Jo Nesbø Collection: The Redbreast, The Snowman, The Devil's Star

by Jo Nesbø

Genres: Crime, Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Scandinavian Literature, Detective, Nordic Noir

Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Jo Nesbø is a bestselling Norwegian author and musician. He was born in Oslo and grew up in Molde. Nesbø graduated from the Norwegian School of Economics with a degree in economics. Nesbø is primarily famous for his crime novels about Detective Harry Hole, but he is also the main vocals and songwriter for the Norwegian rock band Di Derre. In 2007 Nesbø also released his first children's book, Doktor Proktors Prompepulver.

Series:
* Harry Hole
* Doktor Proktor

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Reviews

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please take this as a review of all Jo Nesbo's Harry Hole (unfortunate surname especially in Ireland) books - I have read them all - well all of the English translations. They are utterly brilliant, great crime novels, great characters, great plotting and stories - is it really obvious that I like them. OK I am aching for someone to recommend a crime novel where the lead detective is normal - is married still, has kids, isn't an addict of any kind, - is crime-fighting only possible by screwed up humans?? Harry has heaps of issues - but you still like him. Read them in order (not the order in which they were translated into English) so that you can follow Harry's story as well - and enjoy

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have read Redbreast, Nemesis, and Snowman (read the Snowman first, then the others). Currently reading Devil's Star. Each of these can be purchased individually for the Kindle.

Harry Hole is a fascinatingly flawed detective, and Nesbo's characterization and plotting are fascinatingly flawless.

I will hate ending this series!
Der Fledermausmann
Kakerlakkerne
The Redbreast
Nemesis
The Devil's Star
The Redeemer
The Snowman
The Leopard

The first two books are not available in English on the Kindle.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

OK, so my review here is for The Red Breast, which for some reason I cannot find listed alone on goodreads. I've also read The Devils's Star, and have The Snowman on my list to read. This one was way better than TDS, part WW2 story, part mystery and thriller. The main character Detective Harry Hole (an alcoholic) is mostly sober in this book, and a much more likable, interesting guy. This is the novel where he meets his girlfriend Rakel. I loved the WW2 plotline and found the whole storyline regarding Norwegians who joined the Nazi's very interesting. It was quite a page turner keeping you guessing about who the bad guy is until the very end. Wish I'd read this one before TDS.

[Arnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jo Nesbo has quickly become one of my favorite writers! I order them and read them as soon as I can! I am waiting for my copy of Phantom now. I am excited to learn that The Snowman is being made into a film directed by Martin Scorsese.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

God underholdning med god anti-helt. Smæk for skillingen og i befriende grad helt og aldeles urealistisk.

[Kate Donnelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have only read REDBREAST. I read it after the Steig Larsen craze. Nesbo reminded me of those books. i really liked Harry Hole. He reminded me of the Mickey Spillaine characters. Lots of twists. Realism and the cold atmosphere of Scandanavia adds to the enjoyment. I know so little about the area that some of the description is lost on me. I'm going to read REDEEMER as soon as it is available.
The novel flips back and forth between the Eastern Front with Norweegians supporing Germans and 2000 Norwegian police. harry Hole solves crime-killer is intent on Killing KJing of Norway. He alo ees revenge on people he though hurt him.

[Adrian Pulford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Looking for something to replicate the pleasure I got from Stieg Larrson's brilliant trilogy (I read Dragon Tattoo in 48 hours - gave it to my wife, she read it in 24!) my GP (yes) suggested Jo Nesbo and he was right. Harry Hole's character is well written and the story here is gripping and well constructed. Recommended.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is for both The Devil's Star and for Nemesis--both of which I enjoyed greatly, but both of which do pale in comparison to The Snowman, both in terms of plot and in terms of overall character development. Nesbo seems to be honing his style as he ages as an author, which is of course what one wants to see. I have not been diligent about noting whether or not he uses the same translator all the time...that could be part of the issue. I give Nemesis 3.5 stars, and Devil's Star 4. I enjoyed the villains of all shapes and stripes in both books, and of course Harry is just a dear, dear man--one I enjoy watching destroy himself even as he hones his craft of detection.

[Deborah Middleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought that Swedish writers, Henning Mankell and Stieg Larsson were unsurpassable, but my new favourite crime writer is Norwegian Jo Nesbo. For consistently thrilling "whodunits" with an intelligent, engaging and hugely flawed protagonist, Harry Hole, his books are unbeatable. He expertly develops character through dialogue - which is so difficult to do -and his storylines unfold in such a way as to keep you guessing all the way through.

As a writer of thrillers myself, I aspire to create characters, dialogue, plots and intrigue like he does. I'm hooked!

[Deborah Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't read much fiction, but this author was recommended to me because I loved the Larsson trilogy. Set in Norway, they all center around an iconic alcoholic detective. I use TV cop shows as background noise, so maybe that's why I enjoyed the stories. But if you like mysteries or detective stories at all, you'll love Jo Nesbo. And the settings -- mostly in and around Oslo -- are breathtaking, even in print.

[Bill Shaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Redbreast! I liked Harry Hole for all his flaws and enjoyed the story which kept me going to the end. I tend to enjoy the HH series when read between other authors' books in order to keep each read fresh however.

[Lara Beard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is for The Devil's Star; it was a great thriller and hard to put down. Wish I knew more about Norwegian culture, because I worry I missed some references, but I thoroughly enjoyed it nonetheless.

[Lorraine Cosgrave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant author,seem to get better book by book!!

