April brings another book discussion, this one Before the Frost by Henning Mankell, a novel in the Kurt Wallander series. Lynette Ingram will lead the discussion, and we'll talk about the current phenomenon of Scandinavian mysteries and thrillers.

In Before the Frost, described as an "atmospheric thriller," Kurt Wallander and his daughter Linda join forces to search for a religious fanatic on a murder spree. Recently graduated from the police academy, Linda Wallander accepts a job in Skane and as a new officer, already exhibits many of her father’s controversial be-haviors, especially his maverick approach to a case and his flaring temper. Before she starts her job, Linda becomes embroiled in the case of her childhood friend, Anna, who has disappeared. As the case her father is working on dovetails with Linda’s, something more dangerous than either of them could have imagined be-gins to emerge. They soon find themselves forced to confront a group of extrem-ists determined to punish the sinners of the world

Kenneth Turan of Los Angeles Times writes: "The Wallander novels get their strength from the notion of us-ing crime novels to reflect on society and having a protagonist who ages and evolves from book to book. . . Mankell has created in Wallander a shambling central character whose unconventional personality is at least as compelling as the crimes he investigates and has become another major factor in the series’ success. A falli-ble and out-of-shape loner who is prone to catching colds and drinking too much, not necessarily in that or-der, Wallander is often put-upon and overworked."

Marilyn Stasio of The New York Times writes: "Mr. Mankell isn’t one to worry about niceties. His brusque, gloomy Swedish police inspector can be downbeat even by the standards of Sweden, where the bar for brood-ing is already set so high.

On May 9 we'll hear from Stuart Dill about his Nashville-based mystery, Murder on Music Row, and June 12 will bring J.T. Ellison to talk about her Taylor Jackson series, about her new series, and her TV option. Mark your calendar so you won't miss a meeting.

See the Meetings page for for more on scheduling.