Midsummer approaches, and Inspector Kurt Wallander prepares for a holiday with the new woman in his life, hopeful that his wayward daughter and his ageing father will cope without him. But his restful summer plans are thrown into disarray when a teenage girl commits suicide before his eyes, and a former minister of justice is butchered in the first of a series of apparently motiveless murders. Wallander's desperate hunt for the girl's identity and his furious pursuit of a killer who scalps his victims will throw him and those he loves most into mortal danger. WINNER OF THE CRIME WRITERS' ASSOCIATION GOLD DAGGER.
Sidetracked: Kurt Wallander
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Amazon Review
"The Swedish summer-time is too beautiful and too brief for something like this to happen." A young girl commits self-immolation, a former government minister is killed with an axe and scalped; these are the two brutal facts that confront Inspector Kurt Wallander as he prepares for his holiday. As the Swedish midsummer approaches there is no escaping from the darkness of society.
Sidetracked, the fifth of Henning Mankell's acclaimed Kurt Wallander mysteries, and the second to be translated into English, is an engrossing police procedural. The hard-boiled Kurt Wallander has softened slightly since he was first introduced in Faceless Killers, the first title in the series. He drinks less, has more functional relationships and has developed a faith in his investigative team. Despite this, it is his other qualities as a character, his philosophical angst and his intuitive pursuit of hunches, which drive this novel as Wallander struggles to discover the leads that will trap the killer.
Mankell manages to squeeze in serious comments on the state of Swedish society. The over-stretched police force, child prostitution and the corruption of high politics, all come under the scrutiny of Wallander's wearied gaze as he struggles to come to terms with the new violence of his society. This is a dark novel peppered with genuinely nasty violence, but it is Wallander's struggle to uncover the truth and face his own demons that provide the real thrills. --Iain Robinson --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
Wallander's investigations are perfectly judged to create a thrilling mood of growing tension culminating in a satisfying climax (The Times )
Wonderfully bleak thrillers...somehow unremitting and gripping at the same time (Sean French Independent )
Mankell is one of the most ingenious crime writers around. Highly recommended (Observer )
Sweden's answer to Morse and Wexford (Mail on Sunday )
Gripping... Expert plotting (Daily Telegraph ) --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
Wonderfully bleak thrillers...somehow unremitting and gripping at the same time (Sean French Independent )
Mankell is one of the most ingenious crime writers around. Highly recommended (Observer )
Sweden's answer to Morse and Wexford (Mail on Sunday )
Gripping... Expert plotting (Daily Telegraph ) --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
45 of 46 people found the following review helpful
By Scully Bloke
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback
This is the 5th book in the Kurt Wallender series and in my view it is the best so far.
What makes a Mankell book so special is the mix of plot, suspense and characterisation of the main characters but in particular Wallender.
In this story Wallender's private life is on the up. His daughter comes to visit him and their relationship so bad in previous novels is now strong. He plans a trip to Italy with his father and he looks forward to the holiday with his new love Baiba.
This is all in complete contrast to the investigation that he heads up, that of multiple violent murders and a suicide of a young girl.
What makes these books special is that you follow Wallenders thought process as he churns the facts, his suspicions and theories. Can he link the murderers, is his investigation heading in the right direction or is it sidetracked by normal police process.
I never rush a Mankell novell. I read every word as there is something to be revealed in nearly every line.
The best police and crime series you can read. It puts the others in the shade.
What makes a Mankell book so special is the mix of plot, suspense and characterisation of the main characters but in particular Wallender.
In this story Wallender's private life is on the up. His daughter comes to visit him and their relationship so bad in previous novels is now strong. He plans a trip to Italy with his father and he looks forward to the holiday with his new love Baiba.
This is all in complete contrast to the investigation that he heads up, that of multiple violent murders and a suicide of a young girl.
What makes these books special is that you follow Wallenders thought process as he churns the facts, his suspicions and theories. Can he link the murderers, is his investigation heading in the right direction or is it sidetracked by normal police process.
