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bookph1le's review against another edition
1.0
Wow. Reading this book brought me back to my college days, when I had to drag myself through something I found excruciatingly dull, but that I had to read.
This book's biggest problem was the rampant use of completely irrelevant detail. I mean, why did I need to know that Wallander got about ten stomach aches because he drank too much coffee, or that every time he called someone they had to call him back? The book is painfully, painfully full of dull, boring, useless details like this.
I was really surprised and dismayed by this book. The only other Mankell book I've read is "The Man from Beijing", and I heard so many great things about the Wallander series that I was very eager to read this one. Based on it, I have no intention of going back and reading the previous books in the series. I really get the feeling the Mankell was just tired of the character and eager to put him to bed once and for all--an impression that was only strengthened by the dismal ending.
I do have to say, though, that I thought the mystery was pretty intriguing. Unfortunately, it progressed so slowly and was so bogged down by the dull parts that it totally undid any value the mystery added. This was a very disappointing read.
This book's biggest problem was the rampant use of completely irrelevant detail. I mean, why did I need to know that Wallander got about ten stomach aches because he drank too much coffee, or that every time he called someone they had to call him back? The book is painfully, painfully full of dull, boring, useless details like this.
I was really surprised and dismayed by this book. The only other Mankell book I've read is "The Man from Beijing", and I heard so many great things about the Wallander series that I was very eager to read this one. Based on it, I have no intention of going back and reading the previous books in the series. I really get the feeling the Mankell was just tired of the character and eager to put him to bed once and for all--an impression that was only strengthened by the dismal ending.
I do have to say, though, that I thought the mystery was pretty intriguing. Unfortunately, it progressed so slowly and was so bogged down by the dull parts that it totally undid any value the mystery added. This was a very disappointing read.
starblaze's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
winduprabbit's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
ashleywatt's review against another edition
3.0
A slightly unsatisfactory conclusion to Wallander's story, but as readable as ever.
duparker's review against another edition
3.0
Glad I finished the series, but not too impressed with the way it ended. It was a slow boil, even more slow then the normal series installment. Overall this was a good read, but not great, and not really explosive or relevatory.
tracyjw66's review against another edition
4.0
After a long wait for another Wallander novel, it was worth it. Kurt's mental decline and his fear of death is sad to see, and his obsession with his mortality is heartbreaking. But, as a mystery, it's a good story. I didn't want to finish it, but didn't want to stop reading. I hoped the ending wouldn't be "the end" but it was. Adios, Kurt. It was a good run.
unionmaid's review against another edition
4.0
Complex plot that will hold your interest to the end. Sobering observations on aging from the dour Kurt Wallander.
annevoi's review against another edition
3.0
Leave it to me to finally pick up a Kurt Wallander mystery, about which I've heard such good things, and learn that it's the last one in the series! Although in truth, I didn't really "pick it up": I inserted disks in my car CD player, and ejected them, over and over—sixteen times, I believe. It's a long book! And because I was listening to it, I didn't absorb it as well as if it had been a book I held in my hands. I am a good listener one on one with another person, but in the car with the world—and words—rushing past, I am a distracted listener at best.
I got the basic gist of this one: the disappearance of a naval commander (who happens to be Wallander's daughter's partner's father) kicks off the investigation, this shortly after the officer tells Wallander about some mysterious goings-on back in the 1980s. The commander's wife disappears—and then is found murdered, with evidence that suggests she is a Russian spy. Americans enter the picture. It's all very Cold War–like, and satisfying enough.
The other thread here is more poignant: Wallander is starting to have memory lapses, and he's generally morose about being past sixty, his life more or less over. Which, please! Sixty???? But then again, Mankell died at sixty-seven of cancer, so perhaps these musings were pretty personal.
I don't feel I can do this book justice, because listening and reading just aren't the same. I couldn't highlight! Or dog-ear! Or flag! I have no beautiful passages to share here—which is part of my MO. But . . . I did finish this book, so it counts. I just wish I had pithier comments to share.
It was a fine book. I was not convinced that I need to read any more of the series, however.
I got the basic gist of this one: the disappearance of a naval commander (who happens to be Wallander's daughter's partner's father) kicks off the investigation, this shortly after the officer tells Wallander about some mysterious goings-on back in the 1980s. The commander's wife disappears—and then is found murdered, with evidence that suggests she is a Russian spy. Americans enter the picture. It's all very Cold War–like, and satisfying enough.
The other thread here is more poignant: Wallander is starting to have memory lapses, and he's generally morose about being past sixty, his life more or less over. Which, please! Sixty???? But then again, Mankell died at sixty-seven of cancer, so perhaps these musings were pretty personal.
I don't feel I can do this book justice, because listening and reading just aren't the same. I couldn't highlight! Or dog-ear! Or flag! I have no beautiful passages to share here—which is part of my MO. But . . . I did finish this book, so it counts. I just wish I had pithier comments to share.
It was a fine book. I was not convinced that I need to read any more of the series, however.
soy_sputnik's review against another edition
5.0
Definitivamente este libro es mi favorito, no porque sea el último, sino porque engloba muy bien quién es Kurt Wallander, las cosas buenas y las cosas malas que lo comprenden. Es un libro largo y para muchos podría ser lento pero, contrario a lo que dicen, a mí me parece que es un libro que se detiene en nosotros los lectores que hemos estados al pie del cañón con el detective de Henning Mankell, sin duda se vislumbra en esta historia mucho de la convicción política del autor y ME ENCANTA. Es muy triste, mucho. Pero también es real. Ay no. Habrá quienes crean que eso no es literario pero me parece valiente lo que hace y también me parece que se adelantó por mucho a lo que sucede hoy 2022. Qué increíble es la imaginación. Te quiero mucho, Mankell, donde quiera que andes, qué chido lo que hiciste con estas historias.