Scan barcode
lilyj138's review
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
lauraborkpower's review against another edition
3.0
(Add 1/2 star to my rating, please.)
This turned out to be a really good read. The story straddles two time periods and a few cities: Oslo, 2000 and Leningrad & Vienna, 1944. It took me a while to really catch onto the heart of the story, which might have had to do with the fact that I listened to this instead of reading it and, as a result, occasionally missed the date/chapter transitions and character names while I was navigating traffic. It also might have had to do with the half dozen Norwegian soldiers Nesbø introduces us to within the first few chapters--I kept forgetting who was who (which, actually, might have been the point).
I didn't know much about Norway's role in World War II, so I found this element of the plot very interesting. Nesbø was able to work in the history and its effect on contemporary Norway while keeping my interest and the integrity of the plot. Actually, it elevated and complicated the plot. He created great parallels between the eras as well as a realistic and sympathetic sense of cause and effect. The characters were fairly well drawn and believable--though I'm sure I'd have gotten more into the book and the characters if I'd started with the first Harry Hole book instead of this, the third (but the first and second weren't available on Audible, so I did what I had to do).
There was a moment near the end when I was certain that Nesbø had jumped the shark, and although he sort of recovered, it was still an odd, out-of-nowhere, obvious red herring. Although, by the end, there were bits that I hadn't quite figured out, so I guess the mystery remained intact until the reveal. But I still didn't like it.
A note on the narrator, Robin Sachs: not only did he have a nice deep, soothing mystery narrator's voice, but his accents were spot-on--he had to do some Viennese and some German, and each was natural. Also, his transitions among the characters and his take on female voices were all perfect--just a subtle lowering or softening of the voice and I knew who was who. Just great. (and I'm especially sensitive to this because the book I'm currently listening to has a less than stellar American narrator whose English accent is something out of a high school production of Noel Coward.) So if you're considering listening to this, certainly do. Although I won't immediately start listening to the next book in the series, it's certainly on my list.
This turned out to be a really good read. The story straddles two time periods and a few cities: Oslo, 2000 and Leningrad & Vienna, 1944. It took me a while to really catch onto the heart of the story, which might have had to do with the fact that I listened to this instead of reading it and, as a result, occasionally missed the date/chapter transitions and character names while I was navigating traffic. It also might have had to do with the half dozen Norwegian soldiers Nesbø introduces us to within the first few chapters--I kept forgetting who was who (which, actually, might have been the point).
I didn't know much about Norway's role in World War II, so I found this element of the plot very interesting. Nesbø was able to work in the history and its effect on contemporary Norway while keeping my interest and the integrity of the plot. Actually, it elevated and complicated the plot. He created great parallels between the eras as well as a realistic and sympathetic sense of cause and effect. The characters were fairly well drawn and believable--though I'm sure I'd have gotten more into the book and the characters if I'd started with the first Harry Hole book instead of this, the third (but the first and second weren't available on Audible, so I did what I had to do).
There was a moment near the end when I was certain that Nesbø had jumped the shark, and although he sort of recovered, it was still an odd, out-of-nowhere, obvious red herring. Although, by the end, there were bits that I hadn't quite figured out, so I guess the mystery remained intact until the reveal. But I still didn't like it.
A note on the narrator, Robin Sachs: not only did he have a nice deep, soothing mystery narrator's voice, but his accents were spot-on--he had to do some Viennese and some German, and each was natural. Also, his transitions among the characters and his take on female voices were all perfect--just a subtle lowering or softening of the voice and I knew who was who. Just great. (and I'm especially sensitive to this because the book I'm currently listening to has a less than stellar American narrator whose English accent is something out of a high school production of Noel Coward.) So if you're considering listening to this, certainly do. Although I won't immediately start listening to the next book in the series, it's certainly on my list.
jimbowen0306's review against another edition
4.0
This book, to my mind, falls in the "rattling good read" category of books. I say this because while the story moves on at an enjoyable pace, I'm not 100% sure people will believe it if they stop and think about it too long.
In this book Harry Hole (Nesbo's main character) earns himself an unearned promotion, and is transferred out of the Crime Squad and onto the squad that investigates Neo-Nazi, Communists, and, one imagines, Green groups.
While there, he stumbles on a plot that suggests someone in the Government is going to be assassinated, so he sets off to investigate the likely suspects, which includes Norwegians who signed up to fight in Hitler's army because of their loathing of Stalin.
Sure enough, he solves the problem, even if it gets a little convoluted on the way (at one stage we get a discussion of Multiple Pesonality Disorder as a reason reason for murder towards the end of the book).
On its' face it sounds silly (WWII Nazis possibly involved in a millenial attempt on someone's life), but I suspect people will enjoy it all the same, because it's told so well.
Incidentally, try it read the books in order, as Hole solves a crime in a later book that starts here.
In this book Harry Hole (Nesbo's main character) earns himself an unearned promotion, and is transferred out of the Crime Squad and onto the squad that investigates Neo-Nazi, Communists, and, one imagines, Green groups.
While there, he stumbles on a plot that suggests someone in the Government is going to be assassinated, so he sets off to investigate the likely suspects, which includes Norwegians who signed up to fight in Hitler's army because of their loathing of Stalin.
Sure enough, he solves the problem, even if it gets a little convoluted on the way (at one stage we get a discussion of Multiple Pesonality Disorder as a reason reason for murder towards the end of the book).
On its' face it sounds silly (WWII Nazis possibly involved in a millenial attempt on someone's life), but I suspect people will enjoy it all the same, because it's told so well.
Incidentally, try it read the books in order, as Hole solves a crime in a later book that starts here.
moniounik's review
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
filipafigas's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
katiegilley's review
I tried listening to this on audio and found it too difficult to follow in this format. Perhaps I'll give a paper copy a try in the future, but I need to move on to something else for now.
stineym's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
dani_thebookdragon's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
iamvise's review against another edition
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5