Reviews

The Redeemer by Jo Nesbø

jimbowen0306's review against another edition

4.0

This book is about Inspector Harry Hole, Jo Nesbo's many character. He's something like a Norwegian John Rebus (in that he's an alcoholic with authority issues), for those who know Ian Rankin's work. In this book he's investigating who killed a Salvation Army officer at one of their fundraisers. The killer later makes an attempt on his brother, brother's girlfriend, and a policeman assigned to prtoect them.

It's not a bad read. It certainly rattles along at a fair old lick. My one criticism would be that it's impossible for the reader to guess that there'd be a plot twist at the end. Most authors give away a few clues as to the why of a crime in their books, but that doe4sn't happen here till it's all gettin wrapped up.

Incidentally, I wouldn't start the series with this book. Not because it's bad, but because it gives away plot elements that occur in books that appear earlier in the series.

moniounik's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

social_lurking's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

char931's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

sosua_z's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

hmarleena's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

somebody_else's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-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? It's complicated

4.0

casebook_21's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

gabmc's review against another edition

4.0

What does it say about me that I love to read dark Scandinavian crime novels. This one is very dark - both figuratively and literally as it's set in the days leading up to Christmas when there are only a few hours of light each day. One of the main characters is the Norwegian Salvation Army and the first victim is one of its members. Harry Hole and his team discover that they are after a ghost: despite the murder taking place on a busy street corner where the victim and his fellow SA soldiers are singing Christmas carols, hardly anyone saw the gunman. Those that did see him gave very different descriptions of him. The single feature that more than one person agree on was a red scarf. This sole clue leads Harry all the way to Croatia without telling his new boss. Sadly Bjarne Moller, Harry's boss of many years has retired leaving Harry with a new Chief Inspector, Gunnar Hagen. On his retirement, Bjarne gifts harry with a very expensive watch. The ticking of the watch is a theme running through the story and at one point Harry throws the watch out of the window because the ticking is annoying him so much. Harry discovers that a hitman has been hired from Croatia, but his intended victims and who hired him are all part of the mystery.

dawn1117's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0