When the wreck of the Hanne, a small freighter that went down in a south­westerly storm in 1950, is discovered by chance, as well as a million euros worth of copper it is also found to contain the remains of a diver – hands folded, wrists handcuffed and the keys hung just beyond his reach. Inspector Cupido’s investigation leads to a diving club on Terschelling island, a burglary in a house on the German island of Föhr in the Wadden Sea and a family drama in Wilhelms­haven. The closer he comes to the perpetrator, the deeper he finds himself entangled in a confronting case involving fathers and sons who do everything to protect each other. It stirs up memories of his own childhood, blighted by a frequently absent father who worked on a fishing boat and died at sea.

Deen once again combines a riveting story with his detailed knowledge of the Wadden Sea, impressing the reader with stunning descriptions of the water and true-to-life characters. Many will have a hard time saying goodbye to Inspector Cupido when they reach the end. Luckily, we know the third book in the series is on its way. Also, Lieuwe Cupido’s adventures are being made into a TV show, a joint production between the Netherlands and Germany.