Blood on Snow by Jo Nesbo

by:  Jo Nesbo
published by:  Knopf
publish date:  April 7, 2015

This is the story of Olav: an extremely talented “fixer” for one of Oslo’s most powerful crime bosses. But Olav is also an unusually complicated fixer. He has a capacity for love that is as far-reaching as is his gift for murder. He is our straightforward, calm-in-the-face-of-crisis narrator with a storyteller’s hypnotic knack for fantasy. He has an “innate talent for subordination” but running through his veins is a “virus” born of the power over life and death. And while his latest job puts him at the pinnacle of his trade, it may be mutating into his greatest mistake. . . .

This book made me sad and aggravated.  Firstly, it was billed as a stand alone novel.  Yay!!  I love stand alone novels.  Then I get on Goodreads and find out it's not a stand alone.  It's the start of a new series.  Seriously??  Secondly, I listened to the audiobook.  The story is narrated by the male main character.  The audiobook was read by a woman.  Does that make sense?  I found it very off putting.

Olav can't do math so he can't be a drug dealer.  He's too tenderhearted to be a pimp.  He's dyslexic so he can't be trusted with anything too complicated.  He is a fixer for the crime bosses.  Basically, he's a contract killer.  He completely screws up one of his jobs and that puts him in the crosshairs of his boss.  Now it's either kill or be killed.

This is a Jo Nesbo series I will not be following.  I didn't care for the story.  I'm irritated by the fact that everything has to be a series.  Why can't anything just be a simple story and that's it, it's over?

The Son by Jo Nesbo

by:  Jo Nesbo
published by:  Knopf
publish date:  May 13, 2014

Sonny Lofthus, in his early thirties, has been in prison for the last dozen years: serving time for crimes he didn't commit. In exchange, he gets an uninterrupted supply of heroin—and the unexpected stream of fellow prisoners seeking out his uncanny abilities to soothe and absolve. His addiction started when his father committed suicide rather than be exposed as a corrupt cop, and now Sonny is the center of a vortex of corruption: prison staff, police, lawyers, a desperate priest—all of them focused on keeping him stoned and jailed, and all of them under the thumb of Oslo's crime overlord, the Twin. When Sonny learns some long-hidden truths about his father he makes a brilliant escape, and begins hunting down the people responsible for the hideous crimes he's paid for. But he's also being hunted, by the Twin, the cops, and the only person who knows the ultimate truth that Sonny is seeking. The question is, what will he do when they've cornered him? 

I'm a huge Jo Nesbo fan.  I love the Harry Hole series.  I was really excited about a stand alone book, because I really like his other stand alone book Headhunters.  However, I felt a bit let down by The Son.  I felt like I was reading another Harry Hole book but with different names plugged in.

I won't say that I totally disliked the book.  It was good, I was engaged throughout the whole book.  It just felt the same.  I was hoping for something really different, like Headhunters was.  Even the title, I almost expected it to be somehow about Oleg in someway.  But getting past all that, I really did like how the story fit together.  It was an interesting idea that prisoners are kept in prison and paid off to take the fall for crimes that they didn't commit.

Will this little disappointment stop me from reading Jo Nesbo, of course not.  I'm always recommending him to everyone.  I hope he continues with the stand alone books.

The Bat by Jo Nesbo

by:  Jo Nesbo
published by:  Knopf
publish date:  July 2, 2013

A young woman, twenty-three years old and a minor television celebrity in her native Norway, has been murdered in Australia. Inspector Harry Hole of the Oslo Crime Squad is dispatched to Sydney to observe the case and offer assistance when possible-and to take a break from his troubles with alcohol and the aftermath of a deadly accident. The Sydney team discovers that this case is only the latest in a string of unsolved murders, and the pattern points to a serial killer.

In case you aren't aware, the Harry Hole books weren't release in order in the US.  The first book to come out in the US was actually the third book in the series.  Initially, that drove me crazy, because I'm a little OCD when it comes to reading book series in order.  However, whoever made the decision to get all the Americans hooked on Harry Hole made a good decision to start with book 3.  I don't know that I would have stuck with the series based on this book.

This is the story that gets referenced back in a lot of his other books, the case that put Harry Hole on the map and made him a famous detective back in Norway.  He goes to Australia to observe the investigation of a murdered minor Norwegian celebrity.  Harry assists the Australian police in putting together the clues to catch a serial killer.

The story wasn't bad, but it wasn't the traditional Harry that we all know and love.  It didn't seem so angsty I guess.  As much as I don't like her, Harry dealing with Rakel makes a much better story.  While this wasn't my favorite book in the Harry Hole series, it's worth the read to go find out where the whole thing got started.

The Redeemer by Jo Nesbo

by:  Jo Nesbo
published by:  Knopf
publish date:  May 21, 2013

Christmas shoppers stop to hear a Salvation Army concert on a crowded Oslo street. A gunshot cuts through the music and the bitter cold: one of the singers falls dead, shot in the head at point-blank range. Harry Hole—the Oslo Police Department’s best investigator and worst civil servant—has little to work with: no suspect, no weapon, and no motive. But Harry’s troubles will multiply. As the search closes in, the killer becomes increasingly desperate, and Harry’s chase takes him to the most forbidden corners of the former Yugoslavia. 

Long time readers of this blog probably know that I'm a huge fan of Jo Nesbo.  I've listened to the audiobooks for all of his books that are available in the US.  All of the Harry Hole series had been read by Robin Sachs, who did an excellent job.  Mr. Sachs died unexpectedly in February.  I had hoped that this book had been recorded before his death, but sadly it had not.  So, this book was read by John Lee.  Initially, when I tried to listen to it, it wasn't working for me.  I took a break and gave it another shot.

On one hand, I liked this book because Harry wasn't dealing with his demons as much.  He seemed to have his drinking and addictions under control.  Also, Rakel didn't have the same amount of sway over him as she did before.  So those were the things that made me happy about this book.  The things that kinda made me sad about this book, were the not so interesting mystery and the beginning of that formulaic feel.  There comes a time to say goodbye to old friends and make new ones.  I'm starting to wonder if that time has come for the Harry Hole series.  I would definitely welcome some stand alone books by Jo Nesbo.

2 For 1: Jo Nesbo ....again!!

So you might have noticed by now that I'm a total fan of Jo Nesbo.  My new year got started off right with not one but two new audiobooks by Jo Nesbo.  First was The Leopard

Two young women are found murdered in Oslo, both drowned in their own blood. Media coverage quickly reaches fever pitch: Could this be the work of a serial killer?

The crime scenes offer no coherent clues, the police investigation is stalled, and the one man who might be able to help doesn’t want to be found. Traumatized by his last case, Inspector Harry Hole has lost himself in the squalor of Hong Kong’s opium dens. Yet when he is compelled, at last, to return to Norway—his father is dying—Harry’s buried instincts begin to take over. After a female MP is discovered brutally murdered, nothing can keep him from the investigation.

There is little to go on: a piece of rope, a scrap of wool, a bit of gravel, an unexpected connection between the victims. And Harry will soon come to understand that he is dealing with a psychopath for whom “insanity is a vital retreat,” someone who will put him to the test—in both his professional and personal lives—as never before.

I was a tad bit disappointed in The Snowman, but The Leopard made up for it.  It starts off with Harry a complete mess in Hong Kong after dealing with The Snowman.  He returns to Norway to deal with yet another person killing a bunch of people in Norway and his dying father. 

The Leopard impressed me because I thought I had this one in the bag.  I thought for sure I knew who the killer was, but I was wrong.  The ending and the killer became this huge reveal and it was like putting the last few pieces together of a big puzzle.  This book was very well written in terms of giving a little away here and there, but not too much.

This book is a follow up of The Snowman, I would say that one has to be read first in order for this one to make sense.  The Snowman does make an appearance in this book.  Rakel does as well...I'm starting to think she's the WORST thing that ever happened to Harry.

Once again Robin Sachs does an awesome job with the audiobook.  I highly recommend these audiobooks.  They are fantastic!

Roger Brown is a corporate headhunter, and he’s a master of his profession. But one career simply can’t support his luxurious lifestyle and his wife’s fledgling art gallery. At an art opening one night he meets Clas Greve, who is not only the perfect candidate for a major CEO job, but also, perhaps, the answer to his financial woes: Greve just so happens to mention that he owns a priceless Peter Paul Rubens painting that’s been lost since World War II—and Roger Brown just so happens to dabble in art theft. But when he breaks into Greve’s apartment, he finds more than just the painting. And Clas Greve may turn out to be the worst thing that’s ever happened to Roger Brown.

Headhunters is a completely different book.  It's a stand alone novel.  I often find that when I'm really into a series by a particular author I don't like their stand alone books, but that was not the case here.  I didn't love it like I love the Harry Hole books, but it was a interesting departure from the norm.

Mr. Nesbo must be a really fascinating person.  He has got to have one of the most twisted minds.  There is one scene in this book that completely and utterly grossed me out.  I was driving down the road talking to the audiobook saying "OMG That is so gross" and "That's just disgusting" and "Seriously, this is getting even worse?"  For those of you that have read this book or will read it I'm referring to the outhouse scene. 

It's not so much about corporate headhunting, it's suspense thriller with all the twist and turns and violence we expect from Jo Nesbo.

