Woman with Birthmark by Hakan Nesser

A mother on her death bed confides to her daughter a secret about her past. Right before she dies, the mother urges the daughter to "do something." The daughter takes it to mean that she should go on a killing spree against the men that wronged her mother years ago. The reader is kept in the dark about the woman's reason for revenge, as are Chief Inspector Van Veeteren and his team. As the woman is successful in her task, the police are trying to find out a possible connection between the men and uncover clues that might lead to the mysterious woman's identity. Woman with Birthmark is the fourth book in this Swedish mystery series. Readers who enjoy police procedurals with psychological undertones will probably appreciate this book.