Van der Valk never disappoints and Freeling has an incredible gift for dialogue, audible and interior. This book is written from Van der Valk's point of view and then from that of Dr. Van der Post, the "criminal," who under his carefully massaged facade turns out to be Van der Valk's "semblable et frère." It's a real page-turner until we get to Van der Post's letter to Van der Valk, which drags somewhat about halfway through (until then, this was 5 stars for me). Despite this, however, the letter sheds light on Van der Post's psyche and the ending is a cracking good one. Freeling's brush paints pretentiousness with a few quick sardonic strokes and gives us an excellent peephole into spotlessly stultifying Amsterdam society.
Van der Valk series, set in Amsterdam. Van der Valk has some appeal as a character, but I didn't find this book very interesting. It was, I think, trying to be a psycho-drama, and didn't quite make it. There is no mystery, only a rather sordid tangle of supposedly high-status people and a few low ones. The first half of the book is third person, mostly from Van der Valk's pov; the second half is first person by one of the characters. In this case I don't think the change of narrators worked very well. It seemed disjointed and incoherent.
What do You think about Criminal Conversation (1981)?
Criminal Conversation is the fifth novel in the Commissaris Van Der Valk series by author Nicholas Freeling. Commissaris Van Der Valk receives a off the record complaint from a banker that a notorious blackmailer may have been murdered by a Doctor that he was attempting to blackmail. The banker contacts Van Der Valk so he can prove that the banker's wife was not involved. As he investigates Van Der Valk realizes that the man is guilty but has no proof.The book is titled Criminal Conversation and that is precisely what it is. The book is a conversation between Van Der Valk and his main suspect. It is structured that way.Read the full review here
—The Crime Scene Scene
