Most of the time you read mysteries for a quick easy read. This detective team is deep, soulful, and pragmatic all at once. I love the atmosphere this book contains and the ability to inject a realistic soul into the writing. I have only read one other book in the series, but I will be reading more. This is a perfect mystery to discover. You get Amsterdam, philosophy, and a great who done it.

I loved this book. I've loved all the books in the series, but this one really sucked me in. The characterizations and plot descriptions are so realistic I felt as if I were in rural Maine too. Like the last reviewer, and also a foreigner, I found myself giggling at the cultural differences- they are so true! I've recommended this book and author to all my friends- mystery lovers or not, this guy has something for everyone.

I don't even care much for mysteries but this one caught my eye while in a physical bookstore looking for the new Burke novel by Andrew Vachss. The book is interesting because the characters are real; this one gives a peculiarly Dutch perspective on American culture, which at times is laugh-out-loud funny, like de Gier, in his eternally curious cop mode, wondering why on earth anyone would buy bags of ice.

The subjects as listed for this book by trusty ole' amazon.com are as follows: porcupines, fiction, vacations, friendship, and Brooklyn. Whereas fiction, friendship, and Brooklyn are subjects in my life that I am realitively comfortable and familiar with, I am only vaugely acquainted with vacations and am completely in the dark on the porcupine thing. So, when I received Hugh Pine and Something Else for Christmas several years ago, I was looking foreward to expanding my knowledge in these two rather mysterious arenas. There was, however, a slight problem. The Something Else in my copy of Hugh Pine and Something Else was the fact that in my copy, the first signature was repeated over and over for the entire book. A Calvino-like quest ensued. I followed the trail of Hugh Pine to several bookstores and libraries. I riffled through shelves and placed orders. I finally did found out out more about vacations and porcupines. I have yet to discover the Something Else that happened to Hugh Pine, but perhaps I have, do to this most metaphysical children's book experience ever, touched the hem of the Something Else that happened to me.

A sweet tale on Hugh Pine the Porcupine and his "big" adventure in New York. It should be good entertainment for the target audience: children at all ages of elementary school. The issues at hand (what is a vacation; what is a big city and how does one solve a dispute) are enough to occupy any young reader. Still, this book is less far-reaching than the first two in the series. In the first book, "Hugh Pine", the porcupine - who only wants to be left alone - finds his red hat, he receives his name and he saves all his fellow-porcupines first from accidents and then from hunger. In the following book, "Hugh Pine and the Good Place", this clever but unfriendly porcupine undergoes a major personal change - from the seeking of solitude to the seeking of company. My advice: read all Hugh Pines in the order of appearance!

These short stories set in Holland and Maine give a unique view into the "Dutch" perspective toward policing and government in general. Janwillem's deft style and his characters introspective personalities make the reader long to be in the wicked city of Amsterdam.

Mr. Van De Wetering's short stories are even better thanhis novels. His experiences in a zen monastary in Japangive these stories a slightly Zen Fable feeling, which is weird in what basically are police procedurals. All of his mystery books are highly recommended.

I bought this book because I needed something to read while flying to a business meeting. I was intrigued because it took place in Amsterdam, a place I loved, but haven't visited since the 80's. Its a wonderful mystery, full of great characters and flawed heroes. I like it so much I bought two more of Van De Wetering's books on my return home.

A thoroughly engaging and well-written mystery. The first in a series of mysteries pairing Amsterdam detectives Grijpstra & DeGier, this novel enchants and hooks the reader from the very beginning. The story is first class and will be enjoyed by lovers of the genre, but it's the interaction and dialogue between the two protagonists that makes this book such a gem. At times philosophers and often humorous, these characters are a welcome addition to the readers' life and the good news is: there's more where this comes from. Check it (them) out and you won't be disappointed. Highly Recommended for those who enjoy mysteries and top-quality literature in general.

