The Fire Engine That Disappeared (A Martin Beck Novel, Book 5) Pdf, Epub, Ebook

THE FIRE ENGINE THAT DISAPPEARED (A MARTIN BECK NOVEL, BOOK 5) PDF, EPUB, EBOOK

Within a couple of days the boy has managed to lose it--without having left his apartment. It is A fire engine that was supposedly on its way within minutes of the explosion, but didn't arrive. That clue sets the team on most informative track. A fast-paced police procedural with a realistic view of police work. You have a hodge-podge of various character types--some of whom definitely don't like each other--who manage to work together and get the job done. Just as in real life, I can't say I like all these men. But it's obvious that they know their jobs and they each have their specialty. In many of the books prior to this by other authors , you would think that when Lord So-and-So gets murdered that all the burglars and other criminals take a holiday while the police force concentrate on just one crime. Not so here--or in real life. Three stars. Please request permission to repost any portion. I'm always curious as to how other readers' impressions of a book align with or differ from my own. Well, I must confess that I haven't yet acquired a co I'm always curious as to how other readers' impressions of a book align with or differ from my own. And without The Laughing Policeman — which is by many accounts the standout of the series—looming over it, The Fire Engine that Disappeared held up just fine. Indeed, my impression of the series, as expressed in yesterday's post, is that it gets better and better with each book. I was thoroughly puzzled by the mystery at the heart of The Fire Engine that Disappeared —the links between a disparate group of small-time crooks and their connection to the big, shocking, and seemingly professional crime that occurs at the start of the novel—and enjoyed unraveling it alongside Martin Beck and his team. I felt that I got to know Martin Beck much better in this installment, and I also relished learning more about the thoroughly unpleasant but very intriguing Gunvald Larsson. The only negative for me is that there seemed to be more in this book of an element in the series of which I am wearying—a string of minor female characters who appear to be willing to sleep with anyone at the drop of a hat. Could this be an accurate reflection of sexual mores in Sweden in the late s? Or is a nod to hard-boiled crime fiction convention? Regardless, it feels out of step with what otherwise seems to be a realistic portrayal of s Sweden. That's a minor annoyance however and my enthusiasm for the series continues unabated. Halfway through this wonderful series; the very heart of Scandinavian detective fiction; the pantry of all that we now enjoy, as we banquet upon in the modern crime genre. A police proceedural was never demonstrated better than in this inconsequential mystery around whether a fire was arson or murder. Setting aside the date of the original writing this is a gripping tale of hard police work, excellent co-operation bet Halfway through this wonderful series; the very heart of Scandinavian detective fiction; the pantry of all that we now enjoy, as we banquet upon in the modern crime genre. It is often termed the Martin Beck series but this account clearly shows the breadth of investigations and the piecing together of everyone's contribution. It is familiar in thses books and no less enjoyable as a result. I love the humour, the less than stereotypical view of characters and situations. Some of the language may appear dated and less pc as it was written before we thought about such things. However, as a book of its time it remains a worthwhile read and the case it follows has many a twist and turn. The writing is compact and never over done, sharp and witty as I have stated. There are tensions between the police officers, not vying for attention so much as a real picture of life in the murder squad. The characters are believable, and read true both at work and in their domestic situations. These books are a delight to read and I have 5 more times of enjoying their quality and proclaiming their value in further reviews. Feb 25, tom bomp rated it liked it Shelves: fiction , mystery. The crime itself isn't particularly mysterious and the ending sort of whiffs out a bit. But it keeps your interest enough and as others have said it's mainly about the characters, which are well written and believable. The book is full of a sort of understated and sometimes grim humour which makes it pretty enjoyable to read. The characters feel very real and a lot is made of their daily routine, their home life, what they like to eat and drink, their frustrations with police work Also I feel justified in thinking some of the characters are utter pricks and bad and I feel the author agrees with me on that. I dunno, it's just a refreshing change of style. There's a few crappy moments here and there but nothing too awful. Also it's really interesting reading a book where the Greek junta is talked about as present but without it being a plot point. A lot of late 60s politics appears as background in these books and it interests me It is not difficult to say what I like so much about this series. The personalities are drawn with such sensitivity and skill that they are as alive with human motivation as anyone we might encounter. More alive, in fact, because they are so exquisitely observed by this poet and journalist author team. The brevity of the sentences and the complexity of the action make for very powerful fiction. What I love most about this particular book, but I could have said and perhaps I did say the same ab It is not difficult to say what I like so much about this series. What I love most about this particular book, but I could have said and perhaps I did say the same about Roseanna , is that a murder presents itself, and the policemen spend much time thinking, talking, waiting for people to come back from vacation Perhaps that is why it is so extravagantly restful and reassuring to read this series. The stars are still in the