The Redbreast
by Jo Nesbo

   For readers who are still lamenting the unfortunate demise of Steig Larsen, author of “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”, take heart! Jo Nesbo, a brilliant Norwegian crime writer is alive and well! And Jo’s plots are so elegantly crafted and his books so literary that you will rejoice in knowing that Mr. Nesbo has numerous novels already to his credit and that he is still producing them for his growing number of international fans.
   I suggest that you begin with “The Redbreast” which serves as a great introduction to Oslo police detective Harry Hole, who struggles with alcoholism but who has notable tenacity, integrity and occasional brilliance in tracking down the truth. And, although the detective who struggles with an attraction for the bottle is a bit of a stereotype, Harry Hole is certainly not. In addition, Jo Nesbo’s novel is also populated by a wealth of other characters who are so believable – even expendable – that it frees his novels to be totally surprising and unpredictable in ways that most crime series can’t even approach.
   Without gratuitous gore or sexual content, “The Redbreast” sends us on a thrill ride through Harry Hole’s investigation of neo-Nazi activities that leads to his focus on the illegal importation of a rifle believed to be meant for assassination of at least one important national figure. The novel explores in depth the links between a number of present day characters and their roles and relationships during World War II. In historical hindsight, the national leadership is viewed to have collaborated with Nazi Germany and many disgraced former soldiers remain bitter because of the wartime actions of their rulers. In fact, they are still so filled with anger toward the government that they are looking for effective ways to take violent action in the present.
   Just to make things more interesting, corruption within the police department not only thwarts Harry but also poses a very significant danger to Detective Hole and his allies as they work to track down the truth and to stop a terrifyingly methodical assassin who is hiding in plain sight.
   “The Redbreast” is an intelligent, literary read with plenty of suspense for those who are seeking a quality crime thriller that is difficult to put down. I strongly recommend it to you.
    Jo Nesbo is the most successful Norwegian author of all time with 9 million books sold. His books are published in 41 different languages around the world, and he is widely recognized as one of Europe's foremost crime writers.
   “The Redbreast" is the winner of the Glass Key prize for the best Nordic crime novel, and has been voted Norway’s best work of crime fiction.