Murder at the Savoy — Maj Sjowall; Per Wahloo

When Viktor Palmgren, a powerful Swedish industrialist, is casually shot during an after-dinner speech, the police in the small coastal town of Malmo are at a loss as to how to catch a killer nobody could identify. Chief Inspector Martin Beck of the National Homicide Squad begins a systematic search for the people -- friends, enemies and business associates -- who would have wanted Palmgren dead. In the process, he finds to his dismay that he has nothing but contempt for the victim and sympathy for the murderer.