In the article description is a short summary is included. More I will not tell the story, because it is much more exciting when you can be surprised. Only this: The characters evolve somewhat differently than I would have expected based on the first chapter, and the story takes a (for me) largely unexpected turn. It all starts with a funeral, but first you will not know who has died and why. Also on the mourners can only speculate at this point. After this dismal start, the author turns to the time a few months back, and little by little we learn the history.
At first I was not really impressed. The story is written in the present tense throughout, which I think is always used to. The story itself is also rather slow going, so I felt about the first quarter of the book as a little tough. After a while, one of the writing style is no longer falls on though, and little by little the plot is interesting. We learn all sorts of life in Amsterdam anno 1686, where I was not always sure how close are the descriptions of the (historical) reality. (Some details have affected me a bit too modern for the 17th century.) More important than the environment were for me anyway, the figures that you gradually get to know better. Secrets come to light, and contrary to expectations, the story is the time really exciting. The narrative remains continuous rather quiet and often aloof. Nevertheless, absolutely you want to know what happens next. At times, I was the whole thing so captivated that I did not want to put down the book. It surprised me how close me the fate of the main characters has gone. The end is then again a little disappointing as but some questions remain (in particular with respect to the title character) open.
Conclusion: From the somewhat lengthy beginning one should not be deceived or even be tempted to put the book aside again located. It evolves into a subtly exciting story full of mystery and complex figures. Despite the somewhat unsatisfactory end innsgesamt a really good, very readable book.