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Daniel
Daniel
Aug 25, 2025 6:41 AM

Author:Henning Mankell,Steven T. Murray

Daniel

Hans Bengler, a young entomologist, leaves Sweden for the Kalahari Desert, determined to find a previously undiscovered insect to name after himself and advance his career. Instead, he finds a young boy, whose tribe has been decimated by European raiders.

Accustomed to collecting specimens, Bengler re-names the traumatised child Daniel and brings him home to Sweden, intending to 'civilise' him. But Daniel yearns desperately for the desert and his real family. His only consolation is his friendship with a vulnerable young girl who is also an outsider in the community, but even this bond is destined to be violently broken, as Daniel's isolation and increasing desperation lead to a chilling tragedy.

Reviews

An acutely observed and slow-burning psychological thriller, written with Mankell's typically detached prose, making the violently tragic end all the more powerful

—— Doug Johnstone , Big Issue Scotland

Mankell pulls no punches in this bleak but brilliant examination of misguided humanism

—— Tina Jackson , Metro

A powerfully involving and uncompromising novel about the loss of childhood and innocence

—— Barry Forshaw , Daily Express

Thought-provoking

—— Jennifer Cunningham , Sunday Herald

A sombre, gripping story about alienation and the clash of cultures

—— The Times

gut-wrenching stand-alone . . . a satisfying nail-biting thriller sure to please her growing audience.

—— Publishers Weekly

A white-hot crossover novel about the perils of mother love. Scottoline, shifts gears at every curve with the cool efficiency of a NASCAR driver

—— Kirkus

At the quick pace of a thriller, Scottoline masterfully fits every detail into a tight plot chock-full of real characters, real issues, and real thrills. A story anchored by the impenetrable power of a mother's love, it begs the question, just how far would you go to save your child

—— Booklist

Judt calls these charming vignettes "feuillotons" which, without being sentimental, gives them the elegiac quality of falling autumn leaves

—— James Urquhart , Financial Times

What razor-sharp brilliance! What sublime satirical wit!... The lives of Wolfe's seemingly unconnected cast of characters, bouncing off the pages as vividly as any of Dickens', become gradually interwoven. Wolfe takes ironic swipes at greed, class, racism from both sides of the fence and financial and political corruption... A what a wonderful way Wolfe has with dialogue and with the barbaric euphemisms of street slang and rap. Sheer genius

—— Val Hennessy , Daily Mail

Novels of this size... always have flaws and the occasional lull, but Wolfe's fizzy prose and amusingly mean-spirited social observations make up for any other deficiencies. Highly entertaining

—— Irish Times

There are far too many delicious examples of Wolfe's razor sharp wit and stylish writing. So I'll simply say that if you enjoy a slice of American fiction, then this book will not disappoint. Otherwise, I'll eat my hat. A big, bold, brash, brilliant book, beautifully-written. Highly recommended

—— TheBookBag.co.uk

A gripping yet tender storyline that unfolds as the insurmountable obstacles are faced with bravery and loyalty. You're sure to be reaching for the tissues

—— Candis

A moving and disturbing tale of love and loyalty. And you might cry

—— Sun Buzz Magazine
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