Flags of the 37 countries participating in Eurovision displayed as books along the staff of sheet music.

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Reading lists

The ultimate Eurovision-inspired reading list

Flat lay of Scandinavian fiction books against textiles.

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10 must-read Scandinavian novels

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Where to start reading Jo Nesbo

Macbeth

‘Shakespeare's darkest tale reimagined by the king of Nordic noir’ Mail on Sunday

Jo Nesbo (Author) 
Jo Nesbo is one of the world's bestselling crime writers. When commissioned to write a memoir about life on the road with his band, Di Derre, he instead came up with the plot for his first Harry Hole crime novel, The Bat. His books The Leopard, Phantom, Police, The Son, The Thirst, Macbeth, Knife and Killing Moon have all since topped the Sunday Times charts. He's an international number one bestseller and his books are published in 51 languages, selling over 60 million copies around the world.

Shakespeare’s Macbeth is transformed into a page-turning Jo Nesbo crime thriller, the story of the ex-addict cop Inspector Macbeth. 
 
He's the best cop they've got. 
When a drug bust turns into a bloodbath it's up to Inspector Macbeth and his team to clean up the mess. 
 
He's also an ex-drug addict with a troubled past. 
He's rewarded for his success. Power. Money. Respect. They're all within reach. 
 
But a man like him won't get to the top. 
Plagued by hallucinations and paranoia, Macbeth starts to unravel. He's convinced he won't get what is rightfully his. 
 
Unless he kills for it. 
 
‘Shakespeare's darkest tale – reimagined by the king of Nordic noir’ Mail on Sunday 
 
'A deliciously oppressive page-turner' Guardian 
 
SHAKESPEARE RETOLD: Time travel. Zombies. Power-hungry media moguls. This is Shakespeare as you’ve never seen him before: nine iconic plays transformed by the best novelists of our time, with covers by Michael Craig-Martin.

Wolf Hour

**DETECTIVE HOLE IS NOW A MAJOR NETFLIX SERIES** 
'Nesbo deserves to be crowned the king of all crime thriller writers' Sunday Express'Hooks you in immediately' Independent'Twisty' Sun 
The hunt is on to catch an unstoppable killer. 
When a small-time crook is shot down in the streets of Minneapolis, all signs point to a lone wolf, a sniper who has vanished into thin air. 
 
But when the shooter strikes again, maverick detective Bob Oz is called in to crack the case. He does not think this victim will be the last. 
 
As the body count rises, Oz suspects something even more sinister is at play. And the closer he gets to the truth, the more disturbed he becomes. Because this serial killer reminds him of someone dangerous: himself. 
 
Wolf Hour is a gritty thriller packed with unexpected twists, dark secrets and bubbling personal and political tension, from the king of the cliffhanger. 
Looking for another thrilling Jo Nesbo fix? Blood Ties is available now! 
 
READERS LOVE WOLF HOUR: 
‘Twists and turns told as only Jo Nesbo could do’‘Relentless pace, great characters, twist at the shattering conclusion’‘Really had me hooked. One of his best works’‘Grabs the reader's attention from page one and never lets it go’‘Nesbo is a master thriller writer and this book does not disappoint’

Hooks you in immediately, there's an unnerving air of suspense throughout and meticulous attention to detail - the clever parallel timelines providing just enough clues to keep the pages turning. But, of course, it wouldn't be a Nesbo novel without twists no one sees coming

A taut standalone from the king of Nordic noir

Nordic noir master Nesbø sets his sights on the American Midwest in this exquisitely plotted, darkly funny thriller that tackles gun control, police corruption, and psychological trauma in contemporary Minneapolis ... Readers will have no doubt they’re in the hands of a brilliant storyteller. This soars

[Wolf Hour] is a pleasure to read with its engaging, easy-twisting plot, its cerebral touches, and characters like Liza, a bartender whose teasing scenes with Oz are highlights. /…/ Another standout standalone from the author of the Harry Hole series

Nesbø has crafted a powerhouse here, a profoundly human exploration of loneliness and grief driven by a twisting procedural plot and grisly shocks. Readers of Nordic noir will find Nesbø’s taut narrative and social commentary deeply infused with emotional depth. Highly recommended for newcomers seeking startling perspectives on justice, such as those found in Dennis Lehane’s and Richard Price’s works

Jo Nesbo (Author) Jo Nesbo is one of the world's bestselling crime writers. When commissioned to write a memoir about life on the road with his band, Di Derre, he instead came up with the plot for his first Harry Hole crime novel, The Bat. His books The Leopard, Phantom, Police, The Son, The Thirst, Macbeth and Knife have all since topped the Sunday Times charts. He's an international number one bestseller and his books are published in 51 languages, selling over 60 million copies around the world. Robert Ferguson (Translator) Robert Ferguson has lived in Norway since 1983. His translations include Norwegian Wood by Lars Mytting, the four novels in Torkil Damhaug’s Oslo Crime Files series, and Tales of Love and Loss by Knut Hamsun. He is the author of several biographies, a Viking history and, most recently, Norway’s War. A people’s struggle against Nazi tyranny.

This killer has a story. 
 
When a small-time crook is shot down in the streets of Minneapolis, all signs point to a lone wolf, a sniper who has vanished into thin air. 
 
To tell it, he needs to get caught. 
 
When the shooter strikes again, it’s maverick detective Bob Oz they call in to crack the case. They don’t think this victim will be the last. 
 
And this wolf wants the world to know... 
 
As the body count rises, Oz suspects something even more sinister is at play. And the closer he gets to the truth, the more disturbed he becomes. Because this serial killer reminds him of someone dangerous: himself. 
 
He’s only just getting started. 
 
Wolf Hour is a gritty standalone thriller packed with unexpected twists, dark secrets and bubbling personal and political tension, from the king of the cliffhanger.

Blood Ties

Two brothers. One town. A lifetime of buried crimes. 
 
Roy Opgard has spent his life protecting his younger brother. In their small hometown of Os, he and Carl have learned how to bury the past as efficiently as they build the future . 
 
Life’s good at the top. But the local sheriff is looking to bring them down. 
 
Sheriff Kurt Olsen believes he has new evidence that will prove the brothers’ involvement in several past murders – but Carl and Roy are used to covering their tracks, and they're not afraid to get their hands dirty. 
 