sky when there is another slim volume to pull off the shelf. And even in The Fire Engine That Disappeared they usually limit the political statements to dialogue, refraining from pontificating as the authors. Martin Beck, now a Chief Inspector, is relatively uninvolved in the protracted investigation he and his team undertake to learn whether a fire in which three people died had been deliberately set. Police mysteries on television and film routinely cover just hours or a few days at most. I've been working through the Matin Beck series, and have been thoroughly enjoying the ride. The Fire Engine that Disappeared is probably, so far, by favorite entry so far excepting the first outstanding book in the series, Roseanna. The Fire Engine that Disappeared opens with the mysterious explosion at a small Stockholm apartment building. Eleven people are inside. Fortunately, Detective Gunvald Larson, who is staking out the building though he's not sure why , is able to save several but I've been working through the Matin Beck series, and have been thoroughly enjoying the ride. Fortunately, Detective Gunvald Larson, who is staking out the building though he's not sure why , is able to save several but not all of the people in the building. Larson is often ugly tempered, prejudiced, sometimes violent, and close-minded. He's also rather fastidious, as he worries before and after the explosion about his pajamas and new slippers. Throughout the book the authors are brilliant with these kinds of character revealing details. Larson is also dutiful and persistent, as is revealed a few pages later, in his coarse but effective interrogation of a young prostitute who survived the fire, starts questioning whether the explosion was something more than just an accident. And each of them and others will bring something to this particular investigation. It is in this book where I feel for the first time the full depth of these characters, which the authors have been carefully developing for the four previous novels. The authors have also followed a historical trajectory as well, as Vietnam protests, the sexual revolution, divorce, drugs, and the differences between the Rolling Stones and Beatles are all deftly introduced. If you're old enough, you will be struck by the authenticity of the historical layering. Still, I was taken aback when Martin Beck conceded that his 16 year old daughter soon to be 17 , was probably old enough and mature enough to move out on her own. I don't know if that was just a sixties thing, or a Swedish sixties thing. I haven't talked too much about the plot, but to say too much would be to reveal too much. Then again, the real fun here is how it all unfolds in real time, week by week, month by month, complete with many frustrating vacations by key witnesses or detectives. That said, there is a shocking ending. But there's nothing cheap about it. It's well earned in a book of remarkable balance and pacing. And again, time machine to Stockholm in Repeating myself, but I simply love these books, they are well written and The Real Thing. Our group of cops solves another case, sure enough. And their personal stories continue. Some things don't seem to change. Sep 03, Gary rated it really liked it. Not only with Stieg Larsson, but now with Martin Beck, I am getting a look at, what is to me, a new society. This series is getting better now with each book. The plot takes its time to gracefully and unpredictably yet methodically unfold. The characterization grows from book to book as is possible in series books. Highly recommended. Loved it! Can't wait to read the rest of the series! Apr 02, M. This is the fifth book in the Martin Beck series, which still continues to satisfy the reader without resorting to cliche or formula. I am so glad I discovered this series. A darn good read! This was my least favorite in the Martin Beck series so far. This storyline was more disjointed than usual. The mystery was all over the place and the ending did not match my expectations for this series. However, this story did develop a lot of the characters in the story. And, even though the series revolves around Martin Beck, he was more a peripheral character in this one. This story revolved around Gunvald Larsson, a character t This was my least favorite in the Martin Beck series so far. This story revolved around Gunvald Larsson, a character that I am learning to like a lot. Gunvald Larsson looked at his watch. Nine minutes past eleven. Eight minutes left. He yawned and raised his arms to start beating them round him. At that precise moment the house exploded. From this explosive opening, the novel proceeds to develop slowly and carefully the multiple layers of plot that connect some fairly pathetic underworld characters with a more brutal and far-reaching conspiracy. The novel demonstrates better, perhaps, than any of the others in the series how easily police investigations can be led down blind alleys through mistakes, assumptions or shortcuts. This is a crime series with real depth. Mar 19, Andrewh rated it liked it. This is one of the less involving Martin Beck novels and Beck himself barely features. Thereafter there is a long police-procedural, which gathers pace until it reaches a dramatic ending. There is some stupendously sexist writing earlier on - on several occasions we learn very intimate and unnecessary information about female characters' bodies, and This is one of the less involving Martin Beck novels and Beck himself barely features. There is some stupendously sexist writing earlier on - on several occasions we learn very intimate and unnecessary information about female characters' bodies, and then at least two women being interviewed by detectives offer to sleep with the policeman without any preamble almost all very 70s free-love era but, still, it grates. Less socially aware and didactic than other books in this series but more effective as a policier perhaps. Nov 06, Sun rated it liked it. Although a solid police procedural, does not have the same impact as the previous books in the Martin Beck series. More