The Assignment

by Per Wahlöö

From Per Wahlöö—co-author with his wife, Maj Sjöwall, of the internationally bestselling Martin Beck series of mysteries—comes a novel about a political assassination in South America, and unassuming diplomat is chosen to take his place.
 
The Provincial Resident of a desolate province in a South America has been assassinated. When Manuel Ortega, a minor diplomat, accepts the appointment as the dead man's successor, it seems a foolhardy decision. From the day he assumes his post he is plunged into a violent, corrupt world, where two extremist political factions are at odds. Ortega is caught in the middle, surrounded by people he's not sure he can trust--his alluring secretary, the cynical chief of police, and the sullen bodyguards who try to keep the Resident alive. As the tension rises, Ortega must take action, but the question what will he do?

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Thriller

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1963

About the author

Per Fredrik Wahlöö (5 August 1926 - 22 June 1975) was a Swedish author. He is perhaps best known for the collaborative work with his partner Maj Sjöwall on a series of ten novels about the exploits of Martin Beck, a police detective in Stockholm, published between 1965 and 1975. In 1971, The Laughing Policeman (a translation of Den skrattande polisen, originally published in 1968) won an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for Best Novel. Wahlöö and Sjöwall also wrote novels separately.

Wahlöö was born in Tölö parish, Kungsbacka Municipality, Halland. After his studies, from 1946 onwards he worked as a crime reporter. After long trips around the world he returned to Sweden and started working as a journalist again.

He had a 13 year relationship with his colleague Maj Sjöwall but never married [1] Both were Marxists.

He has been married to Inger Wahlöö, née Andersson. He was brother to Claes Wahlöö.

He died of cancer at Malmö in 1975, aged 48.


Series written with Maj Sjöwall:
* Martin Beck

Reviews

[AC · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a truly fabulous book — a political thriller, of sorts — but much more. Possibly the best thing Wahlöö ever wrote. Can’t recommend this enough.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Per Wahlöö, co-author of the remarkable Martin Beck series of Swedish detective novels, here takes a solo outing, departing from the crime novel genre into that of diplomatic intrigue. In THE ASSIGNMENT, a South American diplomat, Manuel Ortega, is ordered to replace a provincial official after the man's assassination. Ortega must try to establish peace, or at least an end to violence, between the wealthy white population of the province and the Indian peasants who have united against them in hopes of liberating themselves from oppression. Much of the novel depicts Ortega waiting tensely and tediously for events to occur, yet there is nothing tedious for the reader. When events do break, what happens is both exciting and intelligent, with turns and intrigue accelerating the tension. There is a strong philosophical debate at play between Ortega and the police commander who is both his political opponent and his greatest source of security, and Wahlöö, a deeply political writer even in his most commercial works, makes no secret of where he stands on the issues at play in the story. At times deceptively even-paced, THE ASSIGNMENT turns out to be a sturdy exploration of the lifelong fight between true good and true evil and the grey areas where so much of life exists. A highly engaging book.

[Müslim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eski mardinde gezerken denk geldiğim bir sahafın raflarını karıştırırken karşılaştığım güzel kitap. Şuanki bulunduğum durum ve konum itibarıyla kitabı rahatça bitirmek pek kolay olmasa da neyse ki kimse elimde görüp neyden bahsediyor bu diye sormadı. Kitapla alakası olmayan insanların arasında zaman geçirmenin faydalarından biri de bu olsa gerek .

[Tbfrank · Rating 3 out of 5]

A dark, bleak, psychological mid-century tale written at the height of the Cold War by a Swedish writer known for the noir Martin Beck police thrillers co-authored by his wife.

Middle-aged diplomat Miguel Ortega, posted by an unnamed South American country to its embassy in Sweden, is given the unenviable assignment of Provincial Resident in one of the poorest and most troublesome regions in his home country. He is to replace the recently assassinated previous resident and instructed to find a means for settling the on-going conflict. From the moment Ortega arrives, he is in fear of his life, warned by both sides he has not long to live. Clearly out of his depth, Ortega is driven to make some contribution that will change the situation and advance the cause of peace.

The simple prose conveys the growing tension as Ortega works with the local police, military, civilian militia, and partisans to plan a conference to negotiate a peaceful settlement. Ortega is a man who has confidence in his abilities and past experience to believe that his good intentions will sway the parties to reach an agreement. His fears grow and he senses the duplicitous nature of those around him but never truly understands the extent of the situation. He is a willing if idealistic pawn in a game he fails to recognize in which he is trapped.

[Frank McGirk · Rating 3 out of 5]

A serious book that, sadly, could have easily shifted into a farcical lampoon.

There is no doubt that the petty diplomat protagonist is trying to improve the world and "do good things," but where Wahloo lets us get closer to the oppositional figures, most notably in the police chief, we get mired in the complexity of their being no real "bad guys," or at least none among the people who are themselves close to the action.

The sex in the book is an intersting reflection on this. The happily married diplomat moves easily into an affair with his secretary, and he barely reflects back on his family even when faced with death, those particular mores when being in a difficult situation changing for him easily.

Or it could be just what is needed to sell a pop novel.

Still, an interesting study of whether or not (or how much) one should stand up to the "inevitable" forces.

[Mark Zadrozny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having finished the complete Martin Beck series by Per Wahloo and Maj Sjowall, I f0und and read this page turning solely authored Wahloo novel set in a bleak unnamed South American country--so a hotter, and bleaker, world than Sweden. Left a similar sadness than in spite of good efforts and human foibles, things don't work and and perhaps not only stay the same but are worse. I do like the writing.

[Stephen Rowland · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is undoubtedly the best of Wahlöö's non-mystery novels. Something of a political thriller, which I'm shocked I even condescended to glance through. Psycholically taut, philosophically terse (and realistic). I think Wahlöö was a member of the Communist Party, but you really wouldn't know it by his books. And that is great.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know exactly when I read this book but it's a powerful political thriller that I'd heartily recommend.

I've been a ghost member of Goodreads for ages but am intending, who knows if successfully?, to become a more active member.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating read.

[Gary Allen, PhD · Rating 1 out of 5]

Started out as a fairly interesting story but quickly became predictable and comes with a ridiculous ending.

[Virtue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Manuel Ortega accepts the position of the head of local administration in a region plagued by horrible inequality, social injustice, and civil war violence. His decision to serve his country in such an agonizing capacity stems from his good intentions to support the new government that seeks peace and progress. However, he soon realizes that the local well-to-dos are the fascists ready to sabotage his efforts and even endanger his life. He gets to know revolutionaries who fight for the liberation of the oppressed local people. Still, he also meets counter-revolutionaries with their hypocrisy and appalling brutality. In days full of doubts and struggle, he detaches from his past uneventful life and his trivial marital relationship. He finds love that helps him develop his determination. Still, he eventually loses everything, unable to fully face malicious deception, astonishing violence, and fear that prevents him from acting right. In some way, this is an Attic tragedy without catharsis and purification that would bring pity and fear into their proper balance. There is no corrective experience in this tragedy, just the feelings of remaining hopelessness and powerlessness in facing evil.

[Diogenes · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars : Wahloo's first novel (with an acknowledgment to Maj Sjöwall, his future partner) is dark, brooding and fatalistic. Politics and power trump moral considerations and betrayal and the willingness to allow it to happen is central to this character study of a bland bureaucrat. All through one hopes for redemptive action, but it ends with what has always been inevitable.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just eh, didn't like the subject matter nor the characters. Should try another by the author sometime.

[Mehmet Ekinci · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a feeling that Hollywood movie and tv show scriptwriters have been ripping off from these scandinavian novel writers for ages.