I’m a big fan of Jo Nesbo’s books. I know he’s not to everyone’s taste but I love the sheer readability of what he produces and, if I’m to be honest, the bloody nature of his narratives. He’s best known, in translation at least, for his series featuring the Oslo detective Harry Hole although I also enjoyed his two standalone books, The Son and Headhunters. Now, with the publication of Blood on Snow, we have a new series to enjoy and a new translator of Nesbo’s writing into English.
Olav is a ‘fixer’ employed by Daniel Hoffman to eliminate extraneous people from his life. When he is tasked with killing Hoffman’s wife, Olav’s only worry is whether he will be allowed to live afterwards, given the amount of dirt he now has on his employer. But when he catches sight of the beautiful Corina all thoughts of killing her disappear. He instead murders the man with whom she has been having a violent affair and sets off a chain of events that leaves him in the sights of two rival gangs.
Blood on Snow is an interesting book in that it provides many of the things we as readers demand from Nesbo. There’s often a lack of demarcation between the hunter and hunted and Olav finds himself in the position of needing to kill before he is killed. Nesbo has been criticised for his excessive use of violence and there’s plenty of gore here. It’s a difficult one because it feels an essential part of Nesbo’s style of prose and therefore not gratuitous. In fact, it was the sex scenes that were slightly awkward although these were partly explained in the plot’s conclusion.
Blood on Snow is a short book at 198 pages of quite large print. But it packs in plenty of action and, unlike some of Nesbo’s more recent books, feels resolutely set in Oslo. The translation was by Neil Smith who, as I’ve mentioned before on this blog, is my favourite translator of Swedish and Norwegian crime fiction. He’s done an excellent job with this new Nesbo and is busy translating the next book in the series. This, based on the blurb, promises to be an even more appealing read.
I too enjoy Jo Nesbo, although I’m never quite sure what I am going to get with each of his books. In other words, I suppose I like some of them better than others. I enjoyed his standalones, so curious to see what this start of a new series is like.
I agree Marina Sofia that some of his books are better than others. I liked, for example, The Son better than Headhunters in relation to his standalones. He’s a one of my ‘must reads’ though.
Thanks, Sarah, as ever, for the fine review. It is really interesting that this is the start of a new series. I wonder if it’ll catch on in the way his Harry Hole series did. I’m not as big a fan of a lot of violence as some other people, so if I’m being honest, that aspect of the Hole series bothers me, and probably would about this one too. Still, I agree with you about the readability. I may have to give this one a go…
Thanks, Margot. The nice thing about this book is that it’s a very short read. It’s very Nesbo though!
Gonna have to skip the review since I’m reading it but I do agree with you on Nesbo’s sheer readability factor. For me, I think it’s a big deal to enjoy any of his books outside of his Harry Hole novels and that world he created. I didn’t care for Headhunters initially but I’m willing to give it another shot in light of reading another 1st person POV novel from him. I know some of this is beside the point/review. Sorry.
I’ll look out for your review when you’ve finished it, Keishon. I forgot to mention the POV in my review. Thanks for the reminder.
The length sounds good, but I really want to read a few more of the Harry Hole series (I have only read Redbreast so far). Based on your review, i am sure I will be getting to this one eventually.
I’d read the Harry Hold first, despite their length, I think. This is a different direction. I’m looking forward to the sequel.
I think I’m in the minority having only read one of Nesbo’s books. This does sound interesting though. And I do like a short book!
Thanks, Rebecca.
My mum suprised me by becoming a big fan of the Harry books – well, until the last one, which really annoyed her! I shall suggest this as a salve! Thanks Sarah
Sorry to hear the last one annoyed her. Was she upset Harry was getting married? Here’s a new series for her 🙂
Not sure to be honest – didn’t he get killed off and come back as a ghost or some such? Maybe it’s a nother book entirely … 🙂
Ah yes, that was a couple of books earlier. Very annoying!
Ah – then I think that is where my ma stopped and went no further …