THE SNOWMAN by Jo Nesbo

Finished Sa 4/6/19

I ordered this paperback after seeing the film, THE SNOWMAN, starring Michael Fassbender. I noticed that most of the reviews said the movie was OK, but the book was so much better. And, I most wholeheartedly agree.

This is the seventh in a series concerning the Norwegian detective, Harry Hole. A cynical,   never married, middle aged man who has a love of rock and roll music. And, although his alcoholism is somewhat under control, this issue is just one of many problems that he has with the higher ups within the Oslo crime squad.

Part of Harry Hole's profile at Jo Nesbo's website:

"Music: likes everything from Sex Pistols to Duke Ellington. From Neil Young to Slipknot.

Film: His all-time favorite is The Conversation by Coppola. One of very few who consider Verhoeven’s Starship Troopers a masterpiece and Mel Gibson’s Braveheart complete rubbish.

Substance abuse: Alcoholism runs in the family. Started drinking heavily in his late teens, has tried most types of drugs. Views all drugs as anesthetics. Dry and sober most of the time, but with a furious and constant urge.

Sports: Cycling and pumping iron occasionally, cause he likes the purifying feeling pain gives him".

He has trained with American serial killer experts and he seems to be just a bit more on the ball than many of his colleagues. He has also done police business in Australia and Thailand.

Many subplots and at least three different times, the serial killer is revealed, and then found not to be the guy.

At one point Harry is convinced that The Snowman is actually his partner, the lovely Katrine.

PLOT UNTANGLED (Somewhat):

'The Snowman' is a doctor who has been killing almost his whole life. He began by murdering his mother because he thought that she was a whore. He targets women with children who he believes are whores.

He is suffering from a medical condition that will eventually cause his skin to 'freeze up' and he will more or less be trapped in a shell. This will lead to his death.

Rakel and Harry are still close. She has a son, Oleg, and Harry and Oleg bond over rock music. In this book Harry and Oleg attend a Slipknot concert and the opening act is Slayer.

He has become the partner of Harry Hole's ex girlfriend, Rakel, and Harry leads a daring raid to save her. She is balanced inside her bedroom on a snowman made of snow. Around her neck is an electric noose that will cut off her head when the snowman melts, and she falls.

The electric noose is a tool used to rescue calfs. It allows the doctor to internally cut out the calf without injuring the cow. The noose heats to very high temperatures and is like a laser.

I loved the book and Harry Hole is every bit as intriguing as Harry Bosch, Kurt Wallander, Travis McGee, or anyone else on the 'grizzled cop' scene.

I will definitely get more of the H.H Series.