An Inspector Van Veeteren mystery, but mostly without Van Veeteren. He's not on the case; in fact he's ensconced in an armchair, with a glass of wine and a boo, in his favorite bookstore, yet he still solves the puzzle first, without ever seeing the scene, or interviewing anyone. Nesser has a great style, presenting information in small chunks, but linking and looping it all to a satisfying conclusion. Even though I like my Nesser with a full dose of VV best, Munster is a great character, and a pleasing alternative, especially when he channels VV's teachings. (Posted on 12/8/12)