Being a fan of this author's detective series, I find it interesting to read his other novels which bring together the mystique and culture of African life, where Mankell now lives. Like "The Eye of the Leopard", his main characters come from Sweden and for various reasons land in Africa where he weaves intricate tales of the era of white man's usurption of that country . This novel is a story of a young girl ending up in Africa in the early 1900's living a life she never would have ever imagined...circumstances lead to her owning a local brothel and becoming a rich and powerful woman . She tries to integrate herself into the culture of both the white and the black finding that both are really based on lies and she feels she will never belong to either and longs for her home country.She is finally able to take action and move on in her life but we as the reader are left hanging as to what that is, which is probably fitting because that would be a whole new story. It was interesting to read at the the end of the book how Mankell came up with the idea of this story--because it really is a unique story. I have read a number of Henning Mankell's Detective procedurals, and they are well-crafted but I do not find them remarkable. I think all of the Scandinavian writers (whose work I read; Larsson, Mankell, Nesbo and a few other worthys.) tend toword a plodding, deliberate style of presentation. This has not deterred me from reading them up to and including the Dragon Tattoo trilogy, widely critcized as verbose.The two other novels of Mankell's I have read, Shadow Girls, and now A Treacherous Paradise, were enjoyable. I know Mankell has more than a passing acquaintance with Africa and this contributes a realism to his stories I find appealing. For me this appeal also manifests itself in his characters. Treacherous Paradise is the story of a young woman whose efforts to survive bring her to a coastal city in east Africa at the turn of the 18th century. Her life, an amalgam of chance, bravery and resolve make for entertaining reading and some insight if you're a thinking person. I've never been disappointed with a Mankell novel, but like many things it's a matter of taste. I hardly ever meet a book I do not like.
What do You think about Un Paradis Trompeur (2013)?
Starts off in Sweden and ends up in Mozambique. Interesting story from a talented writer.
—nikki
Many layers to this story.Not typical Mankell.
—ella_25
Why isn't this on Goodreads?Outstanding book.
—ericalotspeich
