Helpful Score: 6
A well written police mystery introducing detective Kurt Wallander of Ystad, Sweden. A small town detective finds himself buried in big city problems.
Wallander investigates savage murder of elderly Swedish couple in climate of high racial tension. Mankell typically places the stories murder investigation into the context of Swedish current events. In 1990 for "Faceless Killers" it was Somalia refugees in Sweden.
Originally published in Swedish in 1990's, series continues as follows:
Mördare utan ansikte, 1991 (Faceless Killers)
Hundarna i Riga, 1992 (The Dogs of Riga)
Den vita lejoninnan, 1993 (The White Lioness)
Mannen som log, 1994 (The Man who Smiled)
Villospår, 1995 (Sidetracked)
Den femte kvinnan, 1996 (The Fifth Woman)
Steget efter, 1997 (One Step Behind)
Brandvägg, 1998 (Firewall)
Wallander investigates savage murder of elderly Swedish couple in climate of high racial tension. Mankell typically places the stories murder investigation into the context of Swedish current events. In 1990 for "Faceless Killers" it was Somalia refugees in Sweden.
Originally published in Swedish in 1990's, series continues as follows:
Mördare utan ansikte, 1991 (Faceless Killers)
Hundarna i Riga, 1992 (The Dogs of Riga)
Den vita lejoninnan, 1993 (The White Lioness)
Mannen som log, 1994 (The Man who Smiled)
Villospår, 1995 (Sidetracked)
Den femte kvinnan, 1996 (The Fifth Woman)
Steget efter, 1997 (One Step Behind)
Brandvägg, 1998 (Firewall)
Helpful Score: 2
An excellent read! One warning: not every part of the mystery is resolved. According to an online interview with Mankell, this question comes up again in future books.
Helpful Score: 1
This is the FIRST of a wonderful Swedish (translated of course!) series. Kurt Wallander is a character with a lot of depth that you will really care for. Recently divorced he is faced with a challenging double homicide as well as another potential serial killer. This series reflects issues in today's Sweden (and Europe) as well as a introducing wonderful detective. I can't wait to read the next one.
Helpful Score: 1
Fabulous Swedish mystery. Quality writing, an interesting puzzle with numerous twists and a fully developed and intriguing character, Ystad police inspector Kurt Wallander. I will definitely be reading more of this series. Lots of Scandinavian angst and a chilling atmosphere. Highly recommended!
I expected to be a little more "wowed" by this book because I know several people who love this Henning Mankell series. It's okay, but a little dark for my taste. I will read more out of curiousity to see if they get better.
If you enjoyed "The Girl With the Dragon Tatoo" series, you might also enjoy this series. Keeps your interest as you follow Kurt Wallander's thoughts unraveling a crime interwoven with Kurt trying to have a personal life unsuccessfully. Often the reader knows more than the investigative team. Reading to find out how they solve the crime and if they will solve before another murder is committed.
Wallander comes alive in this first book in the series. Not as hard to follow as the Stieg books and much more understated. Leaves you wanting more of Kurt.
Eadie B. (eadieburke) -
Book Description
First in the Kurt Wallander series.
It was a senselessly violent crime: on a cold night in a remote Swedish farmhouse an elderly farmer is bludgeoned to death, and his wife is left to die with a noose around her neck. And as if this didn't present enough problems for the Ystad police Inspector Kurt Wallander, the dying woman's last word is foreign, leaving the police the one tangible clue they haveand in the process, the match that could inflame Sweden's already smoldering anti-immigrant sentiments.
Unlike the situation with his ex-wife, his estranged daughter, or the beautiful but married young prosecuter who has peaked his interest, in this case, Wallander finds a problem he can handle. He quickly becomes obsessed with solving the crime before the already tense situation explodes, but soon comes to realize that it will require all his reserves of energy and dedication to solve.
My Review
I enjoyed this first book in Henning Mankell's Kurt Wallander series. I found it to be a page-turner with lots of twists and turns. The characters were well developed and the plot was very clever. It was also a great look at life in Sweden. Wallander reminds me of Rebus, Ian Rankin's chief inspector in Scotland. I will definitely continue this series and look forward to reading the next book in the series.
First in the Kurt Wallander series.
It was a senselessly violent crime: on a cold night in a remote Swedish farmhouse an elderly farmer is bludgeoned to death, and his wife is left to die with a noose around her neck. And as if this didn't present enough problems for the Ystad police Inspector Kurt Wallander, the dying woman's last word is foreign, leaving the police the one tangible clue they haveand in the process, the match that could inflame Sweden's already smoldering anti-immigrant sentiments.
Unlike the situation with his ex-wife, his estranged daughter, or the beautiful but married young prosecuter who has peaked his interest, in this case, Wallander finds a problem he can handle. He quickly becomes obsessed with solving the crime before the already tense situation explodes, but soon comes to realize that it will require all his reserves of energy and dedication to solve.
My Review
I enjoyed this first book in Henning Mankell's Kurt Wallander series. I found it to be a page-turner with lots of twists and turns. The characters were well developed and the plot was very clever. It was also a great look at life in Sweden. Wallander reminds me of Rebus, Ian Rankin's chief inspector in Scotland. I will definitely continue this series and look forward to reading the next book in the series.
it was well written
Vivian Q. (bellasgranny) -
This is my second Henning Mankell read and I enjoyed it very much. Well written and plotted, it is another police procedural series that I will add to my growing list of faves. Arnaldur Indridason still ranks higher on my list, but I still highly recommend.
A tight and excellent Wallander novel. I read it in one day. Mankell and Larsson are two of the best out there in the detective genre.
