch soldier is always rated first in guerilla warfare.

DeKok is well regarded in his district. He gets respect from the solid citizens as well as the pimps and whores. They all knew he interpreted dozens of regulations elastically. He did not violate the law, rather he had a unique vision of the letter of the law. Using his skill and insight there is no doubt that justice will be done. Sometimes justice is a little slow and more death will follow before DeKok gets it right.

This is a wonderful series and I always look forward to the next book in line. ( )