Listen free for 30 days

1 credit a month, good for any title to download and keep.
The Plus Catalogue—listen all you want to thousands of Audible Originals, podcasts, and audiobooks.
$14.95 a month plus applicable taxes after 30 day trial. Cancel anytime.
The Shadow Girls cover art

The Shadow Girls

Written by: Henning Mankell,Ebba Segerberg - translator
Narrated by: Henry Strozier,Mozhan Marno,Annie Henk,Cherise Boothe
Try for $0.00

$14.95 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $37.04

Buy Now for $37.04

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Tax where applicable.

Publisher's Summary

International best-selling author Henning Mankell' s books have sold more than 40 million copies worldwide. In The Shadow Girls, author/poet Jesper Humlin struggles under the pall of a frustrating life. Everything from his personal relationships to his professional pursuits to his finances seems to be failing miserably. Then Jesper happens across a group of young immigrant girls and their stories of hardship and perseverance transform his outlook on life.

©2001 Henning Mankell (P)2012 Recorded Books

What listeners say about The Shadow Girls

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Bizarre

Obviously, the subject matter was very eye-opening and disturbing, but as far as the overall novel and how it was written......it was so bizarre. It just felt like we were going in circles and there was absolutely no resulolution to anything. I kept waiting for something to happen or be explained, and then it just ended. Such strange writing.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Eileen
  • Eileen
  • 2013-05-24

Not his best

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I would not recommend to a friend because there are too many other books I liked better than this one.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The main character's 87-year-old mother was a real kick. She did and said what she liked.

Which scene was your favorite?

When the main character realized what his mother did for a living.

Did The Shadow Girls inspire you to do anything?

It inspired me to feel guilty.

Any additional comments?

When I finally realized what the book was really about, I was about a third through it, and it was sure tedious getting there. The main character is no Kurt Wallander, but he eventually shines through with admirable qualities. Overall, I think Mankell was preaching to the reader. The story is exquisitely sad.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Kathryn
  • Kathryn
  • 2023-05-26

A privileged view

They say no to school. They say no to work. They want what we have. They try to cut corners but the corners are sharp, slippery, dark, ugly, mean. The storyline is humorously fraught with frustrations and insights. They say no to school. They say no to work. They want what they seem to think is an entitlement somehow. That if they come there, anywhere, that they can puck the gold from the streets and magically be transformed into an existence where school didn’t matter. I’m on the fence with this book, it was good, it jarred but as someone who feels we all need to start with school I have many issues within its content because we aren’t were we come from we’re a product of our choices. And school is the first. Typically books, rides to and from and a teacher is included for free. Start there. See what happens. This was a step outside his comfort zone and mine.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Sara
  • Sara
  • 2023-05-15

I gave up after a week

I tried. I really did. Dumped it 4hrs in, as there was nothing keeping me.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for carmen munson
  • carmen munson
  • 2023-01-26

Not What I Expected

However I really enjoyed this story. It really made me think more about the lives of refuges.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!