The Swedes are very squeamish. Spencer, in good American fashion, would just shoot a baddie and go on with life. Wallander gets all introspective and is ready to quit the force. Wallander’s emotional fragility gets old. For me. Nevertheless, Mankell’s books are nearly always excellent.
I’ve read eight Wallander books now. This wasn’t among his best. THE best was still “The White Lioness.” That was a masterpiece.
Before this book, I finished “The James Deans,” by Reed Farrel Coleman. It introduced me to a private eye named Moe Prager. An interesting kind of guy, former New York cop (most private eyes are ex-cops). The plot was kind of a two-parter: solve one case, then solve it again. It was enjoyable, but I probably won’t bother reading another Moe Prager book. Too many other mystery protagonists I care about more.
