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By A.C. Baantjer

Inspector DeKok Books

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Cover for DeKok and the Somber Nude

DeKok, a veteran Amsterdam police detective, investigates the mysterious disappearance of a young woman

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Cover for DeKok and the Sorrowing Tomcat

Albert Cornelis Baantjer is the Netherland's most widely read author and his hero DeKok is adored and highly praised. The cases DeKok faces are so real that sometimes he and his creator are thought to be the same person since Baantjer worked as a homicide detective in Amsterdam for twenty-five years. In this latest adventure to make it over seas, DeKok investigates the murder of a young conman with whom he used to deal. On the sand dunes that protect the low lands of the Netherlands, an early morning jogger makes a gruesome discovery-the body of a man with a dagger protruding from his back. The corpse of Peter Geffel, better known as "Cunning" Pete, is identified, but the local police cannot find any clues. When the call goes out to notify other jurisdictions of the discovery, Homicide Detective DeKok feels drawn to the case because he knew the victim. Along with his inseparable side-kick Vledder, DeKok searches the city of Amsterdam for answers. Soon there is another corpse and, unlikely as it may seem, the killing of Cunning Pete is connected to a killing in higher social circles. With his usual laconic style, Baantjer brings readers another sterling entry in the series and paints a fascinating portrait of the Netherlands along the way.

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Cover for DeKok and the Mask of Death

“Baantjer’s laconic, rapid-fire storytelling has spun out a surprisingly complex web of mysteries.”— Kirkus Reviews “DeKok is a careful, compassionate policeman in the tradition of Maigret; crime fans will enjoy this book.”— Library Journal In this next book in the popular Inspector DeKok Investigates series, a strange incident leads DeKok to discover the disappearance of a woman from an Amsterdam hospital. Upon further investigation, he is surprised to find that three more women have disappeared in the same mysterious way. The seasoned detective soon finds himself following a trail with many twists and turns, losing his way many times but relying on his usual dogged determination and sharp observation to see him through. Speck Press is translating and releasing for the first time in the United States all sixty volumes of the Inspector DeKok Investigates series, more than five million copies of which have been sold in the Netherlands and beyond. The riveting mysteries have achieved a large following among readers in Europe and inspired a popular television series, and they continue to receive much international acclaim. A. C. Baantjer is the most widely read author in the Netherlands. A former detective inspector of the Amsterdam police, his fictional characters reflect the depth and personality of individuals encountered during his thirty-eight-year career in law enforcement. Baantjer holds the honor of being knighted by the Dutch monarchy.

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Cover for DeKok and Murder on the Menu

Text: English (translation) Original Language: Dutch

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Het is Kerstnacht als een surveillerende agent een lijk in de Amsterdamse Herengracht ziet drijven. Bij de sectie blijkt ze niet alleen gewurgd, maar ook zwanger te zijn. 'Stille getuigen' uit het gevonden tasje van de vermoorde wijzen in de richting van twee mannen die een rol in haar leven gespeeld hebben. De verloofde kan de moord niet gepleegd hebben, maar wie is de tweede man? Om nog iets aan zijn vrije Kerstdagen te hebben wil De Cock de zaak snel afhandelen.

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Cover for DeKok and the Disillusioned Corpse

Text: English (translation) Original Language: Dutch

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Cover for DeKok and the Dead Harlequin

Another page-turner in the critically acclaimed Inspector DeKok series.