Joan W. (justreadingabook) reviewed Faceless Killers (Kurt Wallander, Bk 1) on + 1711 more book reviews
This was not what I expected, it was a bit too wordy for me.
There was a lot of extra in it that really didn't add to the storyline other than filler.
Good story when you could wade through the filler.
There was a lot of extra in it that really didn't add to the storyline other than filler.
Good story when you could wade through the filler.
Rosalie P. (rosalie02138) reviewed Faceless Killers (Kurt Wallander, Bk 1) on + 28 more book reviews
Liked this very much and have requested all other books (10 I believe) currently available in his series. I think #11 has just been published. Quite dark Swedish life in the modern world - an interesting window.
When Police Detective Kurt Wallander responds to a call in the middle of the night, he finds a farmer has been brutally tortured and murdered. His wife has been beaten and is barely alive. Before the farmer's wife succumbs to her injuries, she whispers the word "foreign". Kurt wants to keep that fact from the public; but there is a leak at the police station and newspapers quickly let everyone know what the woman said. This leads to a rise in hate crimes in the usually peaceful Swedish countryside.
Several years ago, I watched the Kurt Wallander mysteries on public television and enjoyed them. I thought I'd give the first book in the series I try, so I downloaded the audiobook. The character of Wallander was a bit depressing. His wife has left him, his teenage daughter will not talk to him, and his father seems to have the beginnings of Alzheimer disease. Kurt is working long hours and drinking heavily. The whole situation made me question if he should be in charge of this investigation.
Even though the narrator, Dick Hill, does a fine job with the story, I found my mind wandering while listening to this mystery. I had a hard time remembering the names of the characters, including which ones were cops and which ones were suspects. I probably should have switched to reading instead of listening. My rating: 3 Stars.
Several years ago, I watched the Kurt Wallander mysteries on public television and enjoyed them. I thought I'd give the first book in the series I try, so I downloaded the audiobook. The character of Wallander was a bit depressing. His wife has left him, his teenage daughter will not talk to him, and his father seems to have the beginnings of Alzheimer disease. Kurt is working long hours and drinking heavily. The whole situation made me question if he should be in charge of this investigation.
Even though the narrator, Dick Hill, does a fine job with the story, I found my mind wandering while listening to this mystery. I had a hard time remembering the names of the characters, including which ones were cops and which ones were suspects. I probably should have switched to reading instead of listening. My rating: 3 Stars.
An especially satisfying crime novel. Police inspector is called to investigate the senselessly violent murder of a farmer & the near murder of his wife who dies giving a one-word clue "foreign" Will this inflame Sweden's already smoldering anti-immigrant sentiments.
Not a real exciting book. I can't say that I was impressed.
Although I liked the plot, I found the writing a bit pedestrian. I understand books later in the series get better and better.
The Kurt Wallander character is developed well in this book, and I'm looking forward to reading more about him. As with other Scandinavian writers I've read, the prose is sparse - one of these days I would love to read this as written in the author's native tongue.
Because I watched the Wallander PBS series prior to reading this book, I was stuck with the image of Kenneth Branagh as Wallander. That's not a bad thing but probably impacted my opinion of that character. Mankell does an excellent job developing Wallander as an immensely flawed police detective and his story really helped glue this mystery together for me. I was not, however, as intrigued by the mystery itself and I found myself a little disappointed as the book came to an end. The story had not stayed with me from the PBS series (possibly a forewarning that the book may not engage me). I do plan to continue the series as I'm curious about Wallander and his future.
An old farmer and his wife are murdered. Except for their horse, nobody saw or heard anything. During the investigation it turned out that the old farmer had secrets of his own.
Inspector Wallander spends almost 6 months to solve this crime which involves many false leads.
Great characterizations throughout! A very good read!
Inspector Wallander spends almost 6 months to solve this crime which involves many false leads.
Great characterizations throughout! A very good read!
"An especially satisfying crime novel, like those of such past masters as Georges Simenon, Nicholas Freeling, and Sweden's own Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo." The Wall Street Journal.
It was a senselessly violent crime: on a cold night in a remote Swedish farmhouse an elderly farmer is bludgeoned to death, and his wife is left to die with a noose around her neck. And as if this didn't present enough problems for the Ystad police inspector Kurt Wallaner, the dying woman's last word is "foreign," leaving the police the one tangible clue they have - and in the process, the match that could inflame Sweden's already smoldering anti-immigrant sentiments.
Unlike the situation with his ex-wife, his estranged daughter, or the beautiful but married young prosecuter who has piqued his interest, in this case Wallander finds a problem he can handle. He quickly becomes obsessed with solving the crime before the already tense situation explodes, but soon comes to realize that it will require all his reserves of energy and dedication to solve.
It was a senselessly violent crime: on a cold night in a remote Swedish farmhouse an elderly farmer is bludgeoned to death, and his wife is left to die with a noose around her neck. And as if this didn't present enough problems for the Ystad police inspector Kurt Wallaner, the dying woman's last word is "foreign," leaving the police the one tangible clue they have - and in the process, the match that could inflame Sweden's already smoldering anti-immigrant sentiments.
Unlike the situation with his ex-wife, his estranged daughter, or the beautiful but married young prosecuter who has piqued his interest, in this case Wallander finds a problem he can handle. He quickly becomes obsessed with solving the crime before the already tense situation explodes, but soon comes to realize that it will require all his reserves of energy and dedication to solve.
A wonderful plot - enjoyed to read how they figured out who did the murder....
I would read this author again.
I would read this author again.
Another great Kurt Wallander murder mystery.
Loved this book!
A Kurt Wallander police procedural.
