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After the Silence
(Amsterdam Quartet #1)
by
Perfect for fans of The Killing or The Bridge, After the Silence is an utterly compelling crime debut set in Amsterdam. Jake Woodhouse's second novel, Into the Night, published March 2015.
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A body is found hanging on a hook above the canals of Amsterdam's old town, a mobile phone forced into the victim's mouth.
In a remote coastal village, a doll lies in the ashes of a bu ...more
***
A body is found hanging on a hook above the canals of Amsterdam's old town, a mobile phone forced into the victim's mouth.
In a remote coastal village, a doll lies in the ashes of a bu ...more
Kindle Edition, 464 pages
Published
April 24th 2014
by Penguin
(first published January 1st 2014)
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Start your review of After the Silence (Amsterdam Quartet, #1)

I received a copy of this book for free from Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. Also posted on my blog, Rinn Reads.
I may not read the genre that often, but I do enjoy a good crime novel. Sadly, After the Silence is not one of these.
I picked it up initially because it was set in Amsterdam, and I’m always eager to read more books set in the Netherlands. However, the setting here is completely inconsequential: it could literally be set anywhere else in the world and it would make zero dif ...more
I may not read the genre that often, but I do enjoy a good crime novel. Sadly, After the Silence is not one of these.
I picked it up initially because it was set in Amsterdam, and I’m always eager to read more books set in the Netherlands. However, the setting here is completely inconsequential: it could literally be set anywhere else in the world and it would make zero dif ...more

18/7 - I'm not sure about this one, it's not working very well for me. The writing is clunky and a bit clumsy, with some incorrectly capitalised words. If I didn't know better I'd think this had been translated from Dutch and some of the meanings had been lost in translation, but there is no mention of a translator anywhere, so I have to assume that it was written solely by Woodhouse. I assume that Rykel Jaap is the main character that the plot (and series) is focused on but he hasn't had that m
...more

This is billed as an action packed thriller and it is certainly that! The book starts with violently with a Police Officer being pursued by a man in a mask, his last thoughts that of his wife and his unborn child and his partner Inspector Japp Rykel.
Set over a tight time-period of five days in the depths of winter it is Japp Rykel who has multiple murders, child abduction and a gang that import all types of nasties called the Black Tulips to contend with. This is in addition to the normal discon ...more
Set over a tight time-period of five days in the depths of winter it is Japp Rykel who has multiple murders, child abduction and a gang that import all types of nasties called the Black Tulips to contend with. This is in addition to the normal discon ...more

(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)
A body is found hanging on a hook above the canals of Amsterdam's old town, a mobile phone forced into the victim's mouth.
In a remote coastal village, a doll lies in the ashes of a burnt-down house. But the couple who died in the fire had no children of their own. Did a little girl escape the blaze? And, if so, who is she and where is she now?
Inspector Jaap Rykel knows that he's hunting a clever and brutal mur ...more
A body is found hanging on a hook above the canals of Amsterdam's old town, a mobile phone forced into the victim's mouth.
In a remote coastal village, a doll lies in the ashes of a burnt-down house. But the couple who died in the fire had no children of their own. Did a little girl escape the blaze? And, if so, who is she and where is she now?
Inspector Jaap Rykel knows that he's hunting a clever and brutal mur ...more

Really disappointed. There is no character to this book. It's a cliff hanger style story with more cliches than most Hollywood b-movies.
I bought it because it was set in Amsterdam (I lived there for several years) and there was almost nothing that related to the city. This is strange as the writer (who is clearly talented) lived there. The publishers liken the story to the Rankin series but the Rebus books evoke a much stronger feeling about the environment it is set in.
The location is a distr ...more
I bought it because it was set in Amsterdam (I lived there for several years) and there was almost nothing that related to the city. This is strange as the writer (who is clearly talented) lived there. The publishers liken the story to the Rankin series but the Rebus books evoke a much stronger feeling about the environment it is set in.
The location is a distr ...more

This is the first book in Woodhouse’s Amsterdam Quartet series featuring Inspector Jaap Rykel. Described as a perfect read for fans of The Killing, The Bridge, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, Fatherland and equally for fans of Ian Rankin, Stuart MacBride et al, I was more than a little keen to read this. Although I normally review in isolation, I will say that having read this as part of a crime book group, I find myself echoing the thoughts of my venerable fellow members, so what did we conclu
...more

This hard hitting debut police procedural novel, is set in Amsterdam. Inspector Jaap Rykel is a flawed main character, having suffered a breakdown; while his sister has returned from Afghanistan both disturbed by what she has witnessed and deeply depressed. When his partner, Andreus, asks him to accompany him on a lead he is following into a gang called the Black Tulips, Rykel has to refuse as his sister has just called him in a distressed state. It is something he will come to regret, as Andreu
...more

Dec 05, 2019
Sofia
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
crime-mystery-thriller,
2019
Such a flawed trio deserves my attention.

