The Return of the Dancing Master
This Book is Currently in the Wild!
2 journalers for this copy...
Arrived from Better World Books sometime between August 30 and Sept 9, 2016, when I was out of town.
The first Stefan Lindman mystery. Lindman is a 37-year-old police officer, recently diagnosed with cancer of the tongue. When he is on medical leave he reads about the murder of a former colleague, Herbert Molin, in another city. He had learned from Molin when Lindman was a younger officer and he is curious about his death. Perhaps as a way to avoid thinking too much about cancer, he decides to visit Harjedelen, where Molin was murdered.
Fortunately for Lindman, the detective assigned to the case takes a liking to him and lets him intrude in areas where he really should not. The two spend much time trying to figure out what happened and especially why. The murder was particularly horrific and the crime scene mysterious.
Lindman finds out connections among the major characters to an underground Nazi network. Further, he finds out more about himself and about his own father than perhaps he wants to know.
As is typical of Mankell, history and culture take a front seat here. He uses the story to raise awareness of the past, in hopes perhaps that we will not repeat it. Yet his typically dark nature is never convinced about the ultimate good of human nature.
Complex, complicated. But again Mankell manages to create women who aren't as fleshed out as the men and who tend to make demands. It seems that he only likes women for vague aesthetic qualities. I can never figure this out.
A side note: he refers to the police dogs as "Alsatians". This term was created during WWII by the British because they did not want to associate with anything German and the favorite police dog was a German Shephard. They are one and the same, in other words, and the word "Alsatian" is no longer in general use. I wonder why Mankell chose to use it.
Fortunately for Lindman, the detective assigned to the case takes a liking to him and lets him intrude in areas where he really should not. The two spend much time trying to figure out what happened and especially why. The murder was particularly horrific and the crime scene mysterious.
Lindman finds out connections among the major characters to an underground Nazi network. Further, he finds out more about himself and about his own father than perhaps he wants to know.
As is typical of Mankell, history and culture take a front seat here. He uses the story to raise awareness of the past, in hopes perhaps that we will not repeat it. Yet his typically dark nature is never convinced about the ultimate good of human nature.
Complex, complicated. But again Mankell manages to create women who aren't as fleshed out as the men and who tend to make demands. It seems that he only likes women for vague aesthetic qualities. I can never figure this out.
A side note: he refers to the police dogs as "Alsatians". This term was created during WWII by the British because they did not want to associate with anything German and the favorite police dog was a German Shephard. They are one and the same, in other words, and the word "Alsatian" is no longer in general use. I wonder why Mankell chose to use it.
Sent to eicuthbertson as a Valentine's Day gift. Gift exchange engineered by princess-peapod. Happy Valentine's Day!!
Received on Valentine's Day! Thank you. Reading this weekend.
Journal Entry 5 by eicuthbertson at Word Vancouver (book & magazine festival) in Vancouver, British Columbia Canada on Sunday, September 29, 2019
Released 4 yrs ago (9/29/2019 UTC) at Word Vancouver (book & magazine festival) in Vancouver, British Columbia Canada
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
Releasing at Word today - 9th floor, VPL Central Branch. Look for the Lower Mainland Bookcrossing Group table.
