The Troubled Man

For sometime now I have enjoyed reading the Kurt Wallander series by Henning Mankell. Mankell is a Swedish author, the books are translated into the English, and I find them very engaging stories. I first got subjected to the stories through the PBS Mystery series starring Kenneth Branagh. Between the Wallander series, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo series by Stieg Larsson,  and "The Hypnotist", by Lars Kepler, I feel I have found a treasure trove of new novels that I love and recommend. Kudos to you Swedish authors out there. I admit, not being able to read these books in the original Swedish means I probably miss a lot of the language originally intended by the authors, and I also probably miss many of the cultural references in the novels, but I love them never-the-less.

"The Troubled Man" was my most recent read. Apparently it is the last in the Wallander series, and the author through plot and device ensures that for the reader. Slight spoiler there, but only slight since the method the author ends the series is unique to me. But let me say, "The Troubled Man" was troubling. Perhaps because I am only 10 years younger then the Wallander of the story. And perhaps since I have been dealing with health problems and dealing more directly with my own mortality, the book really hit home. The Wallander character has had to deal with divorce, dumping, health issues, alcohol abuse, wondering about his purpose in life...through a total of 13 books now...I was sort of hoping the author would grant Kurt a break in this final book. Give him a steady girl to stand by him, give him a rewarding and active retirement,  give him a break....

....but no....you won't find that in this final book. I won't tell you more....but just between you and me...after reading a series this good and this powerful, I think the author could have thrown Wallander and me the reader a bone...something small we could sink our teeth in.

Two Thumbs up for a great story, middle finger up for the author not giving Kurt a break.

Cheers, nca.