Nothing in Os stays buried for long. 
 
Readers are obsessed with the new Jo Nesbo thriller: 
 
‘This book had me on the edge of my seat. Just be prepared for a few sleepless nights' 
 
'This is a 5* read from first to last page and completely addictive' 
 
'A master storyteller at his best' 
 
'A 100% buy-today-read-tonight delight' LEE CHILD 
 
'Nesbo deserves to be crowned king of all crime writers’ SUNDAY EXPRESS

A 100% buy-today-read-tonight delight

Nesbo deserves to be crowned the king of all crime thriller writers

Nesbo’s plotting is always reliably devious and his characters brutal

BLOOD TIES is a sequel to THE KINGDOM (2020) and continues the bracingly and bleakly funny misadventures of brothers Roy and Carl: entrepreneurs whose schemes to drag the small town of Os into the 21st century often necessitate killing those who get in their way

Nesbø brilliantly plunges readers into the psyche of a charming killer, leavening the bloodshed with pop culture references and dashes of the lacerating humor that suffuses his Harry Hole series. The result is a chilling and darkly funny noir that will haunt readers long after the last page

Nesbø offers beautifully written literary suspense in the second novel featuring the Norwegian brothers (after The Kingdom, 2020) drawing readers in deep by playing Roy’s ruthless logic against an onslaught of threats, emotional ties, and competing agendas. Readers will feel this one long after the final words

Nesbø’s latest boasts a quirky comic edge ... A darkly entertaining thriller

FAMILY COMES FIRST. NO MATTER THE COST. 
 
'A 100% buy-today-read-tonight delight' LEE CHILD 
 
'Bracingly and bleakly funny' Telegraph 
 
Brothers Carl and Roy Opgard have succeeded in life. Or at least they’ve had as much success as is possible in a small town like Os, where they've killed their way to the top. Carl manages the swanky spa hotel, while Roy has made ambitious plans for an amusement park. 
 
Life’s good at the top. But the local sheriff is looking to bring them down. 
 
Sheriff Kurt Olsen believes he has new evidence that will prove the brothers’ involvement in several past murders – but Carl and Roy are used to covering their tracks, and they're not afraid to get their hands dirty. 
 
The body count in Os is about to get even higher. 
 
Blood Ties is an explosive suspense novel about family, loyalty, and the lengths someone is willing to go to for both, from crime writing's king of the cliffhanger.

The Night House

A chilling thriller to sink your teeth into over the holidays... 
'Nesbø is one of today's most interesting thriller writers, a 100% buy-today-read-tonight delight' Lee Child 
 
 
WHEN THE VOICES CALL, DON'T ANSWER... 
 
In the wake of his parents' tragic deaths fourteen-year-old Richard Elauved has been sent to live with his aunt and uncle in the remote town of Ballantyne. 
 
Richard quickly earns a reputation as an outcast, and when a classmate named Tom goes missing, no one believes him when he says the telephone booth out by the edge of the woods sucked Tom into the receiver like something out of a horror movie. 
 
No one, that is, except the enigmatic Karen, who encourages Richard to pursue clues the police refuse to investigate. He traces the number to an abandoned house in the woods. There he catches a glimpse of a terrifying face in the window. And then the voices start. 
When another classmate disappears, Richard grapples with the dark magic that's possessing Ballantyne to try and find them before it’s too late... 
 
'Nesbø unfolds his tale of a troubled teen grappling with dark forces from three different perspectives, each more chilling than the last' DAILY MAIL 
Perfect for fans of Stephen King and James Herbert 
 
 
'Creepy ... I couldn't put it down' Stephen King on Headhunters 
 
 
*JO NESBO HAS SOLD OVER 60 MILLION BOOKS WORLDWIDE*

Nesbø doesn't spend any time fiddling about, building up, or misdirecting. In The Night House, the horror begins immediately. And it only keeps calling from there. There are lessons to be learned here: who to believe and what to believe in. And how a person can change, when the impossible turns possible and the unimaginable is laid bare. This horror fan loved it

Josh Malerman, best-selling author of Bird Box and Spin a Black Yarn

A beguiling coming-of-age tale that becomes more terrifying as it builds, with plenty of tension and surprises packed into its pages

Best-selling Norwegian author Jo Nesbo unfolds his tale of a troubled teen grappling with dark forces from three different perspectives, each more chilling than the last

Jo Nesbo (Author) Jo Nesbo is one of the world's bestselling crime writers. When commissioned to write a memoir about life on the road with his band, Di Derre, he instead came up with the plot for his first Harry Hole crime novel, The Bat. His books The Leopard, Phantom, Police, The Son, The Thirst, Macbeth, Knife and Killing Moon have all since topped the Sunday Times charts. He's an international number one bestseller and his books are published in 51 languages, selling over 60 million copies around the world. Neil Smith (Translator) Neil Smith has translated many acclaimed Norwegian and Swedish novels, including books by Fredrik Backman and Leif G. W. Persson's The Dying Detective, winner of the CWA International Dagger 2017. He lives in Norfolk.

A twisted spin on the classic coming-of-age horror story from the Sunday Times No.1 bestselling author Jo Nesbo 
 
WHEN THE VOICES CALL, DON'T ANSWER... 
 
In the wake of his parents' tragic deaths fourteen-year-old Richard Elauved has been sent to live with his aunt and uncle in the remote town of Ballantyne. 
 
Richard quickly earns a reputation as an outcast, and when a classmate named Tom goes missing, everyone suspects the new, angry boy is responsible. No one believes him when he says the telephone booth out by the edge of the woods sucked Tom into the receiver like something out of a horror movie. 
 
No one, that is, except Karen, a beguiling fellow outsider who encourages Richard to pursue clues the police refuse to investigate. He traces the number that Tom prank called from the phone booth to an abandoned house in the woods. There he catches a glimpse of a terrifying face in the window. And then the voices start . . . 
 
When another classmate disappears, Richard must find a way to prove his innocence as he grapples with the dark magic that is possessing Ballantyne. 
 
Then again, Richard may not be the most reliable narrator of his own story.

The Jealousy Man

**THE NO.1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR** 
____________________________________ 
 
On a Greek island, a man is found dead. His own twin might have killed him. 
 
