The Man Who Smiled

I read three or four mysteries a month. I am very critical. Lots of mysteries start off well but fizzle, some writers never come through with believable plots, characters or dialogue. Henning Mankell is so thoroughly enjoyable, I am just in awe. Truly. In this case, it's not necessarily the plot that's good but the way he tells the story. I enjoy learning about Sweden, its police culture, etc. Very thoughtful writer. Very rewarding.

As I have recently learned, there is a title for this type of book, "Swedish Noir". There are those who do not like this type of brooding, intense, emotionally wrenching story, but there are a lot of folks who do, and not just among Swedes. I have been following many of Mankell's book as well as other authors in the Scandianvian mystry genre, and have tried to read them in sequence. This one escaped me so it was taking place early in the author's series, but basically that does not matter, it is a terrific, detailed, intense story. Kurt Wallender is real and flawed and yet manages to be bigger than life despite it all. I have enjoyed all of Mankell's books that I have read, and this one ranks among the best of that bunch. A fine read.

Investigator extraordinaire Kurt Wallander of the Ystad Police Force in Sweden has been kind of down, living in isolation for the past year, because he had to kill a man on his last case. Then an old friend, Sten Torstensson, who needs help, because he doesn't believe his father committed suicide, asks Kurt for assistance, but Kurt begs off. He seemingly has no stomach for anymore police work. Then Torstensson dies under suspicious circumstances and now Kurt can't stay away. He ends his sabbatical and goes back to work. It's not long before Kurt, who is taking anti-depressants and drinking a lot of alcohol, ties in the death of his friend and his friend's father with to a guy who has more money than anybody ought to have, more power too. A rich and powerful guy who kills without a blink, a man who can kill with a smile. This is the fourth book in the series and was originally published in Sweden in 1994, but the last to be translated into English, so sadly I had to read them out of order, but that didn't take away any of the enjoyment. I love the way Mr. Mankell weaves the very essence of Sweden into his stories and they way he makes his people, especially Kurt Wallander, live and breath. Like each and everyone of the books is in the series, once started, I couldn't put it down.

Henning Mankell's captivating "The Man Who Smiled", while written about 12 years ago has just been recently been translated into English. Mankell's style has great appeal resulting from an abilty to use the realistic immorality existent in society to fabricate his plots. His protagonist Swedish police inspector Kurt Wallander is a believable character, with a plausible array of human foibles. Years of police work has taken its toll and both his health and emotional state. We find Wallander in the midst of a leave of absence fueled by the psychological baggage he's carrying after killing a man in the line of duty. A year long drunken binge finds Wallander in the throes of depression and ill health and pondering retiring from the police force. He's attempting to dry out in the Danish seaside town of Skagen when he receives an unexpected visit from a lawyer friend Sten Torstensson. Torstensson had sought Wallander out to seek his help in investigating the circumstances of his father Gustaf's death. The death had been ruled an accident but the son had serious doubts. The father, also a lawyer had been working exclusively for an Alfred Harderberg. Harderberg, a self made multi millionaire was a Swedish industrialist and philanthropist with extensive connections. Harderberg was ensconsed in Farnholm Castle as if he were royalty coming and going in absolute secrecy. Farnholm Castle happened to be the destination from which Gustaf Torstensson had been returning when he become involved in his fatal auto accident. Wallander eventually made his way back to his home in Ystad. While canvassing the local paper is his apartment, he came across an article that would set his life back on the right path. His friend Sten Torstensson had been found murdered, shot in his office. Right then and there Wallander decided to rejoin the force much to the relief of his beleaguered colleagues, under the stipulation that he lead the investigation into the murders of the Torstenssons. He now set his sights on the man he suspected, the man who always smiled, the untouchable Alfred Harderberg. Mankell in his brilliantly utilitarian fashion chronicles the plodding and tortuous police procedural orchestrated by the irrepressible Wallander as he tries to unravel clues to ensnare his prey.

It is occasionally tempting to wonder why a small town in Sweden would have such a run of horrific murders ever since Henning Mankell began writing his deliciously thrilling Kurt Wallander novels. The Man Who Smiled is a page-turner like its predecessors with a well-twisted plot, the usual cast of police characters with the moody backdrop of coastal Sweden's gray skies, rain and wind. Wallander's interior dialogues often mirror the gloomy scenery as he picks his way through the maze of the criminal mind. I am not much of a mystery reader but each of Mankell's books is a gem and The Man Who Smiled is no exception.