Public Prosecutor, The [Paperback]

A"In contrast with Mankell, the warm-hearted psychologist of the individual, we find Geeraerts, a cold-blooded surgeon who lays bare the ills of a society. This thriller, so loyal to the genre that the irony and parody are barely perceptible, is relentless. The machinations of Opus Dei and dubious financial manoeuvres are deftly juxtaposed with descriptions of fine restaurants and nids d'amour.A" Tagesspiegel BerlinA"One of Geeraerts literary achievements is that such a shameless and baroque character as Savelkoul ends up attracting your sympathy as you read on. A revealing study of a very dark society.A" Facts Zurich A"Geeraerts exposes the mechanics of corruption, the abuse of power, political cynicism and the excesses triggered by religious delusion. His novels are often at the centre of political scandal.A" ZDF

Albert Savelkoul, the Public Prosecutor of Antwerp, has everything: power, money, magnificent horses, a family and a high-maintenance mistress. Despite problems with the mistress and his prostate he's convinced that he is invincible, his power untouchable. However, Albert's wife has set her sights on a title for her son. Opus Dei promises to help her if she transfers all her wealth to the secretive organisation - and they stop at nothing in hounding Albert. A tale of blackmail and murder follows, leavened by Albert's interludes with his loving Polish maid.

''In contrast with Mankell, the warm-hearted psychologist of the individual, we find Geeraerts, a cold-blooded surgeon who lays bare the ills of a society. This thriller, so loyal to the genre that the irony and parody are barely perceptible, is relentless. The machinations of Opus Dei and dubious financial manoeuvres are deftly juxtaposed with descriptions of fine restaurants and nids d'amour.'' Tagesspiegel Berlin

''One of Geeraerts literary achievements is that such a shameless and baroque character as Savelkoul ends up attracting your sympathy as you read on. A revealing study of a very dark society.'' Facts Zurich

''Geeraerts exposes the mechanics of corruption, the abuse of power, political cynicism and the excesses triggered by religious delusion. His novels are often at the centre of political scandal.'' ZDF

Jef Geeraerts was born in 1930 in Antwerp and is Belgium's best known author after Georges Simenon. He was educated in Jesuit schools, spent time as a colonial administrator and army officer in the Belgian Congo. He gained international acclaim with his Gangrene Cycle, four novels based on his experience in the Congo. Since then he has focused on crime and noir novels, of which The Public Prosecutor is the first to be published in English.