If you appreciate fiction that exposes you to nonfiction aspects of foreign cultures, you will like these books. For example, if you liked the Sjowall/Wahloo Swedish mysteries, you'll like this series, too. (Just as "deep" analyzing human existence via crime, but not so dark -- in part because Stockholm in the 70's was socialist gray, and Amsterdam was a lot more colorful!) Similarly, if you like Melville's Japanese mysteries, you'll like this series. (If it *has* to be about Japan, get this author's book "Inspector Saito's Small Satori" instead.)

Normally I hate reviews that summarize, but since the editorial review above just says "launching Cahners series", here is an excerpt from the flyleaf of the original 1975 printing:

"... here is the first of a delightful new series of detective novels by a Dutch writer who combines a background in Zen philosophy with his experience on the Amsterdam police force. The owner of a sleazy restaurant-cum-commune in the old quarter of Amsterdam is dead; his body hangs from a rafter, at first glance a suicide, at second a murder. The police call in Detective Grijpstra, a mild-mannered, middle-aged family man with tired feet and a bemused soul, and his partner, de Gier, a bachelor with a philosophical turn of mind who shares his modish apartment with a wayward Siamese cat and occasion such women as are not allergic to it. The clues are plentiful enough to be puzzling and lead to a juicy variety of suspects and helpers including a native Papuan -- former member of the Dutch Constabulary in New Guinea, the 'outsider' of the title. The plot is as full of unexpected twists and turns as Amsterdam itself, the climax is exciting, and the conclusion will surprise and satisfy connoisseurs of detective fiction as well as loving observers of human nature."

While Janwillem van de Wetering's "Tumbleweed" can not lay claim to the most fascinating mystery or the most suspenseful story in detective fiction history, it still manages to entertain and keep its readers interested to the end. The primary policemen involved in the case, Grijpstra, DeGier, and the commissaris, are a continually interesting and entertaining lot, and Grijpstra and DeGier's ongoing banter, in particular, lends the book a touch of levity that is greatly appreciated in a genre that often becomes bogged down in the seriousness of its heroes and villains. Beyond the usual conventions of detective fiction, van de Wetering also provides some interesting literary touches, particularly in his depictions of isolated characters and their geographical mirrors, the islands of Curacao and Schiermonnikoog. Perhaps its not particularly exceptional for a detective novel to feature isolated, unusual characters in its villains and victims, but van de Wetering's exploration of these characters can be called exceptional. And through this character exploration we also gain insight into Dutch character in general. In fact, those not inclined towards reading "Tumbleweed" as a mystery novel might be able to appreciate it as a travel story as well, especially since van de Wetering extends his portrayal of the Netherlands into its Caribbean territory, Curacao. All things considered, "Tumbleweed" is a novel I feel I can recommend to almost any reader as a good, quick read that goes a little deeper than the normal good, quick read.

Janwillem van de Wetering creates an artsy, yet accessible portrayal of a typical detective story with Tumbleweed. The novel, set in Holland, begins with the murder of a high-class prostitute, Maria van Buren. The detective team Grijpstra and DeGier are assigned to the case, led by their Commisaris. The plot advances as the team discovers van Buren's interest in witchcraft and sorcery. They begin to create a profile of a woman who ably controlled and held power over her clientele. The investigation of van Buren's four clients leads the detectives on a rather straightforward hunt for her murderer, a man capable of throwing a WWII English commando knife straight into her back, killing her instantly. While the plot carries the reader along with no unusual surprises, it is the imagery and themes that van de Wetering explores which makes this novel an unusual and enjoyable read. In consistently using the literary device of parallelism, van de Wetering creates an overall thematic based on oppositional forces. In a clever manipulation of the typical antagonistic mystery portrayal of good versus evil, van de Wetering goes further in driving home the nature of the world in which we live. Where there is the barren, as represented by the island of Curacao, there is also the fertile, the island of Schiermonnikoog. Yet as is typical of a mystery novel, the twist van de Wetering provides is to undermine the oppositions he has created to illustrate that the world around us cannot be viewed by such polar extremes. The island of Curacao, with its hot dry climate, brings new life to the worn out Commisaris as his pains from rheumatism fade; and it is on the life-giving island of Schiermonnikoog, a lush bird sanctuary, that the murderer of Maria is found. Just as with the title, the tumbleweed, which becomes the symbolic representation of the murderer, is seemingly a dead lifeless corpse; its purpose is to spread its seeds, in this way insuring its ability in the future to propagate. However, as is illustrated with the murderer himself, the power to insure his future is revealed as illusory. Thus, van de Wetering's primary investigation in this novel concludes by having the reader examine what is real and what is illusion in their own world.

