Jo Nesbø

First off, there would never be a main character in an American mystery novel called Harry Hole, unless it was a crime-solving porn star, but it seems to work just fine, for this Norway based police officer. Harry is a tough, complex, hard-drinking cop, who may have discovered a possible assassination attempt.
I am not going to reveal very much here, because one of the joys of reading this terrific Scandinavian thriller, was never knowing where this baby was going. It’s a very ambitious show more novel, spanning 60 years, focusing on several characters, past and present. This is an impressive introduction to a highly talented author and I am looking forward to seeing what Harry Hole gets into next. show less

Oh, it's hard to believe that Nesbo has outdone himself yet again. Superbly written! I have rarely, if ever, enjoyed a suspense/thriller to this extent.
Leopold's apple: what a fascinating way to kill people. The victim is the accomplice. Awesome!

And Bellman's such a slimy piece of work. You just know he's going to be around longer.
The book begins with Harry in an even deeper s**thole than he normally throws himself into: opium in addition to his alcohol addiction. The way he doggedly show more unravels the mystery and follows its threads right to the scar on his face is downright fantastic.

*clap clap* show less

This story couldn’t be more timely, given the tragic events in Norway on July 22nd of 2011, and the recrudescence generally of white supremacism.

Although I have become a huge fan of Jo Nesbo, I had never read The Redbreast, which is the first of the Inspector Harry Hole novels to be translated. I was so surprised (given last week's horrible news) to find that the subject matter involved deadly repercussions of the white supremacist movement in Norway.

Harry Hole, now 35, is a sensitive, show more damaged, good-hearted but relatively thin-skinned inspector with the Oslo Crime Unit. After a political contretemps in which he shoots a secret service agent because of a communications snafu, Harry is temporarily transferred to the Security Service. In that capacity, he gets involved in a series of murders involving Norway’s neo-Nazis that has roots in Norway’s Quisling past during World War II.

[Note: Vidkun Quisling was a Norwegian politician who seized power in 1940 in a Nazi-backed coup d'etat. The collaborationist government participated in Germany's Final Solution. After the war, Quisling was found guilty of high treason and executed at Akershus Fortress in Oslo. The word “quisling” has come to mean “traitor.” ]

In alternating chapters, we learn the story of the Nazi collaborationists who now are implicated in some way with the murders currently taking place in Oslo.

We also find out the background of the characters who will become pivotal in later books, such as fellow Inspector Tom Waaler, and love interest Rakel (33 when they meet) and her six-year-old son Oleg. Additionally, we learn what happened to Harry’s partner, the endearing Ellen Gjelten.

Discussion: Nesbo and his detective Harry are clearly in the growing stages in this book. Harry is not yet the hardened, disillusioned, personally dysfunctional but professionally adept mess he becomes later in the series. Here he even evinces moments of charming naivety and awkwardness.

It was interesting to read this right after the shooting tragedy in Norway. The neo-Nazis express many of the same sentiments as those set out by Breivik in his “manifesto.” As one of the neo-Nazis annouces, "It is no more than our duty as Norwegians to protect our race and to eliminate those who fail us.”

Frightening.

Evaluation: If you follow my reviews, you may have noticed I thoroughly love the books of Jo Nesbo about his detective Harry Hole. I have yet to be disappointed. Also, I had no problem going backwards to read this book, except that I then wanted to start the whole series over again, armed with my new knowledge of Harry from The Redbreast! show less

I've read and enjoyed every adult book Jo Nesbo has written. His Harry Hole novels are a favourite. But I've also enjoyed the stand alones - including his newest book - Blood on Snow.

1976 Oslo, Norway. Olav has worked for crime syndicate boss Daniel Hoffmann for a number of years. But, it took him a bit to find the right job within the organization. He turned out to be no good as a pimp, a getaway driver, a robber or a drug dealer. But....he found his niche as a fixer. Olav doesn't fix show more things - he to fixes people. Permanently.

All seems to be going well, until Daniel Hoffmann gives Olav his latest assignment - Daniel wants his wife fixed. This time the job doesn't go quite as it should....

"When exactly do you reach the point where you know so much about your boss that he starts to get worried? And when you do you know he's beginning to wonder if he ought to fix the fixer?"

Now, after that cold blooded description, what you wouldn't expect is to feel sympathy for Olav - but I did. There's more to Olav than meets the eye. Nesbo has created a wonderful anti-hero - one I was actually rooting for.

All the elements of Nesbo's writing that I enjoy are packed into just over 200 pages. Short sharp dialogue, brutal situations and an intensity throughout it all - but always with an undertone and a conscience lurking beneath the violence. Astute readers will capture and appreciate the nods to Hugo's Les Misérables as Olav's tale unfolds.

Blood on Snow is easily devoured in a night's sitting and is a treat for those fans missing Harry. (me included!) show less