Dive into the shadowy alleys of Amsterdam, where every corner conceals a secret and every clue unravels a new mystery. This series follows a sharp-witted inspector as he relentlessly pursues justice in complex cases. Experience the vibrant pulse of the city alongside its darker undercurrents through gripping crime narratives.
A body is found hanging on a hook above the canals of Amsterdam's old town, a mobile phone forced into the victim's mouth. In a remote coastal village, a doll lies in the ashes of a burnt-down house. But the couple who died in the fire had no children of their own. Did a little girl escape the blaze? And, if so, who is she and where is she now?
A woman is pushed in front of a train by a man in police uniform. And a body is left on a rooftop, its hands scorched and head missing. Another day in Amsterdam: Western Europe's murder capital.The killer announces to the world that this is merely the beginning. The man tasked with stopping the bodycount is Inspector Jaap Rykel.But as Jaap searches the beheaded body for clues as to its identity, what he finds makes his blood run cold. Why on earth are there pictures of himself - and his home - saved on the victim's phone...?
A body is found, victim's head wrapped in cling film, hands tied behind her back. The small island's police force needs help from Amsterdam's Murder Squad - and veteran detective Inspector Jaap Rykel. His investigation swiftly identifies a suspect, who easily hands himself over. But the killer has no history of violence, no motive, and no connection to the victim. On the other side of the country, a similar murder - and confession - is reported and Rykel wonders if these are random senseless acts, or something far darker...? Rykel must walk a thin line between spotting patterns no one wants to see, and a sinister, sprawling case which threatens to consume everything in its path... *** Praise for Jake Woodhouse: 'A gripping detective novel ... Utterly unputdownable' Sun 'A strong sense of place matched by storytelling that keeps the plot accelerating' Daily Mail 'Utterly enthralling ... Looks set to be one of the key sequences in modern crime fiction' Barry Forshaw, Crimetime 'Taut, expertly woven and beautifully written. In Inspector Jaap Rykel, Woodhouse has created a flawed gem' Craig Robertson 'As dark and twisty as the Amsterdam it navigates' Stav Sherez 'Does for Amsterdam why Rankin did for Edinburgh' Crime Thriller Hound 'Dark, claustrophobic and non-stop' Crime Review ' A cracking cops 'n' robbers story with a deep, dark heart. You will be gripped ... he writes like an established master' Crime Fiction Lover 'Claustrophobic, disturbing and utterly thrilling' Crime Squad 'Complex, intriguing, keeps the reader hooked' Eurocrime