3.5 ⭐️

Norwegian Serial Killer Crime Mystery . . . I want more of this.

It's tight. There aren't any wasted words, loose ends, or dead-end plot twists. It's all there and it's good. Really good for what it is. I'm not a frequent mystery reader, but when it's this good I'll make an exception. And it was this good.

I can't really do anything here except spoil it. So I will end by saying that you just can't figure out who did it. Or, at least I couldn't.

I've not read many of this kind of novel, but it's my assumption that 90% of what really makes a detective/sleuth book work is the plot. This has got that in spades. As I was close to finishing it I found out there is a movie version on the way. I'm interested to see how well it translates to the medium. The major imagery of the book works because of good writing, but could easily look silly on film.

The Snowman, Number 7 in the Harry Hole books by Norwegian author Jo Nesbo, is a fast-paced mystery that jolts the reader back and forth between theories and suspects. This time, Harry is a shadow of his former self, thin and weary from some hard living and battles with personal demons. He uses the skills he has learned from the US FBI to spot a pattern in some disappearances that seem to indicate that Norway might be entertaining a rare serial killer. He uses his reputation in his department to get assigned a small team to help him follow up on missing women dating back from 2004 to 1992. The one detail common to all the scenes: a snowman at the location of their last known whereabouts. His new team includes a sharp new detective, Katrine Bratt, who contributes some perceptive insight into the cases. Harry manages to follow the clues to a variety of suspects. Is there a connection to a doctor specializing in rare genetic disorders? Does it involve a missing officer who may have been working on his own? Or could it be related to a famous pundit seeking to cover up deviant practices? Or is The Snowman someone else circling around the team, able to stay one step ahead and keep them chasing their tails? There is a lot going on in this story, and it might be difficult for some to follow all the Norwegian names and places. The use of the snowman as a sinister current throughout was a little far-fetched, but certainly original. This book is a good example of how a strong main character can elevate a weaker installment in a series. Hole is such a wonderfully depicted and flawed person that fans of Nesbo can easily forgive some plot lapses and implausible coincidences. If you are new to the Harry Hole mysteries, however, I would begin with one of the earlier novels instead.