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3.21 AVERAGE
3.21 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The translation to English was choppy and mediocre. Idioms weren’t translated well from Flemish to English. The story is good with interesting twists, but I wish the publisher had some native English speakers read the translation and make suggestions before going to print.
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Perhaps some things were lost in translation but I think mainly this book has not aged well. Writing the villain with a disability, and so much sexism with a little bonus homophobia thrown in, and a Knights Templar connection all felt like tropes from another time. Read to fulfill part of the 2025 Read Around the World challenge because it’s a Belgian book by a Belgian author, otherwise it would likely have been a DNF.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Incest, Rape
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is by a Belgian author and set in the early 1990's Belgium, mostly within the city of Bruges. As an English speaker and thus not having grown up in Belgium I'm missing a lot of the way things work, or worked, in Belgium when it comes to the police and the whole legal process. It's not the same as Australia. Therefore, there was a bit confusing at times.
Especially when it comes to the main character, Pieter Van In, and exactly where he fits into the whole police structure. But he is given the job of investigating, but very quietly, a robbery where nothing was stolen. The jewellery was dissolved. But because he doesn't exactly follow orders he is sidelined and the case is shelved, which is what was wanted in the first place. Because, running in the background are political machinations due to an upcoming election. No one seems to be interested in the robbery as they are more concerned about what they can get on the opposing side of politics. Pieter Van In is in the middle of these games.
Things change when a kid kidnapped. It's all connected to the one family.
This is the first book in a 44 book series and was published in the mid 90's and it show's as not everyone is carrying a mobile and things are done much slower as communications are slower. Despite the confusing it was mildly enjoyable.
Especially when it comes to the main character, Pieter Van In, and exactly where he fits into the whole police structure. But he is given the job of investigating, but very quietly, a robbery where nothing was stolen. The jewellery was dissolved. But because he doesn't exactly follow orders he is sidelined and the case is shelved, which is what was wanted in the first place. Because, running in the background are political machinations due to an upcoming election. No one seems to be interested in the robbery as they are more concerned about what they can get on the opposing side of politics. Pieter Van In is in the middle of these games.
Things change when a kid kidnapped. It's all connected to the one family.
This is the first book in a 44 book series and was published in the mid 90's and it show's as not everyone is carrying a mobile and things are done much slower as communications are slower. Despite the confusing it was mildly enjoyable.
funny
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes