On a cold winter morning Kurt Wallender responds to a call to a remote farmhouse. On arrival he discovers the bodies of an old couple brutally beaten. The old man has been tortured, his body shattered. Beside him lies his wife barely alive.
Whilst the wife lingers on the verge of death Wallander questions the closest neighbours and friends but no one can account for any reason why this old quiet couple should have been so brutally attacked. According to the couples neighbours and friends the couple had no money, nor anything of value. Nor can Wallander find that they had any enemies.
His only hope lies with the wife, but although she rallies for a few seconds the only word she croaks out is ‘Foreign’. Unfortunately, this is leaked to the press and a backlash of racial hatred ensues.
Still pursuing several lines of enquiry, Wallander’s investigation is further hampered by another murder, but is this linked to the murders in the remote farmhouse?
This is a fascinating investigation, as there are literally no clues to follow, and much lateral thinking is required, but it seems that whatever avenue they pursue they hit a blank wall.
Sean Barrett portrays the dour introspective Inspector with amazing insight. This is one of the earlier books in the series and Wallander has only recently separated from his wife and has hopes of a reconciliation.
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Lizzie Hayes