The Laughing Policeman

About “The Laughing Policeman”

The fourth novel in the Martin Beck detective series, written by Swedish husband-and-wife team Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö, follows the enigmatic detective as he investigates a mass shooting in Stockholm. On a cold night, nine bus riders are killed by an unknown assassin, and the press calls him a madman. Martin Beck suspects otherwise, especially after realizing one of his own detectives was among the victims. The novel is part of a series that pioneered the crime genre and inspired many writers. It features detailed depictions of lawmen and criminals in Stockholm's underworld. The book includes a new introduction to help bring the series to a new audience.