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A review by leandrathetbrzero
The Laughing Policeman by Maj Sjöwall, Per Wahlöö
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
In this Nordic noir translation, Stockholm is shaken by a shooting that takes place on a city bus, killing eight and wounding one in critical condition. Of the dead is Detective Åke Stenström, a promising young detective whose attendance on that bus baffles police inspector Martin Beck and the rest of the city’s Homicide Division. In this dark mystery, Sjöwall and Wahlöö shine a fascinating, critical spotlight on Sweden’s political and justice systems, and its issues with nationalism and xenophobia.
This was the Shedunnit book club’s pick for April, fulfilling this month’s theme of mysteries in translation. I certainly don’t read translated mysteries enough, so I was excited to read this title beyond the fact that it has been sitting on my TBR shelves for too long! Upon finishing this book, my overall impression is that I fully understand why this title has become a modern classic of Nordic noir. I really enjoyed the gritty atmospheric setting of Stockholm, the collaborative teamwork among Beck and the other investigators, and the linguistic elements infused in both characterization and clue-deciphering.
I love all things that involve linguistics, so it was fascinating to see certain characters defined by their accents and dialogue. This applied to a major clue in the case as well where the police needed to consult experts in deciphering audio and isolated auditory sounds. I ate those parts up! And, the mystery’s ending was satisfying as everything clicked into place nicely.
Interestingly, this book is very much “of its time.” The cultural assumptions about women’s sexuality and sexual freedom certainly set this book in the time it was written. With that said, there were moments that sadly aged too well, including one character’s dark joke after the shooting in which he asks his colleagues if Sweden was turning into the United States. More than 50 years later, and the U.S. is still known for its issues with mass shootings. A disturbing parallel, to say the least.
This was the Shedunnit book club’s pick for April, fulfilling this month’s theme of mysteries in translation. I certainly don’t read translated mysteries enough, so I was excited to read this title beyond the fact that it has been sitting on my TBR shelves for too long! Upon finishing this book, my overall impression is that I fully understand why this title has become a modern classic of Nordic noir. I really enjoyed the gritty atmospheric setting of Stockholm, the collaborative teamwork among Beck and the other investigators, and the linguistic elements infused in both characterization and clue-deciphering.
I love all things that involve linguistics, so it was fascinating to see certain characters defined by their accents and dialogue. This applied to a major clue in the case as well where the police needed to consult experts in deciphering audio and isolated auditory sounds. I ate those parts up! And, the mystery’s ending was satisfying as everything clicked into place nicely.
Interestingly, this book is very much “of its time.” The cultural assumptions about women’s sexuality and sexual freedom certainly set this book in the time it was written. With that said, there were moments that sadly aged too well, including one character’s dark joke after the shooting in which he asks his colleagues if Sweden was turning into the United States. More than 50 years later, and the U.S. is still known for its issues with mass shootings. A disturbing parallel, to say the least.