Outsider in Amsterdam

This book was alot of fun to read. The unique chemistry between detectives Grijpstra and de Gier is so humorous and clever. Mystery lovers should absolutely try to get started in this series. The only negative quality about this book is the sexism that occasionally appears but really has to be forgiven since it was written about 30 years ago.

This book follows two Amsterdam detectives, as they investigate a hanging, reflect on their lives and other matters, make fun of each other, and try to keep hard drugs off Amsterdam. The fine line between hash and heroin is explored, and this might make the book interesting to readers from the U.S. or other countries where marijuana is criminalized like hard drugs.The construction of the dialog and the characters' thought-trains is outstanding. De Gier's jokes at Grijpstra by themselves make the read worthwhile. Both characters are drawn as very, very human. You follow their thoughts and simple motives and ordinary lives, and you can't help loving them.The only character that doesn't ring quite true is the Outsider himself, the person from Papua New Guinea; he seems somewhat superhuman. However, this character is drawn with great respect, from the author, as well as from the detectives' point of view. I found it quite charming, the European author and his European characters dealing with an extraordinary character from their former colony.Before ending the review, I can't resist quoting some of the thoughts of our cop friends. Hiding in a bush in dog poop waiting to catch a good-looking drug dealer, de Gier thinks to himself: "I hope he attacks me. I'll trip him up and break his nose. That beautiful nose in the handsome face. He can bleed a little this time." Then he catches his errant thoughts and thinks: "but I'll only go for him if he provokes me."Explaining why he's leaving a beautiful woman, de Gier says to his three superior officers, in a dejected voice: "She wants me to leave my cat." The superiors laugh. Grijpstra the family man, 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." (My evil self thinks: Ha! Any man who lived with a woman will understand that one!)Grijpstra, at a Chinese restaurant looking at a nervous Chinese waiter, probably an illegal immigrant, thinks: "I wonder what he's hiding? No papers, that's for sure. And a friend of the criminal Lee Fong. Perhaps I should drop a hint at the Aliens department." And then he thinks: "Perhaps not. There's enough trouble in the world."Vivid and realistic characters, very pleasant novel!

A thoroughly engaging and well-written mystery. The first in a series of mysteries pairing Amsterdam detectives Grijpstra & DeGier, this novel enchants and hooks the reader from the very beginning. The story is first class and will be enjoyed by lovers of the genre, but it's the interaction and dialogue between the two protagonists that makes this book such a gem. At times philosophers and often humorous, these characters are a welcome addition to the readers' life and the good news is: there's more where this comes from. Check it (them) out and you won't be disappointed. Highly Recommended for those who enjoy mysteries and top-quality literature in general.

If you appreciate fiction that exposes you to nonfiction aspects of foreign cultures, you will like these books. For example, if you liked the Sjowall/Wahloo Swedish mysteries, you'll like this series, too. (Just as "deep" analyzing human existence via crime, but not so dark -- in part because Stockholm in the 70's was socialist gray, and Amsterdam was a lot more colorful!) Similarly, if you like Melville's Japanese mysteries, you'll like this series. (If it *has* to be about Japan, get this author's book "Inspector Saito's Small Satori" instead.)Normally I hate reviews that summarize, but since the editorial review above just says "launching Cahners series", here is an excerpt from the flyleaf of the original 1975 printing:"... here is the first of a delightful new series of detective novels by a Dutch writer who combines a background in Zen philosophy with his experience on the Amsterdam police force. The owner of a sleazy restaurant-cum-commune in the old quarter of Amsterdam is dead; his body hangs from a rafter, at first glance a suicide, at second a murder. The police call in Detective Grijpstra, a mild-mannered, middle-aged family man with tired feet and a bemused soul, and his partner, de Gier, a bachelor with a philosophical turn of mind who shares his modish apartment with a wayward Siamese cat and occasion such women as are not allergic to it. The clues are plentiful enough to be puzzling and lead to a juicy variety of suspects and helpers including a native Papuan -- former member of the Dutch Constabulary in New Guinea, the 'outsider' of the title. The plot is as full of unexpected twists and turns as Amsterdam itself, the climax is exciting, and the conclusion will surprise and satisfy connoisseurs of detective fiction as well as loving observers of human nature."

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.