A review by ghost_of_the_library
The Snowman by Jo Nesbø

5.0

Review edited

Having heard of the movie soon to become reality, starring Michael Fassbender, i figured it was time to revisit this one book.
Jo Nesbø is world wide famous so there´s no use in me boring you all with a description of the man, his career and his "hero" Harry Hole.
This is the 7th book in the Hole series and, for those not familiar with Harry, will read well - JB is a great writer - BUT you should probably start with the first of the Hole adventures (English tittle - The Bat) because, by the time you reach book 7, there´s been quite a lot happening around Harry that has changed his character in ways that you will not fully grasp, unless you have previous knowledge.

For those who may be starting here -
the morning after the first big winter snowfall, a boy named Jonas wakes up and discovers that his mother has vanished without a trace. Only one clue is left behind: a pink scarf, his Christmas gift to her, now worn by the snowman that inexplicably appeared in their yard earlier that day (and let me tell you...creeepy snowman!!!).

When summoned to the crime scene, Inspector Harry Hole suspects a link between the missing woman and a suspicious letter he’s received a few weeks earlier. At first people around him have a hard time believing what he suggests, but suddenly the game changes when a pattern emerges: over the past decade, eleven women have vanished—all on the day of the first snow.....
And that´s all you get from me ;)

The Snowman is typical Nesbø, engaging writing, a great story, and an utterly flawed but fascinating lead character. This book is as much about Harry Hole as it is about the crimes he is trying to solve. Hole is an alcoholic, totally unreliable, he drives his superiors nuts with his behavior. But he is also a fascinating character who, despite his many flaws, totally draws you to him. He has a remarkable brain (main reason why his bosses put him with him!) and a great talent for solving the puzzles of the motivations and purposes of the killers he chases.
And just when you are convinced you know what Harry is thinking and you "got" the killer, Hole finds a new reason to cast doubt on the solution...all the doubts creep back in your mind!
Maybe it was the target of this killer - young mothers - maybe it was the connection to Harry´s past, but this one book "hit" me pretty hard and made me very uncomfortable at times...almost desperate to have him catch "the bad guy" and save everyone, and believe me when i say that this particular bad guy is especially twisted and demented.
All in all a great Scandinavian murder mistery, for fans of the genre and/or the author.
I for one can't wait to see what the movie will turn out like (Fassbender isn't my first idea on who should play Harry, but given how good an actor he is, cant wait!).


PS: That movie adaptation seriously enormously su#€_#_ big time! What a load of #@$&#@!