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Cover for DeKok and the Romantic Murder

Text: English (translation) Original Language: Dutch

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Cover for DeKok and the Careful Killer

Text: English (translation) Original Language: Dutch

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Cover for DeKok and the Brothers of the Easy Death

Text: English (translation) Original Language: Dutch

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Cover for DeKok and the Corpse at the Church Wall

DeKok investigates the death of an eccentric millionaire, Archibald Manefeldt, who enjoyed masquerading as workers and vagrants

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Cover for DeKok and the Dancing Death

Text: English (translation) Original Language: Dutch

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Cover for DeKok and the Naked Lady

Amsterdam Municipal Police Detective-Inspector DeKok receives an anonymous invitation to a funeral, and while there, finds a card on his windshield advertising a sex theater with a note telling him to ask for the naked lady, and as he investigates he finds evidence of a serial killer at work

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Cover for DeKok and the Dying Stroller

Text: English (translation) Original Language: Dutch

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Cover for DeKok and the Deadly Accord

When DeKok volunteers to help a friend, an ex-burglar, whose daughter is suspected of having killed her husband, he does not realize that he will soon be faced with one of the darkest conspiracies of his long career. A second murdered husband is found in the construction area of the Amsterdam Metro and the solution seems near. Searching and testing, sometimes with tired feet, DeKok progresses through the labyrinth of facts and events and finally, he wins through to a surprising denouement.

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Cover for DeKok and Murder in Seance

During the weekly seance in the house of blind Jennifer Jordan, an excellent medium, one of the female visitors falls off her chair. Dead. Jennifer had felt the tension around her, the vibrations of lusts and strong emotions. Something was happening around her, something dramatic, gruesome. Is it the angry spirit of a deceased, bent on revenge, or is one of those present a murderer? Inspector DeKok looks for the murderer among the living, because, he says: "Dead people are in heaven, or in hell, and I've never yet seen a murderer come from either direction."

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Cover for DeKok and Murder in Ecstasy

Text: English (translation) Original Language: Dutch

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Cover for DeKok and the Begging Death

Verbuggen, a wealthy banker has been receiving letters that hint at the kidnapping of his only grandchild. The mystery unfolds in old Western Church during the child's baptism. Vebruggen has arranged for DeKik to be one of the spectators. After the ceremony, a woman's fainting sets off an almost gothic chain of events for DeKik to sort through.

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Cover for DeKok and Murder by Installment

“Shrewd, compassionate, and dedicated, DeKok makes a formidable opponent for criminals and a worthwhile competitor for the attention of Simenon’s Maigret fans.”— Library Journal “It’s easy to understand the appeal of Amsterdam police detective DeKok; he hides his intelligence behind a phlegmatic demeanor, like an old dog that lazes by the fireplace and only shows his teeth when the house is threatened.”— Los Angeles Times Although at first it seemed to be a case for the narcotics division, this latest crime soon evolves into a series of sinister and almost impossible murders. Never before have inspectors DeKok and his partner Vledder been so involved in a case in which murder, drug smuggling, and child prostitution are almost daily occurrences. Blackmail enters the picture, and bodies continue to be found. DeKok even finds himself allowing one of the suspects in the serial crimes to go free. To darken the days a bit more, in the past a single murder used to dominate the front pages of the newspapers for weeks, but now they get maybe four or six lines on page fourteen, third column, near the bottom. Death has become commonplace in the news, but never for DeKok.

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Het is Kerstnacht als een surveillerende agent een lijk in de Amsterdamse Herengracht ziet drijven. Bij de sectie blijkt ze niet alleen gewurgd, maar ook zwanger te zijn. 'Stille getuigen' uit het gevonden tasje van de vermoorde wijzen in de richting van twee mannen die een rol in haar leven gespeeld hebben. De verloofde kan de moord niet gepleegd hebben, maar wie is de tweede man? Om nog iets aan zijn vrije Kerstdagen te hebben wil De Cock de zaak snel afhandelen.

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Een aantal identieke moorden op jonge vrouwen in eersteklas treincoupés stelt De Cock en zijn adjudant voor een raadsel.

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Binnen het eerbiedwaardige Oudheidkundig Genootschap van de Klokbekers heersen middeleeuwse toestanden en heidense gebruiken. De leden weten door hun gesloten optreden nieuwsgierige blikken van buitenstaanders te weren, totdat een gerenommeerd lid vermoord wordt aangetroffen onder de Muiderpoort van Amsterdam. In zijn rug steekt een merkwaardig en kostbaar bronzen mes. Rechercheur De Cock dringt met zijn ijverige assistent Vledder binnen in het Genootschap van de Klokbekers, op zoek als zij zijn naar de moordenaar. Het lijkt alsof het aantal verdachten met de dag toeneemt.

