Smug swine who think only of their money and their houses and their families and their so-called status. Who think they can order others about merely because they happen to be better off. There are thousands of such people and most of them are not so stupid that they strangle Portuguese whores. And that’s why we never get at them. We only see their victims.
Introduction
The Laughing Policeman, written by the Swedish duo Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö, is the fourth novel in their renowned Martin Beck series. First published in 1968, the book is often hailed as one of the best examples of Scandinavian crime fiction and has cemented its place in the annals of detective literature. Sjöwall and Wahlöö revolutionized the genre by infusing it with realism, political commentary, and a darkly cynical view of society. This novel stands as a prime example of their work, blending a gripping police procedural with a deeply insightful social critique.Synopsis
The plot of The Laughing Policeman revolves around a mass murder on a Stockholm bus, in which eight people are shot dead. Among the victims is Åke Stenström, a young detective who worked under Martin Beck. The presence of Stenström on the bus casts a personal shadow over the investigation, raising suspicions that this was not just a random act of violence. As Beck and his team dig deeper into the case, they uncover a web of connections that link the detective’s private investigation into an unsolved murder to the mass killing on the bus. What seems to be a cold, calculated, and impersonal mass murder soon evolves into something far more complex. Beck’s dogged pursuit of the truth, along with the meticulous nature of the police work, drives the novel toward its unexpected conclusion.
While The Laughing Policeman contains all the hallmarks of an engrossing murder mystery, it offers much more than that. It inquires into the lives of the detectives and the struggles they face in balancing their professional duties with their personal lives. As with much of Sjöwall and Wahlöö’s work, the novel also serves as a critique of Swedish society in the late 1960s, illustrating the tensions, inequalities, and bureaucratic inefficiencies that plague the system.
Thematic Analysis
1. The Realities of Police Work
One of the novel's primary themes is the laborious, often thankless nature of police work. Sjöwall and Wahlöö reject the romanticized portrayal of detectives as glamorous heroes with perfect instincts. Instead, the police in The Laughing Policeman are methodical, slow-moving, and prone to errors. The investigation into the mass murder proceeds in fits and starts, with many dead ends along the way. This realistic portrayal of crime-solving, where the detectives rely heavily on paperwork, reports, and the piecing together of seemingly unrelated details, gives the novel a grounded, authentic tone.
The character of Martin Beck is particularly emblematic of this realistic approach to police work. He is not a brilliant detective with supernatural insights; rather, he is a tenacious and determined investigator who succeeds through sheer persistence and attention to detail. Beck is also portrayed as emotionally distant and struggling with the monotony of his job, which adds to the novel’s overall bleak tone. This realistic depiction of police work also makes the ultimate solution to the crime all the more satisfying because it feels earned through hard work rather than sheer luck or coincidence.
2. Social Critique and Political Undertones
The Laughing Policeman is not just a murder mystery—it is also a subtle yet incisive critique of Swedish society. Sjöwall and Wahlöö were both Marxists, and their political beliefs are evident in the way they portray Swedish institutions. The novel highlights the inefficiencies and bureaucratic ineptitude of the police force, illustrating how entrenched systems of power often prevent justice from being served.
In addition, the novel touches on broader societal issues such as poverty, inequality, and alienation. The victims on the bus come from different walks of life, but all of them are, in one way or another, marginalized or disconnected from the wider society. The killer’s motives, once revealed, also speak to the sense of despair and isolation that permeates the novel. Through these elements, Sjöwall and Wahlöö critique the welfare state and the myth of Sweden as a utopia of equality and fairness.
3. The Burden of the Past
The past weighs heavily on many of the characters in The Laughing Policeman, particularly in the case of Åke Stenström, whose personal investigation into an old, unsolved murder is what eventually leads to the mass killing on the bus. This theme of unresolved issues from the past resurfacing in violent ways is central to the novel's plot, as Beck and his team must unravel the connections between past and present in order to solve the case.
This theme is also reflected in the characters’ personal lives. Beck himself is haunted by the strain his career has placed on his family life, and other members of his team grapple with similar issues. The detectives’ inability to fully disconnect from their work, and the ways in which the past continues to affect their present, adds a layer of psychological depth to the novel. Sjöwall and Wahlöö suggest that both individuals and societies are often trapped by their histories, unable to fully escape the consequences of their actions.
4. Alienation and Isolation
Alienation is another key theme in The Laughing Policeman, and it manifests both in the characters and the society they inhabit. The detectives themselves are emotionally distant, struggling to maintain meaningful relationships outside of their work. Beck's relationship with his wife is virtually nonexistent, and his colleagues also face difficulties balancing their personal lives with their careers.
On a broader level, the novel portrays a society that is fragmented and disconnected. The victims on the bus come from different backgrounds, but all of them seem to live on the margins of society, unnoticed and unimportant until their violent deaths. The alienation and isolation experienced by both the characters and the society they inhabit reflect Sjöwall and Wahlöö’s critique of modern life, where individuals are often disconnected from each other and from the systems that are supposed to protect them.
Conclusion
The Laughing Policeman is a masterfully crafted crime novel that transcends the genre's conventions. Sjöwall and Wahlöö's meticulous attention to detail, combined with their unflinching social critique, make this novel both an engrossing police procedural and a profound commentary on Swedish society. Through the character of Martin Beck and his team, the novel presents a realistic and often unflattering portrayal of police work, while also raising broader questions about justice, alienation, and the failures of the welfare state.
What sets The Laughing Policeman apart from other crime novels is its depth of characterization and thematic complexity. Sjöwall and Wahlöö use the framework of a murder mystery to explore issues of class, isolation, and the ways in which the past can haunt the present. The novel’s bleak tone, combined with its sharp social critique, creates a compelling narrative that challenges readers to think critically about the world around them.
Ultimately, The Laughing Policeman stands as a landmark in the genre of crime fiction, not only for its engrossing plot and well-drawn characters but also for the way it uses the detective novel as a vehicle for social commentary. Sjöwall and Wahlöö's portrayal of Swedish society, with all its flaws and contradictions, remains relevant today, and their influence on subsequent generations of crime writers is undeniable. For anyone interested in crime fiction that goes beyond the surface level of whodunit, The Laughing Policeman is a must-read.