Sidetracked

A Kurt Wallander Mystery

Gripping suspense combines with probing social commentary in the fifth Kurt Wallander mystery

“For me, Henning Mankell is by far the best writer of police mysteries today. He is in the great tradition of those whose works transcend their chosen genre to become thrilling and moral literature.” —Michael Ondaatje

Inspector Kurt Wallander’s long-anticipated vacation plans are interrupted by two horrific deaths: the self-immolation of an unidentified young woman and the brutal murder of the former minister of justice. As the police struggle to piece together the few clues they have, the killer strikes again and again. What connection is there between a retired minister of justice, a successful art dealer, and a common petty thief? Why does the killer scalp his victims? And could there be some connection between the young woman's death and the murders?

Sidetracked, winner of the Best Crime Novel of the Year in Sweden, is part of the gripping Kurt Wallander Mystery Series that has taken Europe by storm. Mankell, called “the King of Crime” by The Economist, infuses the story with a searing look at the problems facing contemporary society, from the disintegration of the family and the exploitation of women to corruption and scandal at the highest levels of government. Rumpled but razor-sharp, Wallander remains a “solid character, utterly credible, and Mankell knows how to make the most of his virtues” (Publishers Weekly).

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Praise

“Mankell joins the worthy ranks of such past masters as Georges Simenon [and] Nicholas Freeling. ”
The Wall Street Journal
“Full of emotion yet cleanly written, apparently straightforward yet fraught with intriguing revelations, Mankell’s latest mystery is strongly recommended.”
Library Journal
“Wallander’s . . . voice . . . captures us.”
The New York Times Book Review
“Presents Mankell at his best . . . if you haven’t bought Sidetracked, do so ASAP.”
Los Angeles Times Book Review

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Goodreads Reviews