Best discovery this year of an "old master", 17 Jun 1999
I have been wanting to read these books for a while and finally found the time to dig into this first one on a long flight to Europe. Perfect setting for reading any of van deWetering's books. These novels are thoroughly European and I loved the way the characters spoke and interacted. I especially enjoyed the pervasive air of morality throughout the book. So many of contemporary thrillers lack that essential element. The novelist makes good use of his obvious Buddhist beliefs and sprinkles some quite beautiful thoughts (when de Gier meets the father of a female suspect take extra time to linger over his philosophy. It's utterly engaging and memorable) throughout this story of the search for the killer of a murdered spiritual adviser and some smarmy drug dealing in 1970s Amsterdam. This book also contains the first villain with a conscience I've ever encountered in all my decades of mystery reading. I look forward to completing the series.

Best discovery this year of an "old master", 17 Jun 1999
I have been wanting to read these books for a while and finally found the time to dig into this first one on a long flight to Europe. Perfect setting for reading any of van deWetering's books. These novels are thoroughly European and I loved the way the characters spoke and interacted. I especially enjoyed the pervasive air of morality throughout the book. So many of contemporary thrillers lack that essential element. The novelist makes good use of his obvious Buddhist beliefs and sprinkles some quite beautiful thoughts (when de Gier meets the father of a female suspect take extra time to linger over his philosophy. It's utterly engaging and memorable) throughout this story of the search for the killer of a murdered spiritual adviser and some smarmy drug dealing in 1970s Amsterdam. This book also contains the first villain with a conscience I've ever encountered in all my decades of mystery reading. I look forward to completing the series.

Mind-bendingly bad crime novel, 03 Mar 1998
I have never struggled so hard to finish a book as I did this one. I don't know if van de Wetering is a native Dutchman writing in English or if he just had a shockingly bad translator, but neither of these possibilities explains the utter ineptitude of the plot, characterization, and dialog of this truly excruciating book.

The plot ostensibly involves the murder of a Japanese working in Holland. The two detectives assigned to the case (who apparently appear in several other of v.d. Wetering's novels) travel to Japan and by some obscure means identify the drug-running yakuza gang responsible while having a series of random cultural "experiences".

Having lived in both Japan and Holland, the author's depictions of both countries and their inhabitants were peculiar to say the least. I got the strong impression that he had read a Tokyo Olympics-era Reader's Digest article about Japan and had used this as his reference material. His favoured dialog technique goes along the lines of `"Would you like to try sushi", said the pretty young waitress in her traditional costume known as a kimono. "Sushi? Isn't that small balls of rice soaked in vinegar with a slice of raw fish on top and flavoured with horseradish paste?"' The effect is vaguely reminiscent of something out of Airplane. The detectives, for their part, like nothing better than to whip out their respective flute and drum and play a little Bach. No, really.

The increasing feeling of being on a bad hallucinogenic experience while reading the book was brought to a climax by the truly bizarre ending in which the detectives infiltrate the yakuza headquarters unnoticed and witness the gang having a knees-up to the intoxicating foreign strains of...jazz which thereby renders them defenceless to arrest. Hmmm. Perhaps v.d. Wetering was the one having the hallucinogenic experience.

What I found most peculiar was the collection of fulsome reviews on the back cover praising the gripping pace and the evocative picture of Japan (More Digest readers obviously). Had some goblin switched covers at the printers? Who knows. In short I wouldn't recommend this unless you are stuck on a desert island, in which case it will come in handy for lighting a fire.

Best discovery this year of an "old master", 17 Jun 1999
I have been wanting to read these books for a while and finally found the time to dig into this first one on a long flight to Europe. Perfect setting for reading any of van deWetering's books. These novels are thoroughly European and I loved the way the characters spoke and interacted. I especially enjoyed the pervasive air of morality throughout the book. So many of contemporary thrillers lack that essential element. The novelist makes good use of his obvious Buddhist beliefs and sprinkles some quite beautiful thoughts (when de Gier meets the father of a female suspect take extra time to linger over his philosophy. It's utterly engaging and memorable) throughout this story of the search for the killer of a murdered spiritual adviser and some smarmy drug dealing in 1970s Amsterdam. This book also contains the first villain with a conscience I've ever encountered in all my decades of mystery reading. I look forward to completing the series.

