This was my first wallander book and I plan on trying at least one more. I am not a fan of political intrigue in general, but this was still enough of a police procedural for me to enjoy it. Could do with a bit of humor, though that is not usually what you get from the cold country writers ( )

Los perros de Riga
Henning Mankell
Publicado: 1992 | 245 páginas
Novela Policial
Serie: Inspector Wallander #2

Una fría mañana de febrero, un bote salvavidas queda varado frente a la costa sueca. Dentro yacen los cadáveres de dos hombres que, como confirma el inspector Kurt Wallander, han sido asesinados días atrás. Aquejado de estrés, con problemas de salud, lleno de remordimientos por desatender a su anciano padre y sin haber encajado bien la separación de su mujer, Wallander, una vez abierta la investigación, debe hacer de tripas corazón y posponer sus buenos propósitos de cuidarse más. Al averiguarse que los dos hombres asesinados eran letones, Wallander no tiene más remedio que viajar a Riga. En la turbulenta Letonia de 1991, en pleno proceso de restablecimiento de la democracia, Wallander se introduce en los ambientes de la oposición clandestina. En medio de esa atmósfera sórdida, conoce a Baiba Liepa: intriga, amor y conflictos de toda índole provocarán que su vida dé un inesperado vuelco.

It is the winter of 1991 and a life raft containing the bodies of two men, dressed in expensive suits, wash up on a beach in Sweden. Kurt Wallander and his team are tasked with solving the crime. During the investigation it soon becomes clear that the victims are Latvian criminals who have been murdered in a gangland hit. When a Latvian police officer who was assisting on the case is murdered Wallander travels across the Baltic Sea to Riga where he is plunged into a frozen, alien world of police surveillance, corruption, barely veiled threats and lies.

This is the second book in the series and is almost in a different genre from the first. Whereas 'Faceless Killers' saw Wallander trying to solve a crime and revolves around police procedure, 'The Dogs of Riga reads more like an espionage novel in the style of John Le Carrė. Whilst there are still leads to be chased down and things to be discovered, much of this book is about clandestine meetings and giving an insight in to the lives of the people who must live in a police state.

Whilst I didn't find this novel as enjoyable as 'Faceless Killers, Mankell’s gritty, minimalist, noir writing style is still interesting. Mankell also manages to capture and convey varying feelings and sentiments about the fall of communism, the end of the Cold War, and the collapse of the Soviet Union without indulging in long ideological debates.

Overall I found this is a decent read and a solid espionage thriller and makes this a book not to be missed as we see the continued development of Wallander’s character although I don't understand his tendency to fall in love in every book, given his general disillusionment. ( )

The plot is more intricate than Faceless Killers. Otherwise, mostly further character development of Wallender. Not particularly compelling. ( )

Riian verikoirat on ruotsalaisen Henning Mankellin kirjoittama rikosromaani, joka on toinen osa Wallander-sarjasta. Kirja on julkaistu ruotsiksi vuonna 1992. Kirjan tapahtumapaikkana on alkuvuoden 1991 Riika, jolloin Latvia kuului vielä Neuvostoliittoon. Kirjasta on tehty myös elokuva, jossa pääosaa näyttelee Rolf Lassgård.
Ruotsin rannikolle Ystadin lähelle ajautuu kumivene, josta löydetään kuolleena kaksi latvialaista rikollista. Ystadiin tapausta saapuu tutkimaan latvialainen poliisimajuri. Hänen palattuaan Latviaan hänet kuitenkin surmataan, minkä vuoksi rikoskomisario Kurt Wallander lähetetään Latviaan tutkimaan tapausta.