Tumbleweed is a thoughtful and entertaining read, which mystery enthousiasts will appreciate. No smoke and mirrors here; only a plainly set situation which unravels quite interestingly. Wetering offers his readers the chance to experience the climates of Hollands various nooks & crannies, lifesyles, and home-spun characters, while offering their interesting mindsets to contemplation. Though the writing style at times seems to be very representative of Dutch coloquilisms, it still resounds well and clearly to anyone who would enjoy a peek at Dutch language, custom, and characters. This is terrific for anyone such as myself who usually enjoys something just a tad different from the standards, such as Christie, who is always a pleasure to read! A quick read, I would buy this book to enjoy over an evening or two, to escape to Holland and the canals of Amsterdam.

This book left me unsatisfied. The author seems very disillusioned by Zen in this book. It is necessary to point out that the real world is not always nice, but it seems wrong to me to blame Zen itself for his negative experiences.

Reading this book and remembering his earlier ones I wonder if he had a too naive acceptance of things, just because they claimed to be Zen. Books like Matthiessens "9-headed dragon river" seem much more realistic too me.

That's at least the feeling I had after reading the book.

I found this book self-indulgent, with Van de Wetering butting his head against the same wall (koans?) here as he was in his book of forty years ago (The Empty Mirror) and I had this enlightening thought, "Perhaps this concept of Zen is a dead end and, in the end, we are left only with ourselves."

Van de Wetering is a humorous and prolific author, admired by many, and easy to read; and his subject -- a westerner wrestling with Zen and its koans -- is intriguing. Even his eventual disillusionment can be instructive. Some would say his rejection of Zen and of meaning is the highest attainment of Zen; he would probably call this foolishness. Van de Wetering began with a nihilism arising out of World War II trauma and came to Zen looking to have it confirmed. He doesn't acknowledge much his own contributions to his bad experience with Zen, but comes to us with stories of other disillusioned students and of the failings and foibles, scandals and tragedies of Zen masters and other religious leaders, wanting perhaps us to confirm his disenchantment. But for me at least the self-justifying telling of these sad tales eventually undermines the humor, and the book becomes more distasteful than enjoyable or enlightening.

Do not make this the first van de Wetering book you read.

It takes some getting used to, this mix of Buddhism, police procedural, Simenon-like psychonovel and bizarre imagination. In this book, those factors collide sharply. The solution the the pseudo-locked-room mystery is odd, at best. Mix in street riots and a strange interlude where police do a most unconvincing undercover act and the reader who expected something like the 87th Precinct transplanted to Amsterdam will be baffled by the strength of the cover blurbs. Praise for this?

But if you've already become familiar with the characters, you know these books aren't so much about the plot as the people and the mood. Read a few others first (make sure you start with the good ones, the ones based in Amsterdam) and then move on.

"Death of a Hawker" is the fourth book in Van de Wetering's Amsterdam Cop Series and is a return to top form after the somewhat disappointing second and third volumes (the first, "Outsider in Amsterdam" is magnificient, and the proper place to start reading this excellent mystery series).

Amusing, ruminating Amsterdam cops Detective Grijpstra and Sergeant de Gier are as much a part of the story as the mystery itself (this is typical of this series, although the detectives' observations were less a focus of the second and third books). In this mystery, Amsterdam's market square is beset by protests and riots over government-forced construction. Meanwhile, a wealthy hawker (an individual who sells items for profit in the market) is murdered in his apartment. The man's roommate is upstairs and his beautiful sister downstairs (it's a three room flat) and both claim to have heard nothing unusual, nor did they see anyone enter or exit the flat. Cops outside the flat (for riot protection) noticed nothing unusual either. Nevertheless, the victim's face has been smashed in by a heavy object. The question is: who did the smashing, how, and why?