Mind-bendingly bad crime novel, 03 Mar 1998
I have never struggled so hard to finish a book as I did this one. I don't know if van de Wetering is a native Dutchman writing in English or if he just had a shockingly bad translator, but neither of these possibilities explains the utter ineptitude of the plot, characterization, and dialog of this truly excruciating book.

The plot ostensibly involves the murder of a Japanese working in Holland. The two detectives assigned to the case (who apparently appear in several other of v.d. Wetering's novels) travel to Japan and by some obscure means identify the drug-running yakuza gang responsible while having a series of random cultural "experiences".

Having lived in both Japan and Holland, the author's depictions of both countries and their inhabitants were peculiar to say the least. I got the strong impression that he had read a Tokyo Olympics-era Reader's Digest article about Japan and had used this as his reference material. His favoured dialog technique goes along the lines of `"Would you like to try sushi", said the pretty young waitress in her traditional costume known as a kimono. "Sushi? Isn't that small balls of rice soaked in vinegar with a slice of raw fish on top and flavoured with horseradish paste?"' The effect is vaguely reminiscent of something out of Airplane. The detectives, for their part, like nothing better than to whip out their respective flute and drum and play a little Bach. No, really.

The increasing feeling of being on a bad hallucinogenic experience while reading the book was brought to a climax by the truly bizarre ending in which the detectives infiltrate the yakuza headquarters unnoticed and witness the gang having a knees-up to the intoxicating foreign strains of...jazz which thereby renders them defenceless to arrest. Hmmm. Perhaps v.d. Wetering was the one having the hallucinogenic experience.

What I found most peculiar was the collection of fulsome reviews on the back cover praising the gripping pace and the evocative picture of Japan (More Digest readers obviously). Had some goblin switched covers at the printers? Who knows. In short I wouldn't recommend this unless you are stuck on a desert island, in which case it will come in handy for lighting a fire.

a crime novel with a spiritual dimension, 05 Mar 2002
I first came across Wetering's books by chance a few years ago. As crime mysteries this one (and the other couple I have read) do not work that well. They do provide the scene for one of the most interesting pairs of literary detectives I have come across. Reading this book was great fun, the plot is there enough to keep you reading the dialog is excellent. For those looking for crime fiction not so interested in puzzles or psycobabble into decidedly odd charactors minds then this book could be for you. A gentle crime novel with real charactors and a slight spiritualistic element I found to be rather plesant.
A good book but perhaps considering its shortness not all that great value for money

Best discovery this year of an "old master", 17 Jun 1999
I have been wanting to read these books for a while and finally found the time to dig into this first one on a long flight to Europe. Perfect setting for reading any of van deWetering's books. These novels are thoroughly European and I loved the way the characters spoke and interacted. I especially enjoyed the pervasive air of morality throughout the book. So many of contemporary thrillers lack that essential element. The novelist makes good use of his obvious Buddhist beliefs and sprinkles some quite beautiful thoughts (when de Gier meets the father of a female suspect take extra time to linger over his philosophy. It's utterly engaging and memorable) throughout this story of the search for the killer of a murdered spiritual adviser and some smarmy drug dealing in 1970s Amsterdam. This book also contains the first villain with a conscience I've ever encountered in all my decades of mystery reading. I look forward to completing the series.

Mind-bendingly bad crime novel, 03 Mar 1998
I have never struggled so hard to finish a book as I did this one. I don't know if van de Wetering is a native Dutchman writing in English or if he just had a shockingly bad translator, but neither of these possibilities explains the utter ineptitude of the plot, characterization, and dialog of this truly excruciating book.

The plot ostensibly involves the murder of a Japanese working in Holland. The two detectives assigned to the case (who apparently appear in several other of v.d. Wetering's novels) travel to Japan and by some obscure means identify the drug-running yakuza gang responsible while having a series of random cultural "experiences".

Having lived in both Japan and Holland, the author's depictions of both countries and their inhabitants were peculiar to say the least. I got the strong impression that he had read a Tokyo Olympics-era Reader's Digest article about Japan and had used this as his reference material. His favoured dialog technique goes along the lines of `"Would you like to try sushi", said the pretty young waitress in her traditional costume known as a kimono. "Sushi? Isn't that small balls of rice soaked in vinegar with a slice of raw fish on top and flavoured with horseradish paste?"' The effect is vaguely reminiscent of something out of Airplane. The detectives, for their part, like nothing better than to whip out their respective flute and drum and play a little Bach. No, really.