from the point of view of Detective Gunvald Larsson, who is not as well liked by the other series regulars but who seems more personable. The POV shifts between the characters and there is no interaction with the perpetrators which makes it less engaging. There is however a very touching moment between Beck and his daughter, which to me is the highlight of the book. The swift a Although a solid police procedural, does not have the same impact as the previous books in the Martin Beck series. The swift action of the ending is also memorable. A man commits suicide by gunshot on the same evening as a suspect under police surveillance dies when the apartment building in which he lives explodes in flames. Detective Gunvald Larsson saves several people from the burning building, but the suspect was already dead. As in the prior book, the Stockholm police seem baffled, and cannot locate a critical person of interest until two small boys find him in Malmo. A local policemen there goes to Denmark, and interrogates a young woman, who helps t A man commits suicide by gunshot on the same evening as a suspect under police surveillance dies when the apartment building in which he lives explodes in flames. A local policemen there goes to Denmark, and interrogates a young woman, who helps them figure out the puzzle. Mar 29, Pat rated it liked it Shelves: crime-fiction , ebooks. Possibly my least favourite so far in the Martin Beck series, but it still had its moments. Unusually, Martin Beck played a peripheral part in this novel, but that allowed us to spend more time with the other characters. This, in my opinion, has the best and most intricately constructed plot of the series so far - and has the richest characterization and wit. A winner. There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Readers also enjoyed. Hidden categories: All stub articles. Namespaces Article Talk. Views Read Edit View history. Help Learn to edit Community portal Recent changes Upload file. Download as PDF Printable version. First edition Swedish. The Laughing Policeman. Murder at the Savoy. Available from:. Paperback —. Also by Per Wahloo. Product Details. Inspired by Your Browsing History. Cop Killer. Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo. Murder at the Savoy. Per Wahloo and Maj Sjowall. The Terrorists. The Locked Room. The Return. Hakan Nesser. The Abominable Man. Frozen Tracks. Ake Edwardson. Death Angels. Woman with Birthmark. Sun and Shadow. Hour of the Wolf. An Event in Autumn. Henning Mankell. The Shadow Woman. The Fire Engine that Disappeared by Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo | Penguin Random House Canada At the same moment the house explodes, killing at least three people. Chief Inspector Martin Beck and his men don't suspect arson or murder until they discover a peculiar circumstance and a link is established between the explosion and a suicide committed that same day, in which the dead man left a note consisting of just two words: Martin Beck. Written in the s, they are the work of Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo — a husband and wife team from Sweden. The ten novels follow the fortunes of the detective Martin Beck, whose enigmatic, taciturn character has inspired countless other policemen in crime fiction. The novels can be read separately, but do follow a chronological order, so the reader can become familiar with the characters and develop a loyalty to the series. Each book has a new introduction in order to help bring these books to a new audience. A little less of Martin Beck, a little more of his associates in another nonpareil procedural novel which pursues with thin-and-tight-lipped realism the aftermath of an explosion in a Stockholm After graduating from the University of Lund in , he worked as a journalist, covering criminal and social issues for a number of newspapers and magazines. After returning to Sweden, he wrote a number of television and radio plays, and was managing editor of several magazines, before becoming a full-time writer. Product Details. Inspired by Your Browsing History. Cop Killer. Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo. Murder at the Savoy. Per Wahloo and Maj Sjowall. The Terrorists. The Locked Room. The Return. Hakan Nesser. The Abominable Man. Frozen Tracks. Ake Edwardson. Death Angels. Woman with Birthmark. Sun and Shadow. Hour of the Wolf. An Event in Autumn. Henning Mankell. The Shadow Woman. Talking to the Dead. Harry Bingham. Florence of Arabia. Christopher Buckley. Innocent Blood. The Blood Spilt. Death of an Expert Witness. Never End. Harm Done. Ruth Rendell. An Unsuitable Job for a Woman. Murder in the Crooked House. Soji Shimada. A Dangerous Man. Charlie Huston. The Fire Engine That Disappeared by Maj Sjöwall

His home life is abominable. In this book, his teenage daughter is making plans to move out of the home and one night she asks her father, "Why don't you move out, too? Beck's best friend, if that he can be called, is Lennart Kollberg. He is a sensualist. His main joys in life are sex and food. He has a happy home life with his wife and child. He is sarcastic and rude to his colleagues, frequently expressing the opinion that they are all idiots. One of the main targets of Kollberg's vitriol is Gunvald Larsson, who gets to be a hero in this book. He is the black sheep of a very rich family. He, like Kollberg, is lacking in interpersonal skills, but even though he can be boorish and tactless, he is actually a competent detective. Larsson's only real friend on the squad is Einar Ronn, a calm and peaceful individual, who is also a hard-working and efficient detective. Even though Larsson is just as rude to him on the job as he is to everyone else, they are actually good friends. Fredrik Melander is a detective with a flawless memory and a knack for always being in the restroom whenever anyone is looking for him. He seems to have no temper at all, always maintaining an even keel. In this book, also, we get introduced to Benny Skacke, a young detective, with all the flaws of the young and inexperienced. There's