I never rush a Mankell novell. I read every word as there is something to be revealed in nearly every line.
The best police and crime series you can read. It puts the others in the shade.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By J. Milton
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I first hear of the Wallander series of novels through watching the BBC adaptations. I began at the start and quickly arrived at Sidetracked, the fifth Wallander novel. Sidetracked happened to be one of the three books adapted for TV so when I began reading I was already familiar with what happens in the book. However, this did not spoil my enjoyment of the book.
Sidetracked goes back to the bread and butter of police procedurals, which is by no means a bad thing. Gone are the days of international mischief that have peppered previous novels. Wallander and his team of well-established characters are involved in two cases, which at first do not appear to be related and are committed in the vicinity of Skane - a series of murders involving scalping and the gruesome suicide of a young lady.
There is also a greater insight into Wallander's personal life. His relationships with members of his family begin to warm and his love interest - Baipa - gets a greater mention in this book, which is welcome.
Overall, an excellent Wallander outing. It's easy to see why this book is award-winning
Sidetracked goes back to the bread and butter of police procedurals, which is by no means a bad thing. Gone are the days of international mischief that have peppered previous novels. Wallander and his team of well-established characters are involved in two cases, which at first do not appear to be related and are committed in the vicinity of Skane - a series of murders involving scalping and the gruesome suicide of a young lady.
There is also a greater insight into Wallander's personal life. His relationships with members of his family begin to warm and his love interest - Baipa - gets a greater mention in this book, which is welcome.
Overall, an excellent Wallander outing. It's easy to see why this book is award-winning
29 of 30 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I hope I can help readers read Wallander's books in the right order:
1. Faceless killers
2. The dogs of Riga
3. The white lioness
4. The man who smiled
5. Sidetracked
6. The fifth woman
7. One step behind
8. Firewall
9. The pyramid
10. Before the frost (first Linda Wallander book)
1. Faceless killers
2. The dogs of Riga
3. The white lioness
4. The man who smiled
5. Sidetracked
6. The fifth woman
7. One step behind
8. Firewall
9. The pyramid
10. Before the frost (first Linda Wallander book)
23 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Until I went to Ystad recently, I had no idea what an idyllic and perect small town it is - all cobbled streets and half-timbered cottages. If there's one thing Mankell misdescribes in the Wallander novels, it is the sleepy atmosphere of Ystad. But I guess the idea is that the shocking murders that Inspector Wallander investigates are all the more shocking against this backdrop where in reality there must be next to no crime.
That aside, this is cracking stuff: gruesome murders, fascinating characters, blind alleys, and that typical rush at the end when everything finally falls into place. All the Wallander novels are excellent - this one is probably one of the better ones.
That aside, this is cracking stuff: gruesome murders, fascinating characters, blind alleys, and that typical rush at the end when everything finally falls into place. All the Wallander novels are excellent - this one is probably one of the better ones.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Novels by Henning Mankel that have as protagonist to inspector Kurt Wallander you can opine are police books. "Sidetracked" is one of the best, dealing with the theme of a psychopathic killer.
But I personally find the author uses the hook of mystery to expose a big amount of questions so important if not more that the criminal plot. We can begin with the personality of Wallander, a policeman nothing usual, too much sensible for so hard, cruel facts he think has to face, although he overcomes his personal limitations when necessary, but at a considerable personal cost, drinking enormous amounts of coffee and breaking rules and ordnances. For that, in this novel, Wallander lets subconsciously to be sidetracked to avoid the horror he suspects from the beginning. From his police station of Ystad, a small village of South Sweden, the crimes Wallander has to solve, serve an excuse to expose a background of social and politic disarrangement rounding the chaos, details very notable as Swedish society is seen from outside as calm and very equalitarian, although this cases have frequent international implications that go much more far from Sweden. Psychology, ideology, politics and sociology are in this books as relevant as crimes and action. All that it's an engineering piece not easy to ensemble, and some of his novels are better achieved than others, and suppose even can disgust to readers which don't want more than a thriller or disagree with the general thesis of the author.