Detective Nikos Balli is searching for the murderer, but he has his own secrets he wants to hide. 
 
Can Nikos solve the mystery before someone else gets hurt? 
 
 
*JO NESBO HAS SOLD OVER 55 MILLION BOOKS WORLDWIDE* 
 
**Shortlisted for the Crime Writers' Association Dagger Awards 2022** 
 
PRAISE FOR JO NESBO: 
 
'A storyteller with few equals' Daily Express 
 
'The king of Scandicrime' Financial Times 
 
'Deliciously dark' Heat 
 
'Nightmare-inducing and terrific' The Times 
 
READERS LOVE JO NESBO: 
 
***** 'Intriguing, mysterious, full of suspense' Netgalley reader 
 
***** 'To say I couldn't put it down is an understatement...' Netgalley reader 
 
***** 'A great read with plenty of twists and surprises' Netgalley reader 
 
Jo Nesbo was a Sunday Times number one bestseller with Macbeth on 20/09/2018

Jo Nesbo is one of the world's bestselling crime writers. When commissioned to write a memoir about life on the road with his band, Di Derre, he instead came up with the plot for his first Harry Hole crime novel, The Bat. His books The Leopard, Phantom, Police, The Son, The Thirst, Macbeth, Knife and Killing Moon have all since topped the Sunday Times charts. He's an international number one bestseller and his books are published in 51 languages, selling over 60 million copies around the world.

**THE NO.1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR** 
____________________________________ 
 
Murder. Assassination. Revenge. 
 
Discover the first short story collection from the King of Scandi Crime. 
 
Meet a detective on the trail of a man suspected of murdering his twin; a hired assassin facing his greatest adversary; and two passengers meeting by chance on a plane, spelling romance or something far more sinister. 
 
In his first ever collection of short stories, this master of crime delivers a gripping, edge-of-your seat read that you won't be able to put down. 
 
*JO NESBO HAS SOLD OVER 55 MILLION BOOKS WORLDWIDE* 
 
**Shortlisted for the Crime Writers' Association Dagger Awards 2022** 
 
PRAISE FOR JO NESBO: 
 
'A storyteller with few equals' Daily Express 
 
'The king of Scandicrime' Financial Times 
 
'Deliciously dark' Heat 
 
'Nightmare-inducing and terrific' The Times 
 
READERS LOVE JO NESBO: 
 
***** 'Intriguing, mysterious, full of suspense' Netgalley reader 
 
***** 'To say I couldn't put it down is an understatement...' Netgalley reader 
 
***** 'A great read with plenty of twists and surprises' Netgalley reader 
 
Jo Nesbo was a Sunday Times number one bestseller with Macbeth on 20/09/2018

Killing Moon

**DETECTIVE HOLE IS NOW A MAJOR NETFLIX SERIES** 
 
*WOLF HOUR, NESBO'S BRAND NEW EXPLOSIVE THRILLER IS OUT NOW!* 
 
THIS KILLER WILL GET INSIDE YOUR HEAD... 
 
'A 100% buy-today-read-tonight delight' LEE CHILD 
 
*A SUNDAY TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR* 
 
 
***When a body is found in the forest, the police make a horrifying discovery: her scalp has been removed and sewn back on. But they have no idea why. 
 
With a second woman reported missing, detectives fear their worst nightmare has come true. 
 
A serial killer is stalking the streets of Oslo. 
 
With time running out to find the woman, former detective Harry Hole is called in to think like a murderer thinks... and to track down this killer before they strike again. 
 
But Harry has ulterior motives for wanting to solve this case and, if he fails, there could be more than one life at risk. 
*** 
 
'Nesbo deploys all the key ingredients of a cracking good thriller... effortless' Guardian 
 
'The undisputed king of Scandinavian crime fiction' The Times 
 
‘Unbearably tense’ Sunday Times 
 
*** 
 
Killing Moon is the 13th novel in the Harry Hole series, although each title reads as a standalone. 
 
*OVER 60 MILLION COPIES SOLD WORLDWIDE* 
Number 1 Sunday Times bestseller, January 2024 
A Sunday Times Book of the Year, 2023

Not just an unbearably tense thriller but another of Nesbo's studies in love and loneliness... there are few greater crime writers

Nesbo deserves to be crowned the king of all crime thriller writers

Nesbo deploys all the key ingredients of a cracking good thriller...the ticking clock, the tension expertly ratcheted ever upwards, the changing scenery, the constantly shifting goalposts and the effortless, triumphant outpacing of the reader's ability to guess what's going to happen

The undisputed king of Scandinavian crime fiction

Jo Nesbø is one of today's most interesting thriller writers, and Harry Hole is an all-time great character - for me, a 100% buy-today-read-tonight delight.

Nesbo is unassailably the reigning king of Nordic noir as well as a global crime-writing superstar... [in] Killing Moon...Nesbo is back on gruesome form

Jo Nesbo is back with the weirdest murder in modern fiction... compelling

This is one of the darkest entries in the series, with a serial killer whose methods are inventively macabre even by Nesbo's standards. But with Harry in the unfamiliar role of private eye, assembling an eccentric team to help him, and rubbing his old police colleagues up the wrong way, it's also one of the most fun

Killing Moon... [is] classic Nesbo but even by his standards the killer's creepy'

Breathtaking... Harry Hole returns in cracking form

Like Lee Child with Jack Reacher, Nesbo has become synonymous with his fictional detective

Jo Nesbo has always had a taste for the macabre, but it takes a breathtaking turn in Killing Moon

Unbearably tense and another of Jo Nesbo’s piercing studies in love and loneliness

The Son

The gritty Sunday Times bestseller that’ll keep you guessing

Jo Nesbo (Author) Jo Nesbo is one of the world's bestselling crime writers. When commissioned to write a memoir about life on the road with his band, Di Derre, he instead came up with the plot for his first Harry Hole crime novel, The Bat. His books The Leopard, Phantom, Police, The Son, The Thirst, Macbeth, Knife and Killing Moon have all since topped the Sunday Times charts. He's an international number one bestseller and his books are published in 51 languages, selling over 60 million copies around the world. Charlotte Barslund (Translator) Charlotte Barslund translates Scandinavian novels and plays. Her recent work includes Calling Out For You by Karin Fossum, Machine by Peter Adolphsen and The Pelican by August Strindberg.