one other detective of note here: Per Mansson is not from Stockholm. He's actually from Malmo, but he turns up repeatedly in Martin Beck's cases, and this time he provides the clue which eventually helps to break the case. This is an interesting group of men, none of whom have very attractive personalities, with the possible exception of Mansson and Ronn. They are a prickly lot who don't really like each other very much, and yet they are capable of working together efficiently when circumstances demand it. One thing they all seem to have in common is dogged determination. Even when there seem to be no clues, they keep following their procedures, working the case, and somehow always reaching a conclusion. And we lucky readers get to follow them step by step. Nov 23, Laura rated it liked it Recommends it for: Carey. Shelves: audio-books , read , suspense-thriller , scandinavian-literature , nordic-noir. Arson and murder isn't at first suspected - much to Larsson's fury - but when it becomes clear that the fire was started on purpose, the case hinges on the needle-in-a-haystack chance of finding a man who fits an impossibly vague description who was somewhere in the area around the time of the fire. Jan 22, Hafizz Nasri rated it liked it. This case giving me some anticipation at first-- intro with suicide and building on fire. Not much of Martin Beck but the team as a whole was perfectly portrayed here. This was okay. It moves slowly but straight forward. Crime was not that complicated or me too eager want to know where the heck is the culprit, I like how 'em all really into th This case giving me some anticipation at first-- intro with suicide and building on fire. Crime was not that complicated or me too eager want to know where the heck is the culprit, I like how 'em all really into the case although it turned out to be quite messy with few dead suspects and such. The thrill and excitement was fairly enough, not that dramatic but engrossing me to the end. It all begins with the suicide of a man whose only farewell note consists of two words: Martin Beck scribbled on a notepad by his bed. Beck has never heard of the man and, as there is no doubt about the circumstances of his death, he promptly forgets about him. Not long after his colleague, Gunvald Larsson is headed home for So Not long after his colleague, Gunvald Larsson is headed home for the night--with no plans at all for becoming a hero. He stops on his way to check on a stake-out that he has organized and when he finds his man freezing at his post he takes over long enough for the officer to take a half hour break to warm up and get some coffee inside him. He never expects the apartment house to explode in flames before his eyes. Before the night is over, he will be rescue eight of the eleven people inside and be proclaimed a hero-- particularly because the fire department was so unreasonable slow in responding. But Malms, the man they had been assigned to watch, is dead and the methods are unclear. An autopsy reveals that the man died of carbon monoxide poisoning--apparently a suicide. A suicide who just barely cheated his murderer of the chance to take his life--for lodged in his bed had been the source of the blaze It has been assumed that Malms was a small-time operator in the world of drugs and car theft and the hunt is on to find his contact, Olofsson. Olofsson has been missing for some months and every trail seems to lead to a dead end. Within a couple of days the boy has managed to lose it--without having left his apartment. It is A fire engine that was supposedly on its way within minutes of the explosion, but didn't arrive. That clue sets the team on most informative track. A fast-paced police procedural with a realistic view of police work. You have a hodge-podge of various character types--some of whom definitely don't like each other--who manage to work together and get the job done. Just as in real life, I can't say I like all these men. But it's obvious that they know their jobs and they each have their specialty. In many of the books prior to this by other authors , you would think that when Lord So-and-So gets murdered that all the burglars and other criminals take a holiday while the police force concentrate on just one crime. Not so here--or in real life. Three stars. Please request permission to repost any portion. I'm always curious as to how other readers' impressions of a book align with or differ from my own. Well, I must confess that I haven't yet acquired a co I'm always curious as to how other readers' impressions of a book align with or differ from my own. And without The Laughing Policeman —which is by many accounts the standout of the series—looming over it, The Fire Engine that Disappeared held up just fine. Indeed, my impression of the series, as expressed in yesterday's post, is that it gets better and better with each book. I was thoroughly puzzled by the mystery at the heart of The Fire Engine that Disappeared —the links between a disparate group of small-time crooks and their connection to the big, shocking, and seemingly professional crime that occurs at the start of the novel—and enjoyed unraveling it alongside Martin Beck and his team. I felt that I got to know Martin Beck much better in this installment, and I also relished learning more about the thoroughly unpleasant but very intriguing Gunvald Larsson. The only negative for me is that there seemed to be more in this book of an element in the series of which I am wearying—a string of minor female characters who appear to be willing to sleep with anyone at the drop of a hat. Could this be an accurate reflection of sexual mores in Sweden in the late s? Or is a nod to hard-boiled crime fiction convention? Regardless, it feels out of step with what otherwise seems to be a realistic portrayal of s Sweden. That's a minor annoyance however and my enthusiasm for the series continues unabated. Halfway through this wonderful series; the very heart of Scandinavian detective fiction; the pantry of all that we now enjoy, as we banquet upon in the modern