Wouter Dehairs wrote the best Flemish crime novel: ‘Brussels is my source of inspiration’
The 24th Hercule Poirot Prize for the best Flemish crime novel goes to Wouter Dehairs for his book ‘Night City’. The story, like his other books, is set in Brussels. “It is an inexhaustible source of inspiration.”
Ex-journalist Wouter Dehairs made his debut as a thriller author in 2017 with the book ‘Lockdown’. According to the jury, he has made significant progress. In his winning novel ‘Night City’, the main character, private detective Keller Brik, gets into a fight with a gang of Bulgarians when he has to catch a man committing adultery.
The story is set in Brussels. “Brussels is a dream setting for a varied story, the characters are recognizable without becoming cliché and the direct style, which is clearly based on great American examples, works wonderfully”, according to the jury. The author receives a check for 5,000 euros and a Masterpiece pen from Montblanc.
Brussels as a source of inspiration
Dehairs has previously written two books: ‘Lockdown’ (2017) and De Graffitimoorden (2019). Both stories are also set in Brussels. “I am fascinated by Brussels. It is an inexhaustible source of inspiration”, says Dehairs. “I grew up in Zoutleeuw and, among my classmates, chose to study in Brussels. It really appealed to me to go to a big city.”
When Dehairs arrived in Brussels, a whole new world opened up for him. “I had never been there before. I ended up living there for a while, but later I’m cells to the edge.” Dehairs agrees that he no longer lives there. “I don’t know the city enough yet and it continues to inspire me there.”
Meanwhile, Dehairs is already working on a new book that was once again set in Brussels. “Brussels remains unknown and unloved in Flanders. I like to showcase the city.”