After the Silence

by Jake Woodhouse

Published 24 April 2014

Perfect for fans of The Killing or The Bridge, After the Silence is an utterly compelling crime debut set in Amsterdam.

***

A body is found hanging on a hook above the canals of Amsterdam's old town, a mobile phone forced into the victim's mouth.

In a remote coastal village, a doll lies in the ashes of a burnt-down house. But the couple who died in the fire had no children of their own. Did a little girl escape the blaze? And, if so, who is she and where is she now?

Inspector Jaap Rykel knows that he's hunting a clever and brutal murderer. Still grieving from the violent death of his last partner, Rykel must work alongside a junior out-of-town detective with her own demons to face, if he has any hope of stopping the killer from striking again.

Their investigation reveals two dark truths: everybody in this city harbours secrets - and hearing those secrets comes at a terrible price ...

After the Silence introduces Inspector Jaap Rykel in a gripping debut police procedural from Jake Woodhouse, which is sure to appeal to fans of Ian Rankin, Peter Robinson and Stuart MacBride. This is the first novel in The Amsterdam Quartet series.

PRAISE FOR JAKE WOODHOUSE:

'This gripping detective novel will thrill fans of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and bears comparison to Fatherland ... Utterly unputdownable' The Sun

'Utterly enthralling ... looks set to be one of the key sequences in modern crime fiction' Barry Forshaw, Crimetime

'Jake Woodhouse's taut, twisty plots are expertly woven and beautifully written. They are peopled with complex characters that will have you turning the pages to see what becomes of them. He has created a flawed gem in Inspector Jaap Rykel, a cop with an assured literary future' Craig Robertson, author of Witness the Dead and The Last Refuge

'After the Silence is as dark and twisty as the Amsterdam it navigates and Rykel a fascinating and original protagonist. A promising start to what could be a great series.' Stav Sherez, author of A Dark Redemption

'Complex ... intriguing ... keeps the reader hooked' Eurocrime


Before the Dawn

by Jake Woodhouse

Published 26 January 2017

A gripping police procedural, Before the Dawn sees Inspector Jaap Rykel of Amsterdam's Murder Squad drawn into a case which may destroy him . . .

On a small Dutch island a body is found.
The victim's head is wrapped in cling film.
Her hands are tied behind her back.


Veteran detective Inspector Jaap Rykel of Amsterdam's Murder Squad is swiftly summoned and he soon identifies a suspect, who hands himself over. Yet the man has no history of violence, no motive, and no connection to the victim.

On the other side of Holland, a similar murder - and confession - is reported and Rykel wonders if these are random senseless acts, or something more mysterious.

Seeking patterns no one wants to see, Rykel is drawn deeper into a sinister, sprawling case which will destroy all who touch it . . .

Praise for Jake Woodhouse:

'A strong sense of place matched by storytelling that keeps the plot accelerating' Daily Mail

'Utterly enthralling ... Looks set to be one of the key sequences in modern crime fiction' Barry Forshaw, Crimetime
'Taut, expertly woven and beautifully written' Craig Robertson


Into the Night

by Jake Woodhouse

Published 26 March 2015

The second sophisticated and dark installment in Jake Woodhouse's Amsterdam Quartet, featuring returning series character Inspector Jaap Rykel. After the Silence was Jake's first novel.

'DOES FOR AMSTERDAM WHAT RANKIN DID FOR EDINBURGH' Crime Thriller Hound

***

A body is found on a rooftop, the dead man's hands blowtorched, his head removed.

The man tasked with tracking down the killer is Amsterdam Inspector Jaap Rykel. But as he searches the headless body for clues Rykel finds something which makes his blood run cold - a picture of himself on the victim's phone.

And then a message from the killer reveals the location of a second mutilated corpse. It's another day in Western Europe's murder capital . . .

Perfect for fans of Ian Rankin and The Killing.

Acclaim for Jake Woodhouse:

'A strong sense of place is matched by a capacity for storytelling that keeps the plot accelerating' Daily Mail

'A complex, brilliantly written crime novel, which builds to a truly shocking climax' S.J. Sykes, author of Plague Land

'Dark, claustrophobic and non-stop' Crime Review

'Superficially, a cracking cops 'n' robbers story, but with a deep, dark heart. You will read it in just a few sessions and be gripped ... The conclusion is intense, violent and shocking ... it left me literally dry-mouthed ... For someone on only his second novel, he writes like an established master' Crime Fiction Lover

'Utterly enthralling ... Looks set to be one of the key sequences in modern crime fiction' Barry Forshaw, Crimetime

'Claustrophobic, disturbing and utterly thrilling' Crime Squad

'Jake Woodhouse's taut, twisty plots are expertly woven and beautifully written. They are peopled with complex characters that will have you turning the pages to see what becomes of them. He has created a flawed gem in Inspector Jaap Rykel, a cop with an assured literary future' Craig Robertson, author of Witness the Dead and The Last Refuge

'As dark and twisty as the Amsterdam it navigates' Stav Sherez

'This is a great debut' Crime Fiction Lover

'This gripping detective novel will thrill fans of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and bears comparison to Fatherland ... Utterly unputdownable' Sun

'Complex ... intriguing ... keeps the reader hooked' Eurocrime