*JO NESBO HAS SOLD OVER 60 MILLION BOOKS WORLDWIDE* 
 
'A tense, violent and hugely absorbing walk on the murky side of Oslo' Sunday Mirror 
 
Sonny's on the run. 
 
Sonny is a model prisoner. He listens to the confessions of other inmates and absolves them of their sins. But then one prisoner's confession changes everything. 
 
He's been lied to his whole life. 
 
After learning the truth about his disgraced father, Sonny needs to break out of prison and make those responsible pay for their crimes. 
 
Sonny wants revenge, whatever the cost. 
 
'Excellent...an intricate, disturbing picture of rampant corruption' The Times

Blood on Snow

From the international bestselling author of the Harry Hole series

*JO NESBO HAS SOLD OVER 60 MILLION BOOKS WORLDWIDE* 
 
'An incendiary cocktail of murder, revenge and a hitman with multiple problems' Independent 
 
The contract killer. 
 
Olav lives the lonely life of a fixer. When you 'fix' people for a living - terminally - it's hard to get close to anyone. 
 
The gangster's wife. 
 
Now he's finally met the woman of his dreams. But she's his boss's wife. And Olav's just been hired to kill her. 
 
Two very big problems. 
 
'Nesbo is in bracing form...gripping' The Sun 
 
Watch out for The Jealousy Man, the new Jo Nesbo book, out now

Midnight Sun

**NOW A MAJOR FILM AS THE HANGING SUN** 
 
'A perfectly formed thriller that pierces the heart with its icy brilliance' Sunday Mirror 
 
When you betray the Fisherman... 
 
Jon is on the run. He has crossed Oslo's biggest crime lord. Fleeing to an isolated corner of Norway, to a mountain town so far north that the sun never sets, Jon hopes to find sanctuary among a local religious sect. 
 
You can run. 
 
Hiding out in a shepherd's cabin in the wilderness, all that stands between him and his fate are Lea, a bereaved mother and her young son, Knut. But while Lea provides him with a rifle and Knut brings essential supplies, the midnight sun is slowly driving Jon to insanity. And then he discovers that the Fisherman's men are getting closer... 
 
But you can't hide. 
 
'Brilliant... A short, lyrical tale where every word counts' Daily Express 
 
*JO NESBO HAS SOLD OVER 60 MILLION BOOKS WORLDWIDE*

The Kingdom

Two brothers. Bound by blood and a lifetime of secrets.Roy thought he’d buried the past for good. Living quietly in his mountain village, he tends the petrol station, keeps to himself, and stays out of trouble. But when his younger brother Carl returns after years abroad, ambitious, charming and full of grand plans, their old rivalry resurfaces. Carl has also brought his wife, Shannon, whose presence unsettles Roy in ways he can’t explain.It‘s not long before the fragile peace between the brothers begins to crack under the weight a shared history too dangerous to uncover.Tense and atmospheric, The Kingdom is a gripping tale of blood, guilt and the fine line between love and betrayal: no one writes darkness like Jo Nesbo.**Jo Nesbo has sold over 60 million books worldwide**A Richard & Judy Book Club pick and a Times Crime Book of the Year'A stunning novel' Daily Mirror‘Suspenseful…original…I couldn’t put it down’ Stephen King

Jo Nesbo (Author) Jo Nesbo is one of the world's bestselling crime writers. When commissioned to write a memoir about life on the road with his band, Di Derre, he instead came up with the plot for his first Harry Hole crime novel, The Bat. His books The Leopard, Phantom, Police, The Son, The Thirst, Macbeth, Knife and Killing Moon have all since topped the Sunday Times charts. He's an international number one bestseller and his books are published in 51 languages, selling over 60 million copies around the world. Robert Ferguson (Translator) Robert Ferguson has lived in Norway since 1983. His translations include Norwegian Wood by Lars Mytting, the four novels in Torkil Damhaug’s Oslo Crime Files series, and Tales of Love and Loss by Knut Hamsun. He is the author of several biographies, a Viking history and, most recently, Norway’s War. A people’s struggle against Nazi tyranny.

Headhunters

‘Keeps the twists and shocks coming hard and fast’ Metro

The reader is glued to the pages like gum to the street... Nesbo has accomplished an easily digested, but nevertheless brilliant and elegant thriller

Don't miss this thriller from the UK's second biggest-selling fiction author about an ambitious art thief

A masterclass in obfuscation and psychological parrying... Roger is a well-crafted, morally dubious character who remains oddly likeable owing to a nifty line in bitter observations... After recent events, no  one can be in any doubt of Norway's dark side and Nesbo wisely juxtaposes Oslo's shiny veneer with its rotten elements. Equally, the parallels between artistic worth and corporate value are neatly levied... Nesbo has that rare talent for turning the tables on readers, confounding expectations and revealing on what is intended

An accomplished novel from a first-rate author

The central character in this standalone novel is (on first impression) an unpleasant, manipulative piece of work, and it is a measure of the author's skill that we find ourselves thoroughly on his side... It's no surprise that a successful film has already been made of the novel (the first of his books Nesbo has allowed to be filmed), as the cinematic quality of Headhunters makes it a particularly invigorating read...a sizeable measure of sheer entertainment is on offer. Nesboites might like the change of pace

Norwegian Jo Nesbo, lauded as the new Stieg Larsson, delivered the goods in The Leopard and The Snowman, and in Headhunters serves up a new hero...more plot twists than a country house garden maze... An accomplished novel

I am the world's greatest living crime writer. [Jo Nesbo] is a man who is snapping at my heels like a rabid pit bull poised to take over my mantle when I dramatically pre-decease him

Stellar stand-alone caper... The dizzying reversals of fortune and situations that would be over-the-top in lesser hands make for a delightful roller-coaster ride. Carl Hiaasen and Elmore Leonard fans will be delighted

*JO NESBO HAS SOLD OVER 60 MILLION BOOKS WORLDWIDE* 
 
'Spectacular storytelling and a beautifully judged super-twist' Daily Mail 
 
LIE. 
 
Clever, wealthy, married to a beautiful woman: Roger Brown has it all. And his sideline as an art thief keeps him busy when his job as a corporate headhunter gets dull. 
 
STEAL. 
 
Then his wife introduces him to Clas Greve. Ambitious and talented, he's the perfect candidate for a top job Roger needs to fill - and the priceless painting he owns makes him the perfect target for a heist. But soon Roger finds out that there's more to Greve than meets the eye, and it's not long before the hunter becomes the hunted... 
 
MURDER? 
 
'A sizeable measure of sheer entertainment' Independent

From the Sunday Times No.1 bestselling king of gripping twists

Desire twists the knife. Jealousy drives it home.Meet a detective on the trail of a man suspected of murdering his twin; a hired assassin facing his greatest adversary; and two passengers meeting by chance on a plane, spelling romance or something far more sinister.In these twelve stories of obsession, guilt and revenge, this master of crime delivers a gripping, edge-of-your seat read that you won't be able to put down.Each tale is a study in moral tension, written with the precision and menace that have made Nesbo a global phenomenon.**Jo Nesbo has sold over 60 million books worldwide**PRAISE FOR JO NESBO:'A storyteller with few equals' Daily Express'Deliciously dark' Heat'The king of Scandicrime' Financial Times'Nightmare-inducing and terrific' The Times

The 12 tales in this impressive collection from bestseller Nesbø blend taut suspense with sharply limned characters. /.../ Frederick Forsyth fans will be enthralled.

Nesbø delivers stories ranging from dystopian visions to time-honored tales of duplicity and revenge. /.../ Nesbø is at his best in the long, wonderfully atmospheric title story, which shows off his gift for pulling one story out of another.

Richly atmospheric tales... The Confession has a real twist in the tale

Nesbø's characteristic gift for outstanding atmosphere and gut-wrenching revelations, The Jealousy Man confirms that he is at the peak of his abilities.

**THE NO.1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR** 
 
**Shortlisted for the Crime Writers' Association Dagger Awards 2022** 
____________________________________ 
 
Murder. Assassination. Revenge. 
 
Discover the first short story collection from the King of Scandi Crime. 
 
Meet a detective on the trail of a man suspected of murdering his twin; a hired assassin facing his greatest adversary; and two passengers meeting by chance on a plane, spelling romance or something far more sinister. 
 
In his first ever collection of short stories, this master of crime delivers a gripping, edge-of-your seat read that you won't be able to put down. 
 
*JO NESBO HAS SOLD OVER 60 MILLION BOOKS WORLDWIDE* 
 
PRAISE FOR JO NESBO: 
 
'A storyteller with few equals' Daily Express 
 
'The king of Scandicrime' Financial Times 
 
'Deliciously dark' Heat 
 
'Nightmare-inducing and terrific' The Times 
 
READERS LOVE JO NESBO: 
 
***** 'Intriguing, mysterious, full of suspense' Netgalley reader 
 
***** 'To say I couldn't put it down is an understatement...' Netgalley reader 
 
***** 'A great read with plenty of twists and surprises' Netgalley reader

The Devil's Star

**DETECTIVE HOLE IS NOW A MAJOR NETFLIX SERIES** 
 
A pulse-racing Harry Hole thriller that will keep you guessing till the finale page. 
 
'This tale of revenge has twists galore' Time Out 
 
Harry can't trust his own memory 
 
A man is caught on CCTV, shooting dead a cashier at a bank. Detective Harry Hole begins his investigation, but after dinner with an old flame wakes up with no memory of the past 12 hours. 
 
Someone wants him out of this picture 
 
Then the girl is found dead in mysterious circumstances and he begins to receive threatening emails: is someone trying to frame him for her death? 
 
And they'll stop at nothing to fulfil their bloodlust... 
 
As Harry fights to clear his name, the bank robberies continue with unparalleled savagery... 
 
*JO NESBO HAS SOLD OVER 60 MILLION BOOKS WORLDWIDE*

A well-crafted rollercoaster of a book.. Nesbo sets a cracking pace... A series of spectacular plot twists leads to a thrilling finale. Highly recommended

Compelling... Shocking and surprising...expertly paced

Many authors know how to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. Jo Nesbo's one of the few who keeps them there

Terrific... A stunning twist turns this into a first-rate thriller

An astonishingly confident debut. The Devil’s Star scores with an intriguing plot and Nesbo’s mastery of pace and tension

The Next Big Thing... Absolutely gripping

Knife

**DETECTIVE HOLE IS NOW A MAJOR NETFLIX SERIES** 
 
**THE No.1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER** 
 
**A THE TIMES TOP 10 CRIME BOOK OF THE DECADE** 
 
HARRY HOLE'S DEADLIEST ENEMY IS BACK... AND OUT FOR BLOOD 
 
Harry is in a bad place: Rakel has left him, he's working cold cases and notorious murderer Svein Finne is back on the streets. 
 
THE FIRST KILLER HARRY PUT BEHIND BARS IS OUT TO GET HIM. 
 
Harry is responsible for the many years Finne spent in prison but now he's free and ready to pick up where he left off. 
 
A MAN LIKE HARRY BETTER WATCH HIS BACK. 
 
When Harry wakes up with blood on his hands, and no memory of what he did the night before, he knows everything is only going to get worse... 
 
'This is the king of Norwegian crime on top form' Observer 
 
*JO NESBO HAS SOLD OVER 60 MILLION BOOKS WORLDWIDE*

Knife shows Nesbo back on form… This is a police procedural that breaks the bounds of the format with abandon… Nesbo manhandles the reader into contented…submission

The sharp-as-a-knife Nesbo at his best. A first-class mix of thriller and murder mystery... Nesbo has done it again... Knife is a fantastic and exhilarating suspense novel

Skilfully plotted…Nesbo…uses the vast, cold landscapes of Norway to excellent effect in building dread

Nesbo weaves the strands of his elaborate narrative with the ease of a gifted storyteller, tantalising the reader with misdirections and a plateful of red herrings. Yet it's remarkable how quickly he can disentrangle an intricate plot. And momentum? He's a genius at that - the 500-plus pages just fly by...never underestimate Nesbo - he's a writer with a seemingly endless supply of stories to tell

[Knife] may be Nesbo’s best storytelling yet. It’s not just clever; it’s diabolical, and let’s be glad it is, because the corkscrewing plot provides a measure of relief from the pain on view in this uncompromisingly intense and brilliant novel

