De Cock en het lijk in de kerstnacht by A.C. Baantjer

Why read the book?

It is Christmas night when an officer on patrol sees a body floating in the Herengracht. The post-mortem shows the young woman was strangled. It also shows she was pregnant.

The young detective Vledder calls in his teacher De Cock. Items found in the dead woman's bag point to two men who had a part in her life. The fiance could not have done it, so the question becomes: who is the second man?

De Cock wants to settle the case quickly so he can still enjoy his Christmas days off. That wish runs through the whole investigation.

Favourite quote

What I Loved

The Christmas setting gives this one a cold, quiet mood that fits the canals of Amsterdam. The clues from the victim's bag make it a clean, fair puzzle.

It is also one of the books where the bond between De Cock and Vledder, teacher and pupil, comes through clearly.

Key Takeaway

A tidy canal-side mystery built on a few honest clues, with De Cock trying to wrap it up before the holiday ends.

Note

This book is only available in Dutch

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