A body is found at an ATM, the apparent victim of heart attack. Then two teenage girls are arrested for the brutal murder of a cab driver. The girls confess to the crime, showing no remorse whatsoever. Two open-and-shut cases.
At first, these incidents seem to have nothing in common. But as Wallander delves deeper into the mystery of why the girls murdered the cab driver, he begins to unravel a plot much more complicated than he initially suspected. The two cases become one and lead to a conspiracy that stretches far beyond the borders of Sweden.
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"I visited a Swedish store in Door County, WI and decided that I needed to buy a book by a Swedish author. I was pleasantly surprised and am hooked. There is a series of books about Kurt Wallander a small town police detective. I didn't think that this would be my genre. I have recommended it to 6 friends and all have loved the book. I have bought the whole series. Fun, fun reading for me."
— Elisabeth (5 out of 5 stars)
“Well-paced…a thinking man's thriller.”
— New York Times Book Review“Satisfying…[Mankell’s] Sweden—cold, isolated and brimming with disappointment—is as intriguing a landscape as Raymond Chandler’s Los Angeles or Charles Willeford’s Miami.”
— Wall Street Journal“Wonderful! Police procedural with personal texture.”
— Associated Press“Mankell proves once again that spending time with a glum police inspector in chilly Sweden can be quite thrilling…Mankell’s ambitious endeavor to combine large themes with small-town murder is a notable success.”
— Publishers Weekly“Mankell delivers a solid mystery with excellent buildup and dynamic characters, and Dick Hill’s delivery keeps the tension taut through the story. Hill’s gruff voice perfectly brings the downtrodden Wallander to life…Hill should also be commended for his smooth reading of Swedish names and places.”
— Publishers Weekly audio review“Resolute Wallander, lonely, unhappy, even at times desperate, is as magnetic as ever.”
— Kirkus Reviews" As with Lee Child and Donna Leon, I have read everything that has been translated by Henning Mankell. He is the most popular writer in Sweden. "
— Jackie, 1/28/2014" This author grows on you. He's good! He's not as slow and plodding as Lecarre, but, he's good! "
— Hans, 1/27/2014" This is a great Wallander mystery. I first "saw" it on PBS Mystery! with Kenneth Brannagh (highly recommended) but of course the full story is much more complicated. "
— Megan, 1/26/2014" A great read about cybercrime and the decline of morality. "
— Mariana, 1/19/2014" Not a page turner like the previous books I read but still great in a different way. A thinking mans thriller indeed. "
— Sean, 1/3/2014" If you liked the Steig Larsson books, you will probably like these as well. This was similar to them, in fact, some might say pretty formulaic with the Larsson books, but gripping and involved just the same. "
— Nedra, 12/28/2013" I love the Wallander Series because of the Swedish views on life. "
— Kwriddle, 12/20/2013" I am on a Mankell marathon....can't stop "
— Sheila, 12/13/2013" Excellent! Kurt is so messed up--but a likeable messed up. The clues and the crime itself were very complicated and through it all, he is deciding if he wants to run a personal ad because he is so lonely. "
— Suzanne, 12/2/2013" Having read Mankell's final book (Troubled Man) before this one I can see hints of where we find Wallendar at the end of that one. Nonetheless, this is the usual excellent and intelligent writing to expect from Mankell and a wide ranging story. "
— Tom, 11/30/2013" This book is a translation. Obviously. But the translator. Didn't really like long sentences. With commas. For example. It flows in a very clipped style. Perhaps Swedish. Is like. This. I am enjoying it. Though. "
— Richard, 9/14/2013" This would have gotten 5 stars if it didn't have the most red herrings of any mystery I have ever read. what is wrong with you, Henning Mankell? "
— Stephanie, 9/4/2013" Another brilliant read. Kurt must NEVER retire. "
— Zanna, 8/14/2013" One of the most enjoyable Mankell books I have read and archetypal page turner "
