Depths

In October 1914, the destroyer Svea set off from the Stockholm archipelago, heading south-south-east. Onboard was Lars Tobiasson-Svartman, a naval engineer entrusted with conducting depth soundings to locate a path suitable for the Swedish navy. From a young age, Tobiasson-Svartman had a deep fascination with measurement, believing that precision holds its own magic. This passion is mirrored in the orderly life he shares with his wife, who is equally attentive to detail. During his survey, Tobiasson-Svartman stumbles upon a desolate skerry, assumed to be devoid of life, where he unexpectedly encounters Sara Fredrika, a seemingly wild young woman. Despite her raw demeanor, she captivates him profoundly.After successfully completing his mission, Svea sails back to Gothenburg, but Tobiasson-Svartman cannot shake the impact of this unexpected meeting. His internal balance is unsettled, and he finds himself drawn to seek any justification to revisit the secluded islet. In "Depths," Henning Mankell reaffirms his literary prowess beyond crime fiction. By exploring the complexities of the male mind, he crafts a narrative as gripping and intense as his Wallander series, yet imbued with depth, emotion, and an ultimately tragic undertone.