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riskeytaker's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
liljainthepages's review against another edition
1.0
"[...] her hips sashayed down the corridor." (p.210)
"He could smell pussy from where he was standing." (p.364)
"[He] ejaculated his infected seed as the bell over the front door angrily warned them that someone was on their way into [the shop]." (p.398)
Listen. I wanted a good thriller, that I could quickly get thru, where I didn't have to think much. And at first I did get it but then it quickly turned into .. this??
All of the women in this book are very much sexualised and objectified, clearly written by a man, and of course, all of the male characters fantasize about every single one of them. Soon it just turned into a joke for me, I wanted to see how far he would take it. Well, the plot did not exactly hold up either. One of the (many) red herring was highly implausible yet the whole police force immediately went for it. The actual ending was predictable and the protagonist and detective Harry Hole felt like a badly written Bond wannabe. Not for me.
"He could smell pussy from where he was standing." (p.364)
"[He] ejaculated his infected seed as the bell over the front door angrily warned them that someone was on their way into [the shop]." (p.398)
Listen. I wanted a good thriller, that I could quickly get thru, where I didn't have to think much. And at first I did get it but then it quickly turned into .. this??
All of the women in this book are very much sexualised and objectified, clearly written by a man, and of course, all of the male characters fantasize about every single one of them. Soon it just turned into a joke for me, I wanted to see how far he would take it. Well, the plot did not exactly hold up either. One of the (many) red herring was highly implausible yet the whole police force immediately went for it. The actual ending was predictable and the protagonist and detective Harry Hole felt like a badly written Bond wannabe. Not for me.
emileejacks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Murder
karinemi's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
deschatjes's review against another edition
4.0
some very clever twists and turns and false starts as to who the snowman is... This time read by Robin Sachs who reads well BUT he doesn't pronounce Hole correctly which after the 6 previous books with John Lee was a bit annoying.
yerggggggg's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
erickibler4's review against another edition
4.0
Well constructed. That's the key thing to say about this Norwegian thriller. Before you find out who the killer is, there are numerous plausible alternative suppositions and reversals. Every bit of information pays off like the Chekhovian revolver, which, once introduced in Act I, must be fired by Act III.
Harry Hole is one of those master sleuths that's actually smarter than the constant reader of mystery fiction. When he reaches an insight, the perceptive reader hasn't necessarily gotten there before him, although in hindsight his conclusion is completely logical.
This is my first book by Nesbo, but it's obvious that there's an overall continuity from one book to the next; that things are paying off that were set up in previous books; and that things set up in this book will play out in subsequent books. Nevertheless, this book stands on its own to be enjoyed on its own merits.
I will definitely return to this series. Too bad the first two haven't been translated into English yet.
Harry Hole is one of those master sleuths that's actually smarter than the constant reader of mystery fiction. When he reaches an insight, the perceptive reader hasn't necessarily gotten there before him, although in hindsight his conclusion is completely logical.
This is my first book by Nesbo, but it's obvious that there's an overall continuity from one book to the next; that things are paying off that were set up in previous books; and that things set up in this book will play out in subsequent books. Nevertheless, this book stands on its own to be enjoyed on its own merits.
I will definitely return to this series. Too bad the first two haven't been translated into English yet.