First published 1981
Arlette van der Valk has built a new life after her husband's death. The former police inspector's widow now works as a private investigator, taking cases that official channels might overlook. When a desperate family asks her to find their missing son, she accepts what seems like routine work. The trail leads her far from her comfortable existence. She travels to Argentina, following clues that take her into unfamiliar territory. Back in Strasbourg, her investigation drags her through the city's darker neighborhoods and seedier establishments. The search becomes more dangerous than she anticipated. Each lead reveals new complications. The missing boy's disappearance connects to people and places that threaten her safety. Arlette must navigate foreign customs and local corruption while staying ahead of those who want her to stop looking. Her determination to find the child pushes her into situations that test both her courage and her investigative skills. The case forces her to confront not just external dangers but also her own capacity for risk and sacrifice.
Genres: mystery, crime, thriller, detective
Vibes: atmospheric, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: determined-protagonist, fish-out-of-water
Setting: Argentina, Strasbourg
Period: 20th-century
237 pages · Paperback · Pantheon