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The Man From Beijingby Henning Mankell |
Arlene Almas (10/01/11): This is not strictly a Swedish mystery - I'd
call it a global mystery. The story does start off in Sweden with a horrendous mass murder, but eventually
passes through China, the United States, Africa, and (briefly) London. The main character is a Swedish judge,
Birgitta Roslin, who through coincidence becomes interested and then involved in the murder investigation,
although she is not a member of the police and does not work in the region where the crime took place. A
number of strong, influential women populate the narrative; some are Birgitta's friends and others are those
she meets as the story progresses. I think readers will enjoy following in Birgitta's footsteps and
attempting to resolve the mystery of the murders. Mankell has created a suspenseful narrative and a
very sympathetic character.
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Rating: *****
