Jo Nesbo is back in fine form in this installment of the Harry Hole series. Harry can’t convince his boss that Tom Waaler is the notorious arms dealer known as The Prince and in fact the termination papers have been sent to higher ups, awaiting approval. Not surprisingly, Harry goes off the wagon again in another self-destructive spiral. When Waaler gets wind of Harry’s investigation, he has the hubris to confront Harry directly and even offer him a job in his organization since his career is effectively over. I was yelling at the book whenever Waller came on scene. He has been a diabolical adversary, so diametrically opposed to Harry. It has made for some of the most compulsive reading and the denouement did not disappoint.
Oh, there’s the big murder case where a serial killer is on the loose in Oslo. Coincidentally, I read this in July during our own unusual heatwave, for (unintentional) added ambiance. With the successful conclusion of the murder case (as well as the resolution to the Waaler Problem), Harry is reinstated.
This fifth book in the series had fives on the brain. The five pointed star(the Devil’s Star), all but one of the murders were on the fifth floor (a body was hidden but not killed on the fifth floor), there were five days between murders, an intended five victims and book is broken up into five parts. If that sounds too clever by half, well maybe it is but I don’t care. Harry’s back.
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