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Her new environment proves difficult to navigate, particularly its blatant racism. Nobody knows what to make of a rich white businesswoman, either.
Black-white relations, evoked with subtle skill and mordant humor, are marked by mutual incomprehension and fear, and Hanna’s attempts at friendliness and generosity toward her employees are met with unnatural silences. When she obeys her conscience and makes a gutsy decision against bigotry, the plot takes turns at once surprising and not.
Mankell, Scandinavian crime fiction’s brightest star, structures his latest around a true story from turn-of-the-century Mozambique. Considerable suspense derives from the tense atmosphere and the fact that neither Hanna nor the reader knows quite what will happen next. The tragic effects of colonialism in this divided land emerge slowly via a succession of shocking reveals.
This powerful work boasts a courageous, well-drawn heroine and makes its points without stridency or didacticism. Since it’s written by Mankell, an author of such high stature, it should get the large audience it deserves.
A Treacherous Paradise was published by Knopf in July ($26.95, 384pp). This starred review appeared in Booklist's June 1st issue.
A few additional comments:
(1) This is a book I'd wanted to read, so I was seriously excited when it showed up in the mail.
(2) I've never read Mankell's Kurt Wallander mysteries so can't make the comparison. The other trade reviews I've seen are positive, but there are some other grumpy reviewers out there who seem upset that this one's not like the Wallander books. Maybe it's just me, but I don't think authors should have to write the same type of book all the time.
(3) Look closely at the cover design. Then look again. Does the woman have her eyes closed, or is she gazing off to her right? It's very cleverly done.
What a truly interesting setting and premise! This is one that was not on my radar; thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThis one is brand new, so hopefully it'll be popping up in other places, too! I'm hoping more people will discover it.
DeleteBy the cover, it's clear the Publisher is going after the Thriller market rather than the Historical Fiction market, which might be more appropriate given the subject matter. I hope that when it comes out in paperback, they have the sense to design a cover along the lines of Deanna Raybourn's "A Spear of Summer Grass" rather than this nightmarish image.
ReplyDeleteI don't want to give away too much of the plot here, but while it's not a thriller, it would be fair to describe it as a novel about crime and justice. It just takes a while getting there, so it's not a typical mystery. It's also very dark. The design absolutely fits, imho, while I feel something like "Spear" would be misleading - although I agree it would get more historical fiction readers to look at it!
DeleteSophie, you might want to take a look at the UK cover to see if it's an improvement in your view? It's a lot more like "Spear," but it doesn't hint at the darker aspects of the book (only the title does).
DeleteUK version is MUCH better. In my opinion, the above cover is completely unacceptable. However, if this is a slasher, then maybe it would be more appropriate!
DeleteThis sounds splendid. As Mankell has spent so much time for such a long time in the Africa of which he writes, that must add a great deal too.
ReplyDeleteI have read the Kurt Wallander books, which I liked a lot. Whereas, I cannot watch the Kenneth Branaugh BBC versions of them because they are so depressing. The novels are not high energy optimistic sunny stuff either, but they are interesting, and so is Wallander and the characters around him. KB just -- isn't. And this, even with the grand landscapes against which the television series are shot, that same landscape which plays such a huge role in the novels.
So one knows this one, with such a different climate and such a different set of landscapes, cannot be a Wallandar novel! If that makes sense ....
Yes, in the afterword he writes he heard about the real woman behind this story from a friend who found mention of her in old colonial archives in Maputo (formerly Lourenço Marques), the city where he's lived part time for decades... after which he did a lot of research on his own. He clearly knows the area and its history.
DeleteOne would think that with such a different locale and lead character, people would realize this is not like Wallander but, seemingly, they don't.
I'm not sure if the Wallander series is my type of thing, but he's also written other more straightforward novels (non-mysteries) set in Africa which I will likely check out.
I love Wallender, but yes, Mankell has also written historical novels like the thoughtful Daniel, which explores the tragic consequences of well-meaning colonialism.
ReplyDeleteFrom the Amazon blurb, Daniel seems to be similar in theme to this one. "Ruthless elegance" is a good way to describe his style here, too.
DeleteYes. I nominate that picture for scariest book cover so far in 2013.
ReplyDeleteCreepy.
The New York Times posts a review today, by William Boyd no less.
ReplyDeleteOnce again you've scooped the NYT! :)
Love, C.
Ha - pleased to see that, and that it got such an excellent review. (Although he gives away most of the plot, including the ending, so those who want to appreciate the suspense should steer clear.) The NYT review should certainly get the book more attention!
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