Wallander's First Case

by Henning Mankell

Kurt Wallander is twenty one and new to the police force - and he won't let anything stand in the way of solving his first murder case Wallander finds his neighbour a revolver in his hand, and a bullet through his head. Suspicious about the circumstances surrounding the apparently open and shut case of suicide, Wallander starts an off-the-books investigation - only to find that following his instincts is a very dangerous thing to do. Discover the case that began Kurt Wallander's career - first published in The Pyramid, a collection of short stories featuring Wallander.OUT An Event in Autumn - a new, never before published Wallander novella.

Genres: Crime, Detective, Mystery Thriller, Novels, Scandinavian Literature, Mystery, Fiction

113 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Henning Mankell was an internationally known Swedish crime writer, children's author and playwright. He was best known for his literary character Kurt Wallander.

Mankell split his time between Sweden and Mozambique. He was married to Eva Bergman, Swedish director and daughter of Ingmar Bergman.

Reviews

[Sunil · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you set aside the superlative beauty that is the Swedish television series, the three main reasons I love Wallander are:

1. First off, I can't think of a single series of books other than the Wallanders that capture the contemporary issues of the modern world, specifically that of Europe so accurately, without ever trying to resolve them with morality. Mankell manages to pastiche decent storytelling with a multitude of issues plaguing the first world - politics, race, juvenile crime, immigration, abuse, problem marriages, consumerism etc.

2. Second, Wallander narratives are examples of textbook police work and investigation. In fact if you want to learn more about the classical, pre-technology detective work - interviews, corroboration, alibis, profiling, autopsy, fingerprints, ballistics, just pick up any Wallander book.

3. Not the least in anyway, realistic portrayal and great characterisation, e.g. a protagonist - who actually struggles to manage the so called 'balance' between personal and professional lives without much success. In fact It was only after reading Wallander books I felt less guilty about turning up late on dates :)


Wallander is so unique not only for the genre, but literature in general. In this book, written retrospectively, Mankell sketches back to the 21 year old Wallander, who having just joined the police force, stumbles onto his first case and begins to develop a nose to trail and link unseeming leads in a purported crime, under the able mentorship of Hemborg.

And here, in this book, of all the Wallander books, you could easily find the above enlisted reasons of my love for Wallander in its most simplistic, skeletal form.

[Adele · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dipped a toe into Mankel's Wallander series... Mainly because I've been watching The Bridge and now have a fascination with Malmö and Copenhagen (Wallander was around, in this slim tale anyway, before the erection of the Øresund Bridge).

Pacey short story, with fine characterisation and a window into Sweden in a simpler time. Whetted my appetite to read the rest of the Wallander novels - and maybe watch the Kenneth Branagh adaptation too? (One has to watch *some* other Scandi-noir TV programme once The Bridge is over and done with...)

[Alexa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5*

[Ross Cumming · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admit that I have watched and enjoyed numerous episodes of the various Wallander television series that there have been but I've never actually read any of the novels until I read this one. This is just a novella length story and is billed as his first case. Wallander is still just a uniform patrol officer in Malmo at the time when he discovers his next door neighbour shot dead in his apartment. Wallander has applied to be an investigator and is brought into assist in the investigation by his future mentor Hemberg. Wallander goes out on a limb to investigate the crime on his own time with near fatal consequences. It is quite an enjoyable read as we also learn of Wallander's private life which includes his struggle to deal with his difficult father, his relationship problems with his then girlfriend Mona and also his lack of money, all of which adds to paint a fuller picture of the young Wallander.

[Michael Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its a good introductory book to the series.

I was looking for an entertaining book. It's the tale of a murder but what do you expect with a Wallander story. Its good but that is it.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Introducing Kurt Wallander

What you could call an 'origins story'. This short read positions Wallander in Malmo as a junior cop. His relationships with the Force, with his Dad, and with the long suffering Mona are all their to see.

[Liz Polding · Rating 3 out of 5]

There’s a solid plot here, but like a lot of prequels, it spends a bit too much time on adding detail to things we know about the character from later books. The translation feels a bit flat, and if I had read this first, I probably wouldn’t have read any others.

[Graham Tonks · Rating 5 out of 5]

lovely simple story about Kurt's introduction to detection....

[Bob Harcus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not too gloomy yet. Good story.

[Dobby · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was planning to start with Henning Mankell’s first story of his Inspector Wallander series - Faceless Killers. But when I saw this novella entitled Wallander’s First Case I hoped this would be a good opportunity for some back story.
Oh dear! I do hope the series is better!
This was a poorly written novella.
The characterisation is rubbish as is the prose style.
Short uninspired sentences with unconvincing dialogue. The plot was thin and the whole thing smacked of amateurism.
I believe Henning Mankell to be a respected author so I’m going to continue with my plan to read Faceless Killers but if it lets me down as much as Wallander’s First Case I certainly won’t be reading any more Mankell.

