Product Description

The leader of a religious cult in Guyana instigates a mass suicide. He succeeds in killing himself and his whole flock of worshippers, save one. One man escapes. In the wood in the country land outside Ystad, the police make an horrific discovery: a severed head, and hands locked together in an attitude of prayer. A Bible lies at the victim's side, handwritten corrections and amendments on every page. A string of incidents, including attacks on domestic animals, has been taking place and Inspector Wallander fears that these events could be the prelude to attacks on humans on a much greater scale. Linda Wallander, preparing to join the Ystad police force, arrives at the station. Showing all the hallmarks of her father - the maverick approach, the flaring temper - she becomes involved in the case and in the process has to confront a group of extremists bent on punishing the world's sinners. Before the Frost is a totally compelling and atmospheric crime story.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7014 in Books
• Published on: 2005-04-07
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 384 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
No longer is Henning Mankell a name known to just a privileged few. Before the Frost will have a readership far greater than his first European fans, those lucky enough to have encountered some of the finest modern crime writing from a Swedish master. His recent novel, Firewall, further developed the cool, utterly gripping style that had become his trademark: modern society and its eccentricities stripped bare, with Sweden ably standing in for the whole of western society. In that book, Mankell’s dogged copper Inspector Kurt Wallander investigated crime in cyberspace (as the country experienced electricity blackout), and anarchist cyber terrorists tested Wallander’s mettle. But Mankell was showing signs of wanting something new, and Before the Frost delivers that--in spades.

Linda Wallander--Kurt’s daughter--is cut from the same cloth as her resourceful father, and as a new detective character for Mankell, she’ll do very nicely, even if a certain amount of adjustment is needed on the reader’s part. In the dark forest near Ystad, a grisly find is made: human hands and a severed head, arranged in a grim mockery of prayer. A bible, seemingly heavily annotated by the killer is also found. But this is just one of series of bizarre incidents that have been taxing inspector Kurt Wallander: including domestic pets being attacked. Not a good time, in fact, for Wallander’s daughter Linda to make her debut as another detective on the force. But (needless to say) she soon gives her father a run for his money in identifying the criminals involved--a sinister group with biblical punishments on their unflinching agenda.

While Linda has some way to go to make herself as beloved a protagonist as her father, the auguries here are very promising, with plotting compensating for the gearshifts involved.--Barry Forshaw

Michael Ondaatje
'Mankell is by far the best writer of police mysteries today'

Michael Ondaatje
'Mankell is by far the best writer of police mysteries today'

Customer Reviews

Frost bitten, twice shy
Don't think I'll pick up another Mankell. Wallender has become a brilliant character in search of an author who can write plots and dialogue, and in much of this book Mankell even dispenses with grumpy old Kurt in favour of the equally headstrong but slightly scatty daughter Linda to try to save the world from (yet another) OTT evil baddie. As usual the best bits are the procedural details and the agonising of Wallender Senior, too much else is melodramatic, gratuitously gruesome and simply unbelieveable. The later Mankells have all generally suffered from these weaknesses (and excesses) - if you're coming to him afresh start with the early stories and don't touch Dogs of Riga, Man Who Smiled, Firewall, Dancing Master or this one, unless you've already ironed your socks, checked your oil or have already read all the Harry Hole books of Jo Nesbo.

New Character from Mankell for us to enjoy
I have read all of Mankell's Kurt Wallander books so was particularly interested to read this one where his daighter Linda becomes the primary character in the book.

Overall I enjoyed the book as it carries on the great Mankell novels of superb plot, dialogue, suspense and bringing to life teh characters and surroundings of Ystadd in Sweden.

I found the start a litle slow as Mankell tries to bring you the background to Linda that the author never raised in his previous novels. It was also a little strange having crimes occur which Kurt investigated but within the first 100 pages of the novel are not the focus, as it is on his daughter whose friend has gone missing.

However the final half of the book is typical Mankell with all the threads coming together and the pace and page turnability increasing.

Linda Wallander does not have her fathers experience and many of his failings, but Mankell does bring his daughter very much to life as she begins her new role as police officer.

The most interesting side story of the book is Linda's relationship now back living with her father. As they start to work closely together she finds out more about him and why he did nt spend more time with the family when she was younger. Discovering her father through out this investigation is a pleasure and a pain for Linda. I look forward to many more episodes.

A welcome diversion from the other Wallander books
This is my third Henning Mankell novel and it did not disappoint. I liked the change of direction resulting in the involvement of Inspector Kurt Wallander's daughter, Linda. This was like a breath of fresh air after her father's heavy drinking, rather sombre style.

The book starts off at a cracking pace - the mass suicide of over 1,000 people, the death of 4 burning swans and the disappearance of Linda's friend Anna, all within the first 40 pages.
Linda is drawn into the case before she has even started work at the police station due to this involvement of her friend. Needless to say her input is invaluable, if a little unorthodox at times.
The tension mounts as facts begin to merge into a bigger picture and certain people start to show their true colours.

I liked the way facts introduced at the beginning of the book, and subsequently almost forgotten, are gradually incorporated into the whole. I shall certainly continue to search out this author's work.
Interestingly I have just bought a book entitled 'Chronicler of the Winds', by H Mankell. This is a complete change of theme - "a beautifully told fable of the African continent" - and is high on my list of books to read next.