Title: Before the Frost
Author: Henning Mankell
First published February 1, 2002
375 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9781400095810 (ISBN10: 1400095816)
Rating: 3.85
Overview
In this thrilling novel, the iconic father-daughter duo of Kurt and Linda Wallander reunite to solve a perplexing case. Linda, fresh out of the police academy, returns to Skane to join the police force and quickly gets involved in the mysterious disappearance of her childhood friend Anna.
As Kurt investigates a religious fanatic on a murder spree, Linda’s case starts to overlap with her father’s, revealing a sinister plot by a group of extremists who want to cleanse the world of sinners. With their signature maverick approach and fiery tempers, the Wallanders will stop at nothing to bring justice to their community.
About the Author
Henning Mankell, a renowned Swedish author of crime novels, plays, and children’s books, gained worldwide acclaim for his literary creation, Kurt Wallander.
Mankell divided his time between Sweden and Mozambique, where he was deeply involved in social and political issues. He was happily married to Eva Bergman, a talented Swedish filmmaker who also happened to be the daughter of the legendary director Ingmar Bergman.
Editoral Review
Belva Plain’s Homecoming is a heartwarming family drama that explores the complexities of familial relationships, centered around the love between a mother and her two daughters. Published on October 6, 1997, the novel tackles themes of love, loss, aging, and the pain and joys of the journey of motherhood.
The author, Belva Plain, was an American author of romantic fiction and non-fiction books. Her novels have sold over 20 million copies worldwide, and she was known for her ability to tell rich and emotional stories with multidimensional characters.
Homecoming is no exception. The novel is written in Plain’s signature style, character-driven, and filled with evocative details that transport the reader to the setting of the story.
At the center of Homecoming are the relationships between mother Abigail and her daughters, Nina and the younger, rebellious Susan. The novel opens with Abigail, a recently widowed woman, retreating to her childhood home in Cape Cod with her daughters, where she hopes to escape the painful memories that remind her of her husband.
What follows is a heartwarming, and sometimes heartbreaking, journey of self-discovery for Abigail and her daughters. Belva Plain effortlessly weaves flashbacks to Abigail’s past throughout the narrative, exploring the themes of love, loss, and self-discovery.
The flashbacks provide context for Abigail’s character and the motivations behind her actions. As a result, the reader gets a deeper understanding of Abigail’s mindset, goals, and aspirations, and how they changed over the years.
Plain’s emphasis on character development is one of the standout elements of Homecoming. The characters in the novel are multifaceted, flawed individuals with real challenges and aspirations.
The relationships between the characters are authentic and realistic, and the novel is elevated by the depth of formation given to each character. Furthermore, the novel’s pacing is well-balanced.
The flashbacks enhance the drama by adding depth to the story, helping the reader understand the main characters better. There is a pleasant balance between the past and present, providing enough context without disrupting the momentum of the narrative.
Belva Plain’s Homecoming is a fine work of a seasoned writer. From the evocative descriptions of Cape Cod to the complicated relationships between the characters, every aspect of the novel is expertly handled.
The novel does have some flaws, some of the writing can be clichéd, and occasionally, the flashbacks can be tedious, which disrupts the narrative flow. Nevertheless, Homecoming is a novel that would resonate with audiences of all ages, but especially for those who want to dive into the dynamics of mother-daughter relationships.
It’s a heartwarming and immersive story about hope and healing, and Worth the read. I recommend Homecoming by Belva Plain, and I award it 4 out of 5 stars.