Knife sees the return of Harry’s old nemesis Svein Finne… The plot never goes the way you think it will, as Nesbo delights in playing tricks on the reader

This is Scandi noir as dark as obsidian with an emotional wreck of a protagonist

You can imagine the worst (and you will probably be right), but the brilliant Jo Nesbo will surprise you anyway. Knife is the most unpredictable novel in the [Harry Hole] series

The sharp-as-a-knife Nesbo at his best. A first-class mix of thriller and murder mystery . . . Nesbo has done it again . . . Knife is a fantastic and exhilarating suspense novel

Nesbo indulges his unique, deliciously horrible vision of the world once again

The twists play out brilliantly [in Knife]; the translation by Neil Smith is flawless. This is the king of Norwegian crime on top form

Nesbo works his magic as this angsty thriller heads to its tense denouement. Fans of the Scandi crime sensation won’t be disappointed

Nesbo, sharp-witted as ever, keeps the complex, burnished narrative…a knife-edge… Nesbo remains the king of Scandinavian noir

Nesbo weaves the strands of his elaborate narrative with the ease of a gifted storyteller, tantalising the reader with misdirections and a plateful of red herrings. Yet it’s remarkable how quickly he can disentrangle an intricate plot. And momentum? He’s a genius at that – the 500-plus pages just fly by… never underestimate Nesbo – he’s a writer with a seemingly endless supply of stories to tell

Intricately plotted, with sudden twists and startling developments

Another fast-moving Scandi page-turner from Nesbo

UK Press Syndication, *Summer Reads of 2019*

Nesbo…delivers a perfect blend of thriller and police procedural packed with suspense heartbreak and intrigue, never going where you expect it to… Nesbo is one of the best thriller writers on the planet and Knife may well be his best novel yet

Enjoy his [Nesbo’s] unique, deliciously horrible vision of the world once again

A real page turner which will give you sleepless nights as you race towards an immensely satisfying conclusion after many twists and turns and a whole host of suspects

[The] most gripping case yet. Gloriously twisted

Arguably Nesbo’s best yet… Knife is the perfect blend of police procedural and a thriller packed with suspense, heartbreak and intrigue

The Thirst

**DETECTIVE HOLE IS NOW A MAJOR NETFLIX SERIES** 
 
'The king of all crime writers' Sunday Express 
 
There's a new killer on the streets 
 
A woman is found murdered after an internet date. The marks left on her body show the police that they are dealing with a particularly vicious killer. 
 
And he's out for blood 
 
Under pressure from the media to solve the crime, the force know there's only one man for the job. But Harry Hole is reluctant to return to the place that almost took everything from him. Until he starts to suspect a connection between this killing and his one failed case... 
 
*JO NESBO HAS SOLD OVER 60 MILLION BOOKS WORLDWIDE*

Expertly plotted with vividly drawn characters, frenetic police chases and philosophising villains [...] Expect to be thoroughly entertained

[The Thirst is] a breath-taking reading experience... Nesbo is the master when it comes to building a long and increasingly steep dramatic curve... The pace in The Thirst is somewhat calmer than in the previous Harry Hole books, more of a waltz than a rock and roll, until we're a bit more than halfway through. But from there on, it's full on action with blood gushing and splattering until the last page is turned

The Thirst like its stablemates is a bulky but zippy 500-pager which never loiters in one place for long. Nesbø keeps you guessing with his usual bag of tricks, making everyone seem a little suspect (or almost everyone). His cynicism about bent coppers and unscrupulous journalists is an inexhaustible and entertaining sideshow...if you liked the other ten, you'll greedily sink your teeth into this

Jo Nesbo is on top form... [The Thirst is] a spell-binding story about brutal crimes and ambitions gone astray

One cannot but rejoice at this reunion with Jo Nesbo's Harry Hole

Everything that others do, Jo Nesbo can do better... When it seems as though everything is about to be resolved in [The Thirst], most other writers would be satisfied with their work. With Jo Nesbo, the ride will still go on for 150 more pages

The Thirst combines the best of American and Nordic crime fiction... Harry Hole is a criminal investigator with a steady salary and civil servant status. But he's also made of mythological hero material

Nesbo’s 11th Harry Hole novel is predictably excellent… It’s crime fiction as precision-tooled instrument of entertainment and on that level, it rocks

What distinguishes Jo Nesbo...is his wry sense of humour. He not only provides a super-complex plot with plenty of twists...but also skillfully continues the lives of the all-too-fallible characters we have grown to love and hate

An extremely gruesome journey to the darker recesses of human nature, this grisly treat will delight Nesbo’s fans

It’s a big-boned, Technicolor epic in the current Nesbo style, starting adagio and ending accelerando, but with the kind of close psychological character readings that distinguished his early work

An epic tale that will delight fans of the bestselling series… There is always a risk that if you resurrect a much-loved series after a long break it will not reach its previous highs. But The Thirst is Nesbo at his glorious best with even the minor characters wonderfully drawn. This tense, nerve-shredding tale is impossible to put down as it hurtles towards a stunning finale. Nesbo is one of the best thriller writers on the planet

Gripping from the get-go, deliciously dark and expertly plotted, this is Nesbo at his brilliant best

Expertly plotted with vividly drawn characters, frenetic police chases and philosophising villains[…] Expect to be thoroughly entertained.

[The Thirst is] a breath-taking reading experience … Nesbo is the master when it comes to building a long and increasingly steep dramatic curve…The pace in The Thirst is somewhat calmer than in the previous Harry Hole books, more of a waltz than a rock and roll, until we’re a bit more than halfway through. But from there on, it’s full on action with blood gushing and splattering until the last page is turned.

The Thirst like its stablemates is a bulky but zippy 500-pager which never loiters in one place for long. Nesbø keeps you guessing with his usual bag of tricks, making everyone seem a little suspect (or almost everyone). His cynicism about bent coppers and unscrupulous journalists is an inexhaustible and entertaining sideshow… if you liked the other ten, you’ll greedily sink your teeth into this.

Jo Nesbo is on top form…[The Thirst is] a spell-binding story about brutal crimes and ambitions gone astray.

One cannot but rejoice at this reunion with Jo Nesbo’s Harry Hole.

