Another one of those mysteries by a European author.
Splashed across the title is “The #1 International Bestseller.” Like I haven’t
seen that before and been disappointed.
Not this time.
Family secrets and the quest for revenge based on a
decades-old wrong are at the core of this fascinating tale. Set in the gorgeous
medieval town of Bruges, Belgium, a prominent jewelry store has been broken
into. But nothing has been stolen. Rather, all the jewelry has been melted
down, leaving a fortune of stones in large far of acid. Looks like someone
doesn’t like the owner and is trying to make a point. Only clue is a bizarre
puzzle:
ROTAS
OPERA
TENET
AREPO
SATOR
Bruges Police Inspector Van In gets the case. Looks like in
Belgium, the prosecutor is called in right from the start and for this crime,
Van In will have to work not only with a rookie, but with a woman (apparently
this is rare over there).
Then, member of the jeweler’s family get the same strange
puzzle. And we learn about the rise and fall of a prominent family connected to
the crime. And an equally strange kidnapping where the ransom is for the parent
to publically burn their art collection.
OK, I see why this was a “#1 International BestSsller!” I
thought it had a very clever plot, a flawed but nonetheless highly interesting
inspector in Van In (sort of reminded me of Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch), a
developing attraction between Van In and the new prosecutor (and it’s hard not
to root for them to get together), and a very interesting conclusion that I
sure didn’t see coming. Aspe’s other Van In mystery (in English) is called The
Midas Murders and I’m going to make it a point to find it.
ECD
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