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Cover for DeKok and the Geese of Death

“DeKok’s maverick personality certainly makes him a compassionate judge of other outsiders and an astute analyst of antisocial behavior.”— The New York Times Book Review “Baantjer has created an odd police detective who roams Amsterdam interacting with the widest possible range of antisocial types. This series is the answer to an insomniac’s worst fears.”— The Boston Globe “Baantjer’s laconic, rapid-fire storytelling has spun out a surprisingly complex web of mysteries.”— Kirkus Reviews “DeKok is a careful, compassionate policeman in the -tradition of Maigret; crime fans will enjoy this . . .” — Library Journal “It’s easy to understand the appeal of Amsterdam police detective DeKok.”— The Los Angeles Times Renowned mystery author A.C. Baantjer brings to life Inspector DeKok in another stirring potboiler full of suspenseful twists and unusual conclusions. In The Geese of Death , DeKok takes on Igor Stablinsky, a man accused of bludgeoning a wealthy old man and his wife. To DeKok’s unfailing eye the killing urge is visibly present in the suspect during questioning, but did he commit this particular crime? All signs point to one of the few remaining estates in Holland. The answer lies within a strange family, suspicions of incest, deadly geese and a horrifying mansion. Baantjer’s perceptive style brings to light the essences of his characters, touching his audience with subtle wit and irony. A.C. Baantjer is one of the most widely read authors in the Netherlands. A former detective inspector of the Amsterdam Police, his fictional characters reflect the depth and personality of individuals encountered during his 38-year career in law enforcement.

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Wanneer een lid van het Oudheidkundig Genootschap van de Klokbekers vermoord wordt gevonden, worden De Cock en Vledder met het onderzoek belast. Binnen het eerbiedwaardige Oudheidkundig Genootschap van de Klokbekers heersen middeleeuwse toestanden en heidense gebruiken. De leden weten door hun gesloten optreden nieuwsgierige blikken van buitenstaanders te weren, totdat een gerenommeerd lid vermoord wordt aangetroffen onder de Muiderpoort van Amsterdam. In zijn rug steekt een merkwaardig en kostbaar bronzen mes. Rechercheur De Cock dringt met zijn ijverige assistent Vledder binnen in het Genootschap van de Klokbekers, op zoek als zij zijn naar de moordenaar. Het lijkt alsof het aantal verdachten met de dag toeneemt.

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Cover for DeKok and Murder on Blood Mountain

“Shrewd, compassionate, and dedicated, DeKok makes a formidable opponent for criminals and a worthwhile competitor for the attention of Simenon’s Maigret fans.”— Library Journal The trail of a recent crime leads Inspector DeKok to Bloedberg (Blood Mountain), Belgium, a neighborhood in Antwerp. It seems a man was fished from the Scheldt River, and DeKok has been summoned to help with the investigation. At a funeral back in Amsterdam, things are just as murky as the corpse’s river when DeKok discovers a man among the mourners who has been officially dead for at least two years. Events further darken DeKok’s view of the case when the widow of the recently buried victim files a complaint of forgery; her deceased husband’s bank account has been emptied. DeKok soon finds himself drawn back to Bloedberg, amidst one of the most bizarre and cunning crime syndicates the old, gray sleuth has faced yet. A.C. Baantjer is the most widely read author in the Netherlands. A former detective inspector of the Amsterdam police, his fictional characters reflect the depth and personality of individuals encountered during his thirty-eight-year career in law enforcement. He was recently knighted by the Dutch monarchy.

