The Man on the Balcony is a mystery novel by Swedish writers Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö, originally published as Mannen på balkongen in 1967.

[2] In the novel, Martin Beck and his team realize that a paedophilic murderer may have been seen by an unidentified serial robber on the lookout for a victim in the same area.

Only a coincidence advances the investigation: Gunvald Larsson (making his first appearance in this novel) had a telephone call at the very beginning of the investigation with an elderly lady who complained about a man in an opposite flat, standing all day on his balcony, looking at the road, and playing with the children, among other strange behavior.

The boorish detective Gunvald Larsson is introduced, as is Einar Rönn, who comes from a rural part of the country and prefers a quiet life.

[citation needed] Also introduced are two regular street cops, Kristiansson and Kvant, who will provide some of the comic relief throughout the rest of the series.