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  • The Man Who Smiled

  • An Inspector Wallander Mystery
  • By: Henning Mankell
  • Narrated by: Sean Barrett
  • Length: 11 hrs and 9 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (411 ratings)
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The Man Who Smiled cover art

The Man Who Smiled

By: Henning Mankell
Narrated by: Sean Barrett
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Summary

Crestfallen, dejected, and spiralling into an alcohol-fuelled depression after killing a man in the line of duty, Inspector Kurt Wallander has made up his mind to quit the police force for good.

When an old acquaintance, a solicitor, seeks Wallander's help to investigate the suspicious circumstances in which his father has died, Kurt doesn't want to know. But when the solicitor also turns up dead, shot three times, Wallander realises that he was wrong not to listen. Against his better judgment, he returns to work to head what may now have become a double murder case.

A rookie female detective has joined the force is his absence, and he adopts the role of mentor to her as they fight to unravel the mystery. An enigmatic big-business tycoon, who hides behind an entourage of brusque secretaries and tight security, seems to be the common denominator in the two deaths. But while Wallander is on the trail of the killer, somebody is on the trail of Wallander, and closing in fast.

©2005 Henning Mankell (P)2009 Random House Audio

What listeners say about The Man Who Smiled

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Classic Wallender

The joy of an unabridged reading is that the story takes its time to unfold and the listener becomes engrossed in the fine detail as well as following the plot. This reading by the incomparable Sean Barrett does exactly that. We find Wallender in a deep depression after shooting a man 18 months earlier and Mankell does not spare us from the depths of his despair. Then a chance encounter takes Wallender back to the police station and involved in a double murder. This is an excellent reading and up to Mankell's usual high standard. Much recommended.

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13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Another great Wallander book

Yet again another book I purchased out of sequence as I have listened to the later books first! I thoroughly enjoyed it and it did fill in a couple of holes for me though. Sean Barrett really gets into character and makes it such an enjoyable listen - another series I'm hooked on and have gone back to as I've started listening to Val McDermid books and they just aren't the same so I stopped on chapter 5 and thankfully found this one I hadn't read. I do like the Wallander series and the dark background he has and getting to know the character. Again highly recommended listen!

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

The Man Who Smilled

Wallander is depressed, both narrator and storyline bring this fact magnificently to the listner from the start, intending to resign he returns to work only to find the pressure on him increasing, as the story unfolds the tension is constant and the relationships between work colleagues just adds to the high pressure atmosphere of the story. Wallander is like a Scandinavian "Taggart" only better and I can't get enough

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great story well narrated

Have always liked the Wallander to series but never got around to reading any of the books. Excellent narration, great story.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Excellent listen

I enjoyed this listen.
It’s not my first Wallander book and it will not be my last …. Something to dip in to now and then.
I think the narrator does a good job of expressing the state of mind of the main player.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Gripping story but with many problems!

Most infuriatingly the narrator keeps varying Wallander's name pronounciation between Filander and Valender. Can't speak to which is correct as I have no Swedish but for heaven's sake pick one and stick to it!
The story is gripping but Wallander is a terrible detective who makes the worst decisions. His "instincts" are just a poorly constructed plot device to ensure he gets to know things no other reasonable person could be sure about with the given facts. The fact that things work out for him all the time is beyond miraculous.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A Master at work

Mankell was a true artist of crime fiction. In this story Kurt deals with a shadowy world. Barrett narrates quite beautifully and both narration and story build tension from virtually the first few words. Bravo!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Atmospheric

Far from perfect Wallander - but an excellent plot and highly listenable. Well narrated too.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent as usual

I enjoyed everything about this performance and will recommend it to all my friends and family

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent novel yet again

This is another great story from Henning. If anything it was rather scary for me. It kept me on the edge of my seat and listening at every opportunity.

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