BWF - An Event in Autumn - Henning Mankell - 3 Stars

[Olivermagnus]

Kurt Wallander's life looks like it has taken a turn for the better when his offer on a new house in the country is accepted. Unfortunately while exploring the garden, he discovers a skeletal hand reaching out from the ground. It turns out to be the skeleton of a middle-aged woman. As police officers search the property for more remains, Wallander attempts to get his life back on course by finding the woman's killer. When another discovery is made in the garden, Wallander is forced to search even further back into the past in his attempt to put things right.

Set in 2002, this compelling short novel (176 pages) depicts an episode in the life of Kurt Wallander shortly before the Swedish detective ended his career in 2011's The Troubled Man. There is an extensive afterward by the author in which Mankell discusses his long term relationship to Wallander and the difficulty he had in ending the series. If you are already a fan of Kurt Wallander you will probably enjoy this novella which was originally conceived in 2002 as a BBC show. If you are interested in the Wallander series, this is certainly not the one to start with. Many of the familiar characters are there there is not enough time to give them any depth. Recommended for fans only.