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maxwell_plumb's review against another edition
5.0
Terrifying and full of the classic Nesbo atmospheric writing that we have come to know and love. Fantastic thriller.
manuser21's review against another edition
1.0
I didn’t like the fact that this book jumped to three characters in several chapters. It made me not care what was happening to them or the plot.
kcup's review against another edition
4.0
This was the first book by Jo Nesbo I have read and I'm anxious to read more. Though it took a little bit to wade through the beginning, it was gripping and I found myself searching for opportunities in my day to continue reading. By the end I was getting a little irritated with Harry for letting some things to easily slip by his notice but overall it was a well written thriller with many unexpected twists. I regret having read this with snow on the ground as I was always a little worried that I would look outside and see a crazy looking snowman looking at me.
saramoadi's review against another edition
2.0
This book was on the list for a while and I finally decided to give it a go. It came highly recommended so I had high hopes for it.
Unfortunately, the book did not measure to all the hype it was given. The beginning of the book stretched on for a long time introduce character after character. Some of which were not needed to move the story forward or played no significant part.
The ending was irritating. Harry Hole was a joke of a detective by the time this book was over. He failed miserably to catch the killer THREE times. It’s not good when the detective catches the wrong person three times. It honestly didn’t make sense. The connection between the killer and Hols’s ex-wife at the end was over dramatic and too much.
Will not be reading this series, potentially this author, for a long time.
Unfortunately, the book did not measure to all the hype it was given. The beginning of the book stretched on for a long time introduce character after character. Some of which were not needed to move the story forward or played no significant part.
The ending was irritating. Harry Hole was a joke of a detective by the time this book was over. He failed miserably to catch the killer THREE times. It’s not good when the detective catches the wrong person three times. It honestly didn’t make sense. The connection between the killer and Hols’s ex-wife at the end was over dramatic and too much.
Will not be reading this series, potentially this author, for a long time.
sdossett's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Pacy and original.
elina_st's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This is the first book in the Harry Hole series (I know it is the 7 th book, but got it for 5 NOK at the second hand shop, so…) and I really liked it.
I kind of suspected who the snowman was early on (even though I still think there is something odd with the mushroom man ). I was also so scared for Rakel. Since there are three more books in the series, I knew all along that Harry would survive, but not Rakel, so was scared for her last night
I kind of suspected who the snowman was early on (
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Murder
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Blood
athirah_idrus's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I started reading the Harry Hole series because I had been recommended this book by so many thriller/mystery lovers and I’m glad I finally managed to read it.
If you’re up for convoluted plot and the thrill of the chase between the investigators and the slippery killer, then The Snowman might be what you’re looking for. It has that spooky, wintry vibe and the murders are gory and disturbing. Enough to keep you on the edge of the seat but not to the point of getting nightmares over the vivid imagery described (I hope).
I guess I had higher expectations on this one, especially since I had enjoyed the previous books in the series, but I thought that the description of the psychology of the killer was overdone. It was almost too obvious to me who the killer was, and while that didn’t really matter to me, the long-winded details of the reason behind the killings got a little repetitive – we really didn’t need the extra pages. Didn’t help that the ‘justification’ given was unpalatable. Plus, I thought the book needed to come with trigger warnings – abuse/assault, addiction, violence etc. Not that these were absent in his earlier books, but they weren’t as extreme as what was pictured in The Snowman.
I could have forgiven the verbose passages and the repetition, but some of the actions taken by Harry and his new partner, Katrine were questionable to me. In real life, that probably wouldn’t have happened but without the unrealistic development, the story probably wouldn’t have worked the way it did in the end. The plot in this one made me question Harry’s relationship with Rakel too. At this point, I’m only rooting for Rakel’s son, Oleg. He seems to be the only character that’s likeable to me, other than Ståle Aune, the in-house psychologist who consults on the psyche of murderers.
However, despite these few points, I would still recommend this book. It was hard to put down and the case was as exciting as the previous ones.
