Italian Shoes

Mankell is a vivid and compelling storyteller * Independent *As with the the best of crime fiction, Mankell deals not only in character, plot and action, mystery and revelation, concealment and discovery, but also creates a world with its own mental and emotional atmosphere * Irish Times *Mankell has always been an ambitious writer… This novel transcends the limits of his earlier work * Sunday Times *Authoritative plotting and well-defined characterisation… An examination of the boundless human capacity for making the wrong decisions and a recognition of the challenges posed by ageing – Barry Forshaw * Daily Express *Mankell’s words fall like snowflakes, building up to make even the most ugly thing something of beauty… The strength of women, the bestiality some men are capable men, and the impermanence of life are some of the themes that Mankell once again spins into a quiet masterpiece – Kieran Meeke * Metro *As stark as anything he has written…an unflinching emotional honesty – Joan Smith * Sunday Times *Mankell is lyrical about the frozen landscape he knows so well – Carla McKay * Daily Mail *A fine meditation on love and loss – Sally Cousins * Sunday Telegraph *Mankell carefully maps the changing seasons in beautifully stark prose – James Urquhart * Financial Times *The cool, enigmatic tone is reminiscent of Paul Auster – Brandon Borshaw * Independent on Sunday *

Henning Mankell (1948-2015) became a worldwide phenomenon with his crime writing, gripping thrillers and atmospheric novels set in Africa. His prizewinning and critically acclaimed Inspector Wallander Mysteries continue to dominate bestseller lists all over the globe and his books have been translated into forty-five languages and made into numerous international film and television adaptations- most recently the BAFTA-award-winning BBC television series Wallander, starring Kenneth Branagh.

Driven by a desire to change the world and to fight against racism and nationalism, Mankell devoted much of his time to working with charities in Africa, including SOS Children’s Villages and PLAN International, where he was also director of the Teatro Avenida in Maputo. In 2008, the University of St Andrews conferred Henning Mankell with an honorary degree of Doctor of Letters in recognition of his major contribution to literature and to the practical exercise of conscience.