Reviews

I discovered this series thanks to the recent BBC adaptation starring Kenneth Branagh. Though Mankell's debut novel is a fast and easy read, the writing itself feels a bit flat and lifeless. Aside from the troubled Kurt Wallander, most of the other police officers are interchangeable and not well-defined. The resolution also felt a bit rushed and disappointing considering all the plodding work it took to get us there. I'm not sure if I will continue with the books or simply wait for new episodes on television. As far as crime fiction goes, this one was very middle of the road.

acejolras's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

I knew going in how popular the Wallander TV adaptations are and was this a let down. I was prepared to keep it at 3* until the rushed ending killed the importance of most of the novel’s investigation. It leaned too far into procedural without tying anything together a little bit more to make it a satisfying literary experience.

I know Wallander isn’t meant to be super likeable, but it was infuriating watching a man make gigantic errors of judgment without punishment because, well, he’s a man. The sexual assault, written off as the fault of his drinking no less, really torpedoed the author for me. All the women in the book are treated in super gross ways - they’re either outright bitches or Wallander likes them because they do something for him.

This also could have been more interesting if it committed to exploring immigration and asylum seeking in Sweden. Instead of presenting it as a complex issue with gray areas, it came off as wishy-washy and rather xenophobic in places.

mrlsdevos's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

avesanoro's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

Jotenkin vähän laimea. Jotain uupu

dromwald's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

Mankell's portrait of Wallender is warts and all in this crime story that not only has a dark theme but also touches upon some uncomfortable issues. Wallender is shown as fallible and very very human and there are times when you even feel embarrassed for his actions and the situations he finds himself in.

marieintheraw's review against another edition

Go to review page

2.0

I mostly read this for a Pop Sugar challenge. Overall, meh.

willbefunorelse's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

For the full review (and to see how I'm smarter than Kenneth Branaugh), click the link to the entry at That's What She Read.

More...