Jonas Jonasson has a knack for this, he really does. I picked this up having read The One Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared last year, and absolutely loved it. I was banking on Hitman Ander and the Meaning of it All to be of a similar ilk to the former. And it didn't disappoint in that respect.

Characters
One of the things I love about Jonasson's books is the bizarre cast of characters, all so different yet all accepting of how different they are. I love these ideas he has of a small group of unlikely companions teaming up for some mutually beneficial outcome.

In this case we have Per Persson, the receptionist of a sleazy hotel/former brothel, Johanna Kjellander, a female priest who has no parish and who doesn't actually believe in god, and of course, Hitman Anders, the former hitman who doesn't want to kill people anymore, but who agrees breaking an arm or two for money is quite acceptable.

Each character is morally dubious but still loveable. They are well fleshed out with entire back stories told in detail, but not in a boring a way. Within the first few pages, we learn not only the details of Per Persson's life but how why his life is the way it is, dating back to his grandfather. This may sound like a boring info-dump waiting to happen, but cleverly Jonasson details Per's family history before he's even introduced, and thus we have a fully formed character who we can feel like we know and understand before he's had a chance to even open his mouth.

Johanna and Hitman Anders are also introduced in a similar way. We learn a lot about them almost immediately, yet they never feel rushed or brushed over, and all are well developed throughout the story, growing as people with one another and slowly altering each other's views on the world and the meaning of it all.

Plot
Jonasson has a way of writing snappy, farcical stories like no other author I've read. Hitman Anders, thankfully, is no different. The plot is so fast paced that we reach the main story arc within 70 pages.

Per Persson is the receptionist of a grotty hotel, formerly a brothel. He hates life and he hates the world. Then out the blue a man called Hitman Anders, fresh out of prison for murder, checks in at the Sea Point Hotel. Criminals come and go, leaving money at the reception for the hitman as payment for 'jobs'. Whilst out one afternoon, Per is approached by a suspiciously homeless looking female priest who tries to con ten kroner out of Per in exchange for a badly recited prayer.

Feeling sorry for her, Per takes her back to the hotel and gives her a room. But the priest, Johanna, is as clever as she is unbelieving of god, and when she realises there is a former hitman living in the building and an envelope containing 5,000 kroner with his name on it, she comes up with an unconventional, if not totally ingenious, business idea.

This book is divided into three parts, and each part explores different 'get rich quick' business strategies of Johanna's after the one before doesn't quite go to plan.

This is a Jonas Jonasson novel so, naturally, it contains a large suitcase of money, bad guys chasing the good guys, and a road trip across Sweden.

Writing Style
Jonasson's writing style is distinct. Nowadays I feel it's hard for authors to make their literary voice heard among so many similar voices all staying the same thing. Jonasson, however, need not worry about this. His style is so noticeable and so different to other books that if he were to change his style, I'd be bitterly disappointed, and would probably stop reading.

I'm a lover of character-driven stories, and though these characters were very entertaining, it is absolutely Jonasson's writing style that hooks me and keeps me reading. Comical, farcical, quirky and charming. There is a certain innocence in the way it reads, and despite whatever troubling situation the characters may find themselves in, there's never a sense of panic or urgency or desperation. The story is relaxed throughout and incredibly easy to read. This is also helped by the short chapter length. When the majority of the 71 chapters are three pages long, you can't help but read another, and another . . .

This book likely won't make your heart race with anticipation, but I don't think it's supposed to. Instead, it'll make you laugh, make you think, and warm your heart. The writing is definitely my favourite thing about every Jonas Jonasson book.
And can we just take a moment to appreciate how wonderful and memorable his books titles are?

Final Impression
I love Jonas Jonasson's work. He's become an author whose books I buy regardless of story or setting simply because I know I will enjoy it.

I really liked this book. Did I like it more than The Hundred Year Old Man? No, but it's hard to top a book that quickly became my favourite book of all time.
This book, however, is still very good, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoyed Jonasson's first book.