crime genre. A police proceedural was never demonstrated better than in this inconsequential mystery around whether a fire was arson or murder. Setting aside the date of the original writing this is a gripping tale of hard police work, excellent co- operation bet Halfway through this wonderful series; the very heart of Scandinavian detective fiction; the pantry of all that we now enjoy, as we banquet upon in the modern crime genre. It is often termed the Martin Beck series but this account clearly shows the breadth of investigations and the piecing together of everyone's contribution. It is familiar in thses books and no less enjoyable as a result. I love the humour, the less than stereotypical view of characters and situations. Some of the language may appear dated and less pc as it was written before we thought about such things. However, as a book of its time it remains a worthwhile read and the case it follows has many a twist and turn. The writing is compact and never over done, sharp and witty as I have stated. There are tensions between the police officers, not vying for attention so much as a real picture of life in the murder squad. The characters are believable, and read true both at work and in their domestic situations. These books are a delight to read and I have 5 more times of enjoying their quality and proclaiming their value in further reviews. Feb 25, tom bomp rated it liked it Shelves: fiction , mystery. The crime itself isn't particularly mysterious and the ending sort of whiffs out a bit. But it keeps your interest enough and as others have said it's mainly about the characters, which are well written and believable. The book is full of a sort of understated and sometimes grim humour which makes it pretty enjoyable to read. The characters feel very real and a lot is made of their daily routine, their home life, what they like to eat and drink, their frustrations with police work Also I feel justified in thinking some of the characters are utter pricks and bad and I feel the author agrees with me on that. I dunno, it's just a refreshing change of style. There's a few crappy moments here and there but nothing too awful. Also it's really interesting reading a book where the Greek junta is talked about as present but without it being a plot point. A lot of late 60s politics appears as background in these books and it interests me It is not difficult to say what I like so much about this series. The personalities are drawn with such sensitivity and skill that they are as alive with human motivation as anyone we might encounter. More alive, in fact, because they are so exquisitely observed by this poet and journalist author team. The brevity of the sentences and the complexity of the action make for very powerful fiction. What I love most about this particular book, but I could have said and perhaps I did say the same ab It is not difficult to say what I like so much about this series. What I love most about this particular book, but I could have said and perhaps I did say the same about Roseanna , is that a murder presents itself, and the policemen spend much time thinking, talking, waiting for people to come back from vacation Perhaps that is why it is so extravagantly restful and reassuring to read this series. The stars are still in the sky when there is another slim volume to pull off the shelf. And even in The Fire Engine That Disappeared they usually limit the political statements to dialogue, refraining from pontificating as the authors. Martin Beck, now a Chief Inspector, is relatively uninvolved in the protracted investigation he and his team undertake to learn whether a fire in which three people died had been deliberately set. Police mysteries on television and film routinely cover just hours or a few days at most. I've been working through the Matin Beck series, and have been thoroughly enjoying the ride. The Fire Engine that Disappeared is probably, so far, by favorite entry so far excepting the first outstanding book in the series, Roseanna. The Fire Engine that Disappeared opens with the mysterious explosion at a small Stockholm apartment building. Eleven people are inside. Fortunately, Detective Gunvald Larson, who is staking out the building though he's not sure why , is able to save several but I've been working through the Matin Beck series, and have been thoroughly enjoying the ride. Fortunately, Detective Gunvald Larson, who is staking out the building though he's not sure why , is able to save several but not all of the people in the building. Larson is often ugly tempered, prejudiced, sometimes violent, and close-minded. He's also rather fastidious, as he worries before and after the explosion about his pajamas and new slippers. Throughout the book the authors are brilliant with these kinds of character revealing details. Larson is also dutiful and persistent, as is revealed a few pages later, in his coarse but effective interrogation of a young prostitute who survived the fire, starts questioning whether the explosion was something more than just an accident. And each of them and others will bring something to this particular investigation. It is in this book where I feel for the first time the full depth of these characters, which the authors have been carefully developing for the four previous novels. The authors have also followed a historical trajectory as well, as Vietnam protests, the sexual revolution, divorce, drugs, and the differences between the Rolling Stones and Beatles are all deftly introduced. If you're old enough, you will be struck by the authenticity of the historical layering. Still, I was taken aback when Martin Beck conceded that his 16 year old daughter soon to be 17 , was probably old enough and mature enough to move out on her own. I don't know if that was just a sixties thing, or a Swedish sixties thing. I haven't talked too much about the plot, but to say too much would be to reveal too much. Then again, the real fun here is how it all unfolds in real time, week by week, month by month, complete with many frustrating vacations by key