Friday, July 12, 2013

A Clever Why-Done-It

A robbery in Ludovoic Degroof's exclusive jewelry store is a mystery. Nothing was taken. All the jewelry was dissolved into a bath of aqua regia, a solvent used to separate gold from base metals. The mystery intensifies when an envelop is discovered bearing an unusual square composed of Latin words.

Assistant Commissioner Van In suspects that revenge is the motive. However, Degroof wants the investigation halted. Van In is sent on enforced leave, but when Degroof's grandson is kidnapped, he's suddenly back in charge assisted by the very attractive Deputy Martens.

Degroof now wants no expense spared to find his grandson. The abductors have made an unusual demand. Van In is convinced Degroof knows the identity of the kidnappers and hopes to use that information to find the boy.

Usually, I don't like mysteries where we know who the perpetrators are, but this one is very cleverly done. You know who, but all the fun is finding out why. The characters, particularly Van In and Martens, are well drawn. They are obviously interested in each other which makes for romantic repartée.

If you like a good mystery, I highly recommend this book. The plot is fast paced and the characters actually do detective work to solve the mystery.

I reviewed this book for Net Galley.



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