A Treacherous Paradise - Tapa blanda

"A sensuous, beguiling tapestry" -- William Boyd New York Times "Timelessly resonant" Independent "Mankell uses his deep knowledge of Mozambique's history and politics to great advantage in this unusual and riveting story" Daily Mail "Mankell is the master. Let's be honest: I hate thrillers. But I love Mankell" -- Viv Groskop Red Magazine

In 1904 Hanna Lundmark escapes the brutal poverty of rural Sweden for a job as a cook onboard a steamship headed for Australia. On the voyage she finds love in the form of the ship's mate, whom she marries. But disaster strikes when her husband is struck down by a fatal illness while the ship is docked on the East African coast. Jumping ship at the port of Lourenco Marques, Hanna decides to begin her life anew. Stumbling across a down-at-heel hotel, Hanna becomes embroiled in a sequence of events that lead to her inheriting the most successful brothel in town, complete with a chimpanzee who serves drinks. Hanna tries to befriend the prostitutes working for her, and change life in the town for the better, but the distrust between blacks and whites, and the shadow of colonialism, lead to tragedy and murder. Based on a true story, A Treacherous Paradise sees Henning Mankell turn his talents for suspense and insight to a world where power and powerlessness meet and passion is a dangerous commodity.