Naturally, Grijpstra and de Gier are put in charge of the case and along with the aged Commissaris (their boss) they unravel the mystery. Along the way, they interview prostitutes, hawkers, importers, bar maids, attend a raucous party, and even fall in love (de Gier). The dialogue is amusing and insightful and the solution of the mystery is fairly clever (although not too complicated). This book is more similar to the first book in the series in that suspect interviews are more confrontational and Grijpstra and de Gier spend a lot of time offering their views (and complaints) on life.

Overall, a quick read--both humorous and mysterious. Highly Recommended.

Interesting and atmospheric book. I don't know if mysteries written by foreign authors just sound more intelligent or really are, but the effect remains regardless of the reason. These detectives, Grijpstra and de Gier, really come alive in these books. They have a warts and all kind of approach not only about their own personalities, but also the personalities of their friends and family members as well that I really like. Almost incidentally, van de Wetering makes you very interested in the ultimate whodunnit. As an American living in the Netherlands, I also appreciate the view of Amsterdam.

This book is a good and easy read. Especially good for folks who like short mysteries in the Christie/Poirot and Simenon/Maigret style. The stories have a very realistic japanese feel and the characters are very believable. The writing reminds me a bit of Simenon, somewhat economical, definitely a bit psychological, but driven by the narrative and not preachy. The stories are somewhat linked and that adds to the pleasure. I have spent a bit of time in Japan and this book reminds me of the differences between Japanese and Western culture without seeming preachy or moralizing, which is something to be appreciated.

I wish he had written more of these. I am hungry for more of Saito's adventures.

While linked, the short mystery chapters stand on their own. The characters are irreverent, amusing and wholing engrossing. Perfect for that bus or train ride as the chapters (stories) move and read quickly.

Way back when I had never heard of Janwillem van de Wetering, I picked up one of his novels off of a pile of used books just 'cause I liked the cover so much. Plus, I was out of ideas about what to read, having just suffered through a long exam period at school, which had left my brain feeling like a well-squeezed sponge. Anyway, I read "Hard Rain" in one night, finding that it was totally impossible to leave Grijpstra and de Gier and the commisaris in mid-chase. I won't give away the plot of this or any of the other great books that feature this oddball trio, but I will say that they are just about my favorite paperback detectives ever. I mean, yes, I still enjoy reading about Adam Dalgleish and Reg Wexford and Inspector Morse, but nobody's quite as likeable van de Wetering's characters, nor as much pure fun. Grijpstra is an out-of-shape realist with a fondness for drumming and a distinct lack of fondness for a nagging wife, de Gier is a judo-expert trumpet player who seeks answers to life's questions in Zen and women, and the commisaris is a keen-eyed old father-figure to both who keeps a pet turtle in his little garden. The three of them pursue murderers and other evil-doers through mostly non-traditional methods, reminding me sometimes of Hammett's Continental Op, who liked to throw monkey wrenches rather than follow clues, since that way he could often short-cut his way to a solution. In other words, the Grijpstra and de Gier books aren't really about solving puzzles, and really, the plots are often not nearly as important as the interplay of characters and the fleeting glimpses into the quirky texture of life in non-picturesque Amsterdam.

So, what I'm saying is, read at least one of the Grijpstra and de Gier books, just for the heck of it. But be aware that there's a pretty good chance you'll get addicted. Oh, and I still think the covers are great, at least the ones in the Soho Crime series; I have to put that plug in, though it's irrelevant to the stories, just because I'm a big fan of good book design.

I love this series. Oddly, this was the first book that I read. It's not often that you have a fallible, real person as a detective. This intense story is both funny and thought provoking. The atmosphere provoked in this Maine setting is the best I've ever read, and in the back of my mind I picture the place as if it really existed. I theorize that all books are about escapism, and this detective team has a member who is all about escaping and finding the REAL meaning behind things. Quite a good read. In all, I would say that this is my favorite detective series because I don't feel as if I've eaten potato chips (metaphorically) after I've read it, but that I've furthered my mind along.