[D Baxter]

So far i am having trouble keeping the characters straight... jumping timelines and between plots

[Frankie Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved the snoman 1st 1 i read this encoraged me 2 by a few mre x devil stars nxt on my list looking forward 2 it ive relly warmed 2 harry x

[Louise Pattenden]

love these books, Harry Hole is a great character

[Mindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the Jo Nesbo collection - read all seven books in seven weeks! Family not happy!! The Redbreast was slow to start and I nearly put it down. But so glad I persisted.

[juciene azevedo-wilk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hooked

[Fiona Robson · Rating 1 out of 5]

"Reassigned, having caused a high-profile embarrassment, Detective Harry Hole is bored with his new job in surveillance. Then he receives a report of a rare and unusual gun, with possible links to Neo Nazi activity, being smuggled into the country.


When a former Nazi sympathiser is found with his throat slit, Harry suspects a connection between the two cases. The ensuing investigation leads him to suspect that the crimes have their roots in the battlefields of the Eastern Front during World War Two, but as the bodies mount up it soon becomes clear that the killer is hell-bent on serving his own justice. But who is he? And why was Harry's former partner trying to reach Harry on the night she was murdered?"

I really could not get into "Readbreast" at all. I've read the later Harry Hole novels and couldn't put them down, but this was a complete chore to read. I'm not sure why, either - I just persevered until I got to the last page!

[Jerri Tubbs · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am working my way through the Oslo Trilogy: The Redbreast, Nemesis and The Devils Star all with detective Harry Hole at the ready.
The Redbreast starts out in WWII and the highly sensitive bond between Norway and the Nazi's. It travels back and forth in time, bringing into play a Marklin rifle, neo-Nazi groups, a love interest and a co-worker being killed. Great story development and sets the stage for Nemesis.
Nemesis covers Harry's alcoholism, working with a new partner, serial bank robberies and of course murder....this book moved more quickly.
Next up is The Devils Star..... I have read two other books in between and won't focus on this one for a week or two.
Jo Nesbo writes good character development and puts lots of twists to the plots...these books are 10 years old but good reads.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review relates to The Devil's Star which doesn't appear to be listed on here individually, though it's definitely available for Kindle as a standalone book.

This is the 4th Harry Hole book I've read and I enjoyed it enormously. I love watching the character of Harry develop (ie fall apart a bit more!) and the storyline had me hooked, especially when it all seemed to be wrapped up but then all was not as it seemed. It was a shame that Beate Lonn was not more involved in this book though - she had such a strong presence in the previous book, but seemed to be much more in the background here. I hope she'll be back n form in the next in the series.

[Ankur · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not too great, and def not the "next steig larssen" as the book cover proclaimed! Nesbo's Harry Hole is almost a copy cat take on Rankin's John Rebus, with all his alcoholism, problems with authorities and even odd references to music thrown in... And Nesbo doesnt hv a Siobhan yet!

The plot is abt serial killing, and is fairly predictable - in fact i was able to guess the identity of the killer before even half the novel was finished :(

However, it is a good timepass, even if it is not up there with a Steig larssen :)

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read "The Devil's Star," but that isn't available to review individually. Nesbo and his translator are extraordinary. I went into this thinking that having an alcoholic detective sounded like such an enormous cliche I wasn't sure I could overcome it. But in Nesbo's gifted hands, the main character of Harry Hole is unique and wonderfully so. As a mystery/thriller, this book was extraordinary, with a good number of twists and turns, and I will definitely be reading more of the Harry Hole series.

[Sasidhar Yalavarthi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jo Nesbo, quickly became my favourite author just after reading one book.The author will immerse you into the world of crime and throw some bread crumbs and trails. I read the snowman. For some reason, it made me remember Dexter, a popular TV show where he named his craving as dark passenger. They are striking similarities of Dexter and the character in this book. I really like the title of the book the snowman.Although it's difficult to follow up with the Norwegian names, the author made it easy by setting the street famous names, museums even for a one time visitor like me.

[Ellen Bard · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm working my way through these, and enjoy them in small doses. Reminiscent of classic detectives like Rebus, Harry Hole is his own worst enemy, and sometimes as he comits yet another self destructive act I cringe and put the book down. But the plots are interesting, and well written, with some good twists and turns, so I know I will continue with the series, ensuring I have some light relief in between!

[Randy Gingrich · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fitting ending to the trilogy involving Harry's conflict with Tom Waller. The solution to the murders was a bit implausible but the development of the characters was outstanding. The ending scenes were tremendous and graphic. The best of the Scandinavian movement in crime fiction, he is in my group of must read detective writers with Elizabeth George, Peter Robinson, Michael Connelly, Robert Crais, and James Lee Burke. The are making a film of Snowman by the way.

[Karen Hardy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Snowman was very creepy and a good summer read. This book felt like it was written for the movies. The Redbreast was more complex, tense and just read better. The main character in all the books Harry Hole is very likable. I do like Nesbo and will read his other 2 Nemisis and Devil's Star.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read The Snowman. It was recommended by a Norwegian friend who said if I like mysteries then I should read Jo Nesbo. It was interesting but had many twists, turns and red herrings. I knew who the snowman was when the character was first introduced however so all the twists became a bit tedious. I would read another book by this author.

[Neva · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read The Redbreast, Nemesis, and The Devil's Star. I like this anti-hero and some of the visual descriptions will translate to extremely powerful movie scenes when the inevitable Hollywood blockbusters are made. I still like the Wallander series better, I think because they are a bit more romantic. Not in a "we're so in luv" romance sense, but in a poignant beautiful scenery romantic way.

[Corrina1994 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the Redbreast, the start was a bit complicated and it took some time to get through but the end was surprising, I liked it so much because it was unpredictable and altough I don't get how all characters are interrelated just yet I looooved it and I reallybwant to read the next part.