A good read.This detective story is set in Malmo, where a powerful industrialist is shot during an after-dinner speech. There are repercussions both locally and internationally, and Chief Inspector Martin Beck is called in to spearhead the investigation. He is not alone in his efforts however, and it is one of the books's strengths that several of the Malmo team are as effectively described as Beck himself is. The boredom as well as the excitement of the chase seem authentically described. What becomes clear is that the victim is mired in all kinds of major and more minor wrongdoing, while the killer might well attract more sympathy.

I couldn't decide if the translation was stilted, or whether it accurately reflected the way the book was written in Swedish. But I rather liked it. A rather 'plain speaking' style that suits the material and characters well. I'll go on to read the other books in the series. ( )

Murder At The Savoy (1970) (Martin Beck #6) by Maj Sjöwall, Per Wahlöö. This is the sixth book out of a total of then that the talented duo of authors wrote. They all star Martin Beck, a Chief Inspector of the National Homicide Squad of Stockholm, Sweden. There is a usual cast of characters Beck works with although this time out he has been sent to Malmo on Sweden’s souther coast, just across the waters from Denmark, so there are some new faces presented. Each of the novels is a political statement about the conditions in 1960/70’s Sweden. Mostly hinting at the rampant corruption that infects all levels of government, and includes the police organizations as well.
At the finest dining establishment in Sweden, Malmo’s world renowned Savoy Hotel, a leading industrialist is shot by an unknown assailant. The killer calmly walked through the diners, fired his gun at Victor Palmgran who was giving a little speech. There were about ten people who either work for him or were related to one of the guests seated at the table. The shooter then exited through one of the large windows.
Pressure immediately comes down from high up in the government, is funneled onto Beck, and off he goes.
The case seems impossible. No one can describe the shooter. Was he aligned with some political movement or a rival businessman? What did he even look like. No one can say, but in the usual police procedural way, the grind of police activities soon discovers some clues as to the killer, and the killed. It seems Palmgren was not an innocent victim but rather a vicious businessman who used his property holdings to inflict all manner of terror on his renters. His factories were either very profitable, or they were shut and the workers dismissed without regard.
There is international interest in this case. Foreign agents are soon on site which leads Beck and company to begin looking into the international arm of Palmgren’s business venture, which uncovers dealing arms against government restrictions, but seemingly with it’s tacit approval. And it seems all of Palmgren’s highest ranked associates have tricky dealings to hide.
Eventually the case is solved and all the higher-ups are satisfied with the outcome, but, in true Nordic fashion, Beck is left feeling the wrong people were found guilty.
Just so you know, Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö are considered the godparents of the entire Nordic Noir genre. While they wrote 60 some years ago, the stories hold up even now. The politics have changed, for the better I hope, but there are still many frustrations felt within the population. I highly recommend any of the Martin Beck novels as they do stand the test of time, I have been told that reading them in order of publication is the best way to do so.
I read them as I get them so I don’t know if the “in order” thing will amplify your enjoyment. All I know is that I like them willy-nilly and they give me a little more insight into the newer Nordic writers. ( )

One of the better entries in the series, as Beck goes to Malmo to investigate the death of a very rich businessman who was murdered at a restaurant in the title hotel. I like that Beck is more of a central character in this one, unlike some of the previous books. In addition to the murder investigation, we also get to catch up on Beck's personal life. Like the other books, there is also lots of social commentary, although it is done more skillfully here than elsewhere and doesn't load down the story. ( )

Book six. A high profile businessman, Viktor Palmgren, who is shot to death while addressing colleagues at a dinner in the Savoy Hotel in Malmö. It is unclear whether the non-descript killer's motive was political (anti-capitalism), commercial or criminal. Martin Beck is dispatched from Stockholm to run the investigation and works again with Per Mansson, with whom he has worked in previous novels. Ava Torell, former girlfriend of a murdered detective, makes an important contribution to the crime in her new role as a vice cop. The authors' Marxist beliefs are clearly demonstrated in this one. ( )

As you might expect based on the title, this book involves a murder at a fancy hotel known as the Savoy. A major industrialist named Viktor Palmgren is giving a dinner at the hotel restaurant, and someone walks up to him during the speeches, shoots him in the head, and exits through the window. There’s no shortage of suspects, and Palmgren’s death could have political implications, meaning Martin Beck and the gang have to tread carefully.

This was all right. The writing was excellent when describing the disgustingly hot weather, and I enjoyed the occasional quirky asides and humorous tone of the narration. In that respect it seemed to be a translation that was faithful to the spirit of the original text. (On a side note, I love the original Swedish title, “Polis, polis, potatismos!”)

In terms of the content, I could have done without the sex scene (and the nude sunbathing, which just doesn’t sound like a good idea for anybody). The sex scenes that show up in this series often have physical descriptions of the women that make me think those are Wahlöö’s doing :-/

I compare all the other books in the series to The Laughing Policeman, and this one too fails to surpass that book. It’s not bad, but not my favourite (except maybe my favourite cover, with a lovely purple in the Vintage / Black Lizard edition). ( )