After the Fire

 

After the Fire by Henning Mankell translated by Marlaine Delargy  401 pp. 

This was the last novel written by Henning Mankell, author of the Kurt Wallender books, before his death in 2015. This novel is not part of the Wallender series. Fredrik Welin retired from his job as a surgeon under a cloud from a botched surgery. He moved into the family home on a small island in an archipelago off the Swedish coast. One night he wakes to a blinding light and discovers his home is on fire. He escapes with the clothes on his back, a raincoat, and two left boots. Soon he is under suspicion of burning the house for the insurance money. And Fredrik develops a love interest in a local journalist who was writing about the fire. However, while Fredrik is away in Paris, rescuing his daughter from jail, another island home burns to the ground in the same way. Fredrik is no longer a suspect but now there is an arsonist in this quiet, secluded part of Sweden. This is not Mankell's best work. It's a bit rambling and drags in spots. However, there is enough going on to make you want to continue reading to find out how it is going to end.