The Dutchman

ISBN: 0-385-42603-8 Order from: Amazon.com

An interesting historical murder mystery, cumbersome due to the plodding, ponderous narration.

Reviewed by David on September 13, 1998

Synopsis: In 1664, the New World Dutch colony of New Amsterdam has been conquered by the British, and renamed New York. In the tense months before the take-over, a series of mysterious deaths and disappearances present Tonneman, the sheriff of the small but prosperous colony with a puzzling—and dangerous challenge. As he tries to cope with the demands of the labyrinthine investigation, the fears of English spies, the unreasonable demands of the militant governor, and the devastation of his recent widowing, Tonneman faces challenges not just to his professional reputation, but his life and heart.

Full Review: The Dutch settlers rarely present the sheriff with puzzling crimes: most of the problems are caused by drunken fights, contraband or illegal houses of ill repute. Therefore, it is not an easy task for Pieter Tonneman to investigate the deaths, over several months, of several men. Drinking heavily since his wife of more than twenty years died, for the last six months Tonneman can barely keep awake long enough to make his rounds.

However, when somebody tries to kill the sheriff, it becomes clear that the deaths were neither accidents nor drunken fights, but results of a cold, calculated series of crimes. Crimes possibly connected with the imminent English invasion.

The setting of this mystery novel is quite interesting: the very early years of New York, the political and mercantile intrigues, the tense but profitable relations with the Indians. However, partly due to the main character recovering from grief-induced drink binge, much of the book is spent plodding from one place to another, primarily concerned with drink, food and sleep. While perhaps representative of the point of view, it detracts from the pacing, and makes the reader feel nearly as hung-over as the protagonist. For much of the book, the sheriff appears to be an ineffectual and ponderous hero, and even the better pace of the latter half of the book, together with a romantic involvement, does not entirely recover the tone. The governor-general, while impressive, seems unusually childish and repetitive, adding little to the book. Only Racquel, the wife a missing man, and the surprisingly generous English, add some freshness to the stolid cast of characters.

Overall: 5.5; Plot: 6.5; Characters: 5.5; Style: 4; World-building: 6; Originality: 6;

ISBN: 0-385-42603-8 Order from: Amazon.com