The Man Who Smiled by Henning Mankell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Henning Mankell’s fourth novel about Kurt Wallander has a curious start in that the reader finds the detective in a depressed state of mind because he had killed a man. It was a shooting in the previous book and a case of self-defence. Even so, Wallander has been on leave for a year considering everything about his life, and he comes to the conclusion he must resign from the police force. Then along comes a lawyer friend from his past who asks him to investigate his father’s supposed accidental death, or possibly suicide. Wallander is also of the opinion that the man was murdered but refuses to take on the case; that is until his friend is also murdered. So he returns to the police and convinces his boss that this is a double homicide that requires investigation. The story revolves around the illegal trade of providing human body parts for transplant operations.

There are personal issues for Wallander to deal with throughout the novel, not least an attack on his own life, but also his relationship with his annoying father and his estranged daughter. Fans of the Wallander books will be pleased to find that he is still heading up the same team of police, with Kurt often mentally consulting his old mentor. However, he now has a new female colleague who continues to impress him and the team with her detection skills.

The Man Who Smiled of the story is a particularly smug and unpleasant character who I found a little too unbelievable. And I thought the reckless heroics of Wallander at the conclusion of the novel felt like an attempt to raise the pace to breathless and desperate. Unfortunately, for me it did not really work, and it lacked authenticity. We expect to see our usually pragmatic detective inspector behaving in a sensible and careful manner; not to be suddenly transformed into a clone of James Bond. The novel was a very good episode from Wallander’s career spoilt by some incredulity.



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When it Happened: The Little Book of British History by George Chamier
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It was very pleasing to read a history book from cover to cover which made all of the important dates in British history so accessible in such a witty way. The author covers times from the Romans right up to the present, Internet and all. There is a little lacking in some detail here and there of course, but for a quick reference guide to those who only wish to find basic information, especially children, George Chamier’s book is perfect. Unlike my dire history lessons at school this little book was enjoyable throughout, even amusing in some parts!

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Dead Souls by Ian Rankin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Although I thought this book was not as pacey as usually found in a Rebus tale it was still pretty gripping from the start. There are various plotlines to follow and none of them very cheerful, since he is dealing with a suspected case of child abuse. It is probably brave of the author to tackle such a subject. It was very interesting to learn a little more about John Rebus’s youth and his difficult relationships with women. From other Rebus books we know he probably drinks too much and here he often finds solace in his favourite pubs. This aspect of a police detective’s character has become a cliché after all.

In the end I felt there were too many characters, and too many threads, in a long book that the reader has to follow. It felt much more like a study of John Rebus’s personality and complexes than a crime thriller. His current ‘girlfriend’ was Patience, an excellent name in the circumstances, who hardly appeared in the story. One had to feel sorry for her as he rarely kept his promises to see her, and he was often too tired or drunk to make it to a date. Dead Souls is my least popular book in the Rebus series, not only because of the various criticisms above but because I found it the least enjoyable. The lack of humour, even of satire, made this novel feel heavy going at times.


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The Pyramid: And Four Other Kurt Wallander Mysteries by Henning Mankell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In a way I suppose this is the first proper look at Kurt Wallander, and fans of the detective will begin to better understand his character and how he behaves with his colleagues and members of his family. Henning Mankell's writing is always interesting, although it does often seem to include dull and depressing weather as a backdrop to Wallander’s cases. Maybe the weather mirrors the detective’s frequent gloomy moods. The Pyramid will appeal more to those who, like me, have read most of the other novels in the series as it has more meaning regarding his later attitude and career. We see Kurt’s father and his girlfriend, Mona, who are not keen on his choice of career in the police force. The criminal cases that the younger man becomes involved in are not quite as intriguing as those in the other books in my opinion, but as a prequel to the cases for Inspector Wallander later on, they provide more colourful shades to a fuller picture.

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The Dubliners, Volume 1 by James Joyce
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

James Joyce’s collection of stories about the people of Dublin at the turn of the 19th century was perhaps a little too subtle in parts for this reader. It is mainly a portrayal of the middle classes of those times and did not convey enough in depth information about the lower agricultural and serving classes to demand much of my interest. Having said that I found the last story entitled The Dead, to be the most intriguing and compelling. It was both and moving and revealing in its telling. As a collection of short stories this is probably one of the finest examples for later writers of the genre in its structure and pace for each episode felt complete and satisfying. Many of the stories leave one with lingering thoughts and considerations regarding the people that you may have met in your own life. The author touches upon several societal issues that persist today, such as feminism, class and racism, through his use of realistic dialogue.
As an introduction for me to the writing of Joyce I cannot say that I was engaged or entertained enough to turn to one of his later novels, but I daresay I will be reading one soon, if only to find out for myself why he has been so acclaimed by so many. I will admit, however, that some of the portraits that he paints with his words did leave me full of admiration for his literary skills and wanting more.


