A review of "The Snowman" by Jo Nesbø
This book will evoke feelings of dread - suspense - intrigue.
As a young child, I often found myself engrossed in the pages of a mystery novel. Nancy Drew kept me company over many summer holidays - a time before internet, cellphones, and streaming. I still find that there is nothing quite as entertaining as a well-written mystery or thriller - one that keeps you on the edge of your seat and page-turning as you race against time to find the guilty character. I have continued to read books in this genre and have discovered intrigue and thrill in the likes of Agatha Christie’s "Murder on the Orient Express" and John Grisham’s "The Firm".
However, oftentimes what these authors are able to accomplish in one or two books is often difficult to replicate across others. While my experience with Jo Nesbø was the same, he has set himself apart for the distinct reason that "The Snowman" is the best mystery I have read to date. Like a decadent slice of cake, it has all the layers that make for a thrilling read - serial murder, twisted psyche, red herrings, and an antihero detective.
The book opens on an icy morning in Oslo, Norway, where a young boy walks through his home in search of his mother. As his gaze falls upon the backyard, his rising dread crescendos when he comes face to face with a snowman staring fixedly into the house. As maverick detective Harry Hole begins to investigate the case, he soon connects it to a series of other missing persons that span back years. And so, an isolated incident turns into the pursuit of a serial killer terrorising young women and leaving a trail of snowmen and blood across Oslo.
This is a gritty, noir novel crafted with a rich deck of characters and suspects, including the flawed, antiheroic lead detective. The reader waits with bated breath as detective and killer become entangled in a game of cat and mouse, until Nesbø delivers a stupendous final act to reveal the killers identity, using deception and distraction to keep it veiled until the last moments.
This mystery has earned its place in my ranks for the author's ability to create suspense with an unrelenting pace and closing with a triumphant twist. It is a delight from start to finish and the perfect companion for your next summer holiday.
Parting note to the reader: "The Snowman" is part of an ongoing series that follows detective Harry Hole. While it is not the first in the Harry Hole series, it is not necessary to start with book one. The earlier books lead to some character development but nothing integral to the plot - each Harry Hole book explores a new case, allowing it to stand alone from the others.