Faceless Killers by Henning Mankell on February 6, 1997
Genres: Fiction / Mystery & Detective / General
Pages: 284
Format: Paperback
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This is the first Henning Mankell book I have read. Mankell knows how to write a complex character. This is a Swedish mystery and I definitely like these ones. This one was recommended by my local Indie bookstore owner, DDR. He has a funny story about how he came to carry this book as well, so make sure to stop in and ask him about it.
This is the first in the Kurt Wallander series. Wallander is a detective who is called on to help solve a grisly murder in a remote Swedish area. An elderly farmer was killed but his wife was left alive. The only clue she left was by whispering the word “foreigner.” This one was about this murder that seemed lead the police no where. But also Wallander, who was dealing with his own personal crisis’s. His wife left, his daughter barely speaks to him, and he is in an unhealthy relationship with alcohol. He tries to get justice for the victim, but is left with more questions than answers half the time.
There was also another crime that ran parallel to this. An immigrant who was murdered because of the leaked “foreigner” information. There is so much to unpack in this small novel. Wallander thought me might be falling for the new prosecutor, but she is married.
This novel had so much going on that I couldn’t even guess where this one was going. This one kept me reading to find out what was going to happen next. In the end, the crime was solved quickly. And I feel a little hopeful for the direction of Wallander’s life. I am slightly curious to see what is going to happen next in his world. Will he get his sh*t together and stop drinking completely and get in shape? I’d like to see his character meet someone and not be so lonely. I did enjoy the character interaction with his partner. The Swedish setting was transformative and the map in the front is always a bonus. I love a good map. I think this book would make for a great book club conversation.