witnesses or detectives. That said, there is a shocking ending. But there's nothing cheap about it. It's well earned in a book of remarkable balance and pacing. And again, time machine to Stockholm in Repeating myself, but I simply love these books, they are well written and The Real Thing. Our group of cops solves another case, sure enough. And their personal stories continue. Some things don't seem to change. Sep 03, Gary rated it really liked it. Not only with Stieg Larsson, but now with Martin Beck, I am getting a look at, what is to me, a new society. This series is getting better now with each book. The plot takes its time to gracefully and unpredictably yet methodically unfold. The characterization grows from book to book as is possible in series books. Highly recommended. Loved it! In the novel a house fire, which kills three people, was about to be written off as the result of a tenant's gas suicide when a forensics officer discovers a firebomb in the rubble that would have certainly killed the tenant had he not killed himself. Beck and his team launch a manhunt for the tenant's partner-in-crime, but are perplexed when the partner-in-crime is found dead at the bottom of the sea. Just as Gunvald Larsson arrives to replace a colleague, the apartment of a drug dealer in Stockholm, the house he is observing suddenly explodes into flames. Larsson tries to break into the house to rescue the residents, while an anonymous person calls the fire brigade from a payphone. The fire brigade arrives too late and some residents are killed. The investigation finds that the drug dealer under surveillance has committed suicide by gas poisoning and blocked all the openings of his room. Beck still has doubts about this happening: where did the spark for the explosion come from and why did the fire department take so long to arrive? The doubts are justified, as it turns out according to the findings of the Crime Lab: the gas was lit by a hidden incendiary bomb in the mattress of the deceased. Truly exciting. When you buy a book, we donate a book. Sign in. Join Our Authors for Virtual Events. Read An Excerpt. Jun 02, ISBN Add to Cart. Also available from:. Dec 08, ISBN Available from:. Paperback —. Also by Per Wahloo. Product Details. Inspired by Your Browsing History. Cop Killer. Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo. Murder at the Savoy. Per Wahloo and Maj Sjowall. The Terrorists. The Locked Room. The Return. Hakan Nesser. The Abominable Man.

The Fire Engine That Disappeared - Wikipedia

The Blood Spilt. Death of an Expert Witness. Never End. Harm Done. Ruth Rendell. An Unsuitable Job for a Woman. Murder in the Crooked House. Soji Shimada. A Dangerous Man. Charlie Huston. Echoes from the Dead. Johan Theorin. Leif GW Persson. The Skull Beneath the Skin. One Across, Two Down. Maigret and the Lazy Burglar. Georges Simenon. Richard Montanari. Buy other books like The Fire Engine that Disappeared. Related Articles. Looking for More Great Reads? Download Hi Res. The Fire Engine that Disappeared. They don't shy away from the issues, but they are not beating the drums of revolution, appearing to me more tired than anything else. In Eupatoria on the Black Sea, Mansson was looking dully at the dove-grey Potemkin horizon and wondering how they had been able to achieve socialism and manage their five-year plan in three years in a country where it was degrees in the shade and they did not have grape juice. Note : I live close to the Black Sea, and I can tell you, grapes are for wine and tzuica, not for soft drinks. The Laughing Policeman remains my favorite Martin Beck book so far, but this sequel was no slouch, and it was a lot more entertaining than I expected. Will surely check out the rest of the series. This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Bettie's Books Bettie's Books A man commits suicide in a Stockholm apartment. He leaves behind a cryptic note with just two words: "Martin Beck. Eleven people live in the building and had it not been for the policeman who was watching at the moment of the explosion, Gunvald Larsson, they would likely all have died. Through his heroic effor A man commits suicide in a Stockholm apartment. Through his heroic efforts, eight of the people escaped, although one later died. One resident, a teenage girl, was trapped and burned in the attic apartment and the man in the apartment where the fire started also died. It turned out that that man was the criminal whom the police had been watching and that an incendiary device had been placed in the man's mattress. However, complicating matters, it seems that the man was dead before the fire. Martin Beck and his squad at first assume that the fire was an accident due to a gas leak, but once the incendiary device is discovered, they reluctantly accept the inevitable and commence the investigation. The investigation proceeds at a snail's pace. The police search for weeks for their main suspect, an associate of the criminal who died in the fire, but no one has seen him since before the fire. It is suspected that he has gone abroad, but there are no clues to where or why. Finally, a connection is found between the man who committed suicide and left his strange note and the criminal who died in the fire. But no one, including Martin Beck, can quite figure out what it all means. Then another body is found by two boys who are fishing. They see an old car under the surface of the water. When the car is brought up, there is a long-dead body in it. Is this death somehow related to the others which the police are investigating? This is the fifth book in the Martin Beck series - the halfway point of the ten book series. After I recently finished the fourth book in the series, The Laughing Policeman , I realized that I wasn't quite ready to give up the company of this group of characters and so I plunged ahead to read The Fire Engine That Disappeared. I'm glad I did, because I got to know several of the characters considerably better. Martin Beck, now Chief Inspector, continues to be as much of a sad-sack as ever. His home life is