From Bruges with Love by Pieter Aspe

Hugo Vermast was trying to get what most everyone wanted, even in Belgium - a home with some real estate in the country for he and his small family. He found a place outside of Bruges and was in the process of a renovation. Bought it from a Flemish foundation that took in locals down on their luck. 

Hugo’s kids are exploring the property when the daughter, Tine, proudly displays her latest find. a bone, a big one, too that appears to have been in the ground for a long time. The cops are called and one of the chief detectives, Pieter Van In, his gay partner Guido Versavel, and chief prosecutor Hannlore Martens (and Van In’s pregnant wife) are called in to investigate. 

Tough case. Not really a cold case but certainly not a fresh case. Have to identify the remains, determine the cause of death, and then figure out the goings on for the property some 30 years before. That should give some clues about the victim. Walk in the park. 

The convoluted trail winds from Bruges to a prostitution ring for highly visible bastions of government and industry, laundered money, human trafficking, government coverups, and under the table reconstructive surgery. 

This is my second Van In book by Aspe, both of which are based in and around Bruges. It’s been a while since reading the first book and it took me a little while to get reacquainted with the characters and Aspe’s writing style. Didn't take long before I eagerly jumped in with both feet following Pieter and Hanna’s impending birth as well as Pieter’s investigation. He has the reputation as a top cop not above stepping beyond the bounds of legal investigation, even a simple version of waterboarding, to get the necessary information. 

Some of the best scenes are when Van In is questioning witnesses and suspects and would make terrific theater; think Tom Cruise vs. Jack Nicholson in A Few Good Men. Given TV and Hollywood’s fascination with mysteries by European authors, producers would be wise to consider the character of Pieter Van In. 

Take note, Hollywood.

From Bruges With Love is slated to be released in the US on July 7, 2015.

ECD

The Square of Revenge by Pieter Aspe

Another one of those mysteries by a European author. Splashed across the title is “The #1 International Bestseller.” Like I haven’t seen that before and been disappointed.

Not this time.

Family secrets and the quest for revenge based on a decades-old wrong are at the core of this fascinating tale. Set in the gorgeous medieval town of Bruges, Belgium, a prominent jewelry store has been broken into. But nothing has been stolen. Rather, all the jewelry has been melted down, leaving a fortune of stones in large far of acid. Looks like someone doesn’t like the owner and is trying to make a point. Only clue is a bizarre puzzle:

ROTAS

OPERA

TENET

AREPO

SATOR

Bruges Police Inspector Van In gets the case. Looks like in Belgium, the prosecutor is called in right from the start and for this crime, Van In will have to work not only with a rookie, but with a woman (apparently this is rare over there).

Then, member of the jeweler’s family get the same strange puzzle. And we learn about the rise and fall of a prominent family connected to the crime. And an equally strange kidnapping where the ransom is for the parent to publically burn their art collection.

OK, I see why this was a “#1 International BestSsller!” I thought it had a very clever plot, a flawed but nonetheless highly interesting inspector in Van In (sort of reminded me of Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch), a developing attraction between Van In and the new prosecutor (and it’s hard not to root for them to get together), and a very interesting conclusion that I sure didn’t see coming. Aspe’s other Van In mystery (in English) is called The Midas Murders and I’m going to make it a point to find it.

ECD