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Content snapshot
Flag an inaccuracy →What's in this book, at a glance — five things readers want to know before they start.
Violence
A lot
Serial murder and scalping; graphic crime scenes
Language
Some
Some strong language
Sexual Content
Barely any
Brief adult content
Substance Use
Barely any
Some alcohol use; Wallander's drinking is ongoing
Emotional Intensity
A lot
The psychological weight of violence witnessed and violence investigated
What this book is about
Kurt Wallander investigates a series of murders where the killer scalps his victims — while also haunted by the image of a girl who burned herself to death in front of him. Mankell's fifth Wallander novel is among his darkest, exploring the Sweden beneath the welfare state's surface.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
Serial murder and scalping
Graphic crime content
Self-immolation depicted
Reader Verification
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