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3.34 AVERAGE
3.34 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
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:
Yes
I’ve read all of Jo Nesbo’s Harry Hole books and loved them. I loved reading about such a flawed character – one who seems nearly fixated on destroying himself even as he tries to save others.
With “Blood on Snow” – Nesbo has introduced another flawed character, Olav. He’s a fixer…in that he kills people for money in order to “fix” problems for his boss. Olav is almost a killer with a heart of gold – the reader almost can’t help but feel sorry for him and root for him even as he murders people without much emotional distress.
This very short novel reads almost like a fairy tale. Olav put me in mind of the characters of Quasimodo or even the Frankenstein monster – beings so far removed from normal human life that they seem doomed to lose even as they yearn for love. The book is dreamlike and yet extremely violent. Is heartbreaking as it is coldly calculating. Nesbo toys with the reader’s emotions as much as he manipulates their impressions of events.
“Blood on Snow” did not engross me the way the Harry Hole books did – but it was a short reminder of what I love about them and about the characters that Jo Nesbo brings to life.
With “Blood on Snow” – Nesbo has introduced another flawed character, Olav. He’s a fixer…in that he kills people for money in order to “fix” problems for his boss. Olav is almost a killer with a heart of gold – the reader almost can’t help but feel sorry for him and root for him even as he murders people without much emotional distress.
This very short novel reads almost like a fairy tale. Olav put me in mind of the characters of Quasimodo or even the Frankenstein monster – beings so far removed from normal human life that they seem doomed to lose even as they yearn for love. The book is dreamlike and yet extremely violent. Is heartbreaking as it is coldly calculating. Nesbo toys with the reader’s emotions as much as he manipulates their impressions of events.
“Blood on Snow” did not engross me the way the Harry Hole books did – but it was a short reminder of what I love about them and about the characters that Jo Nesbo brings to life.
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book wasn’t really for me. It’s not a genre I normally read so I had picked it out for a reading challenge. Reading it felt like those scenes in New Girl where Nick is talking about his book the Pepperwood Chronicles, to the point where this book felt like parody at times. Thankful that this was a quick read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was an interesting story about a hit man with a heart. The majority of the story is told from Olav’s perspective, and he’s honest about what he’s done and why he does it. He feels that it is the only thing he can do well, and we see how unsuccessful he was in other areas of the criminal organisation he works for. When Olaf is asked to kill his boss’s wife, and he falls in love with her instead, you can guess what is going to happen. Even so, I was on the edge of my seat, waiting to see how it would play out. This was a brutal yet enjoyable read.
I absolutely love Jo Nesbo. I desert-island love him. If I could only read one thriller writer for the rest of my earthly days, I'd choose him in a heartbeat and never look back. We're exclusive.
And I think I enjoyed this book more than I might have, just because his reputation precedes him. He doesn't need to put on a slinky dress, turn down the lights, and woo me. I'm already sold.
However, if you've never dipped your toe in the Jo Nesbo Norwegian crime thriller pool, you'd probably be better served to start with one of his other books.
For one thing, Blood on Snow is much shorter than most of his books, and while the brevity and simple language fit the narrator perfectly, it might be a little difficult to get into a rhythm if you're not already a fan. Olav is plenty interesting—he's a professional contract killer, although he'd never use those terms. He calls himself a “fixer.” He's not the sharpest guy, and he's proven ill-suited for other criminal endeavors, but he's good at taking people out and walking away without getting caught. He likes to keep things uncomplicated. However, Olav's life gets very complicated very quickly when his boss asks him to “fix” his wife. Olav doesn't want the job, but he already knows too much to back out. He's going to have to make a tough decision, and tough decisions aren't really his cup of tea.
So yes, Olav is a compelling character, in that he's the exact opposite of the suave man of danger you'd expect to see in the role of contract killer. However, I didn't fall for him the way I did for Nesbo's more famous leading man, Harry Hole (I'm told it's pronounced less salaciously in Norwegian). Olav isn't the kind of character you could build a series around. He's kind of a one-note guy. Harry, on the other hand, keeps coming back in book after book, each time more grizzled, scarred, and strung out than the last (and yet somehow, more badass and endearing as well).
Blood on Snow is a great book for established Nesbo fans, but if you've never read him before, I'd recommend starting with one of the Harry Hole books. I've long been partial to [b:The Snowman|9572203|The Snowman (Harry Hole, #7)|Jo Nesbø|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1355881478s/9572203.jpg|2697052] because it was my first, and it practically blew the top of my head off, but the entire series has now been translated into English, so you can start anywhere you like.
Just don't try to horn in on my desert island. There's only room for two.
More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com
And I think I enjoyed this book more than I might have, just because his reputation precedes him. He doesn't need to put on a slinky dress, turn down the lights, and woo me. I'm already sold.
However, if you've never dipped your toe in the Jo Nesbo Norwegian crime thriller pool, you'd probably be better served to start with one of his other books.
For one thing, Blood on Snow is much shorter than most of his books, and while the brevity and simple language fit the narrator perfectly, it might be a little difficult to get into a rhythm if you're not already a fan. Olav is plenty interesting—he's a professional contract killer, although he'd never use those terms. He calls himself a “fixer.” He's not the sharpest guy, and he's proven ill-suited for other criminal endeavors, but he's good at taking people out and walking away without getting caught. He likes to keep things uncomplicated. However, Olav's life gets very complicated very quickly when his boss asks him to “fix” his wife. Olav doesn't want the job, but he already knows too much to back out. He's going to have to make a tough decision, and tough decisions aren't really his cup of tea.
So yes, Olav is a compelling character, in that he's the exact opposite of the suave man of danger you'd expect to see in the role of contract killer. However, I didn't fall for him the way I did for Nesbo's more famous leading man, Harry Hole (I'm told it's pronounced less salaciously in Norwegian). Olav isn't the kind of character you could build a series around. He's kind of a one-note guy. Harry, on the other hand, keeps coming back in book after book, each time more grizzled, scarred, and strung out than the last (and yet somehow, more badass and endearing as well).
Blood on Snow is a great book for established Nesbo fans, but if you've never read him before, I'd recommend starting with one of the Harry Hole books. I've long been partial to [b:The Snowman|9572203|The Snowman (Harry Hole, #7)|Jo Nesbø|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1355881478s/9572203.jpg|2697052] because it was my first, and it practically blew the top of my head off, but the entire series has now been translated into English, so you can start anywhere you like.
Just don't try to horn in on my desert island. There's only room for two.
More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes