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In the heat of a sweltering Oslo summer, a young woman is found murdered in her flat—with one of her fingers cut off and a tiny red star-shaped diamond placed under her eyelid. An off-the-rails alcoholic barely holding on to his job, Detective Harry Hole is assigned the case with Tom Waaler, a hated colleague whom Harry believes is responsible for the murder of his partner. When another woman is reported missing five days later, and her severed finger turns up adorned with a red star-shaped diamond ring, Harry fears a serial killer is at work. But Hole's determination to capture a fiend and to expose Waaler's crimes is leading him into shadowy places where both investigations merge in unexpected ways, forcing him to make difficult decisions about a future he may not live to see.
A musician, songwriter, and economist, Jo Nesbø is also one of Europe's most acclaimed crime writers, and is the winner of the Glass Key Award, northern Europe's most prestigious crime-fiction prize, for his first novel featuring Police Detective Harry Hole. Nesbø lives in Oslo.
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Posted November 27, 2012
I'm a fairly cheerful person myself, so I'm not sure why I like these quirky and unhappy characters, but to me Harry Hole is somebody I just want to root for. His personal demons are worthy adversaries and Harry keeps up the good fight. The plot of this book is sufficiently intricate to keep me guessing, the villains are truly villainous and matters are tied up but not so neatly as to be incredible.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted October 16, 2012
Once you start on Jo Nesbo you better have time to finish, you won't want to do anything else! ADDICTIVE!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted March 25, 2013
A book I couldn't put down. reommend
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Posted November 20, 2012
Like the other Harry Hole Mysteries by Nesbo, this one is gripping and difficult to put down. The humanity and foibles of the characters, combined with an intricate plot and suspenseful writing make a winner. It's also always interesting--as a US based reader--to learn a bit about the Norwegian culture and geography. And--as in the Dragon Tattoo books--everyone has IKEA furniture!
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Posted November 2, 2012
Terrific mystery with a different nuance.
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Posted October 27, 2012
I just can't get enough of Jo Nesbo.i think i have read all of his books.I still have Head Hunters and Phantom to read but I am reading them inbetween other books to make them last longer.
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Posted August 20, 2012
What a complex sttory!
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0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted May 27, 2012
This mystery starts out with a lot of promise. The first chapter is quirky, engaging, and makes you wholeheartedly want to understand why Nesbø chose to start with the story he did. Past that, unfortunately, the book fails to make any lasting impression.
The review from the Washington Post above suggests that this book is worth reading "for its characters, for the quality of its writing and for its wealth of detail." I must disagree with each and every one of those statements. The more central the characters were to this story, the more I dreaded reading about them. Harry Hole is a particularly one-dimensional chracter, who Nesbø was clearly trying to add depth to, but failed at miserably.
At best, I will call this novel a good attempt. There were snips here and there that captured my imagination, but beyond that, the mystery was wholely preditable. On top of that, there were far too many perfect coincidences to make the story anywhere near believeable. For more intelligent and shocking mysteries, stick with Stieg Larsson.
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.jake9
Posted April 10, 2012
greatly enjoy all of his books......just wish they had been available to read in order......the translator deserves mush praise!!!!!!!!
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Posted March 12, 2012
I have enjoyed all the Harry Hole novels and this is one of the best.
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Posted August 16, 2011
When will this be available on the Nook?
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Third in a series of Norwegian crime novels that will help you to understand the social ills of a country physically perched on the edge of a vicious underground network of organized crime. I love murder mysteries even more when the one clue that would give the mystery away escapes me. This writer is excellent at his craft, painting the characters in vibrant, pulsating colors colors..well fleshed out and believable. Poor Harry Hole...falling apart as he puts the minute cluse together never has such a flawed character seemed so real to me. Don't miss this series. Each book is very well platted and beautifully written.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.When a young woman is found murdered in Oslo with a tiny red star shaped diamond under her eyelid and a finger missing, Harry Hole is assigned to the case. When the finger of a woman reported missing is found with a ring embellished with the same type of red diamond, the team realizes they're dealing with a serial killer.
Unfortunately, Harry is partnered with Tom Waaler, someone Harry doesn't like or trust. Harry has long believed that Tom murdered his friend and former partner, which makes working together nearly impossible. But Harry has no choice because he is barely holding on to his job. His drinking is still a problem and his one champion at work insists that they have to handle the case together because of scheduled vacations which leave the police force short-handed.
Working with Waaler and the investigation into the murders brings Harry to the brink, putting himself and everyone he loves at risk in this breathtaking mystery by Nesbo.
As I plow through all of the available books by Jo Nesbo, my only regret is that I didn't read them in order; in fact it seems that I've read them in totally reverse order. As the characters change along the way, it would have been nice to be able to follow Harry Hole's relationships with his friends and co-workers. Each of Nesbo's books is terrific by itself, but I'd recommend that you do it the right way to better understand all of the references to past events and characters. Lynn Kimmerle
Anonymous
Posted June 26, 2011
Why is this not available as a NookBook? Harry Hole 2 'Nemesis' is available as a Nook Book, so is the latest Harry Hole - The Snowman. makes no sense.
