HENNING MANKELL, SIDETRACKED, 1995

HENNING MANKELL, 1948

Author and playwright Born in Stockholm, moved north to Sveg, no

mother around Justice system influence

Father a court judge, investigator, lived above the courts

At 16, worked as a sailor around the world 1968 – Wrote first play while a stagehand 1972 – First novel, The Stone Blaster

Worker’s Union Movement 1984 – Becomes head of a theatre, works as a

producer 1990 – Return to publishing books Awareness of racism through the crime genre 1995 – Sidetracked

Wallander born out of the phone book Left-wing political activist Runs Teatro Avenida in Mozambique Own publishing house Married to Eva BergmanBorn in Stockholm in

1948 AIDS activist, social justice activist, work for

Africa Continued success in film, literature, and

theatre In 2008, 9th bestselling author worldwide

Setting of Sidetracked

MANKELL’S WALLANDER “The idea of Wallander was born out of a desire to write

about the increasing racism in Sweden in the 1980s. Racism for me is a crime and therefore it seemed natural that I wrote a crime novel. …When I write, I always try to reflect the reality we live in. A reality that is becoming rougher and more violent. This violence and its impact on people around it is what I try to reflect in Wallander. But reality always surpasses the poem.”

“(Wallander) is very dedicated to his work but can still doubt and worry whether he is doing the right thing or not. And he is sometimes longing to be somewhere else, far away from the all the misery.”

“A good crime story is not only about a crime that is to be solved. It should be a psychological examination of the culture it reflects.”

From henningmankell.com

KURT WALLANDER MYSTERIES Mördare utan ansikte (1991; English translation: Faceless

Killers,1997) Hundarna i Riga (1992; English translation: The Dogs of

Riga, 2001) Den vita lejoninnan (1993; English translation: The White

Lioness, 1998) Mannen som log (1994; English translation: The Man who

Smiled, 2005) Villospår (1995; English translation: Sidetracked, 1999) Den femte kvinnan (1996; English translation: The Fifth

Woman, 2000) Steget efter (1997; English translation: One Step Behind,

2002) Brandvägg (1998; English translation: Firewall, 2002) Pyramiden (1999; short stories; English translation: The

Pyramid, 2008) Den orolige mannen (2009; English translation The

Troubled man, 2011)

SUMMARY Pedro Santana

With his wife who dies Names his daughter Dolores Maria Santana

Girl in the Rape Field Wallander is called to go out and check a disturbance at a farm Girl has been standing in his Rape field all day Wallander goes out to the girl and she lights herself on fire Coroner gives other examples: a seven year old girl who tried to blow herself up,

and a four year old boy who tried to put out his own eyes because he was so afraid of his father.

Murder #1 Gustaf Wetterstedt Former Minister of Justice Killed by a blow from an axe to his back which severed his spinal cord, scalped Wallander finds out from a friend and former journalist, that Wetterstedt was

involved in illegal activity such as art thefts and prostitution The girl in the rape field was discovered to be Dolores Maria Santana

Hoover Killer’s name is Stefan New identity based on Hoover, the head of the FBI, and Geronimo, the American

Indian. Before he kills he transforms himself by cutting and painting his face. He plans whom he is going to murder based off his sister’s diary, which he calls a

sacred book. His sister is hospitalized, and he is killing and sacrificing the scalps to try and

make her better. After his transformation he went to the top of the hill by his next victim’s house,

and waited for him to come out.

SUMMARY Murder #2 Arne Carlman

An art dealer owning many galleries all over Sweden Killed from an axe wound to the front of his head, scalped Was killed during a party at his home Wallander tries to establish a link between Wetterstedt and Carlman through

art  Hoover

Decides that the next victim will be his father, and prepares himself for murder.

He says that it will be the greatest sacrifice for his sister yet Attacks, scalps his father before he kills him

Murder #3 Björn Fredman A common criminal Was found in a pit by a train station Had his eyes burned out with HCl, and was killed by a blow from an axe to the

head He was scalped before he was murdered - The most brutal murder yet Wallander interviews some of the man’s family. He was struck by how wary the

older son’s eyes were. The family told him that the daughter, Louise, was very sensitive and was

away. Later he finds out that she has been in a psychiatric hospital for three years

Wallander tries to link this man to the other two murdered men but cannot Wallander realizes later that day that he has lost the keys to his flat

Hoover Prepares himself, and kills another man

SUMMARY Murder #4 Åke Liljgren

A rich white collar criminal Killed by an axe wound to the head, scalped, dragged downstairs, head put in an

oven Wallander discovers that Liljgren was involved with drugs and trafficking girls. He

figured out that Liljgren had supplied girls to Wetterstedt and possibly to Carlman Wallander still could not find a link among all of the murdered men Wallander interviews the Fredman family again to find out more information on

Louise. He asks to visit her and for a picture, and Stefan freaks out Wallander finds out that Liljgren had a right hand man named Hans Logård Louise Fredman disappears from the psychiatric hospital Wallander and Sjosten break into Logård’s house and find girls from the Dominican

Republic locked in a room. Logård comes home and starts shooting at Wallander and Sjosten, and then takes

off Wallander figures out that the killer is Stefan Fredman, and he confirms it with finger

prints

Hoover Breaks into Wallander’s flat, with the keys he stole from his pocket, to try and kill

him. He overhears a conversation between Wallander and Svedberg about Logård, and decides that he should kill Logård too

Both Hoover and Logård coincidentally show up at Wetterstadt’s villa, with the idea of using it as a hide out

Hoover discovers Logård and makes him call Wallander to get him to come to the villa

Murder #5 Hans Logård After Wallander arrives Hoover tries to kill him, after already having killed Logård Hoover’s attempt fails, and he tries to escape with his sister on his moped Wallander follows, Hoover crashes the moped, and his sister dies

THE INVESTIGATIVE TEAM Kurt Wallander: Lead Investigator and main character

Strained family relations

Contemplative, Intuitive, Insightful

Disillusionment and self-doubt

Ann-Brit Höglund: only female officer Guided by Wallander

Sven Nyberg: Forensic Technician

Svedberg

Martinsson

Hansson

Mats Elkhorn: Psychologist Criminal profiling

Inspector Sten Forsfält: Malmö

Waldemar Sjösten: Criminal Detective, Helsingborg Relation with Wallander

THE VICTIMS Dolores María Santana

From Dominican Republic Committed suicide

Gustaf Wetterstedt, Ystad Former Minister of Justice, living

a double life “To tell the truth disguised as a

lie or a lie dressed up as the truth.” (p. 14)

“if only you knew who I am and what I think of you.” (p. 15)

Perverted pleasures Spine severed, Scalped

Arne Carlman,Ystad Art dealer, criminal past Connections with Wetterstedt Head split open, scalped

Björn Fredman, Malmö/Ystad Abusive, violent, drunk, criminal past Connection to previous victims? Hydrochloric acid drip, scalped while

alive, head split in two Most violent death, first body moved

Åke Liljegren, Hälsingborg “The Auditor” and eminence grise Drug trafficking, “wild parties” Killed in bathroom, scalped, burned in

oven

Hans Logård Aka Erik Sturesson, Sture Eriksson Right-hand man, criminal record Involvement in prostitution ring

Louise Fredman, sister of Hoover Died in motorcycle crash Psychiatric patient, “dead” Diary

THE MURDERER Stefan Fredman: Hoover, Geronimo

“A well-built boy of about 14 entered. He had an open, friendly face, but his eyes were wary… He seemed mature for his age, perhaps because he’d had to fill the void left by his father.” (p. 220, 221)

New Identity, Psychopath The sacred book Trophy offerings, retribution and salvation

THEMESNative Americans Stefan transforms into Geronimo prior to his murders (form of courage)

“He had listened to Geronimo’s heart beating inside his chest” (188). They are searching for a lone warrior

“The man they were looking for was a lone warrior moving along an invincible path” (306)

Stefan Scalps his victims Stefan puts on war paint prior to his murders Stefan uses an axe to kill his victims