abominable. In this book, his teenage daughter is making plans to move out of the home and one night she asks her father, "Why don't you move out, too? Beck's best friend, if that he can be called, is Lennart Kollberg. He is a sensualist. His main joys in life are sex and food. He has a happy home life with his wife and child. He is sarcastic and rude to his colleagues, frequently expressing the opinion that they are all idiots. One of the main targets of Kollberg's vitriol is Gunvald Larsson, who gets to be a hero in this book. He is the black sheep of a very rich family. He, like Kollberg, is lacking in interpersonal skills, but even though he can be boorish and tactless, he is actually a competent detective. Larsson's only real friend on the squad is Einar Ronn, a calm and peaceful individual, who is also a hard-working and efficient detective. Even though Larsson is just as rude to him on the job as he is to everyone else, they are actually good friends. Fredrik Melander is a detective with a flawless memory and a knack for always being in the restroom whenever anyone is looking for him. He seems to have no temper at all, always maintaining an even keel. In this book, also, we get introduced to Benny Skacke, a young detective, with all the flaws of the young and inexperienced. There's one other detective of note here: Per Mansson is not from Stockholm. He's actually from Malmo, but he turns up repeatedly in Martin Beck's cases, and this time he provides the clue which eventually helps to break the case. This is an interesting group of men, none of whom have very attractive personalities, with the possible exception of Mansson and Ronn. They are a prickly lot who don't really like each other very much, and yet they are capable of working together efficiently when circumstances demand it. One thing they all seem to have in common is dogged determination. Even when there seem to be no clues, they keep following their procedures, working the case, and somehow always reaching a conclusion. And we lucky readers get to follow them step by step. Nov 23, Laura rated it liked it Recommends it for: Carey. Shelves: audio-books , read , suspense-thriller , scandinavian-literature , nordic-noir. Arson and murder isn't at first suspected - much to Larsson's fury - but when it becomes clear that the fire was started on purpose, the case hinges on the needle-in-a-haystack chance of finding a man who fits an impossibly vague description who was somewhere in the area around the time of the fire. Jan 22, Hafizz Nasri rated it liked it. This case giving me some anticipation at first-- intro with suicide and building on fire. Not much of Martin Beck but the team as a whole was perfectly portrayed here. This was okay. It moves slowly but straight forward. Crime was not that complicated or me too eager want to know where the heck is the culprit, I like how 'em all really into th This case giving me some anticipation at first-- intro with suicide and building on fire. Crime was not that complicated or me too eager want to know where the heck is the culprit, I like how 'em all really into the case although it turned out to be quite messy with few dead suspects and such. The thrill and excitement was fairly enough, not that dramatic but engrossing me to the end. It all begins with the suicide of a man whose only farewell note consists of two words: Martin Beck scribbled on a notepad by his bed. Beck has never heard of the man and, as there is no doubt about the circumstances of his death, he promptly forgets about him. Not long after his colleague, Gunvald Larsson is headed home for So Not long after his colleague, Gunvald Larsson is headed home for the night--with no plans at all for becoming a hero. He stops on his way to check on a stake-out that he has organized and when he finds his man freezing at his post he takes over long enough for the officer to take a half hour break to warm up and get some coffee inside him. He never expects the apartment house to explode in flames before his eyes. Before the night is over, he will be rescue eight of the eleven people inside and be proclaimed a hero--particularly because the fire department was so unreasonable slow in responding. But Malms, the man they had been assigned to watch, is dead and the methods are unclear. An autopsy reveals that the man died of carbon monoxide poisoning--apparently a suicide. A suicide who just barely cheated his murderer of the chance to take his life--for lodged in his bed had been the source of the blaze It has been assumed that Malms was a small-time operator in the world of drugs and car theft and the hunt is on to find his contact, Olofsson. Olofsson has been missing for some months and every trail seems to lead to a dead end. Within a couple of days the boy has managed to lose it--without having left his apartment. It is A fire engine that was supposedly on its way within minutes of the explosion, but didn't arrive. That clue sets the team on most informative track. A fast-paced police procedural with a realistic view of police work. You have a hodge-podge of various character types--some of whom definitely don't like each other--who manage to work together and get the job done. Just as in real life, I can't say I like all these men. But it's obvious that they know their jobs and they each have their specialty. In many of the books prior to this by other authors , you would think that when Lord So-and-So gets murdered that all the burglars and other criminals take a holiday while the police force concentrate on just one crime. Not so here--or in real life. Three stars. Please request permission to repost any portion. I'm always curious as to how other readers' impressions of a book align with or differ from my own. Well, I must confess that I haven't yet acquired a co I'm always curious as to how other readers' impressions of a book align with or differ from my own. And without The Laughing Policeman — which is by many accounts the standout of the series—looming over it, The Fire Engine that Disappeared held up just fine. Indeed, my impression