Killing Moon – Harry Hole Series #13

Author: Jo Nesbø
Genre: Nordic Noir, Thriller, Crime Fiction
489 pages
Publisher: Originally published in Norway by Aschehoug & Co, 2022
Translator: Seán Kinsella

Synopsis
Killing Moon by Jo Nesbø is the 13th installment in the Harry Hole series, a dark and complex thriller set in Oslo, Norway. Brilliant rogue police investigator Harry Hole is back, this time as an outsider assembling his own team to help find a serial killer who is murdering young women in Oslo in the next novel in the New York Times best-selling series.

THE HUNT IS ON AND THE POLICE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME. Two young women are missing, their only connection a party they both attended, hosted by a notorious real-estate magnate. When one of the women is found murdered, the police discover an unusual signature left by the killer, giving them reason to suspect he will strike again.

THEY’RE FACING A KILLER UNLIKE ANY OTHER. And exposing him calls for a detective like no other. But the legendary Harry Hole is gone—fired from the force, drinking himself to oblivion in Los Angeles. It seems that nothing can entice him back to Oslo. Until the woman who saved Harry’s life is put in grave danger, and he has no choice but to return to the city that haunts him and track down the murderer.

CATCHING HIM WILL PUSH HARRY TO THE LIMIT. He’ll need to bring together a misfit team of former operatives to accomplish what he can’t do alone: stop an unstoppable killer. But as the evidence mounts, it becomes clear that there is more to this case than meets the eye.

My review
Killing Moon is the 13th installment and last published book in the Harry Hole series. This is yet another strong novel from Nesbø, showcasing his trademark atmospheric and immersive writing style that easily drew me into the dark and gritty world of the story. Plot development is a key strength, and Nesbø delivers masterfully. The novel maintains the dark and gritty essence typical of Scandinavian crime thrillers, and the translation is seamless, ensuring that these qualities are not lost.

Killing Moon begins with a familiar scene: Hole in Los Angeles, rapidly descending into a self-destructive spiral. However, when someone he cares about falls into trouble, he is compelled to return to Oslo. There, he becomes deeply involved in an investigation that is both brutal and, at times, gruesome, and has left the Oslo police force struggling to find clues.

Drama seems to follow Harry wherever he goes and Nesbø excelled in his ability to plant clues and red herrings throughout the narrative that kept me engaged and guessing until the end. The supporting characters have grown to be as impactful as Hole himself, and this novel brings back some of my favorites who enrich the narrative with a variety of perspectives and personalities. The detailed intricacies of the killer’s psyche and the murders are dark and compelling, enhancing the overall stark, gritty, and bleak setting.

Nesbø’s long-running Harry Hole series has kept me intrigued since I stumbled upon it a few years ago. Translated from the original Norwegian, the series provides a dark, yet highly alluring, set of crimes as graphic as they come. Nesbø crafts masterful, immersive, and unforgettable stories that have kept me thoroughly entertained and fully invested across 13 novels. Thank you, Mr. Nesbø, for an unforgettable reading experience!

My recommendation: absolutely read this Harry Hole installment!