Henning Mankell (1948–2015)

When Kurt Wallander and the Ystad police investigate the brutal murder of a local woman, they unexpectedly become embroiled in international politics. Wallander’s search for the murderer uncovers an assassination plot in South Africa, the result of post-apartheid unrest. The individuals planning the attack are using Sweden as their base. Wallander inexplicably decides he can handle this solo, and waves off most of the help he will later need. Meanwhile there are also developments in Kurt’s rather messed-up life. Fortunately Wallander’s colleagues remain alert and ready, bringing the mystery to an exciting if somewhat implausible end. This series is solid Scandi-crime that keeps me turning the pages.… (more)

Arenas movedizas
Henning Mankell
Publicado: 2014 | 298 páginas
Ensayo Filosofía Memorias

Una historia personal de insólita humanidad. Un Henning Mankell de carne y hueso. Arenas movedizas es, en cierta manera, un libro de memorias, pero muy peculiar. No hay sucesión temporal y el arranque es la enfermedad actual del autor y lo que su diagnóstico desencadenó en él: recuerdos distanciados en el tiempo y no necesariamente consecutivos, que Mankell relaciona de un modo u otro con las grandes preguntas del hombre: ¿qué somos?, ¿cómo nos enfrentamos a la muerte?, ¿de qué tenemos miedo?, ¿qué mundo dejaremos en herencia?, ¿en qué creemos, y por qué? Para responder a ellas, Mankell recurre a sucesos del pasado: un día en el colegio cuando era pequeño, una visita al Museo Británico, una lectura sobre la Isla de Pascua, la verdadera naturaleza de las arenas movedizas o el poder del hielo, la muerte de un niño mozambiqueño, visitas a Salamanca, a Mantua, a Buenos Aires, a Malta y a las ruinas de Hagar Qim... Con estas incursiones en el pasado surge un retrato, desde la infancia y la adolescencia hasta la madurez, del Mankell de carne y hueso, que examina su vida y, con ella, cuestiones que afectan a toda la humanidad.… (more)

A gripping crime novel that introduces us to Inspector Kurt Wallander, a brilliant but flawed detective that has to deal with a series of brutal murders and racism in his Swedish town. Wallander is a very relatable character, I like that he has not only strengths but weaknesses as well. His personal struggles add more depth to the story and the character, making him more than just a crime solver.

Faceless Killers is an excellent introduction to the Kurt Wallander series and a great read for fans of Scandinavian crime fiction.

Plot Summary from Bard AI

In the quiet town of Ystad, Sweden, Inspector Kurt Wallander is called to the scene of a gruesome double murder. An elderly couple, Johannes and Maria Lövgren, have been found brutally slain in their remote farmhouse. The only clue left behind is Maria's dying word, spoken in a foreign language.

Wallander's investigation quickly takes him into the murky depths of xenophobia and racism, as he uncovers a series of hate crimes targeting immigrants. He soon realizes that the Lövgrens' murder was not an isolated incident, but part of a larger, more sinister plot.

As Wallander delves deeper into the case, he finds himself facing not just a ruthless killer but also the prejudices and fears that fuel his crimes. He must confront his own biases and grapple with the complex social and political issues that lie at the heart of the case.… (more)

The Pyramid is a collection of five short stories featuring Kurt Wallander, Mankell's signature detective inspector. The stories are set at different points in Wallander's career, from his rookie year to the period just before the events of Faceless Killers, the first novel in the Wallander series. They provide insights into Wallander's development as a detective and his personal life, including his relationships with his father, daughter, and colleagues. Mankell wrote The Pyramid after completing the Wallander series.… (more)