Inspector DeKok Reading Order
| Title | Published | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| DeKok and the Somber Nude | 1967 | Buy |
| DeKok and the Sorrowing Tomcat | 1969 | Buy |
| DeKok and the Mask of Death | 1987 | Buy |
| DeKok and Murder on the Menu | 1992 | Buy |
| DeKok and the Corpse on Christmas Eve | 1993 | Buy |
| DeKok and the Disillusioned Corpse | 1993 | Buy |
| DeKok and the Dead Harlequin | 1993 | Buy |
| DeKok and the Romantic Murder | 1993 | Buy |
| DeKok and the Careful Killer | 1993 | Buy |
| DeKok and the Brothers of the Easy Death | 1994 | Buy |
| DeKok and the Corpse at the Church Wall | 1994 | Buy |
| DeKok and the Dancing Death | 1994 | Buy |
| DeKok and the Naked Lady | 1994 | Buy |
| DeKok and the Dying Stroller | 1994 | Buy |
| DeKok and the Deadly Accord | 1997 | Buy |
| DeKok and Murder in Seance | 1997 | Buy |
| DeKok and Murder in Ecstasy | 1998 | Buy |
| DeKok and the Begging Death | 1998 | Buy |
| DeKok and Murder by Installment | 1998 | Buy |
| DeKok and the Corpse Return | 1998 | Buy |
| DeKok and the Murder in First Class | 1998 | Buy |
| DeKok and the Deadly Warning | 2003 | Buy |
| DeKok and the Geese of Death | 2004 | Buy |
| DeKok and the Murder in Bronze | 2004 | Buy |
| DeKok and Murder on Blood Mountain | 2004 | Buy |
| DeKok and the Death of a Clown | 2004 | Buy |
| DeKok and Murder by Melody | 2004 | Buy |
| DeKok and the Dead Lovers | 2004 | Buy |
| DeKok and the Vendetta | 2004 | Buy |
| DeKok and Variations on Murder | 2004 | Buy |
A.C. Baantjer was a Dutch author and former detective in the Amsterdam police force. His professional experience in law enforcement informed a decades-long career writing the Inspector DeKok mystery series, which became one of the most popular crime fiction series in the Netherlands.
Baantjer’s writing draws directly from his real detective work. The cases in Inspector DeKok novels often reflect actual investigations he participated in, translated into fiction with the detective’s characteristic dry wit and attention to procedural detail. The series shows his deep knowledge of Amsterdam and the criminal underworld operating within the city.
Inspector DeKok (also known as Inspector Cock) became an iconic character in Dutch crime fiction—old-fashioned, methodical, and ultimately unstoppable in his pursuit of justice. The novels follow classic mystery tradition: a murder occurs, the investigation unfolds through interviews and clues, and DeKok pieces together the truth through persistence and experience.
The distinctive tone of the books mixes dark subject matter with wry humor. DeKok is a cop who knows the city’s streets and its people, understanding crime as a human failing rather than an abstract puzzle. This perspective keeps the series grounded even as mysteries take unexpected turns.
The translation to English brought Baantjer’s work to international readers, introducing them to Dutch crime fiction tradition. His influence can be seen in contemporary European police procedurals that follow his example of combining authentic police work with compelling mystery storytelling.