It’s good of course

All of his books are excellent and very well read but this one I felt was an 11 hour bonkers fantasy which I wanted to abandon halfway through due to the constant tiresome patronising liberal nonsense against the backdrop of the demise of white rule in South Africa.

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Fond regards for Author but too clunky.

It’s rewarding to tackle this Author’s work even though a listener might sigh-often - at the too too didactic tone, the absurd coincidences and essential lack of enough convincing variety. Locales and characters hover close to but do not become quite rounded enough to be convincing. People pop up fortuitously then vanish again. It’s as if Markell became more obsessed with sharing his beliefs than developing a story.

A thing I found rewarding, as I listened, was to juggle the renditions of this tale which I have seen both by Branagh and the Swedish Television Wallander. By doing this you get a far better sense of all that was attempted in the novel.
What each of these different writers from different cultures and with varying budgets chose to foreground was enormously helpful when listening became a chore.

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1 person found this helpful

close the eyes and listen. really listen to this

a magnificent narrator reading a brilliant book. one of wallenders very best books. no need for BBC TV here

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Not the best Wallander but still worth reading

One cannot help but get the impression that Mankell used this novel to vent his anger at pre-ANC South Africa. The story spends a lot of time in SA and Wallander becomes a bit part actor at times instead of the lead. this means the book doesn't work as well as the others in the series but it's still a very worthwhile read, especially with the peerless Sean Barrett narration.
Mankell never convinces on Southern Africa in spite of the time he spent there. He takes the easy but very lazy line of painting Afrikaners as nothing but conniving evil monsters. The Zulu character here is treated with sympathy although he is a very unsavoury, unethical murderer. Mankell bends over backwards to seek out tiny elements of good left in him, but cannot bring himself to do so with the Afrikaners. It does his reputation no service and grossly misrepresents the Afrikaans people.

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5 people found this helpful

The White Lioness

On the whole a very good read, exciting in parts, and very well read by Sean Barrett. Some parts a little drawn out, particularly the ending but certainly not disappointing for me, I do like this author and will continue to read his books without doubt. I like the idea of a provincial police detective gets to stray out of his comfort zone and although successful (so far) makes many mistakes. Definitely worth a read!

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Story lines

Good book. a decent number of story lines that kept interest through the whole book.

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The best yet

I am rapidly becoming a Wallander fan and already look forward to the next in the series. As always, Barrett is a superb narrator who effortlessly transports one into the story.

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Excellent

Gripping read excellently narrated found it difficult to put it down and sad when it ended looking forward to listening to his next book

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2 people found this helpful

Excellent

Gripping story full of surprising and one small coil in an excellent series of books.

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Enthralled

Not sure if this story was a real event. It seemed that way. Take a look at S. Africa 's history over the years following Nelson Madella Presidency to current and questions seem to come to mind.
The book is a great read. Narration superb

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