Summer Takes place during the Midsummer Holiday in Sweden

Large celebration in Sweden with many parties Viewed as a magical holiday with rituals looking toward the future

Many people are on vacation or planning to go on vacation Wallander’s has a vacation planned with Baiba

Beautiful weather contrasts the violent murders Minimal Staff available during the summer months to investigate the

murders

THEMES Family Wallander sees himself as a bad parent, but relationship with Linda seems strong. Wallander’s relationship with his father became distant once he became a cop.  But

when his father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease they became closer “Even though his relationship with his father was strained, colored by guilt, he felt a great

sorrow”(134)

Parent-child relationship changes over time.  Children become the parents. Wallander and his sister have a strained relationship Stefan kills his father to save his sister.  Stefan kills specific people so his sister will

leave the psychiatric hospital.  Justice for his sister.

Transformation People transforming into animals: Dolores is described as looking like a frightened

animal before she kills herself.  Bjorn Fredman becomes an animal when he dies. “His father had undergone the transformation he had planned for him.  He was an animal”

(192)

Stefan transforms into Hoover: a combination of J. Edgar Hoover and Geronimo.Police say the killer lives two lives.  When he kills he transforms into someone different.

Stefan wants to bring sister back - prior to entering the psychiatric institution Wallander is under the age of 50.  But acts older.  Been through a lot in his time.  People change with age: Wallander speaks of how he worries more as he grows older. Hugo Sandin complains to Wallander about growing old.

“Growing old means loneliness” (186)

THEMES Sweden Today Wallander continues to complain about the way Sweden is today

“Now Society seemed to collapse around him, as if the political system was about to tip over…Young people took their own lives…Houses were hiding places rather than cozy homes…And the police stood by helpless, waiting for the time when their jails would be guarded by men in other uniforms, men from private security companies” (226)

Precincts closing.

Wallander describes Sweden as having a spiritual poverty that was eroding the welfare state.

Spread of violence to Sweden, the countryside. A fascination with violence.  Wallander does not understand why people read about violence while on vacation.

Media Wallander has a trying relationship with the media He has an outburst at one press conference Police do not want to give the media much information At the same time they want the media to help spread information to have people

call in information about the murders. Erik Wiberg notifies the police of Fredman’s murder scene because of the stories

he read in the newspapers Swedes like to read about the violent crimes

THEMES Women in the Police Department / Role of Women Ann-Britt is Wallander’s go-to person in the department Wallander mentors Ann-Britt Some detectives do not respect her Slow accept of having a female police chief

Guilt Wallander feels guilty for each murder Wallander feels guilty for being sidetracked Feels guilty when he is not thinking of the case

“He felt guilty because he had not read them the night before” (257)

Sidetracked Sees the murderer as a male who is at least 30 years old.  Kills older

man.  Kills with force. Continues to investigate Dolores’ death World Cup: everyone is watching and talking about the game Clues continue to take the investigation in many different directions

“The feeling that they had been sidetracked was still with him.

SIDETRACKED

The purpose of the prologue – setting the stage –

Wallander as the protagonist The Criminal 5 victims Political commentaries Prostitution and girl-trade Being a divorced father Swedish Society Insanity Revenge Morals / Ethics / Sympathy?

QUESTIONS The purpose of the prologue –

setting the stage –

Wallander as the protagonist

The Criminal and the 5 victims

Political commentaries / Media

Prostitution and girl-trade

Being a divorced father

Swedish Society

Insanity

Revenge

Morals / Ethics / Sympathy?

What is the significance of Dolores María Santana’s suicide? Why did she do it? Why did she choose to burn herself?

How do you view the mass media in relation to criminal investigations? Do the media help investigators or cause panic amongst the population when reporting on a crime?

Was Stefan justified in committing the crimes? Is it ever okay to kill someone? What was your reaction to the violence described in the book?

What do you think it means for Stefan to remove his father’s eyes when he kills him? 

What is the significance of the scalping? How do you interpret the escalation of violence through the series of murders?

How is the style of writing and content different in Sidetracked compared to our previous books?