The White Lioness is the third book in the acclaimed Kurt Wallander series. Henning Mankell is a Swedish author. The book is set mostly in Sweden but there are also sections of the book set in South Africa. It was originally published in Swedish in January 1993; it was translated into English by Laurie Thompson in 1998. This book was written in the years prior to the official end of Apartheid in 1994.
The story begins with the execution-style murder of a Swedish housewife. The police investigation reveals that the victim was being stalked by an admirer, but he has an airtight alibi. As the investigation continues, the police eventually discover the first stage of an assassination plot to kill a high official in South Africa. The man who is running the operation to train an assassin in Sweden is a ruthless ex-KGB agent, who will stop at nothing to have a successful end to his assignment.
My Thoughts:
The focus on Apartheid leads to a very complex story that sometimes loses its focus. But the inclusion of that subject was one of the reasons I liked the book. I was interested to learn about Apartheid at the time this book was written. I had read historical mysteries set in South Africa in the 1950s and in the 1970s, but this story shows the attitudes and efforts to move forward in abolishing Apartheid in South Africa in the early 1990s.
Kurt Wallander is a police inspector in Ystad following up on just one part of the investigation. As the case continues, he gets pulled into it deeper and deeper. At one point he goes off the rails, taking things into his own hands without letting others on the team know what he is doing.
I like that elements of Wallander's home life and family relationships are included. He is divorced. His father is elderly and lives alone; Wallander and he have always had a difficult relationship. Now his father is planning on getting married and Wallander disapproves. His daughter, who is working in Stockholm, gets drawn into the action, and although I don't care for mysteries where family members are put in danger, this subplot does provide some of the best scenes.
This is not an easy story to read, not only because of the complex plot but also because there is so much ruthless violence. Nevertheless I gave it 5 stars and I understand more and more why the novels in the Wallander books have been so well received.
I find him one of the best Scandinavian writers even though perhaps the most depressing. Both the UK TV series and the original one are excellent too. It took me a while to get over hearing the British accents WALLANDER. I think his daughter eventually becomes a cop too. Sadly in the Swedish series, the beautiful actress who played Linda committed suicide which brought things to a halt. I hope I am remembering that right. I saw a funny interview with him where they asked him who he would like to take on a date and he said Kristin Scott Thomas because she seemed intelligent. And she does.
ReplyDeleteMargot, I hope I move through the rest of the series at a faster pace. I read the first book in the series in 2009, and the 2nd one in 2019. And the focus on Apartheid and South Africa in this one was very interesting.
DeletePatti, The books are pretty depressing. Wallander doesn't ever seem to be happy. But at least in this book his relationships with his father and his daughter end on an up note. I agree, Kristin Scott Thomas does seem intelligent and I have always liked her acting.
DeleteProbably not the book for me, though I do want to read at least one of Mankell's books.
ReplyDeleteLark, I have only read three of Mankell's books and all three were in the Wallander series. The previous book was partially set in Riga, Latvia (in 1991) and that was an interesting place to read about. But I don't remember if the story was as intense and complex.
DeleteYou seem to introduce me to many books and authors that I'm not familiar with. This sounds very interesting, but maybe a little too intense for me right now. I'm feeling the need for some "fluff" during the next month or two!
ReplyDeleteKelly, I can understand you being more interested in "fluffy" books now than in intense, violent books. I have been reading (and buying) more books that are lighter lately and enjoying them.
DeleteI've always thought this was an excellent series, Tracy, and it's good to see one of the books here. It's true that Mankell writes a complex plot at times, but somehow, the pieces come together. You make a good point, too, that this perspective on apartheid is not something we've seen a lot of (or at least, I haven't).
ReplyDeleteAs with Patti, I've enjoyed both the original and UK tv adaptations (on MHz Worldview, when that was still a broadcast network, and PBS), but I haven't yet read Mankell (in translation, the only way I can). Have you read Nadine Gordimer's short stories? I was introduced to them by another tv series, half-hour adaptations of her fiction, which ran in public syndication in the US in the '80s. "City Lovers" was particularly stark and indicative of how ridiculous apartheid was.
ReplyDeleteTodd, We watched the first two or three seasons of the Wallander with Branagh, and enjoyed them.
DeleteI don't remember reading anything by Nadine Gordimer, but now that you have mentioned her, I am looking into her novels and short stories. I can read "City Lovers" on the New Yorker and I will. I just now purchased an ebook copy of Life Times: Stories to try out more of her stories.
I hope you enjoy her work...of course, apartheid can get in the way of happy endings.
ReplyDeleteTodd, I do prefer happy endings, but I guess I would expect that stories about apartheid won't be fun to read.
DeleteI have not read the Wallander series but it has been portrayed on screen a few times right? I think the Apartheid angle is interesting to learn about at the time it was happening, though I probably would be a bit lost at some of the convoluted parts.
ReplyDeleteSusan, there was a British series and a Swedish one. I have only watched the British series and did not finish that. I would not call the books a downer but they are certainly not uplifting, and I think the adaptations are the same. There was even a Young Wallander adaptation I think.
DeleteI have liked the books in the Wallander series that I have read but I have only read 3 out of 10 books. And I have always read mysteries primarily.
Happy Birthday, Happy Guy Fawkes Day, and Happy Election Day!
ReplyDeleteConstance, thanks for the birthday wishes. I always forget about Guy Fawkes Day. I wish my birthday had not coincided with Election Day.
DeleteAnd another Happy Natal, Tracy!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Todd. It has been a busy day, and I am enjoying it. But I wish I could forget the election today.
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