Won't be here next week to gather links.
Outsider in Amsterdam, Janwillem van de Wetering
is the first novel in the Gripstra and de Gier mystery series, a series I followed from The Netherlands to Maine over the years. The best element of the series was always Adjutant Gripstra and Sergeant de Gier, our two heroes.
In this first book, you can throw in an interesting hanging victim, the victim's sexy wife, the victim's mother, and a lot of other interesting types.
And, of course, Amsterdam itself, which is my favorite city although when I read this I never thought I would get to spend six months there later. Amsterdam and its wonders and oddities is a welcome presence. Keeping drugs off the streets is a huge concern to the police.
And the series was always full of humor and pithy observations:
(Grijpstra talking to his superior on the phone and looking at his wife's head), says "Yes sir" on the phone and thinks: "Why do curlers have to be pink? Why not brown? If they were brown they would blend with her hair, I wouldn't notice them so much, and I would be less irritated. I wouldn't have such a foul taste in my mouth. My stomach wouldn't cramp. I wouldn't have to worry about ulcers. My wife wouldn't forget to buy medicine for me because I wouldn't need to take medicine. I would be a happier man."
Does anyone use curlers now?
Yvette Banek
Paul Bishop
Michael Carlson
Bill Crider
Scott Cupp
Loren Eaton
Martin Edwards
Glenn Harper
Randy Johnson
George Kelley
Margot Kinberg
Rob Kitchin
B.V. Lawson
Evan Lewis
Steve Lewis/Bill Pronzini
Steve Lewis/William F Deeck
Todd Mason
J.F. Norris
Eric Peterson
David Rachels
James Reasoner
Gerard Saylor
Ron Scheer
Michael Slind
Kerrie Smith
Kevin Tipple/Barry Ergang
27 comments:
Sorry I am late.....Barry Ergang is back this week with his review of MYSTERY RANCH by MAX BRAND.
If we do go homeless at the end of the month, I will be turning the cyber keys over to Barry who does not want them at all but has agreed to help and keep the blog going--for now.
Kevin
http://kevintipplescorner.blogspot.com/
God, Kevin. I can't believe you wouldn't get more help in a state farther north. It's just inhuman.
I don't know, Patti. I'm a native Texan, born and raised, and what is going on with us and other folks is just flat out wrong.
I could not agree more. Detroit is in dire straights too but we do seem to have more resources to help people here. Or did before the election of a new governor.
No FFB next week, or just no Patti?
I've vaguely heard of this series, Patti. But your excerpt sounds mighty interesting. Soho always does a good design job as well as publishing the lesser known authors. At least, lesser known to me.
Definitely not one I've heard of here.
Short answer - yes. I saw a woman walking down the street in curlers just the other day. And yes, they were pink.
I liked the Gripstra and de Gier books a lot too, at least for a while, but somewhere along the line I let them slip away, maybe when he moved to the U.S. I really should go back and try again.
And yes, I love Amsterdam too though it's been way too long since we've been there.
Jeff M.
Also wanted to add, Why I Love the Internet #12. Last week Milton Burton reviewed a book I'd never heard of by an author I didn't know (Jerry Sohl, POINT ULTIMATE). It sounded right up my alley, so I went on the Brooklyn Public Library website and reserved their one copy (from 1955). By Tuesday I had it in hand and by Thursday I'd finished it! (And yes, I liked it a lot - thanks, Milton.)
Jeff M.
PS - For years my friend Bill Crider has been saying how much worse Rick Perry is than W. Sorry you're suffering for this fool.
I think it was CNN that did a big story a few days ago about how Detroit is coming back and coming back strong.
Bill Crider is dead on right about Perry. Been voting against the blow dried Governor every election to no avail. When he finally announces and admits to doing what has been clear for two years now, no doubt he will become the front runner. Heaven help us if he actually wins it all.
By the way, prayers and good thoughts for Milton as he is currently in the hospital. I don't know the details, but he was admitted on Monday. I'm told he is doing better but hearing that third hand.
Kevin
I've volunteered to do the links (and my own reviews might be less tardy) for the Fridays Patti won't be able to do...and, Rick, you know the bulk of FFB is unstoppable. With luck, or an outbreak of sanity in the Texas administration, we'll have Kevin able to at least post his friend Barry's review on his own ticket next week. (And likewise better fortune for Milton Burton.)
Please let us know if you have any specifics. How dreadful. We'd been emailing a lot recently about his new book and stories.
I understand they have had their troubles of late too. But such an easy place for Americans because they speak English with an American accent.
Will do...just got told via e-mail they have moved him from CCU and plan to run a couple of tests today. His birthday is tomorrow so it would be really neat if he could be back home for it.
I read that series years ago and loved it. I remember someone...de Gier maybe? wanted to exit the airport and couldn't understand why the "in" door wouldn't open because after all, he wanted to go in to the city. Made perfect sense to me!
Michel
Michel-When will you write about a forgotten book for us?
I will include a note on the summing up.
I didn´t think van de Wetering would be my taste, but those curlers... I´ll have to remember him when I go to the library.
And no, I think pink curlers are - mercifully - forgotten.
They are still worn here and frequently make an appearance during daylight hours.
K
http://kevintipplescorner.blogspot.com/
Milton will remain in the hospital over the weekend. Nothing is life threatening, but there is an issue that needs to be resolved.
I know this is really vague, but I am not sure how much I can safely say right now.
I am slow today thanks to another one of my falls yesterday. More on the blog but suffice it to say, stairs are not my friend.
I am told our man Milton will be paroled tomorrow and back home from the hospital. I'm told he is doing much better and can't wait to get home.
Patti,
I'll be thinking about forgotten books and maybe one day surprise you.
Michel
Great, Michel. Anytime.
As of 3pm Texas time today, Milton has written in a brief e-mail that he is waiting for one more doctor to make his rounds so that he can go home.
Based on some e-mails I have gotten from Milton tonight, I think he is back home. He has not answered the question outright, but he is back e-mail wise and offering observations on this and that.
Milton is back home.
Post a Comment