Double Barrel Author:Nicolas Freeling The Procurer general summoned Inspector van der Valk of the Amsterdam Police to the Palace of Justice and told him he was to go to the town of Drente in the northeast corner of Holland. No one there was to know van der Valk's identity-- he was to pretend to be a tax inspector. Only the town's burgomaster, to whom van der Valk was to report, woul... more »d know the Inspector's purpose in the town and who he really was.
Arlette, Van der Valk's wife, was to make the trip with him. The burgomaster would find a house for them to live in, would arrange everything for them.
A week later, the Cand der Valks were in Drente- and the burgomaster was explaining why Can der Valk had been sent there. Someone in town was writing anonymous letters revealing precise information of long-hidden secrets, letters that had caused several recipients to kill themselves, to go mad. No one could be sure who was getting the letters. How many of them had been burnt as soon as they were received? How many people were choosing to suffer in absolute silence? The anonymous writer didn't seem to be crazy, but whoever it was was dangerous and must be stopped.
Van der Valk went to work The job was formidable. The people of the town were a suspicious lot- the letter writer was very well hidden.
However, Van der Valk is not a man who will let a difficult problem stop him-- he will keep trying to solve it, as he does in this most excellent novel by an author whose reputation is enhanced by each bok.« less