The increasing feeling of being on a bad hallucinogenic experience while reading the book was brought to a climax by the truly bizarre ending in which the detectives infiltrate the yakuza headquarters unnoticed and witness the gang having a knees-up to the intoxicating foreign strains of...jazz which thereby renders them defenceless to arrest. Hmmm. Perhaps v.d. Wetering was the one having the hallucinogenic experience.

What I found most peculiar was the collection of fulsome reviews on the back cover praising the gripping pace and the evocative picture of Japan (More Digest readers obviously). Had some goblin switched covers at the printers? Who knows. In short I wouldn't recommend this unless you are stuck on a desert island, in which case it will come in handy for lighting a fire.

a crime novel with a spiritual dimension, 05 Mar 2002
I first came across Wetering's books by chance a few years ago. As crime mysteries this one (and the other couple I have read) do not work that well. They do provide the scene for one of the most interesting pairs of literary detectives I have come across. Reading this book was great fun, the plot is there enough to keep you reading the dialog is excellent. For those looking for crime fiction not so interested in puzzles or psycobabble into decidedly odd charactors minds then this book could be for you. A gentle crime novel with real charactors and a slight spiritualistic element I found to be rather plesant.
A good book but perhaps considering its shortness not all that great value for money

de Gier and the commisaris do America., 02 Jun 1997
I don't even care much for mysteries but this one caught my eye while in a physical bookstore looking for the new Burke novel by Andrew Vachss. The book is interesting because the characters are real; this one gives a peculiarly Dutch perspective on American culture, which at times is laugh-out-loud funny, like de Gier, in his eternally curious cop mode, wondering why on earth anyone would buy bags of ice.

Best discovery this year of an "old master", 17 Jun 1999
I have been wanting to read these books for a while and finally found the time to dig into this first one on a long flight to Europe. Perfect setting for reading any of van deWetering's books. These novels are thoroughly European and I loved the way the characters spoke and interacted. I especially enjoyed the pervasive air of morality throughout the book. So many of contemporary thrillers lack that essential element. The novelist makes good use of his obvious Buddhist beliefs and sprinkles some quite beautiful thoughts (when de Gier meets the father of a female suspect take extra time to linger over his philosophy. It's utterly engaging and memorable) throughout this story of the search for the killer of a murdered spiritual adviser and some smarmy drug dealing in 1970s Amsterdam. This book also contains the first villain with a conscience I've ever encountered in all my decades of mystery reading. I look forward to completing the series.

Mind-bendingly bad crime novel, 03 Mar 1998
I have never struggled so hard to finish a book as I did this one. I don't know if van de Wetering is a native Dutchman writing in English or if he just had a shockingly bad translator, but neither of these possibilities explains the utter ineptitude of the plot, characterization, and dialog of this truly excruciating book.

The plot ostensibly involves the murder of a Japanese working in Holland. The two detectives assigned to the case (who apparently appear in several other of v.d. Wetering's novels) travel to Japan and by some obscure means identify the drug-running yakuza gang responsible while having a series of random cultural "experiences".

Having lived in both Japan and Holland, the author's depictions of both countries and their inhabitants were peculiar to say the least. I got the strong impression that he had read a Tokyo Olympics-era Reader's Digest article about Japan and had used this as his reference material. His favoured dialog technique goes along the lines of `"Would you like to try sushi", said the pretty young waitress in her traditional costume known as a kimono. "Sushi? Isn't that small balls of rice soaked in vinegar with a slice of raw fish on top and flavoured with horseradish paste?"' The effect is vaguely reminiscent of something out of Airplane. The detectives, for their part, like nothing better than to whip out their respective flute and drum and play a little Bach. No, really.

The increasing feeling of being on a bad hallucinogenic experience while reading the book was brought to a climax by the truly bizarre ending in which the detectives infiltrate the yakuza headquarters unnoticed and witness the gang having a knees-up to the intoxicating foreign strains of...jazz which thereby renders them defenceless to arrest. Hmmm. Perhaps v.d. Wetering was the one having the hallucinogenic experience.