of the series, as expressed in yesterday's post, is that it gets better and better with each book. I was thoroughly puzzled by the mystery at the heart of The Fire Engine that Disappeared —the links between a disparate group of small-time crooks and their connection to the big, shocking, and seemingly professional crime that occurs at the start of the novel—and enjoyed unraveling it alongside Martin Beck and his team. I felt that I got to know Martin Beck much better in this installment, and I also relished learning more about the thoroughly unpleasant but very intriguing Gunvald Larsson. The only negative for me is that there seemed to be more in this book of an element in the series of which I am wearying—a string of minor female characters who appear to be willing to sleep with anyone at the drop of a hat. Could this be an accurate reflection of sexual mores in Sweden in the late s? Or is a nod to hard-boiled crime fiction convention? Regardless, it feels out of step with what otherwise seems to be a realistic portrayal of s Sweden. That's a minor annoyance however and my enthusiasm for the series continues unabated. Halfway through this wonderful series; the very heart of Scandinavian detective fiction; the pantry of all that we now enjoy, as we banquet upon in the modern crime genre. A police proceedural was never demonstrated better than in this inconsequential mystery around whether a fire was arson or murder. Setting aside the date of the original writing this is a gripping tale of hard police work, excellent co-operation bet Halfway through this wonderful series; the very heart of Scandinavian detective fiction; the pantry of all that we now enjoy, as we banquet upon in the modern crime genre. It is often termed the Martin Beck series but this account clearly shows the breadth of investigations and the piecing together of everyone's contribution. It is familiar in thses books and no less enjoyable as a result. I love the humour, the less than stereotypical view of characters and situations. Some of the language may appear dated and less pc as it was written before we thought about such things. However, as a book of its time it remains a worthwhile read and the case it follows has many a twist and turn. The writing is compact and never over done, sharp and witty as I have stated. There are tensions between the police officers, not vying for attention so much as a real picture of life in the murder squad. The characters are believable, and read true both at work and in their domestic situations. These books are a delight to read and I have 5 more times of enjoying their quality and proclaiming their value in further reviews. Feb 25, tom bomp rated it liked it Shelves: fiction , mystery. The crime itself isn't particularly mysterious and the ending sort of whiffs out a bit. But it keeps your interest enough and as others have said it's mainly about the characters, which are well written and believable. The book is full of a sort of understated and sometimes grim humour which makes it pretty enjoyable to read. The characters feel very real and a lot is made of their daily routine, their home life, what they like to eat and drink, their frustrations with police work Also I feel justified in thinking some of the characters are utter pricks and bad and I feel the author agrees with me on that. I dunno, it's just a refreshing change of style. There's a few crappy moments here and there but nothing too awful. Also it's really interesting reading a book where the Greek junta is talked about as present but without it being a plot point. A lot of late 60s politics appears as background in these books and it interests me It is not difficult to say what I like so much about this series. The personalities are drawn with such sensitivity and skill that they are as alive with human motivation as anyone we might encounter. More alive, in fact, because they are so exquisitely observed by this poet and journalist author team. The brevity of the sentences and the complexity of the action make for very powerful fiction. What I love most about this particular book, but I could have said and perhaps I did say the same ab It is not difficult to say what I like so much about this series. What I love most about this particular book, but I could have said and perhaps I did say the same about Roseanna , is that a murder presents itself, and the policemen spend much time thinking, talking, waiting for people to come back from vacation Perhaps that is why it is so extravagantly restful and reassuring to read this series. The stars are still in the sky when there is another slim volume to pull off the shelf. And even in The Fire Engine That Disappeared they usually limit the political statements to dialogue, refraining from pontificating as the authors. Martin Beck, now a Chief Inspector, is relatively uninvolved in the protracted investigation he and his team undertake to learn whether a fire in which three people died had been deliberately set. Police mysteries on television and film routinely cover just hours or a few days at most. I've been working through the Matin Beck series, and have been thoroughly enjoying the ride. The Fire Engine that Disappeared is probably, so far, by favorite entry so far excepting the first outstanding book in the series, Roseanna. The Fire Engine that Disappeared opens with the mysterious explosion at a small Stockholm apartment building. The suspect, who had placed the incendiary, was, as it turns out, a Lebanese professional killer entering the country specifically to kill the drug dealer. He had himself called the firefighters as he wanted to avoid harming bystanders but accidentally due to lack of local knowledge he said the name of the wrong location. Beck's daughter Ingrid announces that she will leave home and encourages her father in secret to do the same. Regular police officer Zachrisson is introduced. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Martin Beck. Hidden categories: All stub articles. Namespaces Article Talk.

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