THE ABOMINABLE MAN

The violent killing of a Swedish police captain while in hospital brings to light the brutality of his 40 years on the Stockholm police force. His history leaves Detective Martin Beck and his colleagues with plenty of suspects. Tom Weiner perfects the gravelly rumble of the hard-boiled but intellectual Beck as he makes his way through the dangerous case. Sjöwall's and Wahlöö's descriptive prose, in tandem with Weiner's narration, enlivens the Scandinavian imagery, as well as the characters' often-sordid surroundings. Scrutiny of modern law enforcement, with a strong indictment of indiscriminate brutality, flows throughout as a social theme. Gripping tension leads to a bleak and horrifying disaster but leaves us awaiting more from this crime series. A.W. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2010]