The Inspector and Silence Read online

  Then breakfast and the Allgemejne. That took an hour; the mate-in-three chess problem another half – it all depended on the knight, the most difficult of all the pieces to master.

  He showered, dressed and went out. Another of those friction-free days, he noted. Blank and unspecified, and a temperature that ensured the air had no effect on the skin. Not many people about on the streets. Holiday time – more crowded in the centre, no doubt, around Keymer Plejn and Grote Square where the tourists generally gathered. But that wasn’t where he was going.

  Instead he headed down towards Zwille. Crossed over Langgraacht and turned into Kellnerstraat from the opposite direction this time. It was only eleven o’clock, and he indulged in a glass of beer at Yorrick’s first.

  Sat outside under one of the lime trees, and took his time. Observed what was happening around him. The few passers-by. The Art Nouveau facades. The green crowns of the trees and the pale sky. Listened out for any whispers and doubts inside himself, but there weren’t any.

  So, let it come to pass, he thought. Emptied his glass and crossed over the road.

  Pressed down the handle and walked in. A bell over the door announced his arrival. An elderly man – almost white-haired and with a full beard in the same shade – had been studying a map with the aid of a magnifying glass. He looked up. Gave him a nod and seemed to be slightly drowsy.

  ‘Good morning,’ said Van Veeteren. ‘I’m here in connection with that sign in the window.’

  ‘Welcome,’ said the man.

  PRAISE FOR HÅKAN NESSER

  THE INSPECTOR AND SILENCE

  ‘The atmosphere of the small town, the mysterious fringes of the forest full of aspens and blueberries, are evocatively drawn . . . The clarity of Nesser’s vision, the inner problems of good and evil with which Van Veeteren struggles, recall the films of Bergman

  Independent

  ‘A rising Swedish star . . . Van Veeteren [the detective], disengaged, thinking of retirement and wonderfully enigmatic, makes an enjoyable change from all those fictional policemen who persist in taking their work home with disastrous consequences . . . an intense read’

  Guardian Review

  WOMAN WITH BIRTHMARK

  ‘Håkan Nesser is in the front rank of Swedish crime writers . . . A novel with superior plot and characters’

  The Times

  ‘It’s set to become Nesser’s breakthrough novel in this country, and he is being favourably compared with Henning Mankell and Stieg Larsson’

  Sunday Times

  THE MIND’S EYE

  ‘Van Veeteren is a terrific character, and the courtroom scenes that begin this novel are cracking’

  Daily Telegraph

  ‘Håkan Nesser’s Chief Inspector Van Veeteren has earned his place among the great Swedish detectives with a series of intriguing investigations . . . This is Van Veeteren at his quirkiest and most engaging

  Seven magazine, Sunday Telegraph

  THE RETURN

  ‘Nesser made a strong impression with Borkmann’s Point, the first of his novels published into English. The Return is just as tense and clever’

  Marcel Berlins, The Times

  ‘Nesser’s insight into his main characters and gently humorous narrative raise his otherwise conventional police procedural to a higher level’

  Sunday Telegraph

  BORKMANN’S POINT

  ‘An absorbing tale with an unexpected ending’

  Sunday Telegraph

  ‘The novel’s prime asset is the mordant clarity of Nesser’s voice. Its understatement is a pleasure in itself, as investigations pause for Van Veeteren to finish his beer’

  Times Literary Supplement

  Also by Håkan Nesser

  BORKMANN’S POINT

  THE RETURN

  THE MIND’S EYE

  WOMAN WITH BIRTHMARK

  First published in Great Britain 2010 by Mantle

  This edition published 2011 by Pan Books

  This electronic edition published 2011 by Pan Books

  an imprint of Pan Macmillan, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited

  Pan Macmillan, 20 New Wharf Road, London N1 9RR

  Basingstoke and Oxford

  Associated companies throughout the world

  www.panmacmillan.com

  ISBN 978-1-447-20110-6 PDF

  ISBN 978-1-447-20109-0 EPUB

  Copyright © Håkan Nesser 1997

  English translation copyright © Laurie Thompson 2010

  The right of Håkan Nesser to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

  You may not copy, store, distribute, transmit, reproduce or otherwise make available this publication (or any part of it) in any form, or by any means (electronic, digital, optical, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

  A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

  Visit www.panmacmillan.com to read more about all our books and to buy them. You will also find features, author interviews and news of any author events, and you can sign up for e-newsletters so that you’re always first to hear about our new releases.

  Table of Contents

  ONE

  Chapter 1

  TWO

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  THREE

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  FOUR

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  FIVE

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  SIX

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  SEVEN

  Chapter 41