The Snowman by Jo Nesbo

The Snowman is a crime book set in Norway. It is the 7^th book in the series he has written featuring his detective Harry Hole. Harry is a borderline alcoholic with an ex-wife and step-son who he still has a reasonably happy relationship. So far so every other detective ever. Except they don’t usually get on with ex-partners so he does differ there. I haven’t read much Scandinavian crime but will definitely read more. The only detective I have to compare Hole to is Wallander and I didn’t find him very likeable. Harry is a lot more likeable. He enjoys his job and is determined to get results even if that means he annoys everyone around him.

The book features a serial killer who kills women who have had children as a result of having an affair. The title of the book, and the serial killer’s nickname for each must have one, is because he builds a snowman at most crime scenes. The victim is sometimes found with the snowman, sometimes the snowman is there instead of a body. Before you read the book you may think, like me, that snowmen aren’t something to be frightened of. Once you’ve read the book you will not be able to look at snowmen without thinking of the gruesome murders that occur in this book.

Scandinavian crime is popular at the moment and for good reason. Something about the weather and the people and the geography combine to make a good setting for a murder. However I’ve found that it has made me want to visit Norway or Sweden rather than put me off going. There is still something quite romantic about the countries. A certain charm to them that you feel you could visit and not worry about being murdered. I realise it’s only a story but the sheer volume of crime books coming from that part of the world could put you off.

Jo Nesbo writes really well and pulls you into the story straight away. I suppose you could sort of compare him to Lee Child in his style because once you start reading both authors you are hooked and they are both good at leading you down false trails and then turning everything upside down causing you to think something else. I wasn’t able to figure out who the killer was until it was pretty much a neon sign hovering above the character’s name saying ‘THIS PERSON IS THE MURDERER’. He also takes you on a rollercoaster of suspense, action and emotion throughout the book. A lot of these things you’ve seen before, like people getting chased through woods in the dark, but that doesn’t stop you getting caught up in it every time.

This was the first Jo Nesbo book that I’ve read although I’ve been meaning to read his books for some time now. I chose this particular book as Martin Scorsese is going to turn it into a film which, having read the book, I’m not sure if I want to see as it may be too scary. I am glad it finally got me to read it as it was brilliant. I will definitely be reading more of his work. Nesbo is hailed as the next Stieg Larsson which I don’t think is accurate. Their styles of writing are very different. Nesbo’s books are a lot more accessible the Larsson’s and more fun to read. Not that I didn’t really enjoy Larsson but it was more effort to read.

This is near enough your regular crime novel. It’s something to read to scare yourself before you go to bed. You let the author do all the work while you’re just along for the ride. Fans of crime will like this book. For people who don’t, it’s not your sort of book. It’s best seller material and there’s nothing wrong with that. It won’t win literary prizes, but that’s not why it was written. It was written to be enjoyed and that is absolutely what it does.

Jo Nesbo deserves the praise and new following that he is getting at the moment. He writes from a reader’s view point. He writes what would scare him or what has scared him. And really that’s the only way to do it. To take little things from real life and work them into the story at certain points. If you can relate to or imagine it then you know how scared the character is. Most people can’t imagine what it’s like to have a murderer after you but do know what it’s like to be home alone at night and hear strange noises that you notice on your own that you wouldn’t if there were other people with you. It’s an entertaining story and lives up to the hype.

Overall rating: 4 out of 5.