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Cover for DeKok and the Death of a Clown

“Shrewd, compassionate, and dedicated, DeKok makes a formidable opponent for criminals and a worthwhile competitor for the attention of Simenon’s Maigret fans.”— Library Journal “It’s easy to understand the appeal of Amsterdam police detective DeKok; he hides his intelligence behind a phlegmatic demeanor, like an old dog that lazes by the fireplace and only shows his teeth when the house is threatened.”— Los Angeles Times While investigating a high-stakes jewel theft, Inspector DeKok is called to check out the death of a clown found floating in a raft down the canal, an enormous knife protruding from its back. Without the slightest trace, a unique, antique jewel collection disappears from a house along the Gentlemen’s Canal. As DeKok begins the investigation, his assistant, Vledder, receives a call regarding a dead clown at the foot of Crier’s Tower. The connection of the crimes initially eludes him, but DeKok’s profession, his calling, pushes him toward the answer. DeKok and the Death of a Clown is the third new release by Speck in the celebrated Baantjer series. With an emphasis on the best possible translations, editorial consistency, and attractive cover art, this sleek series will prove that DeKok can claim success equal to that achieved in Europe, where he is on a par with Maigret and Poirot. A.C. Baantjer is the most widely read author in the Netherlands. A former detective inspector of the Amsterdam police, his fictional characters reflect the depth and personality of individuals encountered during his 38-year career in law enforcement. He was recently knighted by the Dutch monarchy for his lifetime achievements.

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Cover for DeKok and Murder by Melody

“Death,” observes DeKok, “is entitled to our respect. Especially when it manifests itself in a violent manner.” The phenomenon of sudden death has long intrigued Inspector DeKok. From the moment he confronted his first corpse, at the beginning of a very long career, he knew it was never going to get any easier. The numbness will never set in even after solving many mysteries, bringing to light many dark dealings, and unraveling many a puzzle. For DeKok, death will always remain an enigma. Mustering his decorated experience and reverence for the dead once more, a triple murder in the Amsterdam Concert Gebouw has DeKok unveiling the truth behind two dead ex-junkies and their housekeeper. Murder By Melody is the second new release by Speck Press in the celebrated Baantjer series. With an emphasis on the best possible translations, editorial consistency, and attractive cover art, this sleek series will prove that DeKok can claim success equal to that achieved in Europe where he is on a par with Maigret and Poirot.

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Cover for DeKok and the Dead Lovers

Inspector DeKok and his partner, Vledder, are ordered to protect a millionaire's art treasures, exhibited during a special showing in Amsterdam. Barely recovered from the shock of witnessing the treasures' owner verbally abuse an old lady, the two detectives are called away to a nearby building to help prevent the execution of a young man chained to the pipes of the central heating system. That same night, a priceless silver jug is stolen from the exhibition. Readers face, at first, a jigsaw puzzle of more-than-usual difficulty, then slowly see a mathematically precise course of events. As with all of A. C. Baantjer's books, nothing is ever what it seems and there is never such a thing as an isolated incident. DeKok's investigations always deliver a chain reaction of events with dead ends, winding paths, and surprising endings.

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Cover for DeKok and Variations on Murder

Rockabilly endures, lives, and thrives due to the great devotion that the members of this culture lay at its cuffed-dungaree-pearl-buttoned-cardigan-sweater altar. Defined in the 1950s, evolving over the decades, rockabilly has slipped into various cultural niches and displayed its musical and fashionable wares on many a group from purist to psychobilly. Most recently disaffected punks, Japanese hipsters, and Latino youth make up the largest growing contingency. And there’s no denying the smooth crossover with the neo-country scene. With more than 100 photos and illustrations, Rockabilly revels in revealing the history, music, conventions, dress, hangouts, and overall modern lifestyle of this timeless movement. It is a cinch to see why so many claim rockabilly as their cultural calling. Kurt Ohlen is a rockabilly musician, DJ, promoter and record company owner (Big-K Productions). He lives, teaches and rocks in Denver, Colorado with his wife and children. Eric Peterson is a full-time writer. He has numerous books to his credit and writes regularly for magazines, journals and newspapers on a variety of subjects including music, trends, travel and business.

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