If you’re up for convoluted plot and the thrill of the chase between the investigators and the slippery killer, then The Snowman might be what you’re looking for. It has that spooky, wintry vibe and the murders are gory and disturbing. Enough to keep you on the edge of the seat but not to the point of getting nightmares over the vivid imagery described (I hope).
I guess I had higher expectations on this one, especially since I had enjoyed the previous books in the series, but I thought that the description of the psychology of the killer was overdone. It was almost too obvious to me who the killer was, and while that didn’t really matter to me, the long-winded details of the reason behind the killings got a little repetitive – we really didn’t need the extra pages. Didn’t help that the ‘justification’ given was unpalatable. Plus, I thought the book needed to come with trigger warnings – abuse/assault, addiction, violence etc. Not that these were absent in his earlier books, but they weren’t as extreme as what was pictured in The Snowman.
I could have forgiven the verbose passages and the repetition, but some of the actions taken by Harry and his new partner, Katrine were questionable to me. In real life, that probably wouldn’t have happened but without the unrealistic development, the story probably wouldn’t have worked the way it did in the end. The plot in this one made me question Harry’s relationship with Rakel too. At this point, I’m only rooting for Rakel’s son, Oleg. He seems to be the only character that’s likeable to me, other than Ståle Aune, the in-house psychologist who consults on the psyche of murderers.
However, despite these few points, I would still recommend this book. It was hard to put down and the case was as exciting as the previous ones.
dogmomirene's review against another edition
4.0
A fantastically disturbing read. I had not read any of the Harry Hole series prior to The Snowman, so there were a few times when I wondered a bit about some backstory. Nothing that interfered with the main serial killer mystery though. And that mystery is the stuff of nightmares. Seriously creepy, chills running across your skin, wondering what that noise just was, kind of creepy.
For many years I had read Patricia Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta books to satisfy my desire to peek into the world of the macabre. Her books have become so trite, though, that I have officially given up on reading them. I think Harry Hole may be the inspector to replace the forensic medical examiner.
In certain scenes, you are with the victim and the murderer. You don't know who the Snowman is, but you know this person is seriously disturbed. Harry is full of imperfections himself, but he does demonstrate phenomenal detective skills that sometimes reminded me of Holmes.
I would have given this book five stars except for two flaws that truly bothered me. One is a technical thing. The Snowman only kills on a first snow because he uses that snow to mark his crime scene. Really? I'm just thinking that that detail is a bit much, contrived. What if you're all set to kill and then the temperature doesn't drop quite enough? Wouldn't that kind of weather fail frustrate a serial killer enough to kill?
The other detail deals with a style flaw for me. Most of the descriptions of the sex scenes had me rolling my eyes. Some of the comments from women sounded really ridiculous because I was not believing the sex games that these characters were playing. Not that I don't believe those characters could or would play those games, just not as described. The prose is all bungled up and gawky like a teenager, not a mature consenting adult.
For many years I had read Patricia Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta books to satisfy my desire to peek into the world of the macabre. Her books have become so trite, though, that I have officially given up on reading them. I think Harry Hole may be the inspector to replace the forensic medical examiner.
In certain scenes, you are with the victim and the murderer. You don't know who the Snowman is, but you know this person is seriously disturbed. Harry is full of imperfections himself, but he does demonstrate phenomenal detective skills that sometimes reminded me of Holmes.
I would have given this book five stars except for two flaws that truly bothered me. One is a technical thing. The Snowman only kills on a first snow because he uses that snow to mark his crime scene. Really? I'm just thinking that that detail is a bit much, contrived. What if you're all set to kill and then the temperature doesn't drop quite enough? Wouldn't that kind of weather fail frustrate a serial killer enough to kill?
The other detail deals with a style flaw for me. Most of the descriptions of the sex scenes had me rolling my eyes. Some of the comments from women sounded really ridiculous because I was not believing the sex games that these characters were playing. Not that I don't believe those characters could or would play those games, just not as described. The prose is all bungled up and gawky like a teenager, not a mature consenting adult.