''The Man Who Smiled'' (original: ''Mannen som log'') is a novel by Swedish crime-writer

Henning Mankell Henning Georg Mankell (; 3February 19485October 2015) was a Swedish crime writer, children's author, and dramatist, best known for a series of mystery novels starring his most noted creation, Inspector Kurt Wallander. He also wrote a numb ...

, and is the fourth in the

Inspector Wallander Kurt Wallander () is a fictional Swedish police inspector created by Swedish crime writer Henning Mankell (1948 – 2015). He is the protagonist of many thriller/ mystery novels set in and around the town of Ystad, south-east of the city of ...

series, although the English translations have not been published in chronological order.

Synopsis

After killing a man in the line of duty (in ''

The White Lioness ''The White Lioness'' (Original: ''Den vita lejoninnan'') is a crime novel by Swedish writer Henning Mankell, the third in the Inspector Wallander series. Synopsis The story itself takes place in 1992. The plot follows two parallel patterns, on ...

''), Inspector Kurt Wallander finds himself spiraling into an alcohol-fueled depression. He has just decided to leave the police when an old friend, Sten Torstensson, asks him to secretly investigate the recent death of his father in a car accident. At first Kurt dismisses his friend's suspicions as unlikely, but then Sten is found murdered in exactly the same manner as a Norwegian businessman shortly before. Against his previous judgement, Kurt returns to work to investigate what he is convinced is a case of double murder.

Adaptations

In 2003, ''The Man Who Smiled'' was adapted by Swedish public broadcaster

Sveriges Television Sveriges Television AB ("Sweden's Television Stock Company"), shortened to SVT (), is the Swedish national public television broadcaster, funded by a public service tax on personal income set by the Riksdag (national parliament). Prior to 2019 ...

into a two-hour television movie, starring Rolf Lassgård as Wallander. ''The Man Who Smiled'' has also been adapted into a 90-minute television episode for the BBC's '' Wallander'' series starring Kenneth Branagh as Wallander. It was first broadcast on 10 January 2010.

References

1994 Swedish novels Novels by Henning Mankell Wallander Ordfront books {{1990s-crime-novel-stub