Sidetracked by Henning Mankell
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Inspector Kurt Wallander and his colleagues from the Ystad, Sweden, police face what might be their most difficult case. The former minister of justice is hacked to death with an axe and partially scalped. In addition, Wallander witnesses the self-immolation of a girl, and this dramatic event never leaves Wallander's mind while he and his team attempt to find the axe killer, who continues the rampage.

From the very beginning, the reader is offered insights into the mind of the killer. However, the police, not knowing the motives, face a very difficult task, and the investigation rapidly grows. Naturally, it is Wallander who solves the case, despite struggling with personal problems.

Sidetracked is an excellent procedural, with an interesting plot and credible characterizations. Yet there is nothing in the novel that would transcend the procedural genre, and the book, at 421 pages, is—in my nitpicky opinion—too long. But I highly recommend it to all readers who don't mind the hefty volume.

View all my reviews