Faceless Killers (Wallander, #1) If you've watched the Wallander TV shows, and you liked them, DON'T READ THIS BOOK!

If you've watched any of the 4 Wallander TV shows, and you liked them, DON'T READ THIS BOOK!

Faceless Killers (Wallander, #1) 2 of 5 stars ⭐ 

By Henning Mankell

Where to begin...First, a WARNING:

If you've watched any of the 4 Wallander TV shows, and you liked them, DON'T READ THIS BOOK! Faceless Killers has little resemblance to the TV shows, other than the character's names. I like the TV shows, and I'm sorry I read this book.

The TV versions of Wallander are flawed, but for the most part, caring and admirable. I was amazed at how much I disliked this character. From his over sharing of bodily functions, to his obsession with the weather (there are at least two weather updates per chapter), and finally to his hatred/fear of women, I couldn't figure out which of his miserable traits I hated the most.

Faceless Killers has a promising beginning, a gruesome double murder in the stark Swedish countryside. But that's where any promise of an enjoyable read ends. This is a meandering, boring book I had to force myself to get through.

When you read most books, you develop a mental picture of the various characters. But with this book, every single character was just a cardboard cutout (other than Wallander - he was too irritating to forget). I found myself getting confused about who was who, and therefore was more bored than ever. Wallander's right hand man, Rydberg is diagnosed with cancer. In the TV series, everyone feels this loss. But in this book, Wallander only thinks how Rydberg's cancer will affect him. It is another example of Wallander's boorish selfishness.

Wallander is a misogynist. He is a miserable simp, his life a disaster of his own making. He is constantly pining for his ex wife, but not because he loves her, just because she had the gall to leave him. He follows his daughter around, spying on her, instead of starting a conversation about the state of their relationship. He calls every single female colleague a bitch, just for disagreeing with him. But his true magnum opus comes in the form of drunken lechery. He commits blatant, physical sexual harassment on a married female colleague, and his response to being asked to leave is, "Or you'll do what? Call the police?" And this is the main character?! The one we're supposed to root for? Wallander says it best when he calls himself, "No better than a drunken boy who doesn't know a thing about himself, women, or the world."

There are plots that go nowhere, like depressing visits to his childhood friend. Why introduce this person? Just so there's one more unlikable person? Or is it so Wallander has another reason to wallow in his miserable life? Oh, go eat worms already!

On a personal note: 

I don't think politics belong in this kind of book. It's just a personal preference, but I don't care about the personal political beliefs of the protagonist. Wallander pontificates constantly on how xenophobic he is, even as he investigates the murder of a Somali refugee. It's not good storytelling to have your main character so anti immigrant, that he has little compassion for the murdered man at his feet. You know, the one with the wailing wife and nine children?

The writing also has a weird staccato effect in places, which makes for a joyless and pedantic read. I'm sure some of this has to do with the translation, but nonetheless, it feels like reading a tax pamphlet.

To sum up, I've read weather reports that were more interesting. I'm sure Wallander would agree, but then call me a bitch for writing this review.