Order of A.C. Baantjer Books

A.C. Baantjer (1923-2010) brought authentic police expertise to his detective fiction, drawing from his extensive career as an Amsterdam Police inspector spanning almost forty years. This Dutch author is best known for creating the beloved Inspector DeKok series, though his literary output extended beyond these crime novels to include additional fiction and non-fiction works in Dutch. Baantjer also maintained a regular presence in Dutch media through his daily newspaper column.

English-speaking readers were first introduced to Baantjer's work in 1992 with the translation of DeKok and the Somber Nude. The fourth installment in the Inspector DeKok series, DeKok and the Sorrowing Tomcat, showcases the author's trademark blend of Dutch setting and compelling mystery. When a morning jogger discovers Peter Geffel's body—known as "Cunning" Pete—stabbed and left in the coastal dunes, the local authorities find themselves without leads. Detective DeKok's personal connection to the victim draws him into the investigation, and alongside his loyal partner Vledder, he uncovers a web of murder that spans Amsterdam's social spectrum, linking street crime to the city's elite circles.