ISBN: 0-7887-3106-8 Order from: Recorded Books
A quirky, slightly surreal mystery of wit, philisophy and pleasure, full of action and colorful, exaggerated characters.
Reviewed by David on April 06, 2002
Genre: Mystery
Synopsis: This is an unabridged recording of The Perfidous Parrot. Henk Grijpstra and Rinus De Gier once worked as investigators in Amsterdam police.
Having pocketed a large sum of money, the two colleagues have retired to a life of leisure. To invent a source of income, they have opened a detective agency. The "detectives", however, do not actually seek work, and when a shady oil dealer offers them a large commission to recover a missing load of crude oil, even the enticing mystery of apparent piracy on the high seas is not enough to make Grijpstra want to work.
However, the dealer insists, and after putting considerable pressure on the two detectives, and their retired mentor the Commissaris, he gets his way.
The detectives travel over several seamy sites in the Carribean, running into several villains and some good people, and wondering about justice and the meaning of life.
Full Review: The somewhat surreal adventures by van de Wetering are enjoyable and funny, even if weak on plot. The wondering detectives encounter colorful characters, amid a style that combines biting sarcasm and an almost naïve optimism. Many conversations inevitably end up discussing jazz or the meaning of life. The mysteries are all solved, and justice inevitably prevails, although the definition of justice, and the means of achieving it are more than a bit skewed.
This book, as are the others in the series, is enjoyable and witty. The mystery is rather weak, and is not the main emphasis of the story, however, readers who enjoy dark humor, intelligence and a sense of the rediculous with touches of sensual pleasure will probably like this book.
Overall: 5.5; Plot: 4.5; Characters: 6; Style: 6; World-building: 5.5; Originality: 6;
Copyright date 1997, Recorded Books, 1999, Audio cassette, 6 cassettes
ISBN: 0-7887-3106-8 Order from: Recorded Books