description The White Lioness Overview
The White Lioness is a crime novel by Henning Mankell and the third book in the series featuring Swedish police inspector Kurt Wallander. First published in Swedish in 1993, it begins with the disappearance of a woman near Ystad and expands into an international conspiracy connected to apartheid-era South Africa. The investigation ultimately involves a planned assassination of Nelson Mandela, linking a provincial Swedish case to political violence abroad.
insights Ranking position
The White Lioness ranks #89 of 183 in the Detective Novel ranking, behind The Yellow Dog, ahead of Death at La Fenice.
help The White Lioness FAQ
How does a murder in Sweden connect to Nelson Mandela in The White Lioness?
Wallander's investigation into the disappearance and murder of Louise Åkerblom uncovers a conspiracy with links to South African extremists. The larger plan involves training an assassin to kill Nelson Mandela.
Why does The White Lioness spend part of its story in South Africa?
Henning Mankell alternates Wallander's Swedish investigation with the conspirators and security officials connected to South Africa. The international plot reflects the country's tense transition away from apartheid.
Where does The White Lioness fall in the Wallander series?
It is the third Kurt Wallander novel, following Faceless Killers and The Dogs of Riga. It was first published in Swedish in 1993.
Who is the white lioness named in the title?
The title is symbolic rather than simply naming a detective or victim. Within the novel's South African context, it evokes the power, danger, and racial politics surrounding the assassination conspiracy.
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