— James, 7/7/2013" Poor Wallender. Things in his life are just so awful. But the story (case) is intriguing, and thank goodness he is on the case. Martinson would never be able to solve this. So much unresolved, so much at stake, so little satisfaction with his life. "
— Palmreader, 6/3/2013" How prescient this book is in the understanding of the vulnerability that comes with our increased reliance on technology. "
— Maureen, 1/25/2013" A bit dated with Mankell making his first foray into computer crime but Kurt Wallender again shows his endearing humanity. "
— Pat, 7/2/2012" Another good Wallender story. Well thought out and suspenseful. "
— Karen, 4/15/2012" Mankell's best in the Wallander series. A tense dramatic tale with a convoluted plot that keeps you engaged while everyone's favorite middle aged Swede gets down to police business. "
— Dave, 1/27/2012" scary about the internet and what can happen "
— Lori, 5/29/2011" One more to go in the series. I continue to love the mundane: stains on coats, coffee spills, fast food, dark blue cars repeatedly showing up. Mankell turns a backache into poetry. "
— False, 5/15/2011" A book about computer crimes.. never really got exciting, or very clever. very few details about how the "crime" would actually work.. very loose plot "
— Pål, 5/3/2011" I liked this book . . . I have read more Swedish crime novels in the last 6 months than I imagine I ever will again! But Wallander is an appealing character and I'd like to read another of of those novels, maybe one earlier in the series. "
— Jan, 5/2/2011" Writing/translation is abrupt, curt, almost like a report. In the end, not very satisfying. "
— Sue, 4/29/2011" Mankell keeps you turning the page. Wallander is a totally believable person with all his foibles and doubts. "
— Nancy, 4/19/2011" my favorite one in the series "
— Angela, 4/18/2011" I look forward to reading this whenever I can and so far so good....! "
— Pamela, 3/31/2011" Outstanding book in a 5-star series. "
— Stven, 3/24/2011" A bit dated with Mankell making his first foray into computer crime but Kurt Wallender again shows his endearing humanity. "
— Pat, 3/12/2011" The New York Times calls Firewall a thinking man's thriller. Kurt Wallendar, the solitary detective, is hard at work. Amazing how little sleep detectives get when on a case...and he always has 8 AM meetings. Coffee is important. I enjoyed the PBS series and am looking for more to watch. "
— Mary, 3/11/2011" Fantastic! Mankell really holds your attention. He grabs you early and keeps the tension high. <br/>This story is a possiblity, although I wouldn't want to have it actually occur. <br/>Highly recommend this author if you have yet to read him. The translator does a great job, too. "
— Agnes, 3/5/2011" Great book. Kurt is not particularly fond of computers and in this mystery he looks for help getting behind the "Firewall". "
— Pam, 2/17/2011" I like Manning's style and the Kurt Wallender "evryman" character. The story lacked a little cohesion at the end, but it was still a good read. "
— Elizabeth, 2/2/2011" I really enjoyed this book as the author once again kept me hooked until the last page. "
— Linda, 1/21/2011" Very interesting. As usual, includes a large social theme..effect of technology, negative impact of World Bank on developing countries. Fracturing of relationship between Wallander and Martinsson was disconcerting. "
— Bob, 1/21/2011Henning Mankell (1948–2015) was Sweden’s most-read author worldwide. His novels, which include the bestselling Kurt Wallander mysteries, have been translated into thirty-seven languages with more than thirty million copies in print worldwide. He has received the Crime Writers’ Association’s Macallan Gold Dagger and the German Tolerance Prize and has been a three-time finalist for the Los Angeles Times Mystery/Thriller Book Prize.
Laural Merlington is an audiobook narrator with over two hundred titles to her credit and a winner of multiple Earphones Awards. An Audie Award nominee, she has also directed over one hundred audiobooks. She has performed and directed for thirty years in theaters throughout the country. In addition to her extensive theater and voice-over work, she teaches college in her home state of Michigan.