by Jo Nesbø
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Harry Hole is sent on a symbolic assignement in Sydney, Australia. A young blond Norwegian woman with a background hosting a children's TV-show back home has been murdered. Harry is expected to mostly observe the investigation of what seems to be a tragically common case; a rape assault ending in a strangulation.But Harry is finding it difficult not to get involved. He takes a more and more active interest in the case and at the same time gets exposed to the Sydney never advertised in the travel brochures. His self-appointed guide from the police in Sydney, Andrew Kensington, is of aboriginal origin and he gives Harry an insight to his people's history and folk tales.
As the case becomes more complicated so does Harry's situation. His reasons for wanting to catch the killer has become more personal and soon he is running his own investigation on the side from the police investigation.
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This is an excellent first novel. That it is a first novel can be deducted by the somewhat jerky telling of the story. But the intrigue is nicely tied together and just complicated enough. The language has a good flow and reflects the changes in tempo and moods.
The characters are many and effectively described so that their personalities become clear and unique. Some of them you take to your heart, sometimes rightly so and sometimes not. I liked Harry Hole a lot and even though I had reason to be disappointed in him I still liked him after the book was finished.
This is a pretty horrific book, with betrayal, violence, drunkeness and cruelty but I gladly recommend it to those who can take that what is unfortunately a part of our reality also is a part of the books that are written.
Jo Nesbø has written the following novels:
Flaggermusmannen (1997)
Kakerlakkene (1998)
Rødstrupe (2000) - Redbreast (2006)
Sorgenfri (2000) - Nemesis (2008)
Marekors (2003) - The Devil's Star (2005)
Frelseren (2005) - The Redeemer (2009)
Snømannen (2007)
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