Brilliant, audaciously rogue police officer, Harry Hole from The Snowman and The Thirst, is back and in the throes of a new, unanticipated rage–once again hunting the murderer who has haunted his entire career.

Harry Hole is not in a good place. Rakel–the only woman he’s ever loved–has ended it with him, permanently. He’s been given a chance for a new start with the Oslo Police but it’s in the cold case office, when what he really wants is to be investigating cases he suspects have ties to Svein Finne, the serial rapist and murderer who Harry helped put behind bars. And now, Finne is free after a decade-plus in prison–free, and Harry is certain, unreformed and ready to take up where he left off. But things will get worse. When Harry wakes up the morning after a blackout, drunken night with blood that’s clearly not his own on his hands, it’s only the very beginning of what will be a waking nightmare the likes of which even he could never have imagined.

Out July 2019

416 Pages approx.

MY THOUGHTS:

I received this book in exchange for my honest review.

I’m not a big crime mystery book reader, but when offered to review this book, I decided I’d give it a read. My book that I received has the knife on the cover. Frankly, I like it better than the other book cover. This book can be read as a standalone.

This has been an ongoing series starring the main character, Harry Hole, a detective who isn’t doing very well in this story.  He appears to have hit rock bottom, drinks too much and is experiencing self-loathing among other things. Then he loses a friend to a serial killer.

There are explicit moments in the story that were a bit hard to handle but necessary for the story-line. I found the author’s writing  very crafty/clever and uses Harry’s personal conflicts to hide the hints/clues that would normally expose who the killer is if they were there. There is the hunt for the killer scenes and then there is the personal conflict existing in Harry’s life. I think both complimented each other and kept the book from growing tedious and boring. You’re left guessing to the very end and shocked by the resolution and reveal.

I like Harry, despite all his problems. He’s well-fleshed out and develops nicely as the story progresses. You get to know him through Nesbo’s writing and how he functions during different situations. He’s complex, yet forthright and enduring. There’s a strength about him, even an inner strength, despite all the things going on with him. It’s impressive writing.

Nesbo has a definite talent for weaving tales regarding crime. His books are character driven and complex. He takes them to rock bottom before bringing them kicking and screaming to the top again. He doesn’t make it easy for them. They’re flawed beyond belief and are at constant odds with themselves. This is what makes them so believable and enjoyable to read about. They’re realistic as are their struggles.

The crimes itself in the book, although sometimes drawn into the spotlight, seem secondary to the story to me. Sure, sure, you have all the killing, evidence and crime scenes like all the others. This is more about the characters and what’s going on in their heads that make them so twisted. That’s what makes Nesbo’s books different from all the rest and his Harry Hole novels a must-read.

I gave this book: