The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion

Please join Suzy here for discussing Swedish author Henning Mankell's After the Fire, his final novel. There is also a separate thread for spoilers.

Have fun!

I'm a fan of the TV series Wallander based on Henning Mankell's novels. I'm on my third binge-watch of the series. I enjoy them as much the third time as the first. After the Fire is the first time I've actually read one of Mankell's novels. I wasn't disappointed— Nordic Noir through and through. And yet Mankell makes the read a memorable experience with his simple prose and subtle, powerful use of suspense throughout. At times I got annoyed with the old man Fredrik but I cut him some slack. After all his house has just burned down. However his really annoying adult daughter Louise is another kettle of fish. This is my first post. Still looking for the group rules. Hope I've not broken any.

Hi all - thanks for voting for After the Fire. I am reading the first book in this series Italian Shoes, so will be a little while before I get to After the Fire. But comment away and I will catch up a little later.

Linda Cassidy wrote: "I'm a fan of the TV series Wallander based on Henning Mankell's novels. I'm on my third binge-watch of the series. I enjoy them as much the third time as the first. After the Fire is the first time..."

I love the tv series too! Are you watching the one with Kenneth Brannaugh or the one produced for Swedish tv? I've watched both and like the Swedish one a little better, but both are excellent. I've read 3 of the Wallander books and look forward to this one. I'm glad to see your enthusiasm for it!

I've only viewed the series starring Kenneth Brannaugh. I sometimes have problems getting into the story grove when I have to attend to subtitles or voice-overs that make the actors' lips go out of synch with the dialogue.

I read a review of After the Fire in another location on the web and the person found the plot lagged at times and the action was slow. I admit I did once or twice but Mankell always inserted a new source of suspense to keep the plot vibes jumping.

I started it yesterday and it is like a homecoming. Mankell started my love of Scandinavian crime and he is much missed. I love the way he writes, at the beginning everything is just as it seems and then he adds these small changes, hardly noticeable, which start to make you uneasy and think. I am about a quarter in the book and I am starting to wonder what is really going on there. Clearly much more than meets the eye!

Gisela wrote: "I started it yesterday and it is like a homecoming. Mankell started my love of Scandinavian crime and he is much missed. I love the way he writes, at the beginning everything is just as it seems an..."

I also love his writing. I'm reading the previous book in this series Italian Shoes right now and it surprised me a little that it's written in the first person unlike the Wallander books.

Linda Cassidy wrote: "I've only viewed the series starring Kenneth Brannaugh. I sometimes have problems getting into the story grove when I have to attend to subtitles or voice-overs that make the actors' lips go out of..."

I also noted that the reviews talk about it being slow. Italian Shoes is unfolding very slowly as well, but I feel this is on purpose. I see that Mankell died at age 67. Fredrik is 66 in the first book and it feels a little like the character Fredrik gives the author a chance to philosophically look back on life. Can't wait to finish this one and get to After the Fire.

Suzy wrote: "Gisela wrote: "I started it yesterday and it is like a homecoming. Mankell started my love of Scandinavian crime and he is much missed. I love the way he writes, at the beginning everything is just..."
I think you are right. Both books have a lot of Mankell himself I think. When he was writing this book he knew he was seriously ill and I think that this book was one of the ways he must have tried to think about death and dying. Don't know really of course, but seems very much like it to me.

Suzy wrote: "Linda Cassidy wrote: "I'm a fan of the TV series Wallander based on Henning Mankell's novels. I'm on my third binge-watch of the series. I enjoy them as much the third time as the first. After the ..."

I preferred the Swedish series more as well. It was excellent. I found Brannagh's a bit too moody.

Bill wrote: "Suzy wrote: "Linda Cassidy wrote: "I'm a fan of the TV series Wallander based on Henning Mankell's novels. I'm on my third binge-watch of the series. I enjoy them as much the third time as the firs..."

Exactly the same for me. The Swedish series seemed so real. I watched on Netflix and can't find it now. Looks like they got rid of it, sadly.

Suzy wrote: "Bill wrote: "Suzy wrote: "Linda Cassidy wrote: "I'm a fan of the TV series Wallander based on Henning Mankell's novels. I'm on my third binge-watch of the series. I enjoy them as much the third tim..."

We still get it once a year or so on our local Knowledge Network in B.C.

Hi all - I'm about 1/3 the way through After the Fire, having first finished the first Fredrik Welin book, Italian Shoes. So far I'm liking After the Fire, but not quite as much as Italian Shoes. The writing is good and as folks have mentioned, Mankell uses a slow build, dropping hints that develop the suspense over time. The storyline in Italian Shoes seems (so far anyway) feels richer and more complex. I think a contributing factor to liking Italian Shoes better is that I'm experiencing both in audio and the narrator of AtF is terrible in comparison to the first book!

On another note, there were rumblings that Kenneth Branagh was filming a movie of Italian shoes, starring Anthony Hopkins and Judi Dench. But the latest news of it was back in 2011, so must not have gotten off the ground. https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011...

I had a hard time getting into After The Fire

This is a book that unfolds at a glacial pace, for sure. I loved it. Mankell developed the characters and the setting in a very masterly way. The plot is simple, and there aren't that many cheerful, normal people. The narrator himself is an interesting, not-super-likable, character. Thank you to the group for pointing me to it.

A.K. wrote: "This is a book that unfolds at a glacial pace, for sure. I loved it. Mankell developed the characters and the setting in a very masterly way. The plot is simple, and there aren't that many cheerful..."
Whilst I couldn't help sympathising with the main character, I liked him less and less the more I knew about him. Didn't care for his daughter either. Turns out that I had most sympathise for the arsonist and the other people living in this area.

But Mankell does this often, he is not out to show you likeable characters or explain everything about them, but just uses them to get his message across. In this book I think it is loneliness and aging.

Gisela wrote: "A.K. wrote: "This is a book that unfolds at a glacial pace, for sure. I loved it. Mankell developed the characters and the setting in a very masterly way. The plot is simple, and there aren't that ..."

I liked Fredrik and Louise a lot better in the previous book, Italian Shoes! They were still very taciturn and not totally likable, but way more sympathetic than in this one. I'm only about half way through After the Fire, so haven't found out who is setting the fires yet.

Gisela wrote: "But Mankell does this often, he is not out to show you likeable characters or explain everything about them, but just uses them to get his message across. In this book I think it is loneliness and ..."

This is only my second book, but I did watch the Swedish TV show. I couldn't agree more -- the main character and his daughter are not meant to be likeable.