Dark truths, hidden secrets and a new Inspector to die for.
With its narrow streets, famous canals and red-light district, Amsterdam provides a strong – if underused – setting for crime fiction. Throw in the January snow and ice and we have the perfect destination for Jake Woodhouse’s debut novel, the first of a quartet.
Inspector Jaap Rykel is a great new edition to the crime fiction scene. His close colleague, Andreas, has been shot, killed after chasing a lead. Rykel vows to catch the murdered ...more
With its narrow streets, famous canals and red-light district, Amsterdam provides a strong – if underused – setting for crime fiction. Throw in the January snow and ice and we have the perfect destination for Jake Woodhouse’s debut novel, the first of a quartet.
Inspector Jaap Rykel is a great new edition to the crime fiction scene. His close colleague, Andreas, has been shot, killed after chasing a lead. Rykel vows to catch the murdered ...more

I thoroughly enjoyed this book which I read in one sitting as I just had to know what was coming next. Looking back at it I think it is a great debut and the pluses outweigh the minuses. The minuses are few - I think the plot was a bit overloaded and from time to time it got confusing as to how it all interlinked and I felt that Inspector Jaap Rykel was underdeveloped as a character in this book but, it's something to look forward to in the next one. I like books set abroad as you get a taste of
...more

Mar 31, 2014
Linda Todd
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
to friends
Recommended to Linda by:
a gift
Waw loved this book have me griped from page one and did not let got until the end ho and what an end that was so if you would like to see what all this is about go get the book you will not be disappointed so all I can say is wonderful book and well thought out characters and the story line where superp and my heart felt thanks go to the author Jake Woodhouse a well put together piece of art so with all that said keep smiling and happy reading to you all with love from wee me. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
...more

I ordered the first three Jake Woodhouse books after seeing them highly recommended as must-reads. This first novel, about Amsterdam inspector Jaap Rykel, is a readable tale about a hard-bitten cop on the trail of some nasty criminals who have perpetrated some unspeakable crimes. The book takes a bit of time to get into its stride but by the end the author had me hooked. I’m hoping the second book in the series will be even better as the characters are fleshed out more and the background of the
...more

I liked this. Maybe it was because I've been to Amsterdam a few times and could picture the places in my head or that the story was just good. I don't know, but I liked it.
...more

Speaks volumes
Very evocative descriptions use of words. Many swists and subplots and names occasionally .and it difficult to follow. The genre is familiar a detective and cohort who are damaged in various ways. Introduction of I Ching is different but doesn't add much. The setting is sufficiently detailed and seems true to Holland geography.
The denouement is a surprise but very well worked out. There are defined god got A and bad guys and one who teeters on the brink for interest. A superior no ...more
Very evocative descriptions use of words. Many swists and subplots and names occasionally .and it difficult to follow. The genre is familiar a detective and cohort who are damaged in various ways. Introduction of I Ching is different but doesn't add much. The setting is sufficiently detailed and seems true to Holland geography.
The denouement is a surprise but very well worked out. There are defined god got A and bad guys and one who teeters on the brink for interest. A superior no ...more

Inspector Rykel is a misunderstood mystery who left Amsterdam after a shooting gone wrong and has spent time in a Buddhist temple and follows the I-ching. But he is back and unofficially investigating the murder of his partner while getting draw into the disappearance of a small girl and a potential drugs ring.
Wonderfully written and I was routing for Rykel all the way through. There are four books in this series and I will definitely be buying the others based on this first story. I’m not sure ...more
Wonderfully written and I was routing for Rykel all the way through. There are four books in this series and I will definitely be buying the others based on this first story. I’m not sure ...more

With its Dutch setting this promised to be a welcome addition to recent Euro-noir but turned out to very disappointing on many levels. It's not really a procedural but more a TV action-thriller with far too many ridiculous set-pieces in which 'cops being hit over the head whilst going it alone' feature strongly. The police in 'After The Silence' rarely act in a professional manner and that they manage to solve the mystery astonishes me. The themes of child-trafficking and abuse are important one
...more

Jun 11, 2019
Jacqueline
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
jake-woodhouse
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.

Didn't really like this book. Yes the reviews were really good.
...more

For fans of the killing
I liked the fact that follows the crime from different perspectives. Didn't like the end that much but it kept me interested. ...more
I liked the fact that follows the crime from different perspectives. Didn't like the end that much but it kept me interested. ...more

Can't stop turning the pages, very good read. First fiction I've read in about a year that I've thoroughly enjoyed.
...more

Set in Amsterdam, AFTER THE SILENCE is a debut police procedural introducing, amongst a big cast of characters, Inspector Jaap Rykel. If you were looking for a single word to describe everyone in this book it would have to be damaged. They are all dealing with their own demons, to the point where there is a sneaking suspicion that there's not a happy person in the entire city. Mind you, the themes in the book will also have you wondering about where they have put their human decency into the bar
...more

This was very disappointing, to say the least. Reviewers have compared it with the novel's of Rankin, but I'm mystified by that. There was very little characterisation and I certainly did not care about the people. Most of them, including the police, behaved appallingly, but did not get their comeuppance. Most of it was extremely unbelievable, even with a suspension of disbelief. Overall I feel the writing was lazy and superficial. I've given it one star because the end was quite exciting. I sha
...more

So book number two in my brilliant crime novel prize was another debut, apparently part of a quartet but as yet the other three are not published. A quick Google tells me that my initial impression, that the Netherlands are part of Scandinavia and therefore this would be some sort of Scandi-noir crime book, was wrong - and indeed this novel is a far cry from the beloved beige and let's face it quite slow, crime drama of Mankell and Nesbo (much as I love them!) Within the first 10 pages or so we
...more
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Amsterdam Quartet
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