A new favorite detective series!

After listening to a more current Kurt Wallander mystery, I bought this with the intent to start this series from the beginning. I have been going through "Harry Bosch withdrawl" and Wallander has become a great addition as a very enjoyable detective series for me. I find Wallender different from Bosch; he is a little easier to relate to as a real person with real life issues and daily problems. He does not solve this crime brilliantly, but rather with hard work, capable help from his colleagues (which added even more interesting characters to get to know,) trial and error, but, of course, with a true talent as a detective.

The mystery was great, and had no "first book" feel to it. Some writers truly evolve in their writing skills, to the point that the earlier books are not as well written as the later ones, but none of that here. Menkell started with a bang! The plot was complex, interesting, and suspenseful. I really wanted to keep listening to it, even when I had to turn it off.

Unlike many detective mysteries, where the reader is introduced to potential killers in some fashion before the end of the book, Menkell kept us as much in the dark as to the killer(s)' identitiy as Wallander, which gave me the feeling that I was working right along with Wallander as to what to do next, and really brought me into the story.

I like Dick Hill, and I enjoyed him here. I prefer a narrator who puts some drama into the reading of a book, yet I did not think he went over the top. I found him very easy to listen to, and to also keep the voices of the characters distinct from one another. All-in-all it was very enjoyable, authentic, and I definitely plan to read more of the Wallander series.

50 persone l'hanno trovata utile

Something About Swedish Fiction

Maybe it is the long winters, but there is nothing "uplifting" about any of the Swedish authors I have listened to. However, what they all have in common is a brutal reality. There are no super heros or fancy CSI solutions. Crime is solved by grinding it out and a little luck. In other words, it is real.

If you aare looking for fast paced drama or on-the-edge-of-your seat suspense, you are not going to like the Henning Mankell series offered at audible. However, if you like great character development and first rate writing, give them a try. The understated reading by Dick Hill is also perfect for the characters.

40 persone l'hanno trovata utile

Enjoyed my first Henning Mankell mystery

This series was recommended by my stepmother, a big mystery fan who never steers me wrong. I found the mystery intelligent and well told, the story brought up many contemporary topics in a way a more serious novel would do. That aspect of the book is certainly one of the best things about it. THe narrator was good, not great, but his accents were convincing and his reading pace very nice. The characters were believable and the things that take place seem likely and convincing, while the author allows us to see what he thinks about many contemporary problems in Swedish society while constructing a good mystery. Intelligent and thoughtful, I enjoyed it and will definitely listen to more of this author's work.

22 persone l'hanno trovata utile

Excellent novel ruined by narration

Any additional comments?

This is an excellent novel in one of the best crime series. I've read or listened to most of the Wallander books and was surprised to find Faceless Killers to be the first in the series -- the character is already fully formed, setting the stage for the novels that follow. My problem with the audiobook is the narration. I usually like Dick Hill and have enjoyed many of his other books (notably Lee Child's Reacher series), but he is simply not suited to this one. I wanted to listen to a Mankel/Wallander novel, not a Dick Hill novel.

16 persone l'hanno trovata utile

Good cold listen for a hot, steamy afternoon

This is my first listen to an Henning Mankell novel, and I plan to come back for more ... but not if Dick Hill is the narrator. I agree with other reviewers that he was not the best choice for a Swedish mystery novel. If it hadn't been clear that the novel was set in Sweden, I would have thought it was in NYC given Hill's narration. Simon Vance would have been more appropriate.

In spite of Hill's narration, I enjoyed the mystery itself, the insight into Swedish culture and politics, and the relentless cold and bleak landscape that Mankell paints with his words. It does well as an atmospheric mystery novel.

I found two things difficult, however: (1) developing sympathy for Wallender himself; and (2) accepting the fast shift through several months (and toward a new, improved Wallander) near the end of the novel. At times I found Wallendar to be pathetic in his heavy drinking and self-pity. I'm glad he seemed to clean up at the end, but it wasn't clear how he finally did that. In fact, I would have thought that the lull, the dragging on of the case, would have pushed him over the edge.

But my sentiments might have to do with the narration. A less obnoxious narration might have tempered the bad-boy behavior of Wallendar, and allowed me to feel more sympathetic. Mankell has piqued my interest with this first in the series, so I do expect to listen to more ... but only if there's a different narrator.

12 persone l'hanno trovata utile

A Look Into Realistic Police Work

Where does Faceless Killers rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Even though it's fiction, it feels like real life. I love the drama and supernatural twists and turns in other books, for example those written by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. In contrast, Faceless Killer, seems mundane, quiet, and methodical. It kept my interest though because it was plausible, and I liked the main character, Kurt Wallander. Most of police work is boring and detailed. Most inquiries lead to dead ends...but its impossible to know when one will lead to a break in the case. Therefore all leads have to be followed up and this is exactly how Wallander and his team face solving a horrifying double murder of a helpless, elderly couple.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I'll read the second book in the series now. Kurt Wallander appeals to my female instincts. I see that he cares deeply about his family and his work, but is unable to put his work aside long enough to hold his relationships together. He is a jerk sometimes and he knows it. He drinks too much and eats all the wrong foods. He is consumed by his job, but the people he works closely with he keeps as much at arm's length as he did his wife before she left him.He's a mess...but an appealing mess.As far as solving the crime goes...I like the detail offered. I felt like I was looking at the evidence and following the leads along with Wallander and his staff. I hate when I read a book and try to solve the case, only to find out in the end that I couldn't have figured out who the killer was because I wasn't given all the information required to solve the case. This writer gives the reader all the information that the detectives receive. There are no red herrings as I think they are called.

Which scene was your favorite?

I enjoyed the end when he was closing in on the cold blooded killers of course. But I liked the visits he made with his retired friend who was dying with cancer best. He respected his friends input and gave his friend a chance to help with the case. His friends last days had meaning. He was still a part of the team. He was still needed. The best gift we can give to a friend who is out of commission because of circumstances or health.

10 persone l'hanno trovata utile

great writing good listen

This book was well written so listening to it was so enjoyable. It was not a fast-paced book but the writing and time taken to develop the characters made the book a good listen. No problem with the narrator.

10 persone l'hanno trovata utile

Awkward!

I wish I could give this audio-book a higher rating, the story is compelling and well written. The problem I have with it is the narrator's awkward voice characterizations. They are distractingly strange especially the female voices, they sound like a Kids in the Hall rerun. I will not purchase another in this series with the same narrator.

9 persone l'hanno trovata utile

Loved the book, but not the reader.

I bought this book because I had listened to the Martin Beck stories by Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo read by Tom Weiner (which are great) and I wanted more Nordic mysteries.
This was the first time I heard Mr. Dick Hill as a narrator, and it was very hard getting used to his style. Almost painful. Having listened to Tom Weiner, and other great Audible readers such as Simon Vance and Patrick Tull (all of whom can really make you feel you are listening to different characters) I was very disappointed because listening to Mr. Hill, I could only hear at most 3 "different" voices, all of which, however, had the same inflection of what sounded like a 70 year old man. What a surprise when I Googled Mr. Hill and he does not look much older than 40! I listened to format 3. Will try format 4 next time.
The book itself was great and I will probably buy some more in the series. But I would have preferred a different narrator. Hopefully Mr. Hill just had a cold or something when he recorded this book.

9 persone l'hanno trovata utile

Excellent

I've already listened to it twice and I just got it last week. Full of interesting little details and a great main character. Wonderful quirky narration. I appreciate that the crime investigation meanders a bit. The imagery of the Swedish countryside was beautiful. I'm planning on listening to all this author's books.

8 persone l'hanno trovata utile