BookBingeKurt Wallander Books in Order
The short answer
Henning Mankell · 11 books
- How many books?
- There are 11 books in the Kurt Wallander series, published 1991–2009.
- Is it finished?
- Yes — the series is complete; it ends with The Troubled Man (2009).
- Where to start
- Start with Faceless Killers (1991).
A weary, brilliant Swedish detective confronts brutal crimes that expose the cracks in his country's social fabric.
Here is the complete Kurt Wallander reading order — all 11 books by Henning Mankell, in the order you should read them:
Reading order
- Faceless KillersInspector Kurt Wallander investigates the brutal murder of an elderly farming couple, a case that ignites explosive tensions over immigration.1991
- The Dogs of RigaWallander is pulled into a Cold War-era conspiracy after two bodies wash ashore on the Swedish coast.1992
- The White LionessA missing local woman leads Wallander into an international plot involving South African political assassins.1993
- The Man Who SmiledWallander returns from a leave of absence to investigate a lawyer's death and uncovers a ruthless corporate conspiracy.1994582 pages
- SidetrackedWallander hunts a scalping killer while a teenage girl's shocking public act haunts the investigation.1995
- The Fifth WomanA string of brutal murders of men leads Wallander to a hidden network of vigilante justice.1996337 pages
- One Step BehindWallander races to stop a killer targeting people close to the police force itself, including someone within his own team.1997
- FirewallWallander investigates a seemingly random killing that leads him into a web of cybercrime with global stakes.1998
- The PyramidA collection of cases from earlier in Wallander's career reveals how he became the detective readers know.1999560 pages
- Before the FrostWallander and his daughter Linda, now a young police officer, investigate a case tied to a dangerous religious sect.2002384 pages
- The Troubled ManIn his final case, an aging Wallander investigates the disappearance of his daughter's father-in-law, a retired naval officer.2009384 pages
Good news: for this series, reading order and publication order are the same — just read straight down the list.
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Get BookBingeFrequently asked questions
How many Kurt Wallander books are there?
There are 11 books in the Kurt Wallander series by Henning Mankell, from Faceless Killers (1991) to The Troubled Man (2009).
Is the Kurt Wallander series finished?
Yes. Henning Mankell completed the series with The Troubled Man in 2009; all 11 books are out now.
What is the first Kurt Wallander book?
Faceless Killers (1991) is book one. Inspector Kurt Wallander investigates the brutal murder of an elderly farming couple, a case that ignites explosive tensions over immigration.
Should I read the Kurt Wallander series in publication order?
Yes. For the Kurt Wallander series, reading order and publication order are the same — Faceless Killers (1991) through The Troubled Man (2009).