The Stranger You Seek by Amanda Kyle Williams

by:  Amanda Kyle Williams
published by:  Random House
publish date:  August 30, 2011

In the sweltering heat of an Atlanta summer, a killer is pushing the city to its breaking point, preying on the unsuspecting, writing taunting letters to the media, promising more death. Desperate to stop the Wishbone Killer before another victim meets a shattering end, A.P.D. lieutenant Aaron Rauser turns to the one person he knows can penetrate a deranged mind: ex–FBI profiler Keye Street.
Keye was a rising young star at the Bureau until addiction derailed her career and her life. Now sober and fighting to stay so, Keye picks up jobs where she can get them: catching adulterers, serving subpoenas, chasing down bailjumpers, and dodging the occasional bullet. With multiple victims, little to go on, and an entire police force looking for direction, the last thing Keye wants is to be pulled into the firestorm of Atlanta’s worst nightmare.

The Stranger You Seek made it to my Top Ten of 2011.  Why did it?  Because Amanda Kyle Williams can write an awesome whodunit!  And I loved Keye Street.  I think fans of Jo Nesbo's Harry Hole will find a friend in Keye Street.  She's not as morose as Harry, but she's dealing with the same demons. 

I've read quite a few negative reviews of this book, but most of them seemed petty.  I thought this was a solid debut book.  Keye is a great character to start building a series around.  This book introduced enough about her to get me interested in the next book to see what questions it might answer. 

The Stranger You Seek was a book full of twist and turns.  The Who is a surprise you won't be expecting.  It's everything a reader wants in a thrilling mystery.

The Snowman by Jo Nesbo

by:  Jo Nesbo
published by:  Knopf
publish date:  May 10, 2011

The night the first snow falls a young boy wakes to find his mother gone. He walks through the silent house, but finds only wet footprints on the stairs. In the garden looms a solitary figure: a snowman bathed in cold moonlight, its black eyes glaring up at the bedroom windows. Round its neck is his mother's pink scarf. Inspector Harry Hole is convinced there is a link between the disappearance and a menacing letter he received some months earlier. As Harry and his team delve into unsolved case files, they discover that an alarming number of wives and mothers have gone missing over the years. When a second woman disappears Harry's suspicions are confirmed: he is a pawn in a deadly game. For the first time in his career Harry finds himself confronted with a serial killer operating on his turf, a killer who will drive him to the brink of insanity.

I'm a big fan of Jo Nesbo.  So I wasn't surprised that this was another excellent mystery by him.  If you're a fan if murder mysteries, police procedurals, that type of book, Jo Nesbo won't disappoint.  All of his books take place in Norway which makes for an interesting backdrop.  After 4 books I feel like I know Oslo and I've never been there.

I do have one small complaint about this book in comparison to his other books.  I felt like the ending was overly long.  It could have been a nice tidy ending, but I felt like it kept dragging out and dragging out.   I listened to the audiobook and I think if I had read the actual book I probably would have skimmed the last 30-40 pages or so.

Despite that, Harry Hole (and his unfortunate name) is one of my favorite characters.  I can't wait to read more about him and his constant struggle with sobriety.  I find this aspect of his character to be very well written and compelling.  I always find myself crestfallen when he takes the next drink or cheering him on when he doesn't. 

Do You Know Jo Nesbo?

If you're a fan of Steig Larsson or Jonathan Kellerman and you're wondering what to read next, I think you're going to be a fan of Jo Nesbo.  He's being hailed as the next Steig Larsson and he has the added benefit of not being dead so the books can keep on coming.  He's a Norwegian writer so he has that European flair like Larsson, but I found his books to be more like Kellerman's Alex Delaware books...but better.  Unfortuately not all of his books are available in the United States. 

His books are centered around the drama ridden, alcoholic detective (with the unfortunate name) Harry Hole.   Americans meet him for the first time in the book The Redbreast, but this is actually the 3rd book in the series, the first two aren't available in the US.  I thought this was an amazing book.  I was sucked in right away.  Nesbo has a great way of weaving seemingly unconnected stories together in ways you aren't expecting.   Not having the first two books available didn't hurt at all.  I didn't feel like I was missing any of the back story.  The Redbreast provided some really interesting perspective on World War II. 

The second book is Nemesis.   I liked this book quite a lot, but not as much as The Redbreast.  This one was about a bank robberies and gypsies.  This book introduces the character of Beatte Lonn, a mousy female detective that Harry works with.  I particularly like Beatte, she's super cute and really smart.  The tension between Tom Waaler, Harry's long time adversary, starts to heat up in this book.

The Devil's Star is the third book.  I just finished this one.  I liked this one much better, as much as The Redbreast.  Harry is once again off the wagon at the opening of this book, but he gets assigned to a case with none other than Tom Waaler.  Harry manages to get himself cleaned up enough figure out that a serial killer is on the loose in Oslo.  In this book the struggle between Harry and Tom finally comes to a conclusion.

Those are the three books that I've read...or listened to.  I did the audiobook thing on these three books.  Robin Sachs did an awesome job with The Redbreast and The Devil's Star.  I think it was Sean Barrett that did Nemesis and I didn't enjoy that one as much...maybe that's why I didn't like that book as much?

There are two more books in the Harry Hole series that I haven't gotten to yet, but I will for sure!