Before the Frost cover art

Before the Frost

An Inspector Wallander Mystery

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Before the Frost

By: Henning Mankell
Narrated by: Sean Barrett
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About this listen

The leader of a religious cult in Guyana instigates a mass suicide. He succeeds in killing himself and his whole flock of worshippers, save one. One man escapes.

In the wood in the country land outside Ystad, the police make a horrific discovery: a severed head and hands locked together in an attitude of prayer. A Bible lies at the victim's side, handwritten corrections and amendments on every page. A string of incidents, including attacks on domestic animals, has been taking place and Inspector Wallander fears that these events could be the prelude to attacks on humans on a much greater scale.

Linda Wallander, preparing to join the Ystad police force, arrives at the station. Showing all the hallmarks of her father - the maverick approach, the flaring temper - she becomes involved in the case and in the process has to confront a group of extremists bent on punishing the world's sinners. Before the Frost is a totally compelling and atmospheric crime story.

©2004 Henning Mankell (P)2009 Random House Audio Crime Fiction International Mystery & Crime Mystery Police Procedural Suspense Thriller & Suspense Fiction Crime

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Beautifully read and characterised. Very exciting and fascinating description of Sweden . Linda and Wallander’s relationship is described with empathy and insight, and Linda is a realistic heroine.

Gripping

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absolutely brilliant ....great story had me in the thick of it all until the end.....the stories of Henning Mankell and the reading by Sean Barrett's are the perfect combination.....just brilliant

another Mankell classic

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Highly recommended. Whilst the plot isn't sufficiently obscure to be a true mystery and sometimes the characters appear to have taken 'stupid pills', the book and characters are sufficiently engaging to hold interest throughout. The characters are reasonably well drawn and if you are familiar with the TV series (not so much the Kenneth Branagh version, rather the Krister Henriksson version) then the places, people and surroundings spring into life.

First audio book that I have listened to that has made me want to listen to another in the series. Bit disappointing that there aren't more of them on Audible.

The reader (Sean Barrett) - apart from having two or three 'fluffs' remaining in the recording - reads the book fluently and is a joy to listen to. Very compelling.

Buy and listen to with confidence!

A good read and recommended!

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I enjoyed this book just as much as the others. Linda made a brilliant main character and it felt like a natural transition to the series. Sean Barretts narration is as fantastic as always.

Very gripping

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Classic good vs. evil in a richly interwoven tapestry with engaging characters and captivating personalities on both sides. Nice work. Enjoyed it more than most of the other Wallender Stories. Barrett does an excellent narration, as always.

One of Mankell’s best

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This is the first Wallander book I have listened to; having seen the brilliant TV series I wanted to get back to the originals...

This is really a cut above your average crime fiction. Unlike so many two dimensional crime fiction characters, the protagonists are fleshed out with complex inner lives and psychological detail which really grips. There are few characters, but you really feel you know them.

I also enjoyed the almost post-modern touches. At one point, everyone in a crime conference gets side-tracked into talking about a children's tv show at length, while Wallander waits for order to resume.

This is a good place to start if you are new to Wallander books. It is just a shame they are not being translated in order!

A cut above usual crime fiction.

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I was sorry when this story finished it was so enjoyable. Superbly read and very exciting - quite a detailed story with loads of twists and turns. I shall listen to more Wallender's in the future, he is so human.

Wallender's daughter comes of age

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What did you like most about Before the Frost?

The story had a good pace.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

The ending seemed a bit rushed, as if the author had run out of ideas.

What about Sean Barrett’s performance did you like?

Sean Barrett has a great voice and really brings anything he reads to life.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Never enter the the woods alone!

Any additional comments?

Great series of books just a shame this one lacked a bit in it's ending.

Good story but ending could be better

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The only down side to this I'd there is only one of the Wallander books to go for me. Fantastic plot wonderful characters.

Typically brilliant

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Already a Wallander fan having read a few of Henning Mankell's books and seen the Kenneth Branagh series on TV, I had high expectations. I was not disappointed. Expertly read by Sean Barrett, a real pleasure to listen to, the story was gripping with twists, turns and revelations underscored by the continuing characterisation of Wallander and in this book, his daughter Linda, who is about to join the police force. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and it went all too fast.

Thoroughly enjoyed this Wallander mystery

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