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Title: The Dogs of Riga by HENNING MANKELL ISBN: 1-4000-3152-4 Publisher: Vintage Books Pub. Date: 13 April, 2004 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $13.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.18 (11 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Crime and politics in the Baltic
Comment: "The Dogs of Riga" is one of the earlier books in Henning Mankell's series about his somber fictional Swedish police Inspector Kurt Wallendar and the plot is darker and jerkier than in later stories. I first read the book when it was published in German in 1993 and it's the only one of the series that I regularly enjoy re-reading. There's nothing slick about the story telling: it has a very raw edge to it.
The story follows the traditional Wallendar plotline: an exotic foreigner arrives in the peaceful coastal town of Ystad, accompanied by a slew of violent acts and connections to powerful people that shock the overworked local police force. In this case, the foreign dogs who wash up on Sweden's shore are two very dead businessmen with drugs in their systems.
Wallendar follows the trail back across the Baltic Sea to Riga, the capital of newly independent Latvia. There he involves himself more in local "affairs" than is politic or safe. Mankell kicked up some dust with this book. The Latvia described is a chaotic mix of gangland crime and corrupt officialdom. Some Latvians took exception to that bleak picture. (Latvia became independent in 1991 and "Hundarna i Riga" was published the following year.)
Kommissar Wallendar is often compared to Georges Simenon's Inspecteur Maigret or Colin Dexter's Chief Inspector Morse. In this book, he also shows traces of John Le Carré's Smiley. Mankell has been extremely popular in Europe for a long time. Maybe his books are better read in a cold, damp climate like that of Sweden, but I can't see anything that makes them "difficult for some American readers" as Publishers Weekly advises.
Rating: 3
Summary: A swing and a miss, strike two
Comment: The second book in the Kurt Wallander series, as happened with the first installment "Faceless Killers", falls clearly short of the mark. I have a Swedish friend who encouraged me to read the first book, and after finishing it and telling him it was not very good, he said I should give it another try. This second book did not change my opinion whatsoever, but since I heard that this was the weakest book in the series I am willing to give Henning Mankell one more chance.
It is February 1991 and after two bodies wash ashore the Swedish coast in a raft, the Ystad police, with Wallander leading the investigation, determine that the murdered men are from one of the countries in the Eastern block. The Swedish police receive the visit of Major Liepa, from the Latvian police, who comes to help with the crime. Following the discovery of certain facts, Anette Brolin, the district attorney object of Wallander's infatuation in the previous book, closes the case and transfers it to Riga. An unexpected turn of events will require the presence of the Swedish inspector in Riga to help with the case and a new murder. Upon his arrival, Wallander realizes that Latvia presents a high level of political unrest after the fall of the Berlin wall, with the group seeking independence is confronting the Russians.
Clearly the best aspect of the book is the main character, which has a complex personality and whose emotions, thoughts and inner demons are explored in depth, making these the main focus of the stories. In this case, Wallander is dealing with the loss of his partner, Rydberg, who was one of the most experienced policemen in the department. We find that Kurt is constantly second guessing himself and thinking what Rydberg would have done in his situation. Other factors like Wallander's relationship with his father and daughter are also cause of concern for the detective, and we find him having health problems and thinking of choosing and alternate career because of this.
Where the novel really lacks in quality is in what has to do with the mystery per se. Mankell never really grasps the reader attention in this aspect and, even though this book is a little bit more fast-paced than the one before, the action seems drawn out. If the author could improve in this point, his books would be great, because they already have an awesome main character. I really hope that my next, and maybe final, try with this series results in a more fulfilling experience.
Rating: 2
Summary: most disappointing of the series
Comment: This is the weakest of the six books I have read in the series. The translation into English is flat and the language drab. Usually, the element of mystery and suspense is stronger as is the character development of the detective Kurt Wallender and those surrounding his life. Here, the mystery lacks tension and at the end I hardly cared about the resolution. Also, there was little depth in the portrayal of Wallender or his personal circumstances. If you want to read two first rate Wallender mysteries, choose either One Step Behind or Sidetracked [they are quite similar in plot --and both are extraordinary mysteries].
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Title: Firewall by HENNING MANKELL ISBN: 1400031532 Publisher: Vintage Pub. Date: 09 September, 2003 List Price(USD): $13.00 |
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Title: The Fifth Woman by HENNING MANKELL ISBN: 1400031540 Publisher: Vintage Books Pub. Date: 13 April, 2004 List Price(USD): $13.00 |
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Title: The White Lioness by Henning Mankell ISBN: 1400031559 Publisher: Vintage Pub. Date: 13 May, 2003 List Price(USD): $13.00 |
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Title: Sidetracked by Henning Mankell ISBN: 1400031567 Publisher: Vintage Pub. Date: 13 May, 2003 List Price(USD): $13.00 |
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Title: Faceless Killers by Henning Mankell ISBN: 1400031575 Publisher: Vintage Pub. Date: 14 January, 2003 List Price(USD): $13.00 |
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