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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
3.5 stars. I enjoyed being back in the Harry Hole world for a minute, but ultimately I got a bit bored. The last half could have been condensed significantly. Will def watch the movie though. I bet it's suuuuper creepy.
I am really not sure if I like the crime thriller genre. I felt vaguely ill after reading the one and only Val McDermid I have read; parts of the Millenium novels were not pretty, and this writer certainly does not do pretty either. But there is no denying these books are gripping reads with the complicated plots, the twists and turns, the outwitting, race against time, the psychological stuff going on, and that is without touching on the characters at all! The general trend seems to be a crusty tired embattled detective such as Wallender; feisty young brilliant female offsider - either cop or journalist or medical person; and deranged psychopath killer - naturally.
The Snowman is no different! As one reviewer puts it on the back cover - 'chilling, spectacular stuff'. The author is Norwegian, and has been writing crime novels featuring Detective Harry Hole since 1997. This is the fifth one to be translated into English. Harry is one tough man, his personal life is in a bit of chaos, and over the years his work life has not fared not much better. His off sider for this particular story is a young detective Katrine Bratt, who has her own back story. There is a killer on the loose, naturally, who appears to be targeting women with children, killing them quite brutally and leaving a snowman behind. He always kills at the time of the first snows, so his murders go back some years.
Despite all the horrible bloody stuff, this is absolutely gripping, a true page turner. I couldn't stop reading it. It doesn't matter that you sort of know the ending ie the guy gets caught, and Harry and Katrine live to fight another day. As they say it is all in the journey...
Having said all that, I don't think I need to read another Jo Nesbo book. The first chapter of his book 'The Leopard' is at the back of the book - more horrific violet death scenes. He is compared to Stieg Larsson of the Millenium trilogy, but other than them both being Nordic writers writing violent crime novels, they books are quite different. This book does not have the enormous depth and scope that Larsson's books have; it has as much gore in its 550 pages as Larsson probably has in the whole series; but like Larsson the writing is very atmospheric, the physical settings very vivid, and the characters very well drawn.
The Snowman is no different! As one reviewer puts it on the back cover - 'chilling, spectacular stuff'. The author is Norwegian, and has been writing crime novels featuring Detective Harry Hole since 1997. This is the fifth one to be translated into English. Harry is one tough man, his personal life is in a bit of chaos, and over the years his work life has not fared not much better. His off sider for this particular story is a young detective Katrine Bratt, who has her own back story. There is a killer on the loose, naturally, who appears to be targeting women with children, killing them quite brutally and leaving a snowman behind. He always kills at the time of the first snows, so his murders go back some years.
Despite all the horrible bloody stuff, this is absolutely gripping, a true page turner. I couldn't stop reading it. It doesn't matter that you sort of know the ending ie the guy gets caught, and Harry and Katrine live to fight another day. As they say it is all in the journey...
Having said all that, I don't think I need to read another Jo Nesbo book. The first chapter of his book 'The Leopard' is at the back of the book - more horrific violet death scenes. He is compared to Stieg Larsson of the Millenium trilogy, but other than them both being Nordic writers writing violent crime novels, they books are quite different. This book does not have the enormous depth and scope that Larsson's books have; it has as much gore in its 550 pages as Larsson probably has in the whole series; but like Larsson the writing is very atmospheric, the physical settings very vivid, and the characters very well drawn.
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A fine return to form after a dip in form in The Redeemer. This was riveting from beginning to end as a malicious serial murderer is revealed.
Most of my predictions came true. I thought the ending was drawn out a little, but that was probably because I kept on going on short drives and was listening to the book in like ten-minute sections.
SO GOOD.
SO GOOD.
Okay, this was better than the last one I read. Even when you figure out who the Snowman is, the drama is still on.
The terse writing and the fast plot that marked Redbreast is still present, and the general plot of the Snowman is excellent. My only complaint with the book is that it should have ended earlier - there were just so many gotchas! that by the time the storyline was resolved it was actually a relief.
A real page turner. Fast paced with lots of twists and turns in the plot.