Harry is back!

Harry Hole (pronounced Hoola, for the uninitiated) is back in book number 12 in the series. He is still struggling with alcoholism and still playing the game by his rules. But the murder in Knife is a lot more personal than his previous cases, and to add to this burden, he is also on the case of Svein Finne, a particularly nasty serial rapist known as The Fiancé.

Unlike The Thirst, Knife isn’t as graphically violent, although it does have its moments. It’s more of a psychological thriller. The menace of the rapist Finne in particularly made my skin crawl. It’s multilayered with a lot of characters coming into play. It isn’t quite as fast paced as The Thirst, but this isn’t to the detriment of the story and it is still totally absorbing.

If you have read any of the previous Harry Hole stories you’ll know what to expect and you won’t be disappointed. Still fighting the drink, still listening to rock music (something he has in common with Ian Rankin’s Rebus). The Knife like the other books in this series is dark and gritty and set like most of these stories in Oslo.

Can you work out who the killer is before Harry, all the clues are there!

I also enjoyed the narration. A perfect match for the story.

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1 person found this helpful

Excellent

Very much enjoyed this book. So many twists and turns. Still didn’t guess the outcome.

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so good!

brilliant! I didn't want it to end. loved how JN teased with many choices of possible culprits, all with genuine motive. The narrator is outstanding as he always is.

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Twists, turns and total immersion

As ever the combination of Nesbo's story telling and Barrett as narrator are a perfect match. The plot intricacies and characterisations continue to hit the spot.

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Best of Nesbo

Great twists and turns, engaging characters full of emotion. Is this the end of Hole

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Emotional and unexpected twist

Heart wrenching Well written and a probably inevitable conclusion to their relationship bravo Looking forward to the next one

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I loved it!

This was my first Jo Nesbo book. I struggled at first with the grave and slightly monotonous voice of the narrator but quickly became gripped by the storyline that fitted the dark and atmospheric tones of Sean Barrett. I had to rewind a few times to follow the changes of characters but the excitement and complexity of the story was worth the challenge. I’m a bit of a nerd for who-dun-it clues but this book kept me on the edge of surprise throughout and I was heard to be shouting “No Way” several times right to the very end. I loved the broad frame of references throughout including music, politics, psychology, medicine, nature, etc integrated into the storyline which made it more than a race to the revelations. Well worth a listen.

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Worth waiting for!

On first reading I alternatively hated it, loved it, hated it again then finally loved it. Like some other reviewers, I was initially fed up with Harry and his alcoholism however once the plot developed I was hooked. I had been waiting for the next Harry novel for a long time and he is one of my favourite detectives so I was willing to persevere. Without giving anything away, I don't think the craft of the novel can be appreciated until you reach the end. I immediately went back and listened to the whole book again. On second reading I picked up so many clues I'd missed the first time and enjoyed it much more.

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Superb, once past the melancholy

I struggled with the early chapters due to the abject misery of Harry and had to stop listening at bedtime due to the disturbing creepiness of the villain. However, the story was teeming with suspects and their secrets and, each time I thought I knew whodunit, I was taken on a high-speed train to a new destination. Brilliant plot, fabulously narrated. Only sorry it ended.

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Fantastic - as expected

Compelling and completely gripping story line. Excellently read and fantastic quality. Over all amazing story and production. Now to wait patiently for the next one!

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