Everything that others do, Jo Nesbo can do better ... When it seems as though everything is about to be resolved in [The Thirst], most other writers would be satisfied with their work. With Jo Nesbo, the ride will still go on for 150 more pages.

The Thirst combines the best of American and Nordic crime fiction ... Harry Hole is a criminal investigator with a steady salary and civil servant status. But he’s also made of mythological hero material.

Gripping from the get-go, deliciously dark and expertly plotted, this is Nesbo at his brilliant best

Gory, disturbing, nightmare-inducing and terrific

What distinguishes Jo Nesbo… is his wry sense of humour. He not only provides a super-complex plot with plenty of twists… but also skillfully continues the lives of the all-too-fallible characters we have grown to love and hate

This is a tense and scary tale. If you’re partial to bad dreams, don’t read this just before bed

The Thirst begins with the brutal killer sinking rusty metal teeth into a victim's neck, and with that gruesome murder, you'll want to sink your teeth into The Thirst and not let go

Nesbo does Nordic Noir like no one else and this is crime fiction at its finest… It’s gory, gritty and compulsive reading, with a truly take-your-breath away ending

The Snowman

**DETECTIVE HOLE IS NOW A MAJOR NETFLIX SERIES** 
 
When the snow falls, the killing begins. 
 
After the first snowfall, a mother vanishes, leaving behind only a pink scarf wrapped around a snowman’s neck. Detective Harry Hole recognises the signature - a serial killer who hunts when the world turns white. 
 
As the body count rises, Hole’s obsession deepens. His pursuit of the ‘Snowman’ draws him into a web of betrayal, fear and unimaginable cruelty. 
 
Atmospheric, ingenious and bone-chilling, The Snowman is Nesbo at his most ruthless. 
 
**Jo Nesbo has sold over 60 million books worldwide** 
 
‘Chilling, spectacular stuff’ Mark Billingham

The Snowman is a superb thriller. Jo Nesbo is astonishingly good; he knows how to grab you, by the throat and by the heart

Chillingly adept...creepy, creepy stuff from the very first page

Nesbo's plotting and pared-back prose style effectively keeps the reader hooked as he ramps up the action to a gripping climax

Hole is all a fictional detective should be...each scene is succinct, dovetails with another, shifts the reader's perspective, and keeps the pace fast and interesting...he ensures his readers keep turning the page to read more

Norwegian crime novel that's as gripping as The Silence of the Lambs

The quality of the writing (and its translation) is so impressive

Nesbo is shaping up to be the next big name in Scandinavian crime fiction... With its tensile-steel narrative grip, this most ambitious of Nesbo's crime novels banishes any fears that the omniscient serial killer scenario has been exhausted

With Henning Mankell having written his last Wallander novel and Stieg Larsson no longer with us, I have had to make the decision, to my own satisfaction, on whom to confer the title of best current Nordic writer of crime fiction. After finishing Jo Nesbo's The Snowman, I hesitate no longer. The Norwegian wins... This is crime writing of the highest order, in which the characters are as strong as the story, where an atmosphere of evil permeates, and the tension never lets up

There is no doubt in my mind that The Snowman is the best so far of Jo Nesbø's series about Inspector Harry Hole of the Oslo police... The Snowman is a complex, intellectually satisfying plot with many twists and turns... Do yourself a favour and read it

An ingenious, bizarre and exceptional serial-killer investigation...as riveting as The Silence of the Lambs

Readers wondering where to turn after finishing Stieg Larsson's Millennium trilogy would be well advised to give Jo Nesbo a try. His Oslo-set thrillers about troubled detective Harry Hole feature a similar mix of icebound settings, relentless action, sexual violence and social comment

My crime fiction book of the year  so far

A must-read for Stieg Larsson fans, this pacey crime thriller blends enthralling storytelling with an insightful take on controversial issues

Nesbo effortlessly shows what can be done with the classic detective story, employing clever tricks to maintain almost unbearable suspense

Consolidated his reputation as a Scandinavian novelist ready to fill any Larsson-shaped holes. Nesbo, one ex-rock star who can write, fuses urgent storytelling with a keen engagement with social issues

A superb, tasty, huge page-turner... Seriously scary but a superior thriller

My big book discovery this time was The Snowman by Jo Nesbo - it's about a Norwegian detective who has to investigate a series of gruesome murders. What could be better for holiday entertainment

Times Higher Education, *Summer Reads of 2021*

The Redeemer

**DETECTIVE HOLE IS NOW A MAJOR NETFLIX SERIES** 
 
Detective Hole returns in a heart-racing thriller like no other. 
 
'This book had my pulse in the red zone from start to finish' Michael Connelly 
 
A dark December night 
 
Evening shoppers have gathered to listen to a carol concert. Then a shot rings out and one of the singers falls to the floor, dead. 
 
A blood-curdling terror 
 
Detective Hole and his team are called in to investigate but have little to work with - there is no immediate suspect, no weapon and no motive. But when the assassin discovers he's shot the wrong man, Detective Hole finds his troubles have only just begun. 
 
Now the clock is ticking before he kills again 
 
*JO NESBO HAS SOLD OVER 60 MILLION BOOKS WORLDWIDE* 
 
‘Terrific shocks, tension and atmosphere’ The Times 
 
‘Nesbo is in a class of his own’ Evening Standard 
 
‘Chilling, spectacular stuff’ Mark Billingham

The Redeemer rocks! Jo Nesbo is my new favorite thriller writer and Harry Hole my new hero. This book had my pulse in the red zone from start to finish

Nesbo's fourth novel [and it] proves to be as brilliant as his other three...grimly realistic...an engrossing mystery

Even when you're positive that the mystery is entirely done and dusted, it invariably turns out that the pragmatic Detective Harry Hole has managed to stay three steps ahead and there's more to uncover

publication of a new Nesbo is a cause for celebration...deserves to be considered as one of the very best crime novels of the year

The world is finally catching on to the dark delights of Scandinavian crime fiction, and Norwegian Jo Nesbo is up there at the head of the pack. This is chilling, spectacular stuff, and anyone looking for serious, and seriously compelling crime writing need look no further

Interesting and exciting... Hole and his author provide unusually good reading

The Redeemer is an enjoyable chilly manhunt through Oslo's wintery streets

Jo Nesbo has been gradually climbing the competitive league of Nordic crime writers. With The Redeemer he's touching the summit

Police

**DETECTIVE HOLE IS NOW A MAJOR NETFLIX SERIES** 
 
An edge-of-your seat Harry Hole page-turner you won't be able to put down. 
 
