I read a couple of Freeling's novels recently, including one of the van der Valks. I kept wanting to like them better than I did; they were a bit too extraneously literary and too weak on plot for my taste. I'll have to give Wettering a try. Care to recommend one?
I'm not sure: they're a series, and as such the effect is cumulative. Also, if you found Freeling overly literary, van de Wettering's Zen sensibility (he also wrote three nonfiction books on his experiences studying Zen around the world [Japan and America in particular]).
I just noticed, reading the Wikipedia article, that he died last July 4. Another one gone. Damn.
