Police – Harry Hole Series #10

Author: Jo Nesbø
Genre: Nordic Noir, Thriller, Crime Fiction
470 pages
Publisher: Originally published in Norway by Aschehoug & Co, 2013
Translator: Don Bartlett

Synopsis
Police by Jo Nesbø is the 10th book in the Inspector Harry Hole series. When a police officer is found murdered at the scene of an old unsolved murder case that he was involved in investigating, it can hardly be a coincidence. When the same thing happens to two other officers in a matter of months the pattern is as clear as it is terrifying. None of the old cases were ever solved. The killings are extremely brutal and the police have no leads. What’s more, they’re missing their best investigator.

At the same time, a severely wounded man is in a coma and kept alive at a hospital in Oslo. The police guard the room and the identity of the patient is kept secret.

Once again Nesbø delivers a devilishly clever story about the scope of human evil; a cat-and-mouse game that involves not only the victims and the police, but also the reader.

My review
This is the 10th book in the Harry Hole series and I’m totally captivated by Hole, Oslo and Nesbø! I have a weakness for dark, atmospheric, and twisted crime thrillers, and this is among Nesbø’s finest. It’s a gripping narrative, intricately woven and filled with surprising turns.

I was immediately drawn into the gritty and unsettling setting and was excited to see some of my favorite characters from previous novels. Nesbø always weaves a complex story with multilayered twists and this one is no different. I feel this series is at its most entertaining and spine-chilling when dealing with serial killers, and I’m happy that this book went back to that theme. There were so many clues and red herrings in here, and for a while sinister vibes were coming off of everyone. It was great fun, and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.

As always, Nesbø took me on a rollercoaster ride of emotions as I continued to follow the grizzly, cynical and deeply troubled Hole who keeps his laser focus on the investigation in front of him, often to the detriment of everyone around him. In the last three books of the series, I’ve observed a change in Nesbø’s approach, where he concludes each book with a cliffhanger. While many earlier books in the series could be enjoyed on their own, starting with The Snowman, it’s become more beneficial to read them in sequence for a more cohesive reading experience. Characters evolve over multiple books, and I was delighted to see many of my favorite characters make a comeback in Police.

My recommendation: continue your journey with Harry Hole and read it! You won’t be disappointed.