Sweden

You've got to love Kurt Wallander. Mr Misery. Henning Mankell has created my view of the Swede (do Swede's know that they have the same name as a turnip-like vegetable?) He's depressed, lacks communication skills but is basically a very good man! What's not to like? Finding Henning Mankell for me was one of those moments when I realised that I had a whole new set of books I knew I'd enjoy - and in PAPERBACK! Finding a writer you love later in his/her career.... hoohar!!! Sadly have eaten the lot and now await new books.

I must admit that I thought this was set in Denmark! So how good is the setting? It's much less obvious than Henning Mankell's books. Doesn't make the books less readable. This is, I think, Hakan Nesser's first book (at least with Van Veeteren) and it's really good. I love the humour - that fly in the court chapters and Van Veeteren himself ... This isn't a book trying to give the reader a taste of another culture, but for readers outside Sweden it at least proves that Swedes do have a sense of humour! Read it.