The Locked Room

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This article is about the Sjöwall and Wahlöö book. For the 1986 book by Paul Auster, see The New York Trilogy.

The Locked Room (1972) is a novel by Sjöwall and Wahlöö in their detective series revolving around Martin Beck and his team. (Original Swedish title: Det slutna rummet.)

[edit] Plot

The Locked Room has two plots running simultaneously. Larsson and Kollberg are extremely reluctantly part of a special task force that needs to solve a spree of bank robberies. Martin Beck is given a pity job after recovering from being shot; he needs to solve an ancient locked room mystery.

The incompetence of the Swedish police force has spread to the point that all three detectives are severely hindered in their work by it. Although Larsson and Kollberg manage to solve their case, the many distractions take so much time that by that time the robber has fled the country. One criminal walks free for a heinous crime he did commit, then gets to do hard time for a crime he did not.

[edit] Characters and their development

Beck meets Rhea Nielsen, and it is love at first sight, sort of, in slow motion. Contrary to his ex-wife, she is a no-nonsense type of person and his intellectual equal.

Criminal mastermind Werner Roos and bank robbers Malmström and Móhren are introduced, as is their ineffectual but successful Nemesis, public prosecutor 'Bulldozer' Olsson.

Preceded by The Abominable Man

"Martin Beck" timeline, part 8 of 10

Succeeded by Cop Killer

Sjöwall and Wahlöö novels, featuring Martin Beck
Novels: Roseanna | The Man Who Went Up in Smoke | The Man on the Balcony | The Laughing Policeman | The Fire Engine That Disappeared | Murder at the Savoy | The Abominable Man | The Locked Room | Cop Killer | The Terrorists
Authors: Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö