Le Bonhomme de neige

Harry Hole #7

by Jo Nesbø, Alex Fouillet (Traduction)

Les premiers flocons ont quelque chose de féerique. Ils rapprochent les couples dans la chaleur des veillées, étouffent les bruits, étirent les ombres et masquent les traces. Dans le jardin familial des Becker, un bonhomme de neige fait irruption, comme sorti de nulle part, sorte de croquemitaine blanc, ses grands yeux noirs braqués sur les fenêtres du salon. Le lendemain matin, la mère a disparu, ne laissant qu'une écharpe rose entourée au cou du bonhomme de neige... Trop de femmes en Norvège, depuis des années, n'ont plus donné signe de vie dès la première neige. Harry Hole reçoit une lettre qui lui annonce d'autres victimes. D'une sobriété étonnante, l'inspecteur va se retrouver confronté, pour la première fois de sa carrière, à un tueur en série agissant sur son territoire. L'enquête le conduira jusqu'au gouffre de la folie.

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Thriller, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook, Detective

583 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 19, 2007

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

For exclusive content about Jo Nesbø and his books, register for the official fan newsletter: https://jonesbo.com/newsletter/

Reviews

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was invited to read 'The Snowman ' by the publisher, prior to its release in cinemas in October 2017, and have given an honest review in exchange.

As a little girl I used to love the first snowfall of winter, and the fun that accompanied it, like sledging down hills with complete abandon and snowball fights, but best of all was building a snowman. Great effort went into making this little guy look good - a borrowed cap and scarf from dad - a few buttons from mum's sewing box - however, the snowman in Jo Nesbo's thriller doesn't have such pleasant connotations, on the contrary, it elicits feelings of abject terror!

November in Oslo, and the first snowfall of the year covers the gloomy landscape. A young boy discovers his mother missing and ventures outdoors to look for her, but all he finds is his mother's pink scarf wrapped around a snowman in the front yard that appeared mysteriously the day before. And so begins Harry Hole's seventh investigation in this extremely popular series.

Investigations reveal that numerous women have gone missing over the years, all of them on the day of a first snowfall, but their bodies have never been found. As even more go missing, Harry receives a letter from the perpetrator wanting to play games, wanting to pit his wits against Oslo's most famous serial killer hunter. Let the games commence!

Harry is up against an extremely intelligent killer, and the tension never let's up for a minute - the depressingly somber landscape only adds to the fear. The plot is complex, clever, and leads to many suspects, each of them perfectly plausible, but all is not what it seems, and there are many twists and turns before 'The Snowman' is finally revealed. Another winner from Jo Nesbo.

Thank you to Random House UK Vintage Publishing for my ARC.

[Jeffrey Keeten · Rating 5 out of 5]

”Jonas stood up on one of the kitchen chairs and peered out. And, sure enough, there on the lawn in front of the house was a snowman. It was, as his mother had said, big. It’s eyes and mouth were made with pebbles and the nose was a carrot. The snowman had no hat, cap or scarf, and only one arm, a thin twig Jonas guessed had been taken from the hedge. However, there was something odd about the snowman. It was facing the wrong way. He didn’t know why, but it ought to have been looking out onto the road, toward the open space.”

Instead, it was looking at YOU.



Just an odd thing, maybe a joke by the neighborhood kids, but unsettling, nonetheless. They didn’t see anyone making the snowman. When Jonas’ mother turns up missing, he finds the pink scarf he’d given her as a present, wrapped around the snowman.

***SHIVER*** what does that mean, Harry?

A strange case like this rapidly becomes several connected strange cases as more women go missing, and a snowman appeareth. There can only be one guy in Norway who has the experience to take on a demented serial killer.

Harry Hole

VS

The Snowman

Katrine Bratt is Harry’s new partner. I know of two partners he has had since I started reading the series, and they are both...dead. Harry might be at the center of any storm, but the debris always seems to land on those around him. Katrine is intelligent, alluring, and sexy, but more importantly, she really seems to understand Harry, which most of the time Harry has a hard time getting Harry, so there is hope that she could prove useful. Harry explains the job as he sees it:

”’I would guess you’re fairly proud of your investigative talent.’[Katrine asks]

‘You mean the rat-catching gene? The innate ability to lock up people with mental illnesses, addiction problems, well-under-average intellects and well-above-average childhood deprivations?’

‘So we’re just rat-catchers, then?’

‘Yep. And that’s why we’re so happy when once in a blue moon a case like this lands on our table. A chance to go big-game hunting, to shoot a lion, an elephant, a fucking dinosaur.’”



One of the things I really like about Nesbo is that he always works in books, movies, and music into his novels. This conversation that Harry has with his on-again, off-again girlfriend, Rakel, cracks me up.

”’The Rules of Attraction?’ Harry repeated, taken aback. ‘Have you got it?’

‘You said it was on your list of most underrated modern films.’

‘Yes, but you never like those films.’

‘That’s not true.’

‘You didn’t like Starship Troopers.’

‘That’s because it’s a crap macho film.’

‘It’s satire,’ Harry said.

‘Of what?’

‘American society’s inherent fascism. The Hardy Boys meet Hitler Youth.’

‘Come on, Harry. War on giant insects on a remote planet?’

‘Fear of foreigners.’”

Harry always seems to be a half step behind the Snowman. One of the problems with serial killers like The Snowman is there is nothing readily apparent that ties them to their victims, so basically you have to wait until a new victim appears and hope the killer makes a mistake. It becomes all too personal though when Rakel finds a note on her windshield.

”We’re going to die whore!”

We’re? What the heck does that mean? Rakel is moving in her latest boyfriend, a doctor named Mathias, but she keeps ending up at Harry’s apartment warming his bed. One of those situations where she can’t live with Harry, but she also can’t seem to live without raising and lowering his flag either.

She fits the killer’s profile.

Harry is truly up against a diabolical killer this time. A man targeting women who have strayed...but how does the killer know these things about these women? Time is of the essence, and red herrings send Harry and his team scrambling down looping paths that get them no closer to the killer. The case becomes all too personal as Harry’s new partner, Katrine, and Rakel become targeted by…the Snowman.



Jo Nesbo, as always, kept me turning pages. I groaned with frustration when promising leads turned out to be dead ends. In a case like this, nothing can be ignored because the investigators are so desperate for a viable lead. In the end I had to hope that Harry would weave enough clues together to form a noose around the killer. Highly recommend. I can’t wait to see one of my favorite actors, Michael Fassbender, bring Harry Hole to life on the big screen.

If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at: https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten

[Skyler Autumn · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 Stars

I am just not a Jo Nesbo fan! I'm sorry I tried. I read 'The Bat' thought well that was dull and confusing. Then everyone was saying don't judge the series by the first two novels. Jump ahead it gets soooo good. So I was like, I will jump so far ahead I will go straight for the book they deemed so good that they made it into a bloody movie. And all I can say is a resounding meh! That's right it was meh very meh.

The story follows our functioning alcoholic detective Harry Hole. I'm using the word detective quite liberally here because there seems to be more flailing on his part and less actual detecting. I do not understand why he is compared to the cautious and meticulous mind of Hercule Poirot or the brilliant and keen eye of Sherlock Holmes. He is basically how I imagine most cops in real life to be which is completely useless. He doesn't solve shit all instead he accuses everybody and anybody and when suspects are basically narrowed down to the last one he goes I've solved it!! It's like my fucking dog has solved it at this point man.

The murder of young women and the use of snowmen as creepy calling card was interesting for the first bit then you have to trudge through 70% of the novel and about a million forgettable suspects before you get to the end which saved this novel from being given a 1 star rating. The end is quite thrilling. The murderer is found out, you get a glimpse into his mind (which is alway my cup of tea), and then there's the chase and all that lovely action. The only problem is you have got to be very patient and get through a shit ton of humming and hawing over the case to get to that juicy ending. All and all is it worth it? Not really the ending is good but I had to read a fuck ton of nothing before anything of interest began.

Also I'm just going to go out on limb here after reading my second Harry Hole novel and assume that Jo Nesbo only writes women as whores, victims or crackpots. Women in his novels are either ruled by their Vaginas or their emotions. It became so sexist I wouldn't have been surprised if Harry Hole declared the murderer was a woman on her period PMSing hard! Can Harry Hole have a strong female in his life whose panties don't seem to disintegrate around him because he soooo irresistible?? The writer has mentioned numerous times that Harry Hole is borderline ugly, just sits in silence, and drinks all day. I haven't been to Norway but my god is the prospects that slim that the slurring drunk at the bar is the only option for these stunning ladies.

Until Nesbo learns how to portray women as the strong complex creatures we are, I think me and Jo Nesbo are going to have to part ways from here.

[Paromjit · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a re-read for me, it is the 7th in the Harry Hole series set in Oslo, Norway. It is now a major film with Michael Fassbender as Harry, I admit to being intrigued to see how this novel translates into this movie! We have the usual gloomy and downbeat portrayal of Norway, its weather and its people. A young boy finds his mother missing and goes outside. There he finds a snowman has appeared, adorned with a scarf belonging to his mother. Oslo police have Harry investigate with his new partner, Katrine Bratt. As Harry digs into the case, it emerges there are eleven missing women through the years and not a body to be found. Harry concludes that there is a serial killer on the loose, an analysis that his superiors dismiss. That is until Harry gets a letter from the killer looking to lock horns with him. And so ensues a battle of wits in a macabre story with numerous twists. My re-read confirms to me that this is one of the better books in the series, although The Redbreast is my favourite. Looking forward to seeing the film. Many thanks to Random House Vintage for an ARC.

[Orsodimondo · Rating 4 out of 5]

PERCHÉ SPARISCONO QUELLI CHE TORNANO



Se non avessi visto il trailer del film uscito in questi giorni, che mette insieme Michael Fassbender protagonista e Tomas Alfredson regista, un’abbinata da brividi, probabilmente non avrei letto questo romanzo.
Tanto più che ho scoperto essere la settima avventura del commissario Harry Hole, nel frattempo arrivate a undici.
E invece, l’ho preso, iniziato, e letto. In quarantotto ore. Cioè, divorato: ho letto sette/otto ore al giorno. Meno male che era un weekend.
Anzi, no, non lo era, mi sono preso un lunedì libero per finirlo.



Una sequela di cliché, a cominciare dal serial killer (il solito serial killer), proseguendo per il poliziotto dilaniato dai suoi demoni incarnati nel vizio di bere (il solito poliziotto), l’amore impossibile (il solito amore impossibile), i soliti dirigenti che ostacolano le indagini (i soliti ostacoli), eccetera.

Però, è una sequela di cliché messa insieme con cura e sapienza, gusto e bravura. Godibilissima, divertente, emozionante.

Il mio problema con questo genere di libri è che li prendo per alternarli a letture lente e complesse, ma poi non riesco più ad abbandonarli. L’alternanza va a farsi benedire, io divoro il libro in questione, quello che rientra in ‘questo genere di libri’ e dopo, una volta divorato, mi ritrovo davanti la lettura lenta e complessa che non è progredita di una pagina.



E mi chiedo cosa ci sia di così avvolgente e attraente e gustoso ed emozionante nella solita caccia al solito noiosissimo serial killer, che sembrano tutti geni del male, quando invece sono sempre solo schizzatelli, più o meno dichiarati.
Cos’è che inchioda alla pagina, perfino quando lo scrittore ogni tanto ha una sbavatura di gusto, ogni tanto una di credibilità, e magari il redattore ogni tanto è pure sbadato?
Non è come con i film horror, che servono a misurare la propria resistenza, voglio vedere fin dove arrivo, quanto posso resistere, sono bravo l’ho visto tutto senza coprirmi gli occhi: queste pagine non fanno affatto paura, tutt’altro, sono rassicuranti. Sarò mica così ingenuo da credere che tutto il male sia contenuto in queste pagine, che non ne rimanga fuori neppure un po’?!
Comunque, Trilogia Millennium a parte, preferisco di gran lunga il cosiddetto noir mediterraneo a quello cosiddetto nordico, che di serial killer si nutre, di rassicuranti corpi sgozzati seviziati squartati smembrati spolpati sbranati spappolati.

NIENTE SPARISCE, VA SOLTANTO DA UN’ALTRA PARTE



PS
FENOMENOLOGIA DEL SERIAL KILLER:
La stragrande maggioranza degli assassini seriali sono uomini (84%).
Rispetto al delinquente comune, che normalmente utilizza un'arma da fuoco, nel serial killer la percentuale di chi impiega questo mezzo di offesa si abbassa: si nota (nonostante che, anche in queste ipotesi l'arma da fuoco sia il mezzo offensivo più utilizzato), una certa predilezione per il contatto con la vittima; questo ci è dimostrato dalla ampia percentuale di strangolamenti, soffocamenti, annegamenti e dal massiccio uso di armi bianche.
È da sottolineare che le donne rispetto agli uomini prediligono l'uso di sostanze venefiche come mezzo di offesa (66% circa).
Il serial killer al momento del suo primo delitto ha, in media, ventinove anni. È generalmente un soggetto di razza bianca (per l'83% dei casi), che, se eterosessuale, attacca di preferenza le donne (55% circa).
https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_...

[Jim Fonseca · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like a complicated plot with a lot of characters and many twists and turns, here’s the book for you. Nesbo, a Norwegian author, is one of the Scandinavian noir mystery/police detective writers. This book is one of a dozen he has written featuring the police detective Harry Hole.

Nesbo is obviously a brilliant guy. Consider that he is also a professional rock musician and song writer, and that as an economics major he has been a stockbroker and journalist. Until sidelined by an injury, he was a professional footballer (soccer).



On to the story: in peaceful Norway, for years now, after the first snowfall of the season, someone builds a snowman in the yard of a woman and then shortly brutalizes and kills her. Sometimes body parts and personal items are found in the snowman. The perpetrator (he? she?) is obviously toying with the police.

It’s a long book (500 pages in the paperback I read) and during the story, Harry solves the case five times! You read that right – four times during the investigation, the police think they have found their man, but they were wrong. It’s truly amazing to think that Norway could produce five people capable of dismembering women and taunting the police by leaving clues in a snowman, but there you have it, and it’s a tribute to Nesbo’s writing that these five scenarios and the clues and motives all seemed plausible at the time.



It’s also a tribute to Nesbo’s writing that I never felt lost or overwhelmed by the complicated plot – you just have to make a bit of an effort to keep track of character names. We get a lot of local color of Oslo and Bergen and we follow Harry’s personal life (he’s an ex-alcoholic) along with that of his ex-, her son and new male friend. An attractive young woman who is one of Harry’s detective partners provides interest too. A good read.

top image from henriksen.deviantart.com
bottom image: Snowman by OhLizz on deviantart.com

[Debbie W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why I chose to read this book:
1. a few years ago, I watched the movie based on this book, and even though I figured out who the Snowman/serial killer was partway through the show, the story intrigued me enough to read the book (I found a copy at a local thrift shop); and,
2. December 2022 is my "Winter/Christmas Month".

Praises:
1. definitely works as a suspense/thriller! Some scenes gave me goosebumps!
2. even though this is Book #7 in the "Inspector Harry Hole" series, it works as a standalone;
3. protagonist Harry Hole is quite realistic. He has his demons, so he doesn't come across as a superhero. I enjoyed some of his witty lines;
4. just when you think you figured out who the Snowman is, a red herring gets tossed in; and,
5. I connected to the references of various landmarks in Oslo - the Kon-Tiki Museum and the Holmenkollen ski jump - since hubby and I visited these places on our honeymoon back in 1988.

Niggles:
1. I had a little trouble keeping some characters straight at first. Luckily, they all came together as the story progressed;
2. I was confused by some jumping around between paragraphs. Was I missing details? Was this an issue with translation? and,
3. what's up with all the references to singers and what they're singing about? Were these meant to be filler?

Overall Thoughts:
Once I got past some awkwardness in the first 60-some pages, I quite enjoyed the fast-paced action as Harry Hole tried to track down the Snowman.

Recommendation?
Great for readers who enjoy action-packed suspense/thrillers!

[Baba · Rating 3 out of 5]

The seventh and most widely known book (it was a Richard & Judy Book Club selection in the UK) in the Detective Harry Hole series, centres around the idea that up to 20% of Norwegians do not know the identity of their real dad! The 'Snowman' has been killing mostly woman, mostly mothers, over many years, and as Harry turns up the heat on the case, it begins to look like that everyone... and I mean absolutely everyone, is being manipulated by the killer! Not as good as Larssen or the Wallander books, but still quality Scandinavian crime fiction. 6 out of 12

2022 read; 2011 read

[*TANYA* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intense!!! I loved it!!! I really really liked the authors writing style. It was detailed, unique, and very intricate. I was googling stuff left and right. Lol. I can't wait for the movie with Michael Fassbender!! Yum!!

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I can’t remember if I’m watching TV... or maybe I’m listening to some NPR podcast or something, but I hear about this movie called The Snowman directed by the same guy who did Let the Right One In and based on a novel by this Jo Nesbo dude. Hey! Jo Nesbo! I know that name! I’ve seen his books floating around on Goodreads. I’ve seen people I know, love, and respect reading, loving, and recommending his books.

But I found myself in a bit of a dilemma. I started thinking about all the other times I’ve tried to read a mystery/thriller book from a series. Patterson, Coben, that Girl with the Dragon Tattoo guy, Connelly, etc. I always start strong, but those books have never really done it for me. They’re fine, but they never really go beyond fine. I like books that are beyond fine. In fact, from now on, when I really like a book, and someone asks me what I thought about the book I read and liked, and I have a chance to respond, and I also love commas, anyway, I’m going to start responding by saying, “Man, that book was beyond fine.”

Ask me what I thought about Jo Nesbo’s The Snowman. Go ahead. I’ll pause here and give you a chance to ask.

Oh, I’m glad you asked. I thought this book was beyond fine. A solid four stars. I don’t know five stars would be. Maybe extraordinarily beyond fine. Exceptionally beyond fine. Incrementally beyond fine.

The Snowman is beyond fine.

This is the seventh book in the Harry Hole series, and it’s the first book I’ve read, but I never really felt lost or confused. There are some references to prior events and characters, but things are explained well. You can read this one without starting with The Bat. I hear The Bat isn’t all that great anyway. It’s below fine, I guess.

Nesbo weaves together a very intense page-turner with characters that matter and twists that actually make you pause and drop the book for a sec before you can continue. I blew through the second half of the book. In fact, I woke up early this morning just so I could read the end of the story... and I am not a morning person. Thank God for coffee. Can I get an amen?

I’m excited for the movie. I’m excited to read more Nesbo. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I was caught up in this thing, and the ending did not disappoint. Oh, and on a side note, I liked all of Nesbo’s music references. He threw out names like Ryan Adams and Gillian Welch. He’s got good taste. Well, he mentioned Slipknot a few times, too, so maybe not.

Check this one out. Let’s hope the movie is just as good. Or at least beyond fine.

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 to 3 stars

Eh . . . I know I have mentioned something along these lines in my previous Jo Nesbo/Harry Hole reviews, but I feel like he writes to intentionally confuse the reader – and I am not sure it is in a good way. Sure, we all love to be pulled into the complicated web of a mystery. But, when things get so out there and are going is so many directions that you cannot keep up anymore, it is no longer fun!

If I were to diagram this book, I would put some big, fairly straightforward plot points I was able to keep track of at the top – nice, straight arrows linking them. But, I am reminded of the anecdote where the duck calmly moves along the surface of the water, but its feet are going crazy below! Underneath the main plot points are hundreds of random plot points scanning various different time frames and linking to each other in very bizarre ways. The points and arrows in this area would end up looking like a plate of spaghetti and meatballs!

Your response to this might be,”Matthew, well, you just are not smart enough to understand all the intricacies”. Perhaps, but I have read other intricate mysteries and have stayed interested and aware of what was going on with little to no confusion. So, there is just something about the way that Nesbo writes that just loses me.

Also, while I don’t mind sexual content in the book if it moves the plot, some of the random references in this book were quite extreme and seemed to be there more to shock than anything else. I can give them a little leeway for developing the personality of a couple of characters, but still seemed a bit much. In the end, they didn’t bother me, but you may want to proceed cautiously if they might bother you.

I will say that the main plot points were interesting and enjoyable to follow. Also, once I got everything sorted out in my head it led up to a pretty decent climax.

“Why continue with the series?” you ask. Well, someone gave me book 8 in the series (The Leopard) a few years ago and I have been working my way up to it. I haven’t minded going through the series (a few of the books have been pretty enjoyable), but I am not sure I would have stuck with it if I did not have the goal of book 8!

[Sheilagh · Rating 2 out of 5]

if this had been the first book i'd read of the series, it would also be the last.

'the other end!' she exclaimed, removing her hands from her face. 'we'll have to begin at the other end. in bergen!'
'no,' harry whispered with the last air he had left in his lungs. 'bergen's not an end. could you ...?'

he looked up at her. saw her dark eyes fill with tears.

"IT'S MY PERIOD,' she whispered.

honestly. i'm amazed i bothered to finish. i was completely unable to get lost in the characters or believe they could be real people. snippets like the excerpt above just tell me the author believes very driven women who put themselves through law school and later work their way through a mostly male police force would use menstruation as a crutch. couple that with all the transparent naming of movies & bands and i feel like i know more about the author himself than i do about a detective about whom i've now read four books.

[Harry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here's the thing about the recent popularity of Scandinavian writers and if you're a Nordic Thriller aficionado you couldn't care less about the distinction: the novels are depressed, somber, filled with ennui, a lack of humor, with flawed characters if not suffused with a strong tendency towards determinism; in short, whether you're reading Stieg Larsson, Henning Mankell, or Jo Nesbo you are likely reading Literary Naturalism. If you live in Scandinavia you might consider this par for the course, ennui is imbued into the populace (as it is also reflected in the works of prominent Russian writers - Anna Karenina comes to mind). Just as we continue to struggle here in the States with our history of slavery and the resulting racial tensions, so do Europe and Scandinavia struggle in coming to terms with Nazism and the Bolshevik revolution (More than a few reviewers have expressed their dissatisfaction with the Nordic writers' pre-occupation with Nazism). And yet, the rise in popularity of these Nordic thrillers here in the States is puzzling given our strong tendency towards literary Romanticism. We like for the good guys to win, we like emotion, we like our heroes (as opposed to anti-heroes) we enjoy free will, and in general consider ourselves in control of our own lives.

Having said that: there is excellence in Literary Naturalism. The above doesn't mean we can't enjoy a well written novel, an intriguing mystery, a flawed anti-hero, a well crafted story written in the style of literary Naturalism. It doesn't mean we can't enjoy the works of Jo Nesbo. I did.

In Jo Nesbo's words: "I come from a family of readers and story tellers." With a librarian mother and a father who sat before the fire and told the kids stories they wanted to hear (each repetition bringing something new to the tale) Jo's foundation was carved in stone. Again, in his own life story we sense the determinism filtering into his life: he wanted to be a soccer star but an injury put a quick stop to this; with a dreadful feeling of fate guiding his life he entered the military in the hopes something would happen (what happened was "Self-Discipline"); thinking he might want to be an economist he entered the world of finance which he abandoned as well; someone told him he could play guitar (he only knew 3 chords) and he formed several bands, Di Derre being the most successful; and finally he wrote (on an airplane to begin with) and he never stopped.

The Redbreast is Jo Nesbo's third Harry Hole (pronounced "Hooleh") novel (the other two not being translated for a US audience as of yet) and is Nesbo's claim to fame. So, this is where we start. Yes, the books should be read in order! For an American audience, Harry Hole can be likened to Harry Bosch; he defies authority, is an outcast within his own organization, is best left alone to do this job (his office is at the end of the hall), is more of an anti-hero than a hero, has trouble with his romantic life, lives alone, has a fierce propensity for justice (as opposed to the Law) and once let loose is like a pit bull with a bone fastened to his jaws. But perhaps the most compelling reason why Harry Hole has such a following is Nesbo's devastating characterization of what exactly comprises a flawed hero. Upon reflection, American hard-boiled writers don't come close to accomplishing the same. This is not too dissimilar to the way Nesbo sees himself.

Bjarne Møller, my former boss, says people like me always choose the line of most resistance. It's in what he calls our 'accursed nature'. That's why we always end up on our own. I don't know. I like being alone. Perhaps I have grown to like my self-image of being a loner, too....I think you have to find something about yourself that you like in order to survive. Some people say being alone is unsociable and selfish. But you're independent and you don't drag others down with you, if that's the way you're heading. Many people are afraid of being alone. But it made me feel strong, free and invulnerable.

And...ah, yes, there is the matter of plot! So how do we justify this decided streak of fate/determinism within the novels with Nesbo's apparent mastery of plot? The two seemingly ought to contradict each other. On the one hand, we have Nesbo's almost Shakespearean tendency to cast characters as marionette puppets on the strings of fate (the very opposite of plot), while on the other hand we are riveted by the very complex actions and reactions made by Harry Hole during his investigations (Nesbo is a master at not adding anything superfluous to his novels). Perhaps it is an unholy marriage between the two that transfixes us. His plots are intricate, very complex, the seemingly irrelevant details exposed throughout the novels become larger than life as the story closes, and they can weave through time, forward and backward, as the story unfolds. But, with a little alacrity, we can remember we are reading Naturalism and so it isn't always Harry Hole making events happen, but rather the reverse, it is the events that move Harry Hole. Again, it is a matter of preference but in Nesbo's case it is done with utter expertise as a writer.

The exposition/setting is often Scandinavia: the weather is somber, the descriptions grey-like, the people absorbed with alcohol and withdrawn, if not bundled and sequestered. And yet, the dialogue and scenes are full of references to other millieus', continents, languages, and cleverly hidden philosophical references that speak to a widely cultured audience (as opposed to American writers of this genre who rarely venture beyond the borders of their land, if not their own State). And as with plot, there are no superfluous details. Everything in the novels matters and Nesbo does not forget even the tiniest detail to which he's made a seemingly furtive reference earlier on in the story. This is one of the biggest reasons why I love Jo Nesbo.

I thoroughly enjoyed Jo Nesbo's The Redbreast and am currently reading the remaining Harry Hole novels. I remain intrigued by events left undone (such as the fate of our undiscovered villain in this and other stories). You'll just have to read the novels to find out more.

Oh, yes, as with other series this review is likely to be repeated for all (unless there is a drastic divergence from what I have written here). So, if you've read this review, you've read 'em all. Enjoy!

[chantalsbookstuff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh boy, where do I even start with this book? It totally blew my mind and now I'm rethinking my plan to take a break from this series—dang it!

The story kicks off with this poor little boy shivering in a cold car while his mom's off doing, well, not-so-motherly things in a hotel room. I was on edge, thinking, "If something creepy grabs this kid, I'm outta here!" Talk about starting with a bang! The suspense was killer right from the get-go.

Now, I gotta admit, the middle got a bit tangled and complicated—classic Nesbo style. But hang in there! Everything gets tied up beautifully in the end, leaving you with that satisfying "ahh" feeling.

[Lena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, once again thrillers and murder investigations not my genre. The book was OK, though. I remember watching the movie adaptation of this novel. So I knew who was a killer, but the reading still wasn't boring. Mainly because of the atmosphere: I've been reading it in Norway during snowy winter. And maybe if it didn't have so many cliches - like an alcoholic detectives and serial killer with a childhood trauma, who 'punishes women' - I would enjoyed it more.

[Ginger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good introduction to the Harry Hole series!

I'm glad I read this book and I'll be starting at the beginning of the series. I did not care for Harry Hole by the middle of the book but then his character was better for me by the end. I have a feeling this is due to not knowing his backstory, why he battles alcoholism, why he's a lone wolf and some of the personal demons he struggles with. Once I get more information about his character, I'm sure I'm going to love this guy.

So my advice is to start at the beginning of the series so you understand Harry Hole and all the other characters in the Oslo Police Department, along with his personal relationship with Rakel and Oleg.

I loved how the book took us along on the case of catching the Snowman. Going through each clue, a new person of interest and getting hidden information about the victims. I enjoyed Jo Nesbo's writing style on building up the mystery and tension of who the Snowman was. There were a few plot twists in the book that I figured out but it was still well done!

I wish that I knew Norway better and how to pronounce the names of all the cities and towns along with the characters names! I struggled with that a bit and I guess I need to travel to Norway one day! Woohoo! :)

I recommend this book to people that enjoy crime thrillers and mysteries!

[Marilena ⚓ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Όπως ξέρετε δεν διαβάζω σχεδόν ποτέ αστυνομικά.Είναι το μόνο είδος που αποφεύγω γιατί δεν μ' ευχαριστεί ιδιαίτερα.Όμως ένας απ' τους αναγνωστικούς μου στόχος για το 2019 είναι να διαβάσω βιβλία της βιβλιοθήκης μου που τα έχω καιρό,έτσι ήθελα να τελειώσω και τον χιονάνθρωπο.

“What is worse? Taking the life of a person who wants to live or taking death from a person who wants to die.”

Με κράτησε απ΄τις πρώτες σελίδες έως τις τελευταίες χωρίς να βαρεθώ ή να κουραστώ καθόλου.Γίνονται τοοοσα πράγματα που δεν μπορούσα να το αφήσω απ΄τα χέρια μου.
Γρήγορο,ανατριχιαστικό,με πολύ αγωνία και πολλές ανατροπές(τουλάχιστον για εμένα).
Ο Χάρι είναι μοναδικός χαρακτήρας τόσο έξυπνος και μοναχικός και τόσο αγαπητός που τον συμπάθησα αμέσως.

“Sometimes you don’t know what you’re looking for until you find it,”
Harry answered. “It’s a methodology.”

Ήξερα ότι είναι ένα από τα καλύτερα του Nesbo και γι αυτό ήθελα να ξεκινήσω με αυτό.
Μπορεί να μου φαινόταν τεράστιο αλλά οι σελίδες φεύγουν αρκετά γρήγορα γι αυτό μην σας τρομάζει.
Χάρηκα που το διάβασα και ίσως στο μέλλον ξαναδιαβάσω κάτι δικό του.
Αν έχετε να μου προτείνετε κάποιο άλλο δικό του γράψτε μου στα σχόλια.

[Kostas Papadatos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Τέλειο. Η υπόθεση εκτυλίσσεται στο πιο κρύο και από το χιούμορ μου Όσλο όπου ο υπεργαμάτος Χάρι Χόλε καλείται να εξιχνιάσει μια σειρά από στυγερά εγκλήματα, ενός παλαβού που σκοτώνει με ένα συγκεκριμένο μοτίβο τα θύματά του. Δεν είναι εύκολο όμως να τον συλλάβει, γιατί αυτός δεν είναι άνθρωπος… αυτός είναι χιονάνθρωπος.

10 αστεράκια.

[Helga چـو ایـران نباشد تن من مـباد · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Did you know that darkness has a taste?”

Beware of the snowman in your front yard. It may not be as innocent as it seems!
Well, the snowmen in this book are not. Or rather the person who makes them.
A well written, suspenseful and atmospheric novel, with morbid storyline, abundant suspects and ample twists and turns.
This is my second Jo Nesbo, the 7th in Harry Hole series and definitely not my last.

[Gabby · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this for a video I did, it ended up being pretty underwhelming for me, see the video here: https://youtu.be/2OknqgHLvIE

[William · Rating 1 out of 5]

Seek help, Nesbo. You are sick.

Somewhat higher ratio of detective work to fluff in this book. A sidekick here knows her business.

Very linear writing style (or translation), far better than the mess of book #1 The Bat, but very pedestrian and flat.

One very good scene of detectives at work, then more fluff and cliche.

And less than 20% in, there is a very unpleasant murder, described in FIRST PERSON victim's detail, brutal and unrelenting, and presented as titillation and gratuitous sick violence. Super-Ugh.

In my rarely humble opinion, there are only two reasons an author includes such graphic brutality: 1) they want to sell more books to sicko readers and/or 2) they are a sicko themselves. Ugh.

I assume there will be more of this horror for money, but not for me. I am done, Final Goodbye Jo Nesbo you sick feck!

[Carlos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este debe ser quizás el libro que menos me ha costado seguir en toda la saga (7 libros hasta ahora) y que más atención le puse. Debo decir que vi la película hace varios meses y la encontré muy mediocre. Pero el libro? Vaya que me gustó.
Me gusta cuando la historia tiene un toque original, o "creepy"... como lo de hacer un muñeco de nieve en señal de advertencia a la policía o de algún asesinato o de que algo malo viene. Me gusta la descripción de la Noruega fría e invernal que da Nesbo durante todo el libro. Es un libro largo, pero para nada aburrido. Hay muchos "plot twists" en la historia y mucha gente debe pagar con su vida para poder encontrar al verdadero psicópata.
Según yo, el personaje y personalidad de Harry se desarrolla muchísimo aquí, tanto en el aspecto personal, de madurez y sobre todo su lado más paterno, a pesar de que no tenga hijos biológicos. Quizás mi parte favorita del libro es al final de la tercera parte, cuando Harry cree (y yo también lo creí) que Jonas estaba muerto en la cama. Dios, casi me levanté del sillón donde estaba leyendo. Eso fue de verdad intenso. Muy intenso.
En cuanto a los otros personajes, me alegró el giro que dio el personaje de Hagen, quien ahora está confiando más en Harry. No tengo pruebas, pero mi corazón dice que Rakel sigue amando a Harry profundamente, y no hablar del cariño de Oleg por Harry y viceversa.

Lo único que me hizo un poco de ruido en la cabeza: En libros anteriores, Beate Lonn tuvo un papel muy importante y ahora apenas se la menciona un par de veces, aunque debo decir que me emocionó mucho la primera vez que Nesbo la mencionó aquí. Estaba esperando esa parte con muchas ansias. Me encantaría que en los próximos libros se le dé más protagonismo a ella.
Lo último: A mi parecer, Nesbo reemplazó a Halvorsen por Skarre demasiado rápido. Es como que de un momento a otro el mismo personaje cambió de nombre y es ahora el "Robin" de Harry. Halvorsen es irremplazable.

En fin. Disfruté muchísimo el libro. Ahora voy por el próximo de la saga!

[Annet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good solid crime thriller. Got on track of this book via goodreads mention, great tip! I loved the atmosphere in the book, dark but beautiful too, the grim, well written story line, the characters, Harry, the snowy Oslo and Bergen scenes(visited both cities few times so memories...). Great ending. I can see this one on tv or in the theatre. Will definitely read more of this author.

[Sharon Layburn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although Nesbo is apparently a household name abroad- especially in his native Norway- he is just starting to receive acclaim in the States. His reputation appears to be well-deserved.
Admittedly, I did have to work a little to get into the book at first. The Snowman is the seventh Harry Hole novel, so I felt a bit like I was overhearing the middle of a conversation. I also had somewhat of a learning curve to overcome when it came to the landscape, characters, and the political structure of the Norwegian law enforcement. Additionally, I found the frequent references to early 1990/2000s American politics a bit odd.
However, once I had a chance to settle into the world of Harry Hole, I was hooked. Hole is my kind of antihero- he's rough, full of action with little regard for politics or personal consequences, and determined to suss out the truth no matter what the outcome; yet he is still a man with a tender core, he has his own strong code of ethics and an intense respect for justice.
The red herrings, frequent twists and shocking revelations really kept the story moving along, and the ending was ridiculously vivid and suspenseful. I hope that Harper Collins plays on the success of this novel and goes back to release the Harry Hole novels in order. I'd be first on line for my copies.

[Miles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can promise you one thing; my days of making snowmen are over. No more! The British winter isn’t far away and if one of my neighbours decides to build a snowman in our quiet, secluded street, I’m booking the first flight to Barbados and running! I’m not kidding; this is one hell of a creepy crime thriller! – They don’t have snow in Barbados do they?

UPDATE:Full review and Movie Tie In Post on Blog

Two days ago I entered the world of the snowman and within seven pages I know I was hooked. Psychologically it scared me to death; I guess it had the desired effect!

“We’re going to die” a young lad proclaims in the back of his mother’s car.

Jo Nesbo’s “The Snowman” is without doubt one the best books I have read in the last six months, it has everything. A tight storyline; electrifying pace and imaginative prose; all morphing together to produce a magnificent on the edge of your seat Norwegian thriller. You won’t know who to trust!

The Independent newspaper claims Jo Nesbo is the next Stieg Larsson – I’ll go one further and say Jo Nesbo is the next Jo Nesbo.

Translated by Don Bartlett, The Snowman is the fifth internationally acclaimed novel featuring Inspector Harry Hole.

Soon the first snow will come. And then he will appear again. The Snowman. And when the snow has gone, he will have taken someone else. What you should ask yourself is this; “Who made the snowman”? Who makes snowmen? Who gave birth to the Murris? For the Snowman doesn’t know.

Jonas wakes to a house filled with silence. His father left the night before to catch an overnight flight and when he went to bed he only had his mother and a snowman in the garden for company – A creepy snowman he hadn’t built. He cries out for his mother but when no one answers he walks out into the garden; the snowman is there and so is the pink scarf he gave his mother for Christmas. His mother is missing.

UPDATE:Full review and Movie Tie In Post on Blog

[Joe · Rating 1 out of 5]

The Snowman is a blizzard of cliches, a swirling maelstrom of silly nightmares and a great mound of nonsense. It's a serial-killer murder-mystery where the narration shifts so much and the details are handed out so inconsistently you feel like the author is leading you around by the nose. The red-herrings are numerous and obvious (multiple times, the police become convinced they've caught the killer; the back-slapping is so strenuous I'm surprised there aren't more injuries) and the depictions of murder so over-the-top I found myself laughing out loud (imagine every possible combination of snowman imagery + corpse you can think of.) But worst of all was how often my BS detector went off when any character (ANY character) opened their mouth to mention something about how they feel the world works.

On this final point I feel compelled to provide examples. At one point, a supposedly intelligent (though arrogant) pundit claims George W. Bush's re-election as president was a good thing for international security because his advisers are brilliant; ignoring the fact that those clever minds thought the invasion of Iraq was a good idea, that surely Sadam Hussein was hiding WMDs (even though his hiding his own weakness was just as plausible) and that they came into office thinking the great security issue they'd face would be ballistic missile defense (as opposed to terrorism.)

At another point, a supposedly smart detective comments that highly-intelligent people are obsessed with IQ, for after all, they have a whole society built on it (Mensa.) This ignores the fact that Mensa is a fairly small organization; about 100,000 members despite being international and with a potential membership of tens of millions (2% of the whole world.) You would have more reason to look at the historic membership of the Ku Klux Klan (over a million at one point in just the United States) and claim that 'white people sure are obsessed with being white.'

At still another point, a supposedly clever TV psychologist (or something like that) claims that humans revere heroic losses more than victories and uses Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo as his prime example. And to a degree that's true, Waterloo is a revered and highly remarked battle... IN ENGLAND! YOU KNOW, THE COUNTRY THAT WON THE BATTLE!

By around page 100 I started skimming; the pages flew past like snowflakes but it still felt like shoveling 2-foot-high slush. Hopefully the catharsis of review will prove enough to clear my mental driveway.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really good mystery/thriller. One of the best I've read in awhile. The author has you following Harry Hole around as he investigates a string of murders involving married women with children. You have been given easy clues, but there are still red herrings. Like any real investigation, we have to go through a process of elimination. But,after a few dead ends, the author practically hits you over the head with a brick, so if you were paying any attention, you know who "The Snowman" is. But, then, a feeling of real dread starts to form. I felt like screaming at Harry. I saw what was happening and felt helpless to stop it. I couldn't put the book down. Very clever!
This was my first novel by Jo Nesbo, but it won't be my last. in fact, I'm am adding more of his books to my wish list. Over all an A.

[Valeriu Gherghel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Greu (aproape imposibil) de scris fără spoilere despre un thriller. Trebuie să scrii despre el ca și cum n-ai scrie despre el, numai chestii exterioare, de mâna a doua. Îi dai târcoale de parcă ar fi un cartof fierbinte, cum pui mâna pe el, cum te frigi.

Așadar, să vă spun ce am reținut fără să fac aluzie la acțiune. Romanul nu mi-a plăcut, e neverosimil pe ici, pe colo, prin părțile esențiale. Harry Hole ba are chef de muncă, ba nu. Despre el părerile sunt împărțite.

Cei mai mulți (inclusiv șeful lui, Gunnar Hagen) îl consideră doar „un alcoolic impulsiv, arogant, certăreţ şi instabil”. În schimb, Rakel Fauke merge mai în adânc și îl caracterizează astfel: „Nu era vorba despre orele lungi de muncă, Harry. Tu erai obsedat. Tu eşti una cu munca ta, iar ceea ce te mână de la spate nu este dragostea sau vreun sentiment de răspundere. Nu te mână nici măcar ambiția personală. Te mână furia. Şi dorinţa de răzbunare”. Problema lui Harry Hole ar fi, de fapt, inflexibilitatea. Prinderea vinovatului îi dă o satisfacție secundară. Munca îl obsedează. Dacă ar trebui să muncească la nesfârșit, nu s-ar apuca de băut. În fond, nu-l interesează datoria, înfăptuirea dreptății, justiția în sine, chestii de ordin formal. Motivul lui e, mai degrabă, afectiv: îi urăște de moarte pe criminalii în serie, e mânat de o sete viscerală de a-i pedepsi (și nimici).

Nu știu dacă ați observat, dar de la tânărul chipeș și zvelt din primele volume, Hole s-a transformat într-un polițist pleșuv (a chelit vizibil), cu fața brăzdată de riduri adânci și de cicatrici respingătoare. „Nu era tocmai un bărbat arătos, poate că era chiar urât”, constată o colegă binevoitoare. Declinul lui fizic nu le sperie pe femei, dimpotrivă. Katrine Bratt e fascinată de el, Rakel îl adoră și, în unele împrejurări, devine chiar sălbatică: „ea îl împinse înapoi, trânti uşa cu piciorul, prinse capul lui Harry cu ambele mâini şi îl sărută cu lăcomie”. Și asta în pofida faptului că Rakel a primit în casă un prieten bine educat, pe medicul Mathias Lund-Helgesen.

Titlul romanului sugerează, probabil, că asasinul a rămas, psihologic, la un stadiu infantil. Ridică oameni de zăpadă ca să-și marcheze locul: „îşi dădea deja seama că toate acele crime reprezentau o tentativă de a reconstitui uciderea maică-sii...”.

Mai mult nu pot spune, spor la lectură... (9.01.26, v)

[Mai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Glorious

First time I read this book or the way it was written I wasn't sure if I'll like it or not. It's a completely different way of writing when it comes to murder and mystery, but I have to say I really enjoyed it.
And the same things that I thought will make me dislike it were the reason that I actually dig it even more.

The characters has the right amount of depth and I like the sarcasm, it add a fun vibes to the book.

It's very smooth and full of events and the plot twist ,my gawd , this plot twist was soooo satisfying. I had a hunch about it for some reason and I was right and I love the writer for it. Because this is such a twisted and wicked plot.

The writer did their job in a very smooth way, nothing complicated and nothing unwanted or unnecessary and this just shows how well experienced they are. Also it's worth mentioning that the investigation was so well detailed, that I actually felt as if I was part of the team or something.

Most of the time when I read a Myrder and Mystery book for some reason a lot of the writers ruins the book with their ending, but this one....aaah this one presents a grand fanally. The ending was unbelievable.

I can't think of a single thing that was missing, the idea was well written and well executed.
Kudos to the writer, this was just glorious.

[Annemarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book by this author and I'm definitely going to more, because I absolutely devoured this one!

I had a suspicion how everything is going to pan out from early on and was proved to be correct, but I still was questioning myself throughout the story, because there were so many twists and turns.
I often find several plot twists in crime books to be annoying, simply because they are too overdone, but that totally wasn't the case here. Everything still seemed realistic and fitting.

The writing style was great, I truly felt a huge amount of suspense and even had to take a moment to catch my breath at some parts.
I also felt connected to the characters and now want to find out more about them. I can't wait to read the rest of the series!