Half as bright as Blood on Snow

This is a book that wants to be too many things, a sequel, a social study, a love story, a redemption tale, a thriller, pulp fiction, and religious commentary, but fails all by not having enough room to maneuver such large topics in less than 224 pages, also most people will buy the book expecting a continuation of the first tale or at least a connection in style and content, but no, apart from one main character and the consequence of knowing him all else could have been a very independent story that probably would have worked better.

This is a melancholic, romantic mess of a story that never quite develops into one thing or another it just rushes full of potential and interesting people into sentimentality and half baked philosophies that are never resolved. It feels truncated, rushed for Christmas. or some other commercial reasoning. it feels full of potential and possibilities wasted for some reason only Jo Nesbo knows.

Why this series has been given female readers when the main characters are males and the story related is related in first person, is a mystery and very distracting.
Kim Gordon is a very good reader but she has a very feminine voice that is not well suited for a killer heterosexual male that is a drug addict, smoker and a heavy drinker, her larynx could not get that low or raspy.

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10 people found this helpful

Good story

well written & executed story, with some twists & turns. Nice soothing voice reading the story

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2 people found this helpful

Excellent story

So different so rewarding at the end when all seems lost a happy ending.

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An American ending?

This is an excellent story - be in no doubt about it. If you like Jo Nesbo this is for you.
Initially we were put off by the North American accent of the reader and that she was a woman while the protagonist of the story is a man....
Bear with it is all I can say. The only thing is that this is an American Hollywood ending rather than a European ending. When you get there you'll know what I mean. There are a few twists and turns and you try to second guess the plot but it ends Hollywood style. Not disappointing though.
It's a six hour 'shortie' but nonetheless packs a lot in.
We thought it rather 'Henning Mankell' in style too.
In actual fact it's a bit of a soft Nesbo compared to some of his other novels butbstill grips.
You won't regret listening.

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2 people found this helpful

OK story let down by the performance

The narrator did not match the story, there was no characterization as with previous performers of books by the same author. I would not buy another Jo Nesbo story with this narrator.

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Enjoyed story

I selected this story, direct from my library showing up on the audible app, because it was the right length for my journey.
I did not realise it was part two of a series until I read other reviews when I'd finished!
But the story worked well enough as a standalone despite the choice of narrator.
She sounded bored and had a monotonous drone.
At first, I thought the main protagonist was female and her American accent led me to believe it was set in a snowy part of USA/Canade

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Can I have my money back?

I am Jo's biggest fan but this couldn't have been written by Jo Nesbo, this doesn't contain any of Jo's normal blend of dark and witty, sometimes brutal story telling. The use of Kim Gordon's monotone narration left me numb and didn't help me connect or engage with this book. Two words sum this book up - Dull & Baron.

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10 people found this helpful

SO DISAPPOINTING

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

A different narrator, It did not bode well when Kim Gordon couldn't even pronounce Jo Nesbo's name correctly. She went on to sound tired, and disinterested. Seriously one of the worst performances I have heard on Audible. I realise this was not a Harry Hole book, so it is reasonable to have a new voice, but I almost asked for my money back.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Predictable. I have heard/read all Jo Nesbo's work and am a huge fan.
This is not up to his usual standard.

Would you be willing to try another one of Kim Gordon’s performances?

No I would not. I do not find her voice appealing.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Midnight Sun?

You book was so short you couldn't have cut a minute.

Any additional comments?

I feel it is a cheek to ask for a whole credit for such a short book.

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10 people found this helpful

Good story as a book. Not the audible version

Great read as a book. Could not listen as narrator (for me) did not suit the book! Stopped after first chapter and second attempt did not make a difference. Returned

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Boring reader

I am a huge Jo Nesbo fan, but this is unlistenable sue to the poor performance of the narrator. Dont buy it.

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