LoveReading Says
LoveReading Says
A Maxim Jakubowski selected title.
Setting a detective series in Amsterdam is necessarily having to compete with striking memories of books by Nicolas Freeling and Janwillem van de Wetering who made this particular, rich in possibilities patch their own years back, but Pembrey pulls it off with aplomb. Henk van der Pol is a local cop now nearing retirement following a thirty year career which has left him harbouring much doubts about his usefulness and principles. When a woman's body is found in the harbour, it falls to him to delve into the case and he is soon confronted by possible corruption in his own ranks. The trail takes him to both Belgium and Norway as he doggedly pursues his prey and hunts for the truth. A vivid sense of place - but then Amsterdam has always been a gift to writers - and a flawed and believable central character make for a likeable police procedural which could herald a great series and career from this new British author. ~ Maxim Jakubowski
Maxim Jakubowski
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The Harbour Master Synopsis
Henk van der Pol is a 30 year term policeman, a few months off retirement. When he finds a woman’s body in Amsterdam Harbour, his detective instincts take over, even though it’s not his jurisdiction. Warned off investigating the case, Henk soon realises he can trust nobody, as his search for the killer leads to the involvement of senior police officers, government corruption in the highest places, Hungarian people traffickers, and a deadly threat to his own family...
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Press Reviews
Daniel Pembrey Press Reviews
'The Harbour Master is an accomplished novel, sporting a vividly realised sense of locale matched by an adroit evocation of character' - Brit Noir
'A splendid setting in what promises to be the start of a great new series'
- Ragnar Jonasson, author of the international bestselling Dark Iceland series
'Daniel Pembrey writes with great authority and authenticity. The Harbour Master is a compelling, highly believable tale set in the flesh markets of Amsterdam and the even seedier corridors of power beyond them, where it's hard to know who the real criminals really are. You'll keep turning these pages right till the end.'
- Howard Linskey, author of Behind Dead Eyes
'The style of writing was so enjoyable...this really is an excellent read'
- Crime Pieces
'Henk van der Pol makes for a great lead character - he's strong willed, courageous and determined to unravel the cases he encounters and serve justice - no matter how complicated they might be...'
- Crime Thriller Girl
'Daniel Pembrey is a master of concise stylish writing.'
- Euro Crime
Author
About Daniel Pembrey
Daniel Pembrey grew up in Nottinghamshire beside Sherwood Forest. He studied history at Edinburgh University and received an MBA from INSEAD business school. Daniel then spent over a decade working in America and more recently Luxembourg, coming to rest in Amsterdam and London — dividing his time now between these two great maritime cities.
He is the author of the The Harbour Master – the first book in the Henk van der Pol detective series – and several short thriller stories, and he contributes articles to publications including The Financial Times, The Times, The Guardian, The New European and The Field. His Henk van der Pol series is the product of time spent living in the docklands area of East Amsterdam, counting De Druif bar as his local.
Author photo © Donna Lisa Healy
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