For fans of Kurt Wallander mysteries this is definitely a keeper. His daughter Linda has now become a police officer and she is drawn into a case that is way too close to home. This book does some exploring of juvenile female friendships that have matured, which is interesting, as well as the secrets that are sometimes kept hidden from those closest to us. Wallander himself still has a prominent role in this book which is great as he is familiar territory to those who are used to reading Henning’s books. A religious sect and its leader are the centre of this story and their goal is to cleanse the world via some extreme and gruesome measures. One of Linda’s friends seems to have disappeared and the cases may be connected. The author is very frank with Linda’s character; she is a combination of her two parents and not always in a positive way. In this book she is beginning to see how she resembles her father and how she deals with people as well as stress.
One Step Behind – A Kurt Wallander Mystery By Henning Mankell
Admittedly I never read these until they were televised recently. Mankell is brilliant. His books are easy to read but intelligent and fast moving. This story begins with a mysterious Midsummer’s Eve gathering, those attending wearing costumes from centuries before. It is extremely secretive but someone is watching. Simultaneously Wallander is returning from his summer holiday but he is exhausted and knows his health is compromised. The fatigue worsens when more questions arise than answers are found and he has to delve into the life of one of his colleagues. He knows he is racing against the clock to find the perpetrator and get his life under control included eating well and exercising. Easier said than done.