Crime usually makes news and seldom more so than when the crime is murder. Police investigating serious - or unusual - crimes know their activities will attract press interest. Sometimes they encourage that interest, often they don't.
Henning Mankell's Inspector Kurt Wallander is both a skilled detective and an honest and decent man. He appreciates and upholds the freedoms and openeness of Swedish society - but strongly objects to the intrusions of reporters into the vital business of investigating crime. At best they get in the way, at worst they risk jeopardising his efforts to bring villains to justice.
In The Dogs of Riga, Ystad police chief Bjork takes a call from the Express. Wallander says: "It's not worth getting upset about. They'll write what they want."
Wallander particularly dislikes the ritual of the press conference. Before facing reporters in Firewall,
(He) could feel the symptoms of his flu getting worse. At least maybe I'll infect a journalist, he thought, and dug in his pockets for a tissue.
Journalists do have their uses, though. In The Man Who Smiled Walander tells colleagues it is time to call a press conference.
"It will be the first time in my life I've ever taken that initiative but I think it would be a good thing if we could give the autumn a helping hand to spread a bit more mist and fog."
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