Promotional Information

A tense and gripping psychological thriller- Mankell's best book yet

About the Author

Henning Mankell (1948-2015) became a worldwide phenomenon with his crime writing, gripping thrillers and atmospheric novels set in Africa. His prizewinning and critically acclaimed Inspector Wallander Mysteries continue to dominate bestseller lists all over the globe and his books have been translated into forty-five languages and made into numerous international film and television adaptations: most recently the BAFTA-award-winning BBC television series Wallander, starring Kenneth Branagh. Driven by a desire to change the world and to fight against racism and nationalism, Mankell devoted much of his time to working with charities in Africa, including SOS Children's Villages and PLAN International, where he was also director of the Teatro Avenida in Maputo. In 2008, the University of St Andrews conferred Henning Mankell with an honorary degree of Doctor of Letters in recognition of his major contribution to literature and to the practical exercise of conscience. www.henningmankell.com

Reviews

Razor-sharp... Mankell is, without doubt, one of the most impressive crime writers at work today
*Guardian*

Mesmerically fascinating
*Daily Telegraph*

A terse, gripping dissection of a broken man whose private morality is as barren as the frozen wastes that betray his destiny
*Times Literary Supplement*

An atmospheric and chilling portrait of a disturbed mind
*Observer*

A noirish psychological thriller, steeped in eerie premonitions and symbolism, in prose that's as cold, empty and pitiless as the landscape it describes
*Metro*

Lars Tobiasson-Svartman is the image of probity and rationality. An ace hydrographic engineer who accurately gauges distances and depths at a glance, Lars lulls himself to sleep each night clutching one of his sounding weights to his chest. He has married well but finds domesticity suffocating and much prefers the regimented, masculine environment aboard a naval vessel. In 1914, on a secret mission off the coast of Sweden, Lars discovers a beautiful woman living alone on a barren island. He spies on her from afar, becomes infatuated, and eventually ends up having an affair with her, ignoring the fact that his wife has just given birth back in Stockholm. Lars spins an increasingly complex web of lies to conceal each woman's existence from the other, and when it inevitably unravels he responds with shocking brutality. Is his true nature finally coming to the surface? Mankell's slow pacing requires some patience, and the Scandinavian gloom is oppressive. This nightmarish tale may remind older readers of Kobo Abe's classic novel The Woman in the Dunes (1964). Recommended for larger collections of European fiction.--Edward B. St. John, Loyola Law Sch. Lib., Los Angeles Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.

Razor-sharp... Mankell is, without doubt, one of the most impressive crime writers at work today * Guardian *
Mesmerically fascinating * Daily Telegraph *
A terse, gripping dissection of a broken man whose private morality is as barren as the frozen wastes that betray his destiny * Times Literary Supplement *
An atmospheric and chilling portrait of a disturbed mind * Observer *
A noirish psychological thriller, steeped in eerie premonitions and symbolism, in prose that's as cold, empty and pitiless as the landscape it describes * Metro *