What I found most peculiar was the collection of fulsome reviews on the back cover praising the gripping pace and the evocative picture of Japan (More Digest readers obviously). Had some goblin switched covers at the printers? Who knows. In short I wouldn't recommend this unless you are stuck on a desert island, in which case it will come in handy for lighting a fire.

a crime novel with a spiritual dimension, 05 Mar 2002
I first came across Wetering's books by chance a few years ago. As crime mysteries this one (and the other couple I have read) do not work that well. They do provide the scene for one of the most interesting pairs of literary detectives I have come across. Reading this book was great fun, the plot is there enough to keep you reading the dialog is excellent. For those looking for crime fiction not so interested in puzzles or psycobabble into decidedly odd charactors minds then this book could be for you. A gentle crime novel with real charactors and a slight spiritualistic element I found to be rather plesant.
A good book but perhaps considering its shortness not all that great value for money

de Gier and the commisaris do America., 02 Jun 1997
I don't even care much for mysteries but this one caught my eye while in a physical bookstore looking for the new Burke novel by Andrew Vachss. The book is interesting because the characters are real; this one gives a peculiarly Dutch perspective on American culture, which at times is laugh-out-loud funny, like de Gier, in his eternally curious cop mode, wondering why on earth anyone would buy bags of ice.

Van de Wetering's strongest dose of Zen Buddhism yet., 16 Apr 1998
Van de Wetering continues his search for the true meaning of being and nothingness. The commissaris and Sergeant de Gier travel to New York to investigate the death of an uncle of a member of the Amsterdam Police Reserve. Throughout the course of their investigation, the Dutch detectives continue their own personal search for enlightenment. Van de Wetering has a talent for giving his readers more than a casual glimpse of the philosophy of Zen Buddhism, yet he manages to do so without preaching about it. As always, he makes us laugh along the way. This book did not feature as much interaction between Adjutant Gripstra and Sergeant de Gier as some of Van de Wetering's previous efforts, as Gripstra did not travel to Manhattan with his colleagues. The focus in this story was the commissaris, and his attempts to solve both the case, and the meaning of life. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I am glad that the author has continued this unique mystery series after a long hiatus.

Best discovery this year of an "old master", 17 Jun 1999
I have been wanting to read these books for a while and finally found the time to dig into this first one on a long flight to Europe. Perfect setting for reading any of van deWetering's books. These novels are thoroughly European and I loved the way the characters spoke and interacted. I especially enjoyed the pervasive air of morality throughout the book. So many of contemporary thrillers lack that essential element. The novelist makes good use of his obvious Buddhist beliefs and sprinkles some quite beautiful thoughts (when de Gier meets the father of a female suspect take extra time to linger over his philosophy. It's utterly engaging and memorable) throughout this story of the search for the killer of a murdered spiritual adviser and some smarmy drug dealing in 1970s Amsterdam. This book also contains the first villain with a conscience I've ever encountered in all my decades of mystery reading. I look forward to completing the series.

Mind-bendingly bad crime novel, 03 Mar 1998
I have never struggled so hard to finish a book as I did this one. I don't know if van de Wetering is a native Dutchman writing in English or if he just had a shockingly bad translator, but neither of these possibilities explains the utter ineptitude of the plot, characterization, and dialog of this truly excruciating book.

The plot ostensibly involves the murder of a Japanese working in Holland. The two detectives assigned to the case (who apparently appear in several other of v.d. Wetering's novels) travel to Japan and by some obscure means identify the drug-running yakuza gang responsible while having a series of random cultural "experiences".

Having lived in both Japan and Holland, the author's depictions of both countries and their inhabitants were peculiar to say the least. I got the strong impression that he had read a Tokyo Olympics-era Reader's Digest article about Japan and had used this as his reference material. His favoured dialog technique goes along the lines of `"Would you like to try sushi", said the pretty young waitress in her traditional costume known as a kimono. "Sushi? Isn't that small balls of rice soaked in vinegar with a slice of raw fish on top and flavoured with horseradish paste?"' The effect is vaguely reminiscent of something out of Airplane. The detectives, for their part, like nothing better than to whip out their respective flute and drum and play a little Bach. No, really.

The increasing feeling of being on a bad hallucinogenic experience while reading the book was brought to a climax by the truly bizarre ending in which the detectives infiltrate the yakuza headquarters unnoticed and witness the gang having a knees-up to the intoxicating foreign strains of...jazz which thereby renders them defenceless to arrest. Hmmm. Perhaps v.d. Wetering was the one having the hallucinogenic experience.

