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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
This is the type of book that will keep you up all night until you solve the mystery! A handful of women are murdered in various cities across the country of Norway, and it turns out that these women have much more in common than just the presence of a snowman at each of their locations of death. Is this the work of a serial killer? If so, why did the killer choose these women? And do these murders have any connection to a similar series of killings years before? The crimes are carefully planned and all equally brutal, but in some cases the bodies remain missing. Inspector Harry Hole is faced with the task of solving the mystery before he and his loved ones become victims themselves. What I loved most about this book is that several characters are implicated as the killer, so we really don't know the true answer until the very end. Is it one of the husbands? The son? The physician? The supposed home inspector? Or a member of the police force? The clues implicate several different people, and the suspense is heavy.
Creepy and satisfying. An abrasive, entertaining serial killer novel in the psychologically dark vein of Nordic crime writers, The Snowman delivered. The contemporary Oslo setting and disillusioned maverick of a main detective, along with a plot that kept turning, built to a masterful, startling conclusion. (I had trouble reading this when I was home alone and will not look at snowmen quite the same way again.) Comparisons to Steig Larson aren't unwarranted, though without so much socio-political-cultural commentary and minus the all-encompassing journalist's purview, The Snowman's narrative arc was tighter (though, with due respect to Steig, less expansive). I will definitely read more Harry Hole novels. (And yes, that's his name, which you eventually get used to.)
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Book itself was good, plot twist I was not expecting.
This genre is just not really for me, so it was hard to get into it, but then I couldn't put it down.
I'll probably give more chance to Nesbo.
This genre is just not really for me, so it was hard to get into it, but then I couldn't put it down.
I'll probably give more chance to Nesbo.
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I had ups and downs with this book. I am a huge fan of Nordic fiction (pretty much any genre) and when I heard a new movie coming out was based on a Norwegian thriller, I decided To give it a try. Unfortunately, the foreshadowing and clue dropping was a bit excessive, so most of the twists and turns are predictable. If you are into thrillers or crime fiction for the big and surprising reveal at the end, this may not be the book for you.
Despite the predictability, the writing (and translation) is really tight and well detailed without being overburdened. Nesbø creates a pretty suspenseful rhythm that got me reading uninterrupted for an hour or so, engrossed in the characters and the scenery. Every so often, however, a character would make a very counterintuitive/unbelievable (dare I say dumb) decision that would knock me out of the story, especially toward the end, and I’d need to take a break before coming back to the book.
I was happy that, despite being number 7 in the Harry Hole series, I could easily pick up on the story and didn’t feel left out having not read the previous novels.
Despite the predictability, the writing (and translation) is really tight and well detailed without being overburdened. Nesbø creates a pretty suspenseful rhythm that got me reading uninterrupted for an hour or so, engrossed in the characters and the scenery. Every so often, however, a character would make a very counterintuitive/unbelievable (dare I say dumb) decision that would knock me out of the story, especially toward the end, and I’d need to take a break before coming back to the book.
I was happy that, despite being number 7 in the Harry Hole series, I could easily pick up on the story and didn’t feel left out having not read the previous novels.
Nesbo on a bad day is probably a better thriller writer than 90% of the rest at their best, and though I wouldn't call it a bad day for him, this one was probably my least favorite of the Harry Hole books I've read. It's taut, but raw. There are a few too many characters and too many gratuitous red herrings. But at the end of the day, it's still Harry Hole doing what he does best -- fighting off the cold winter of the soul and making bad guys pay.
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes