One Man's Opinion: COP KILLER by SJOWALL & WAHLOO
I suspect that Cop Killer isn’t typical of the Martin Beckseries. Still, it’s the first I’ve read and there’s enough in the novel to makeme want to visit again.
A woman is murdered on the edge of a small Swedish town andher body is hidden by the killer.
Martin Beck and Lennart Kollberg of the national murdersquad are called in to investigate what is initially a missing person case.This takes them for a long stretch in the suburbs where policing is ratherdifferent that in the big cities. Beck is looked after by local cop Allwrightwho defies immediate impressions by proving himself to be a knowledgeable anddedicated officer who knows pretty much everything that there is to know abouthis patch. The contrast between city and country is significant and takes Beckand Kollberg back to days when their working lives were simpler.
There are two main suspects in the case, the victim’s ex-husbandand a local man who has a dark and confused history. After significant diggingand interviews, Beck doesn’t fancy them for this crime. Unfortunately, he’sbattling against press interest and national politics in his bid to findjustice.
The first half of the book is excellent. Beck’s slowadaptation to a quieter life in a gentle community is rather touching, as ishis new relationship with Allwright. Each of the characters involved brings somethingof interest, not least in the way that they help do show different facets ofBeck’s character. There may be the occasional odd phrase or translation to copewith, but on the whole it flows extremely well.
What didn’t work quite so easily was the transition of thestory into a new overlapping case. Though it’s essential to the solving of theoriginal murder, it appears from nowhere and feels slightly disjointed. It’snot that I mind multiple cases in one book; in fact, I think I often prefer itthat way. However, there’s much more opinion thrown in here with extra detailand reference to facts that slow things down. It brings to light the conflictbetween Kollberg’s ways and those of his new boss and that is handled moreheavily than I would have liked. I much preferred the earlier pace andsituation.
In the end, the cases converge. Our murderer is caught. Thepersonal journeys of the police are rounded off nicely. The friendship betweenAllwright and Beck are fused and Allwright invites Beck to come and stay at anytime- I hope Beck took him up on his offer.