[Adrian Peters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wallander's First Case by Henning Mankell

If you like stories that have a detective as the main character you'll probably enjoy this one. With detectives a great deal hangs on his or her character. I've come to like Wallander. He's got his problems - most of them concern his family and love life. So I think most readers will see connections that make him very believable. As the title states, it's Wallander's first case and it's a good one. Meticulously put together. I prefer Mankell's early work to his later, longer novels. I liked this one because it's understated like the main character. Recommended.

[Shirley Stevens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wallander's First Case

My son worked in southern Sweden for 11 years and I have spent many holidays there. Henning Mankell writes very accurately about the area of Skune which includes Malmo, Lund and, of course, Ystad. On one holiday I worked out the first journey in ' The White Lioness ' from the book and when in Sweden we actually followed it.Although, fortunately, we didn't find the well with the human finger in it, we found the house and the lake with the same name as the well! Well done, Mankell! I enjoyed the later books about Wallander more than this one!
Shirley Stevens

[Lorne Strachan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Almost a short story, rather than a full novel, this book is nonetheless interesting to get insight into Wallander before he becomes a 'famous' detective. He is young and still walking the streets in uniform much of the time and he becomes involved in detective work only because the man in the apartment next to his is murdered -- and he is the one to discover it. Initially seen as a suicide, he has doubts as more complications contribute to the mounting evidence that it's something more.

Wallander is trying to establish a relationship with Mona but he's also trying to show that he is ready to move on to serious detective work. His superior gives him a lecture about what it takes to achieve the latter and the reader begins to get a grasp of what has lead to the later Wallander -- the lonely, bleak but successful detective who has made his choices and must live with them.

The book isn't gripping but it's well worth the investment in time to understand the character.

[Jasmin In1001Geschichten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super Hörspiel gut gemacht sehr atmosphärisch. Und ich finde man erkennt in dem jungen Wallander schon den Alten. Auch die Länge ist gut dacht erst es ist schon sehr kurz aber es ist rasant und doch fehlt es an Nichts.

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A novella featuring a 21 year old Wallendar, on the cusp of moving from uniform to detective duties, and getting involved in a case involving his mysterious neighbours flat. Very much a raw detective, but being mentored in developing his instincts.

Not perfect, but a worthy short story.

[Carla · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a prequel novella that paves the way for the Kurt Wallander series. It is well done and would likely create interest in the later novels in the series for those who have never read any of the books.

[Michael Christofferson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the BBC series "Wallander" and the source material is a worthy read.

[Mykola Parkhomenko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three nice stories from wallander as a detective. Liked it.

[Marta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant read

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

PopSugar Reading Challenge - Prompt #16 “A book set 24 years before you were born." (1969)

[Backoff51 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Henning Mankell's first story involving Kurt Wallander. It is a great beginning.

[Liam Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Christian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite how short it was, this far exceeded my expectations. I really wasn't sure what to expect with a novella set before The Wallander Series officially started. I was worried there wouldn't be enough time to tell the story but was proven wrong. The story is crisp, with a great plot that keeps you guessing to the end, and it was great to see what I assume is a character in Wallander that was a little naive and still learning his craft.
My only question is how he ended up in Ystad?
Otherwise though, will definitely try to read a longer work by him.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd already read this in The Pyramid collection of Wallander stories, but bought it for my Kindle as an easy read. It's a neat introduction to Kurt's life as a policeman and his courtship with Mona. It doesn't take long to read. It probably makes more sense if you've read more of the full novels and have more of a sense of Kurt's character, as Mankell playfully refers to things we know about Kurt in middle age through hints in his relationships with Mona, his father and his sister.

[Jenny Slater · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just finished this book and came to review it having realised I already read it back in 2016… was coming to give it 3*s which is what it looks like I gave it last time 😅. V easy read but ending a bit rushed

[Eva · Rating 3 out of 5]

Förhistoria, hur Wallander blev kriminalpolis 1969. Hans far är 'hötorgs'-konstnären som inte gillar poliser. Alltså en far-son komplikations-historia. 1969 var Kurt naiv och inte insatt rent politiskt, till skillnad från jämnåriga som demonstrerade mot Vietnamkriget

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beginnings.

[Stig Kjær · Rating 4 out of 5]

God (lille) fortælling om Wallanders første sag.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first ever Wallander by Henning Mankell. Great. I'll read more of him too.

[Roy bright · Rating 3 out of 5]

not one of mr Mankell's best efforts, perhaps being a short story