Synopsis/blurb……
In the latest Harbour
Master story, maverick Amsterdam cop Henk van der Pol roves further afield, to
Rotterdam, Antwerp and Brussels – investigating a maze-like set of cases
involving diamonds, fine art, drugs and high-class prostitution. What connects
the cases, and what risks must Henk run to uncover the criminals? Impeding him
is his rival and boss Joost, who has an equal but quite separate interest in
the investigation’s outcome. Upon discovering the connection between the cases,
Henk must confront challenges at a higher and more dangerous level of the Dutch
state.
"Pembrey is a
master of short form fiction. His snappy dialogue, tight plots and varied
European settings guarantee a fast, enjoyable read that is hard to put
down."
Paul Pilkington,
author of the bestselling Emma Holden series (Hodder & Stoughton)
I read and enjoyed Daniel
Pembrey’s earlier Harbour Master
novella back in May. Our return visit sees Henk under pressure from above. He
has a bit of a persecution complex going on with his boss. Hey – just because
you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they’re not out to get you! His relationship with
his wife seems solid though at times she’s not impressed by continually taking
second place to the job. His connection to his daughter and her new Russian
boyfriend, seems as difficult as previously. Nadia does have time for him, but
only when she is after something in return.
We begin when Rem Lottman, a Dutch politician who moves and
shakes it in EU circles in Brussels, calls in a favour from Henk. He wants him
to smooth any difficulties when a Ghanaian diplomat enters the country,
avoiding any custom’s scrutiny. Henk agrees in the belief that he can use
Lottman’s influence later to get Joost off his back and recover some measure of
control over his investigative unit.
As before we have a fast paced narrative with a lot going on…….stolen
art work, smuggled diamonds, a dead Norwegian diplomat, a beaten prostitute, a Ukrainian
biker gang, an old-school Dutch crime lord living on a boat and harvesting a
£30 mill cannabis crop, politicians, corruption, military police…… to mention
just a few strands.
Satisfying how much Pembrey packs into the tale in a short
period of time – 100 odd pages, whilst still allowing our main man a life
outside of his job. Character depth is important otherwise I have little interest
in the outcome. Pembrey delivers again!
I can’t see that our author will endear himself to the
Amsterdam tourist board with his depiction of this Dutch city! It worked for me
though.
4 from 5
My review of the earlier Harbour Master tale is here. There’s a third installment entitled Ransom due out in December. I have
already pre-ordered my copy.
Daniel Pembrey’s
website is here.
I received my copy of this from the author in return for an
honest review.
I remember your review of the earlier book, will get to this series sometime, I do like the idea of the Amsterdam setting.
ReplyDeleteMaybe he will combine the three installments into one e-book? Worth a look if he does, or just bite the bullet and hop on board now! I liked it and have some of his other stuff non-Amsterdam to look at.
DeleteCol - Glad you enjoyed this one. I remember your earlier review and thinking at the time that I ought to try this. I need to read more Dutch crime fiction.
ReplyDeleteI've read very little myself. One van der Valk which I didn't particularly enjoy and Daniel Pembrey who seems to be more to my taste.
DeleteNovella length does sound good. Definitely worth a try. But got to get through some books I already have first.
ReplyDeleteI hope you like this if you give it a try. Long enough to get a taste of his writing and developed enough so the main character has some depth.
DeleteI envy your resolve in not submitting to the temptation though.
Col, that's one eye-catching cover. Amsterdam, from what I have read about it in newspapers and online, can throw up all kinds of possibilities in fiction. It can be an interesting setting for a novel and the author seems to have hit all the right notes in this book.
ReplyDeletePrashant, my son visited earlier this year with one of his friends. I'd like to take a trip there in the near future (next year or two) with my wife. For now I'll have to settle for reading about it.
Delete