© Michel Vanneuville
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The latest and very last book by Pieter Aspe, six months after his death, was presented in the town hall of Bruges. His widow Tamara Hanegraaf was also present. “To be able to close like this gives me peace of mind.”
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Koen Theuns
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There should have been ten, but the fifth member of the Van In series will be the very last. The book by Flanders’ most successful crime author was presented with the necessary magnificence in the Gothic Hall of the town hall of Bruges, the setting for Aspes books. It was an emotional moment for widow Tamara Hanegraaf. “This is where Pierre and I got married. This is where it started for us and here we end.”
Remarkable: for the first edition of the book, good for 25,000 copies, a part of Aspe’s ashes was processed in the ink. “That makes the book very special, I don’t think this has happened before. Pierre wanted to leave a piece of himself behind for the fans who want it: they can decide for themselves whether they buy it or not. He thought that was a nice keepsake and I wanted to respect his wish.”
Fans have been queuing up in the town hall since the morning to get hold of a copy. In addition to the book presentation, other activities took place in memory of Aspe, including a guided walk through the center of Bruges and an exhibition in the library. “I am grateful to the city, the publishing house and brewery Omer Vander Ghinste for organizing this in such a short time. I’m really touched and I’m sure my husband is watching. It all feels very double to me. It’s hard, but it’s also so beautiful that this is happening. This is a day to cherish, to never forget. To be able to close in this way gives me peace of mind.”
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