Because of the Cats (Penguin Crime Fiction)

Nicolas Freeling, who regrettably passed away in 2003 while still writing, has left us with some of the most intriguing crime novels ever written. For reasons best known to himself, but which have ended up delighting his readers, this English-born novelist chose to write stories based on the cases of a Dutch chief inspector called Van der Valk, or a French policeman named Henri Castang. Because of the Cats is a Van der Valk novel set in Amsterdam and the nearby suburb of Bloemendaal. As always, the novel concentrates on Van der Valk's thought processes as he muddles through to the solution of the crimes in his unorthodox fashion. As he does so, Freeling is quite happy to have him also examine certain facets of modern society such as, in this case, the effect of wealth on the children of busy, well-to-do parents. With his earthy approach to life on and off the streets and his innate understanding of some of the darker sides of human nature, Van der Valk not only never fails to "catch his man" (as is natural), but he also never fails to entertain us grandly, leaving us with much food for thought. That being said, he is not the easiest author (or detective) to read, and the level and intricacy of the language used provides yet another level of enjoyment for those willing to follow along. And by the time you reach the end of the book, you will understand that it was, indeed, because of the cats!

As someone who visits Amsterdam fairly often, this is a great way to soothe my homesickness for a place I truly love. Also a pretty damn good mystery!

Freeling's second novel, published in 1963, is up to the standards of his best books (King of a Rainy Country, Gun Before Butter, etc.). Well-written and well-conceived, Freeling remains one of my all-time favorite mystery writers.In this book, Van der Valk uncovers the very unlikely fact of a youth gang from the rich town of Bloemendaal. These teenagers are carrying out particularly vicious robberies in Amsterdam and leave their victim with only the mysterious words "the cats won't like it." To solve this particular mystery, Van Der Valk needs to get beneath the skin of a seemingly sleepy Dutch town to get at the rot that lies beneath.If you're a fan of Simenon or Durrenmatt, you should consider trying Nicolas Freeling.