0 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged."The Devil's Star" by Norwegian author Jo Nesbø is the third in the Harry Hole series. This novel was published in Norway in 2003, but just recently arrived in the USA.
A serial killer is on the loose in Oslo. The killer cuts off his victims' fingers and leaves a tiny five corners red diamond shaped like star. Oslo police officer Harry Hole
tries to catch the killer before he kills again, all the while battling corruption within the Oslo police force and his own demons.
The Devil's Star" by Jo Nesbø has a very complex hero. Harry Hole is a tormented alcoholic who is losing his relationship and sanity. Harry would have lost his job as a police officer if he didn't have the uncanny ability to solve complex crimes.
The book deals with a Norwegian serial killer, who we are constantly reminded is a rarity in Norway because it's an American disease. Along with the killer, Harry Hole also has to prove that a standout officer is corrupt and battling the bottle.
The novel introduces a sophisticated plot which, to be honest, had me scratching my bald head several times trying to remember who are the characters, what did they do (or didn't do) and their relationship to the plot. Like any good book, all the pieces fit together at the end.
The plot is good, but not great. The only issue I have with the plot is that the ending almost comical, as if it is out of a James Bond movie where the villain talks so much he lets the hero out of his clutches.
The detail Nesbø brings to his characters and to the city of Oslo is riveting and compelling. Nesbø takes the reader into the dark nooks of the city where tourists rarely venture.
the writing was very good and extremely readable. The author has a gift of observing the obvious and bringing it to the reader's attention in a round about way.
"Beyond the crackle of Harry's breathing on the phone Beate could hear a car stopping and the engine being switched off. At that moment she noticed a change in the way the light fell in her room"
I cannot tell you how many times I've had that feeling, when I'm deep into a project and suddenly look up without noticing what time it is. Nesbo captured those kind of feelings expertly.
The Devil's Star is a perfect example of why I adore Scandinavian crime fiction. Detective Harry Hole is what'd you call, a functioning alcoholic. He's lost his girlfriend and spends his waking hours stumbling through his cases, drinking in bars and smoking cigarettes like they're going out of style. He's incredibly flawed, but good at what he does so his superiors often look to him for input, even though physically he is falling apart. Time is running out for old Harry though because his boss just can't cover for him anymore and he's just stepped into a very high-profile case involving a serial killer with a penchant for pentagrams and red diamonds in the shape of a star. This is my first experience with Jo Nesbo and I must say, I have fallen in love. From the moment I opened this book, I was completely pulled into the story and could not put it down. The writing is crisp and the tension between the characters is so flawlessly executed, that you find yourself sitting on the edge of your seat, just waiting for one of them to pick-up on it themselves. The dialogue is smartly written and has that sophisticated, snappy quality that I find in Scandinavian novels. I won't compare Nesbo's writing to Larsson, as they each have their own, distinct style, but their books both possess that shrewdness that I've come to love. You don't have to be a lover of crime fiction to enjoy The Devil's Star so if you aren't, I encourage you to try it anyway. It has a great story, well-developed characters and writing that will force you to read it in one sitting. Apparently, Nesbo has written other books featuring Detective Harry Hole. One of which (The Snowman) makes its US debut in May 2011. I can't wait!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Detective Harry Hole used to have it all. Great job, reputation and respect of his colleagues and his girlfriend Rakel, and then in a short span of time, he begins to unravel like a ball of yarn, held at one end while being tossed in the air.
The loss of things in his life has taken it's toll and his only solace is the bottle of a Jim Beam bottle. Anything to try to keep the nightmares at bay.
When a mysterious murder happens in a flat in Oslo, Harry is called in to work after a long holiday as a last resort. Unfortunately for him, his partner in this case is Tom Waaler, who Harry personally holds responsible for the death of his last partner Ellen. However when every witness and lead in that case turns up empty handed, Harry wonders if his nightmares are becoming reality.
Tom Waaler is Oslo's next up and coming chief of police. Well admired and loved by those that work with him, he is good at what he does, solving crimes. However when a red star diamond begins to show up in all the murders in Oslo and fingers are being systematically removed, will Tom be able to work with Harry long enough to solve the case and put this latest serial killer behind bars or does he have other motives?
I received the novel The Devil's Star by Jo Nesbo, compliments of TLC Book Tours for my honest review. Being a huge fan of authors like James Patterson, this one will completely satisfy any mystery crime fan in huge ways. Not only does Jo have you hanging on the edge of your seat with every page turn but this one you will want to read with the light on to keep the nightmares at bay. A perfect 5 out of 5 star rating! Available in hardcover and paperback formats.
Anonymous
Posted January 4, 2013
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Anonymous
Posted December 15, 2012
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Overview
In the heat of a sweltering Oslo summer, a young woman is found murdered in her flat—with one of her fingers cut off and a tiny red star-shaped diamond placed under her eyelid. An off-the-rails alcoholic barely holding on to his job, Detective Harry Hole is assigned the case with Tom Waaler, a hated colleague whom Harry believes is responsible for the murder of his partner. When another woman is reported missing five days later, and her severed finger turns up adorned with a red star-shaped diamond ring, Harry ...