The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
This week we’re reading 7/10
While the start of the year may not be everyone’s favourite time, there is something to make these dreary winter months more bearable. With the majority of us keeping a careful eye on our purse strings, one hardly needs an excuse to stay in but if you do then I always find the cold dark nights provide the perfect backdrop for reading a good thriller such as this week’s book, A Death In Rembrandt Square by Anja De Jager.
In Amsterdam, a local podcast gains popularity in investigating and thereby casting doubt on the outcome of an old murder case.
Detective Lotte Meerman, a lead investigator on the case, had no doubt that the right person was caught when Ruud Klaver was sentenced for the crime but just as the podcast casts doubts on Klaver’s guilt, he is killed in a seemingly organised hit and run. Soon Meerman finds the past is coming back to haunt her as she is unwillingly drawn deeper into uncovering what really happened all those years ago.
A Death In Rembrandt Square is one of those thrillers that is the perfect blend of gritty and puzzling without becoming too oppressive and bleak in nature. It is an enjoyable and easy read that isn’t too taxing but don’t let that mislead you – it is not a light-hearted novel.
De Jager excels in creating an atmospheric read and showcases Amsterdam as being the perfect setting for this murder mystery.
As the fourth instalment in the Meerman-based series, there isn’t much time spent introducing the character or her background, but there is enough presented to be convincing you don’t need to have read the previous books to get to grips with this protagonist and her distinctive characteristics.
This novel does well enough in presenting a few surprises yet, having read a lot of thrillers, I know first-hand that it takes something really special to stand out within the genre.
It is a good read but I don’t think unique enough to be memorable. Nonetheless, it’s still worth pursuing and provides that much-needed escapism that only a book can offer.
Review by Emma Reekie