But I personally find the author uses the hook of mystery to expose a big amount of questions so important if not more that the criminal plot. We can begin with the personality of Wallander, a policeman nothing usual, too much sensible for so hard, cruel facts he think has to face, although he overcomes his personal limitations when necessary, but at a considerable personal cost, drinking enormous amounts of coffee and breaking rules and ordnances. For that, in this novel, Wallander lets subconsciously to be sidetracked to avoid the horror he suspects from the beginning. From his police station of Ystad, a small village of South Sweden, the crimes Wallander has to solve, serve an excuse to expose a background of social and politic disarrangement rounding the chaos, details very notable as Swedish society is seen from outside as calm and very equalitarian, although this cases have frequent international implications that go much more far from Sweden. Psychology, ideology, politics and sociology are in this books as relevant as crimes and action. All that it's an engineering piece not easy to ensemble, and some of his novels are better achieved than others, and suppose even can disgust to readers which don't want more than a thriller or disagree with the general thesis of the author.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By traveller
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This was an unputdownable book. I don't like murder stories as a rule, but this one was fantastic. It is a terrific translation from the Swedish and keeps a 'cool' style all the way through. You can guess the 'who' long before you get the 'why'. The characters are believable and the story line scary. Try it and see.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Huck Flynn
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback
The Wallender series is almost uniformly strong if you ignore the rather far fetched "Dogs of Riga" and Sidetracked features the same relentless procedural investigative detail of Faceless Killers, One Step Behind and Fifth Woman. Why would an unknown young woman of foreign origin set fire to herself in a cornfield - Wallender and his team are under pressure once again to unravel the many tangled threads. Blind alleys and false trails stand in their way but progress is made painstakingly against a background of Swedish society in transition from socialist state to modern lawless global economy. Wallender's own health and relationships are also frustrating obstacles but add realism to the plot and he earns your respect and empathy. A satisfying crime thriller despite an almost complete absence of relieving humour or sexual tension. Highly recommended.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
sidetracked by henning mankellk
This is by far the best mankell read I have enjoyed so far. Although this has been on the t.v Wallender series the book as always far excels the film.
Published 2 days ago by m.w.brewer
4.0 out of 5 stars
An excellent book
I would recommend this book to all my friend colleges. A very enjoyable read and an understandable storyline. Very good.
Published 1 month ago by Peter Isherewood
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sidetracked by Henning Mankell
As usual with Henning Mankell's books I enjoyed it greatly. I had seen it in one episode of the Wallander television series but I did prefer the book. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Daphne A. Booth Yardley
4.0 out of 5 stars
The popular Scandenavian mystries
Although I enjoyed Kenneth Brannagh as Wallander in the BBC series, I found following the original Swedish programmes hard work. Read more
Published 2 months ago by JS
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic
I love all the books with Wallander..completely engrossing. I plan to read them all if I can so far none have disappointed me.
Published 2 months ago by L. M. Mclean
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gripping
I am reading the Wallander books in chronological order. This, the fifth, is by far the best so far. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Donald Hughes
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant
Maxwell at his best. Roll on the next salamander novel, can't wait to download this evening
They get better and better
They get better and better
Published 3 months ago by Geoff Homer
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mankell
In the midddle of reading it. The plot is up to the best of Mankell, and it is very difficult to put the book down.
Published 3 months ago by Pierre Lebec
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not as good as others
I am a great Henning Mankell fan but I must confess I thought this too slow and too long. One of the problems in this type of book when you are given the answer quite early on as... Read more
Published 3 months ago by dixie dean
5.0 out of 5 stars
Review
Excellent. Found it difficult to put down! Just as good as the television series and you get to know more about the characters.
Published 5 months ago by MRS Y A GRIMLEY
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