Hardcover, 519 pages
English language
Published Aug. 8, 2006 by Harvill Secker.
The next Stig Larsson? I'm afraid so. Disappointing, and highly unbelievable.
Fantastic Norwegian murder mystery/thriller. Loved everything about it-the characterization, the historical aspects, the story itself. I made the mistake of finishing this late at night right before going to bed and I found my brain going round and round afterwards. I couldn't stop thinking about it. The obvious comparison to [b:The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo|2429135|The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium, #1)|Stieg Larsson|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1293975922s/2429135.jpg|1708725] can't NOT be mentioned, but Nesbo's writing is so much less dense. There's a lot less detail, and that's definitely not a bad thing in a murder mystery. I really can't wait to read more in this series.
The second of the series that I've read (I got through The Snowman before), and enhanced by reading much of it in the centre of Oslo, in the very streets where much of the action happens.
Like the first, it's the usual carefully-crafted detective story, culminating in an over-the-top and rather overly-ridiculous conclusion. No harm in that; and it's a fairly undemanding page turner. The central character, Harry, is given some more depth in this one, and I've already downloaded the third of the series to continue from where this one left off.
Absolutely brilliant, weaving together the involvement of some Norwegians in a German military unit in the past, neo-Nazis in present-day Norway, and assassination plot, and (perhaps the best part of all) the life of detective Harry Hole, There are bits that are a bit contemplative, bits that are wild thriller scenes, and bits that are incredibly moving. I'm happy that more of this series is being translated into English. Highly recommended.
