Dekok and the Death of a Clown

"Without the slightest trace, an antique jewel collection disappears from a house along Gentlemen's Canal in Amsterdam. Detective DeKok feels compelled to help the victim of the theft, unknowingly signing up for a homicide case, as well." "Soon after commencing his investigation into the robbery, DeKok and his partner Dick Vledder are called to the foot of the Criers' Tower. A clown lay dead along the canal with a large, shining knife protruding from his back, creating a blossom of blood around the murder weapon." "After interviewing the clown's variety troupe members and chatting with his beloved barkeep/informant, Little Lowee, DeKok stumbles upon a connection between the two crimes..."butterfly." Indeed the crimes are related, but the thread wholly eludes the grey sleuth. Yet something tells him the variety troupe knows more than they're saying."--BOOK JACKET.