'Nesbo is several steps ahead of you in this endlessly twisting, multi-layered thriller' Sun 
 
The police urgently need Harry Hole. 
 
A killer is stalking Oslo's streets. Police officers are being slain at the scenes of crimes they once investigated, but failed to solve. The murders are brutal, the media reaction hysterical. 
 
But this time, Harry can't help anyone. 
 
For years, detective Harry Hole has been at the centre of every major criminal investigation in Oslo. His dedication to his job and his brilliant insights have saved the lives of countless people. But now, with those he loves most facing terrible danger, Harry can't protect anyone. 
 
Least of all himself. 
 
*JO NESBO HAS SOLD OVER 60 MILLION BOOKS WORLDWIDE*

Nesbo’s best since The Snowman … Particularly strong in portraying the interaction between cops

Filled with the right mix of disturbed villains, corruption and deranged scenarios to make it completely terrifying. Exactly what you want from a Nesbo novel

Nesbo is a clever writer and plotter.  Over the years he has built a brilliant cast of supporting characters to orbit Hole and now it is their time to shine… Yet again, Nesbo has succeeded in producing a multi-layered and intertwining story that makes your head spin, while delivering a masterclass in suspenseful writing

Policeman Harry Hole is flawed, but all the more perfect because of it… Nesbo keeps everything hanging in the balance, just the way his fans like it

Police is a story replete with gory events, dark musings and a little social commentary

Boasts the customary ability to render attempts at work and sleep futile until it is finished

As usual, the brilliant Nesbo is several steps ahead of you in this endlessly twisting, multi-layered thriller that also shines a light on the murky areas of Norway’s upper echelons

Scandinavian crime thrillers don’t come much darker or more tense than the best-selling Harry Hole series, and this tenth outing for the Norwegian detective is the best yet

In the dark world of Scandinavian crime, Jo Nesbo's novels are darker than most… Settle down with a glass of Akvavit and prepare for a long night

Resistance is futile: Nesbo has some rare, Ancient Mariner-type gift for holding his readers completely in thrall until he has finished with us

Nesbo’s best since The Snowman… Particularly strong in portraying the interaction between cops

It's easy to see why his books are mega-sellers – those enormous, pulsating plots drag you in without mercy... Compulsive

In Harry Hole, [Nesbo has] created the most complex, compelling and at times frustrating detective... Probably his best yet

Fans of the series will know what to expect, and won't be disappointed

Complicated, fast-moving… A skillfully put-together thriller

Phantom

**DETECTIVE HOLE IS NOW A MAJOR NETFLIX SERIES** 
 
'Expertly plotted and structured...relentlessly paced...a compulsive page turner' Independent on Sunday 
__________________________ 
 
Harry Hole is in trouble. 
 
The police don't want him back... 
 
After the horrors of a case that nearly cost him his life, Harry Hole left Oslo and the police force far behind him. Now he's back, but the case he's come to investigate is already closed, and the suspect already behind bars. 
 
The criminals don't want him back... 
 
Denied permission to reopen the investigation, Harry strikes out on his own, quickly discovering a trail of violence and mysterious disappearances apparently unnoticed by the police. At every turn, Harry is faced with a wall of silence. 
 
But Harry is not the only one interested in the case. From the moment he steps off the plane, someone is watching his every move. 
 
...Someone wants him silenced 
_______________________ 
 
*JO NESBO HAS SOLD OVER 60 MILLION BOOKS WORLDWIDE*

Expertly plotted and structured...relentlessly paced...a compulsive page turner

Nesbo wrings out the tension, by turns painful and delicious, with consummate skill. The surprises come like an avalanche as the end nears

A first-class thriller...and the complex plot...contains several twists some of which will make you gasp and at least one of which will make you cry

Jo Nesbo

Praise for Detective Hole: The Devil’s Star

A well-crafted rollercoaster of a book.. Nesbo sets a cracking pace... A series of spectacular plot twists leads to a thrilling finale. Highly recommended

Compelling... Shocking and surprising...expertly paced

Many authors know how to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. Jo Nesbo's one of the few who keeps them there

A well-crafted rollercoaster of a book.. Nesbo sets a cracking pace... A series of spectacular plot twists leads to a thrilling finale. Highly recommended

Compelling... Shocking and surprising...expertly paced

Many authors know how to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. Jo Nesbo's one of the few who keeps them there

A well-crafted rollercoaster of a book.. Nesbo sets a cracking pace... A series of spectacular plot twists leads to a thrilling finale. Highly recommended

Compelling... Shocking and surprising...expertly paced

Many authors know how to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. Jo Nesbo's one of the few who keeps them there

Books by Jo Nesbo

Series by Jo Nesbo

Harry Hole

Articles featuring Jo Nesbo

The ultimate Eurovision-inspired reading list

10 must-read Scandinavian novels

Where to start reading Jo Nesbo

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Praise for Detective Hole: The Devil’s Star

A well-crafted rollercoaster of a book.. Nesbo sets a cracking pace... A series of spectacular plot twists leads to a thrilling finale. Highly recommended

Compelling... Shocking and surprising...expertly paced

Many authors know how to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. Jo Nesbo's one of the few who keeps them there

A well-crafted rollercoaster of a book.. Nesbo sets a cracking pace... A series of spectacular plot twists leads to a thrilling finale. Highly recommended

Compelling... Shocking and surprising...expertly paced

Many authors know how to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. Jo Nesbo's one of the few who keeps them there

A well-crafted rollercoaster of a book.. Nesbo sets a cracking pace... A series of spectacular plot twists leads to a thrilling finale. Highly recommended

Compelling... Shocking and surprising...expertly paced

Many authors know how to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. Jo Nesbo's one of the few who keeps them there

Books by Jo Nesbo

Sign up to the Jo Nesbo newsletter

Series by Jo Nesbo

Harry Hole

Articles featuring Jo Nesbo

The ultimate Eurovision-inspired reading list

10 must-read Scandinavian novels

Where to start reading Jo Nesbo

Sign up to the Penguin newsletter