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Resurrection Men by Ian Rankin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In this rather different Rebus novel he has been ordered to attend a refresher course, having been guilty of insubordination against his senior officer. While there he is assigned a ‘test’ by working on an old unsolved case with a group of classmates, who Rebus suspects are ruthless and corrupt drug dealers. The case turns out to be an old investigation from his past, and his senses are alerted further, detecting a plot, something aimed at himself. His DS, Siobhan Clarke, meanwhile is working on the murder of an art dealer and he also gets involved in assisting her. The whole thing looks as though it might be part of a grand conspiracy, possibly with deadly consequences.

This novel gives the reader even more enjoyable information about Rebus’s character and constitution. Once again the pace of the story is rapid and there is much to enjoy about the descriptions of some of the major cities of Scotland, such as Glasgow and Edinburgh. I found much of the dialogue amusing and believable and enough intriguing twists in the tale to keep me guessing throughout. All of these aspects are not surprisingly found in an Ian Rankin crime thriller and continue to hook me in.


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The Black Book by Ian Rankin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When Inspector John Rebus gets involved in an old case, against the advice of his superiors, we know we’re in for another intriguing and complicated read. There is a charred body amongst the ashes of a burned hotel in Edinburgh, as well as an attack on his close colleague, Brian Holmes, who has a black notebook with important hidden clues for Rebus to follow. The reappearance of Big Ger, an old adversary of Rebus, is bound to make the case more complex and it meant I could settle to yet another satisfying crime thriller from this superb author. We have an extra surprise this time with Rebus’s brother trying to hold down his drug habit, and needing somewhere to stay!

The elements for a satisfying read can always be found in one of Rankin’s Rebus books: a fascinating central character, with a list of interesting individuals accompanying him; realistic and often amusing dialogue; great Scottish settings; and twists and turns in the tale to make one keep turning the pages. Having read about six of the books in the Rebus series, in no particular order, I still look forward to finding another one, with high expectations of an entertaining read.


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Fleshmarket Close by Ian Rankin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a very intriguing story, or rather 3 stories since there are 3 cases to be solved. Rebus and Siobhan get separately and together into an investigation that involves an asylum seeker; another that has his colleague, Siobhan, looking for a missing teenager; and a case that appears to be some kind of practical sick joke, with bodies under a concrete floor.

I was quite surprised to read about a possible romantic involvement for the dour inspector, and nevertheless wanted it to progress. The title of the novel gives away the likelihood of some grisly discoveries along the way. As usual I found Ian Rankin’s tale compelling as well as (even more) informative about Edinburgh. Each one of the Rebus series of novels always drags me into it when I wish to read a thriller full of suspense, and occasional snippets of humour. A very good read.


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Castle Rackrent by Maria Edgeworth
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I began reading Castle Rackrent because I was interested in the author, as an influence of her contemporaries such as Jane Austen and Walter Scott, but also because I knew it was a satire about the Irish gentry of the 18th century. While I became quite intrigued by the story I cannot claim to have totally enjoyed it, or even to be amused by the suspected humour contained within it. For me it became a sad reflection of the abuse and indulgence displayed by an irresponsibly despotic upper class of the society of those times.
An ancient retainer, Thady Quirk, to four of the Lords of Rackrent tells the story throughout and, while he observes a suitably subservient position, he is so exact in his descriptions of their behaviour there is plenty for the reader to feel critical about the aristocrats. The land and all its possessions eventually are lost to the family through the profligacy of the various Lords. It is a tale well told by Maria Edgeworth, with irony and a few comic touches through the servants’ language. I was pleased in the end to have read one of the first historical novels in the English language and was at least quite entertained by the book.


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Humane Physics: No Student Was Harmed in Writing This Book by Francis Mont
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I found ‘Humane Physics’ to be a fascinating approach to the presentation, for the layperson, of a whole history of scientific discoveries, and the significant figures involved. However, it does tend to concentrate on physics as the author’s particular specialism. I enjoyed reading Mont’s comments and opinions about my own science heroes, from such as Galileo to Feynman. There was no doubt in my mind that this was his attempt to justify the validity of the fundamental principles behind scientific methodology (as developed eventually into more recent times) as a way of thinking in order to solve (some of?) the problems facing the world of today: climate change; loss of biodiversity and habitat; oceanic pollution; pandemics etc. For me that is an admirable aim and all strength to his arm!
The author often uses humour and logic in a way that encourages the layman or woman to read on, often dealing with the philosophy of more ancient thinkers, such as the Greeks, as well as giants like Einstein, Planck and Hawking. He does allow for readers who are less inclined to be mathematically able, or even, fascinated by the in-depth stuff to come nearer the end of his book; and suitable warnings are issued in the first few pages. As a retired science teacher I found this book to have my respect and approval for both the way that the author tackles his main objective, and the obvious sincerity behind it. It is a great guide for everyone to the tenets controlling the universe, and also as a part of a menu that includes plenty of foods for thought. To partly requote the blurb: it gives the reader a rounded picture of science in an integrated and comprehensive way.


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