![]() ![]() Kurt could really use a good therapist.) When Wallander wonders whether his own prejudices are hampering his ability to investigate the case, a colleague tells him that those feelings are "in all of us. Well, you know, Swedish, but…" - something that bothers him, and the fact that it bothers him also bothers him. Since these stories are as much about Wallander's personal foibles as they are about crime solving, his daughter is dating a Syrian doctor - "He's Syrian. (Not the band who sings "Cold as Ice" and "Jukebox Hero.") After warning everyone not to leak this information to the media, it is of course immediately leaked, and now migrant workers are being targeted by racist nutjobs. Kurt tells his crime solving team that he thinks she may have said farmer, or perhaps foreigner. Unfortunately, since she was dying at the time, those words weren't terribly clear. A elderly couple is murdered and Wallander hears the wife's final words. This time the issue is immigrants, specifically the Swedes' fear of foreigners. ![]() Episode 1, Faceless Killers (Airing October 3, 2010) Mankell likes to mix politics with his crime stories. Here are some thoughts about the full four and a half hours of Swedish crime drama goodness. Since these are mysteries (or Mysteries!), I don't want to reveal too many details. The fact that I missed the first three episodes didn't bother me, although I do wonder if some details would be more clear had I caught the first arc, leading to fewer moments of "wait, who's that woman taking care of Kurt's dad?" or "What are those pills he keeps taking?" With some shows, starting anywhere other than the beginning is an exercise in frustration in this case, watching Wallander II only made me want to pick up Wallander I, and also check out Mankell's novels. This is the second round of the BBC/PBS/Branagh version of Wallander (there is also a Swedish TV and film series). Bottom line: this is a great show that should be watched by everyone. There are a few clichéd moments that made me think of The Simpsons' McGarnicle - I wouldn't have been surprised to hear Branagh say, "I'm trying to get out but they keep pulling me back in!" - but these are few and far between. The cop show tropes are all there - Kurt has a boss who respects his skills but doesn't always want to put up with his inability to function like a normal human being, a coroner who does all the creepy stuff like figuring out just how and when somebody died, a younger investigator who also respects Wallander and is even more annoyed by him, even a female inspector that looks a little bit like Jill Hennessy. Even when Wallander goes to a bar or restaurant, there are never more than one or two other people around. The pace of life in Sweden seems slower, and as presented here, this is a country of vast open spaces and very little in the way of crowds. Wallander isn't light-hearted viewing, but it also isn't as intense as 24 or Law & Order: SVU. The rest of the cast is equally solid, with special mention going to David Warner as Povel Wallander, who is heartbreaking as Kurt's rapidly deteriorating dad. Branagh is a great actor who blends in smoothly with the other performers, something not every star is able to pull off. Start with Still Lifeĭebbie Rosenberg is a member of Fond du Lac Public Library's reference department.There's a lot to like here. You do want to read these in order since the characters continue through the stories. Today, she is one of my very favorite authors. Start with The Black echo.Ĭanadian author Louise Penny writes police procedurals about Armand Gamache and his team in Canada's Surete du Quebec. He's a Vietnam Vet and is a bit of a loner. Michael Connelly writes one of my favorite mystery series about L.A. The first title in the series is Knots and crosses. They are the story of a good man dealing with evil. Ian Rankin writes the Inspector Rebus mysteries which take place in Edinburgh, Scotland. His plots are complex and deal with modern life in Sweden. Henning Mankell writes about Swedish police detective Kurt Wallander. If you like John le Carre you might want to try some of these other authors who also write spy or suspense novels. His third novel in the George Smiley series is The Spy who came in from the cold and is a great place to start to find out why he is so good. ![]() His stories are realistic, and explore right and wrong. Tuesday, October 19th would have been the 90th birthday of British author, John le Carre who is considered a master of the spy novel. ![]()
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