I honestly cannot summarize this title in my own words, so please refer to the publisher's summary on any platform where this title is available. It was very... complicated. There were a lot of characters and a "present" day plus past (WWII) storyline that converged in the present day (1999). It was challenging to follow as several of the names were just enough the same that I kept having to go backward to remind myself who was who, specifically in the WWII storyline. Muddying the waters a bit was how the 1999 storyline started, as, in the end, it was unnecessary, and I didn't think it had much to do with the overall story. My rating for this title is more for the ambitious nature of the complicated storyline than for how much I liked it. I was relieved to be done with it, and I'm hopeful this title is a one-off in the series regarding my enjoyment - or lack thereof, of it.

Okay - a little housekeeping first. I can't get accented characters to work properly here ... yet. I'm working on it because it annoys me as much as it undoubtedly annoys readers of these posts.

Secondly, a little background to the Harry Hole (pronounced - we think - Hurler, but corrections from those who really know would be extremely welcome)! THE DEVIL'S STAR (released in English first) is actually number 5 in the series, THE REDBREAST (released in English second) is number 3 in the series and NEMESIS (to be released about now, so third) is actually number 4 in the series. Confused. So were the rest of us :)

On the upside the first two available books are readable out of order, although THE REDBREAST does explain Harry's situation and demeanor in THE DEVIL'S STAR.

But THE REDBREAST - well it's a wonderful book. As you often find in these wonderful, multi-layered and textural (that's textured as opposed to text) books from fabulous Scandinavian authors, we're treated to some entertainment, with an exploration of a societal problem / an itch that needs to be scratched. THE REDBREAST explores the ongoing fallout from the Second World War. That war has ramifications in the local society right up until the current day, and it's worthwhile reading THE REDBREAST just to see how the war affected other cultures, maybe countries that were much closer to the action than we were - for example - in Australia.

Nesbo is also the sort of author who is not afraid to cause the reader trauma - characters that you get close to can die, their death can involve other characters who continue on. Nothing is straight forward and nothing is constantly easy.

If this makes THE REDBREAST perhaps sound a bit too much, then it shouldn't. It's the sort of book that moves backwards and forwards between the then (1940's at War) and now (1999) as Harry investigates the existence of a very unexpected weapon, without necessarily knowing who has it or why. There are sub-plots built into the narrative as well, neo-Nazi's; drugs; all sorts of underground activities that clearly show that life these days isn't straightforward. All of those threads stack up in comparison against life in the war years - the complications of whose side to fight on, the reaction to collaborators when the war was over, the difficulties of surviving through a war, and in a time when attitudes were considerably different than they are today.

Another great mystery from Mr. Nesbo--after reading The Snowman, I have been anxious to read another novel by this author. Links between a complex nationalistic Norway during WW2 and remaining echoes of neo-Nazism to themes of revenge, police expert, Harry Hole, must try to track down a killer, whose identity remains a mystery right until the end.

Four stars for the really great writing and characters, but only three stars due to the complicated back-and-forth in time storyline and too many characters, which I couldn't keep straight. Still, better than the first two books!

The best general review is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/410026591 - IMHO

The best plot and writing examination review is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/543197908 - IMHO

Keep in mind I read about twenty or so reviews out of thousands, but regardless. I liked these two best out of the few I read. Apologies to those who also wrote great reviews.

GR is not listing the Audible audiobook I actually used to 'read' this book, so I selected this edition. Although I enjoyed it very much, I have the usual difficulties of not knowing how to spell names or make direct quotes of sections I liked. On the other hand, it is an excellent book to listen to. However, when excellent reviews are available such as James Thane's, there isn't much more I can add anyway.

I have comments, though. The book uses the background of WWII to explore issues of identity, loyalty and authenticity. We get to know a group of Norwegians in an extended flashback to 1944 who feel such loyalty to their country and a sense of patriotic fervor they fight - for the Nazis, rather than the Resistance. The war grinds down their minds and bodies until whatever their reasons for becoming soldiers and nurses are forgotten or distorted; at least temporarily, for some, and in particular, for a killer our hero, Harry Hole, in present time (2000) must catch before the body count includes figures of national importance. Along the way, he yet again suffers a devastating personal loss of such enormous dimensions he is drunk for almost a month in response. Harry also discovers he is in love again - but she, Raquel, has sorrows beyond his imaginings. She had married a Russian Bolshevik and they had a child, a boy. Leaving the husband and Russia, she now had a good job and a good life. Unfortunately, her beauty and immigration status makes her vulnerable to blackmail.

Identity politics, personal and social, has never been explored with more dexterity. Beyond the genre tale of murder and mystery, the author has linked the plot through extraordinary characters to inner psychological twists and turns regarding national and personal identification. It reminded me that calling ourselves German, American or Norwegian is not artificial or unimportant - and yet, it is. Not only are the boundaries of understanding fuzzy, but the importance to the self of identity is far more conceptual and contextual than we allow.

Dear reader, Harry does have some happiness in this third novel of the series. For about one minute, I think.

I just realized this is the 3rd book in the series but it's the first one I've read. I was told that this is the next "Girl with . . " book but it wasn't as dark. It was a complex mystery that took a while to develop since the story spanned from WWII to present time. I really liked it and would recommend if you like mysteries.

Amazing!

I think I just may prefer my detectives English, Irish, or Icelandic.

Or with fewer Nazis? I had a lot of trouble with this for some reason.