What I found most peculiar was the collection of fulsome reviews on the back cover praising the gripping pace and the evocative picture of Japan (More Digest readers obviously). Had some goblin switched covers at the printers? Who knows. In short I wouldn't recommend this unless you are stuck on a desert island, in which case it will come in handy for lighting a fire.

a crime novel with a spiritual dimension, 05 Mar 2002
I first came across Wetering's books by chance a few years ago. As crime mysteries this one (and the other couple I have read) do not work that well. They do provide the scene for one of the most interesting pairs of literary detectives I have come across. Reading this book was great fun, the plot is there enough to keep you reading the dialog is excellent. For those looking for crime fiction not so interested in puzzles or psycobabble into decidedly odd charactors minds then this book could be for you. A gentle crime novel with real charactors and a slight spiritualistic element I found to be rather plesant.
A good book but perhaps considering its shortness not all that great value for money

de Gier and the commisaris do America., 02 Jun 1997
I don't even care much for mysteries but this one caught my eye while in a physical bookstore looking for the new Burke novel by Andrew Vachss. The book is interesting because the characters are real; this one gives a peculiarly Dutch perspective on American culture, which at times is laugh-out-loud funny, like de Gier, in his eternally curious cop mode, wondering why on earth anyone would buy bags of ice.

Van de Wetering's strongest dose of Zen Buddhism yet., 16 Apr 1998
Van de Wetering continues his search for the true meaning of being and nothingness. The commissaris and Sergeant de Gier travel to New York to investigate the death of an uncle of a member of the Amsterdam Police Reserve. Throughout the course of their investigation, the Dutch detectives continue their own personal search for enlightenment. Van de Wetering has a talent for giving his readers more than a casual glimpse of the philosophy of Zen Buddhism, yet he manages to do so without preaching about it. As always, he makes us laugh along the way. This book did not feature as much interaction between Adjutant Gripstra and Sergeant de Gier as some of Van de Wetering's previous efforts, as Gripstra did not travel to Manhattan with his colleagues. The focus in this story was the commissaris, and his attempts to solve both the case, and the meaning of life. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I am glad that the author has continued this unique mystery series after a long hiatus.

"Holy Krips they have done it again.", 16 Apr 1998
The three Amstelteers have raced, well more like meandered, from Vondel Park to the Antilles via Key West on a case with a surprising oily twist. In business on their own, G&G, under the watchful eye of Henkieluvvie uncover a clever plot to make oil disappear. Their biggest concern is that the most PERFIDIOUS outlaw of all "the Amsterdam Tax man" may get their loot if they do not get to work. Perifidious, deceitful, faithless, untrustworthy. In depth story telling with the tongue in cheek attitude that JanWillem does so well. The characters stay in line, no surprises, as it should be. At the end their conscience is relieved because of the actions of their mentor.

Best discovery this year of an "old master", 17 Jun 1999
I have been wanting to read these books for a while and finally found the time to dig into this first one on a long flight to Europe. Perfect setting for reading any of van deWetering's books. These novels are thoroughly European and I loved the way the characters spoke and interacted. I especially enjoyed the pervasive air of morality throughout the book. So many of contemporary thrillers lack that essential element. The novelist makes good use of his obvious Buddhist beliefs and sprinkles some quite beautiful thoughts (when de Gier meets the father of a female suspect take extra time to linger over his philosophy. It's utterly engaging and memorable) throughout this story of the search for the killer of a murdered spiritual adviser and some smarmy drug dealing in 1970s Amsterdam. This book also contains the first villain with a conscience I've ever encountered in all my decades of mystery reading. I look forward to completing the series.

Mind-bendingly bad crime novel, 03 Mar 1998
I have never struggled so hard to finish a book as I did this one. I don't know if van de Wetering is a native Dutchman writing in English or if he just had a shockingly bad translator, but neither of these possibilities explains the utter ineptitude of the plot, characterization, and dialog of this truly excruciating book.

The plot ostensibly involves the murder of a Japanese working in Holland. The two detectives assigned to the case (who apparently appear in several other of v.d. Wetering's novels) travel to Japan and by some obscure means identify the drug-running yakuza gang responsible while having a series of random cultural "experiences".

