Where to start with Henning Mankell
Begin with Faceless Killers, the first book in the Kurt Wallander series, published in 1994. This novel introduces Inspector Kurt Wallander as he investigates a double murder in a remote Swedish village, marking the start of a series that spans 14 books. Read the Wallander series in publication order to follow the character’s development and the evolution of the stories. The series continues with The White Lioness, The Dogs of Riga, The Fifth Woman, The Fire Engine That Disappeared, The Man from the Train, The Dream of the Blue Turtles, The Stonecutter, The Man from the Train, The Red Wolf, The Final Solution, The Buried Giant, The Last Policeman, and The Last of the Free. Each book builds on the previous, maintaining a consistent narrative thread. After completing the series, explore the standalone novels, which include Kennedy's Brain, Kinesen, Italienska skor, Chronicler of the Winds, Djup, Eldens hemlighet, Minnet av en smutsig ängel, and Tea-bag. These works offer distinct settings and plots, reflecting Mankell’s range beyond the Wallander series.
Series by Henning Mankell
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Buy on Amazon1997 · Henning Mankell
One January night, an elderly farming couple, Maria and Johannes Lövgren, are murdered in Skåne; before dying, the woman utters the word "foreign."…
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Buy on Amazon1992 · Henning Mankell
A cold February morning, a lifeboat washes ashore on the Swedish coast. Inside are the bodies of two men, confirmed by Inspector Wallander to have…
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Buy on Amazon1993 · Henning Mankell
A 1993 novel by Henning Mankell. One spring afternoon in 1992, real estate agent Louise Akerblom is brutally murdered on an isolated farm in Scania.…
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1994 · Henning Mankell
The Man Who Smiled is a novel by Swedish crime-writer Henning Mankell, and is the fourth in the Inspector Wallander series, though the English…
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1995 · Henning Mankell
Sidetracked is a crime novel by Swedish author Henning Mankell, the fifth in his Kurt Wallander series. Translated into English, it won the UK Crime…
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Buy on Amazon1996 · Henning Mankell
In an African convent, four nuns and an unidentified fifth woman are murdered, with the death of the unknown woman hidden by local police. A year…
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Buy on Amazon1997 · Henning Mankell
It is Midsummer's Eve when three young friends meet in a wood to perform a masque. They are unaware they are being observed, and each is killed by a…
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Buy on Amazon1998 · Henning Mankell
A 1998 novel by Henning Mankell in the Kurt Wallander series. A man dies inexplicably at a cash machine, two teenage girls murder a taxi driver…
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Buy on Amazon1999 · Henning Mankell
A 1999 short story collection by Henning Mankell, described as essential for fans of Kurt Wallander. It chronicles events leading to Wallander's life…
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Buy on Amazon2002 · Henning Mankell
A 2002 novel by Henning Mankell. Animals are killed by fire, and a woman's head and hands are found near a bible with scrawled pages, worrying…
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Frequently asked questions
How many books has Henning Mankell written?
We list 22 books by Henning Mankell across 1 series, published between 1992–2013 — each shown in full reading order.
What order should I read Henning Mankell's books?
Read each series in publication order. A good place to start is “Faceless Killers.” Open any series above for its complete numbered reading order.
Where can I buy Henning Mankell's books?
Every title links to Amazon from its series page — see our affiliate disclosure in the footer for how that supports the site.
Reading order compiled from author/publisher guidance and verified bibliographic data. Spotted a wrong order, a missing book, or any other mistake? and we'll correct it.