Having lived in both Japan and Holland, the author's depictions of both countries and their inhabitants were peculiar to say the least. I got the strong impression that he had read a Tokyo Olympics-era Reader's Digest article about Japan and had used this as his reference material. His favoured dialog technique goes along the lines of `"Would you like to try sushi", said the pretty young waitress in her traditional costume known as a kimono. "Sushi? Isn't that small balls of rice soaked in vinegar with a slice of raw fish on top and flavoured with horseradish paste?"' The effect is vaguely reminiscent of something out of Airplane. The detectives, for their part, like nothing better than to whip out their respective flute and drum and play a little Bach. No, really.

The increasing feeling of being on a bad hallucinogenic experience while reading the book was brought to a climax by the truly bizarre ending in which the detectives infiltrate the yakuza headquarters unnoticed and witness the gang having a knees-up to the intoxicating foreign strains of...jazz which thereby renders them defenceless to arrest. Hmmm. Perhaps v.d. Wetering was the one having the hallucinogenic experience.

What I found most peculiar was the collection of fulsome reviews on the back cover praising the gripping pace and the evocative picture of Japan (More Digest readers obviously). Had some goblin switched covers at the printers? Who knows. In short I wouldn't recommend this unless you are stuck on a desert island, in which case it will come in handy for lighting a fire.

a crime novel with a spiritual dimension, 05 Mar 2002
I first came across Wetering's books by chance a few years ago. As crime mysteries this one (and the other couple I have read) do not work that well. They do provide the scene for one of the most interesting pairs of literary detectives I have come across. Reading this book was great fun, the plot is there enough to keep you reading the dialog is excellent. For those looking for crime fiction not so interested in puzzles or psycobabble into decidedly odd charactors minds then this book could be for you. A gentle crime novel with real charactors and a slight spiritualistic element I found to be rather plesant.
A good book but perhaps considering its shortness not all that great value for money

de Gier and the commisaris do America., 02 Jun 1997
I don't even care much for mysteries but this one caught my eye while in a physical bookstore looking for the new Burke novel by Andrew Vachss. The book is interesting because the characters are real; this one gives a peculiarly Dutch perspective on American culture, which at times is laugh-out-loud funny, like de Gier, in his eternally curious cop mode, wondering why on earth anyone would buy bags of ice.

Van de Wetering's strongest dose of Zen Buddhism yet., 16 Apr 1998
Van de Wetering continues his search for the true meaning of being and nothingness. The commissaris and Sergeant de Gier travel to New York to investigate the death of an uncle of a member of the Amsterdam Police Reserve. Throughout the course of their investigation, the Dutch detectives continue their own personal search for enlightenment. Van de Wetering has a talent for giving his readers more than a casual glimpse of the philosophy of Zen Buddhism, yet he manages to do so without preaching about it. As always, he makes us laugh along the way. This book did not feature as much interaction between Adjutant Gripstra and Sergeant de Gier as some of Van de Wetering's previous efforts, as Gripstra did not travel to Manhattan with his colleagues. The focus in this story was the commissaris, and his attempts to solve both the case, and the meaning of life. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I am glad that the author has continued this unique mystery series after a long hiatus.

"Holy Krips they have done it again.", 16 Apr 1998
The three Amstelteers have raced, well more like meandered, from Vondel Park to the Antilles via Key West on a case with a surprising oily twist. In business on their own, G&G, under the watchful eye of Henkieluvvie uncover a clever plot to make oil disappear. Their biggest concern is that the most PERFIDIOUS outlaw of all "the Amsterdam Tax man" may get their loot if they do not get to work. Perifidious, deceitful, faithless, untrustworthy. In depth story telling with the tongue in cheek attitude that JanWillem does so well. The characters stay in line, no surprises, as it should be. At the end their conscience is relieved because of the actions of their mentor.

"Holy Krips they have done it again.", 16 Apr 1998
The three Amstelteers have raced, well more like meandered, from Vondel Park to the Antilles via Key West on a case with a surprising oily twist. In business on their own, G&G, under the watchful eye of Henkieluvvie uncover a clever plot to make oil disappear. Their biggest concern is that the most PERFIDIOUS outlaw of all "the Amsterdam Tax man" may get their loot if they do not get to work. Perifidious, deceitful, faithless, untrustworthy. In depth story telling with the tongue in cheek attitude that JanWillem does so well. The characters stay in line, no surprises, as it should be. At the end their conscience is relieved because of the actions of their mentor.