Harry Hole Books

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The Harry Hole series of of crime fiction novels written by the Norwegian crime fiction author Jo Nesbo. Harry Hole works as a detective in the Oslo Crime Squad, and is of Indigenous origin. Like many detectives in crime fiction, Harry Hole has a complex past, as he lost his mother when he was still a young man, while being estranged from his father. Harry Hole also has a sister with Down’s Syndrome, further adding to his complicated personal life. On top of this, he also battles with alcoholism throughout the series of books, which often rears it head and gets Hole into trouble. The majority of the Harry Hole series of books as set in the Norwegian capital city of Oslo.

The first Harry Hole book was published in 1997, and is called The Bat. In The Bat, we are introduced ho Harry Hole, but the Norwegian detective does not actually deal with a case in Norway in his debut novel. Instead, our hero is sent to Australia, specifically the city of Sydney, to deal with the suspicious death of a young Norwegian celebrity. The Bat deals with the cultural differences and the differences in policing that Hole must overcome to get to the bottom of this murder. What is interesting to note is that while the book was published in Norway in 1997 as the first book in the series, it was not the first book to be translated into English for the British and American markets, primarily due to the fact that Harry Hole’s home city of Oslo is not the predominant locale for the book.

The second book in the Harry Hole series, Cockroaches, was published in 1998, and, like The Bar, is set mainly abroad in the country of Thailand where Hole investigates the death of the Norwegian ambassador. Following Cockroaches, The Redbreast was published in 2000, which is the third book in the Harry Hole series. It is the first book in the Harry Hole series to be set in Norway and it involves Hole investigating a neo-Nazi group, and is also set, in part, during World War Two. The Redbreast was voted Norway’s Best Ever Crime Novel.

In 2002, the fourth book in the Harry Hole series was published, Nemesis, which was followed in 2003 by The Devil’s Star. The fifth book in the series, The Redeemer, was published 2005 and features Hole investigating the murder of a Salvation Army officer at Christmastime.

In 2007, perhaps the most well-known book in the Harry Hole series was published, The Snowman, and it features our hero in the trail of Norway’s first ever serial killer. Due to the popularity of The Snowman, and the great critical acclaim, it was optioned to be adapted into a film. Like a lot of the Harry Hole series, The Snowman features flashbacks which are integral to the plot. At the start of the book, we are treated to a flashback of a married woman in a tryst with her lover while her son waits outside in her car. When the couple think they have been disturbed by someone watching at the window, it turns out to only be a snowman. The book then moves forward 20 years, with Harry Hole looking into the deaths of several women in his home city of Oslo. What he finds is that the victims are all married women who have children, and at the scene of each crime there is a snowman. Hole starts putting the pieces together, and concludes that they are dealing with a serial killer, the first Norwegian history. Harry Hole must delve into the past to help stop a serial killer in present day.

The eighth book in the Harry Hole series, The Leopard, was published in 2009, with Hole again on the trail of a serial killer. The Leopard was followed the Phantom in 2011, and in it we get to delve even further into Harry Hole’s personal life when his potential son is linked with a murder in Oslo. In 2013, the tenth book in the Harry Hole series, Police, was released, and, as the title of the book would suggest, there are murders involving active police officers going on in Oslo, and Hole must do what he can before he himself becomes a victim.

Harry Hole is the main character in a series of, so far, riveting ten crime novels written by Jo Nesbø, who is of Norwegian descent. Not only is he a writer, he is also a reporter, former economist, and a musician. His Harry Hole novels comprise complex, ambitious, suspenseful, and quick-paced crime plots that will leave you hanging, as it reflects what is taking shape in our ever evolving modern world.

Harry Hole, a clique figure in the Harry Hole series, is actually a genuine anti-hero, with an unrelenting and unimaginable character that is hard not to like, an occasional binge drinker who does not like to submit to any authority. Harry walks to the streets of Oslo like a solitary ranger, seeking for justice for everyone in his way. He might have been often considered a disturbance by his bosses, Harry is in any case respected by his colleagues, for being a pretty much decent cop whose moral standards transcends as he works. His high regard for justice is what lead him to the right course.

In these ten books to date, you are brought into a heart pounding and exciting journey through the perpetually extending artistic universe of this interesting character. Here, much the same as the various wonderful crime authors, Nesbo consolidates a complex yet polished plotting, jam-packed with immense suspense and splendid characterization. Aside from that, significant ethical and moral discussions can also be pinpointed in the series, making use of biblical references to reflect the modern society. Truly, all these brilliantly written crime novels of John Nesbo delves deeper into inquiries of betrayal, vengeance, faith, and hope, while providing top-notch and auspicious entertainment for lovers of crime fiction . The 11th installment of the Harry Hole series, the Thirst, is set to be published worldwide in English in May 2017.

Harry Hole Books into Movies

One novel featuring Harry Hole will be adapted to the big screen. The Snowman is being set up at a UK production company, Universal Pictures, which will be released on the 13 October 2017. It will be top billed by Michael Fassbender and Rebecca Ferguson.

Best Harry Hole Books

The Redbreast: As a multi-awarded winner of the many prestigious awards, The Redbreast is fundamentally deemed to be one of the best novels is the Harry Hole series, though all of the ten books are notable. The Redbreast is actually involves Nazis, a couple of touching love stories, mistaken identities, corrupt police officers and a marvelous and beautifully written evocation of wartime on the Russian Front during World War II. It was written in a brilliant way that you can’t just put it down. The characters are all well-drawn which will keep you guessing until the end.

The Snowman: The Snowman is also a worthy read. With its tight storyline, electrifying pace and imaginative prose, all morphing together to produce a magnificent on the edge of your seat Norwegian thriller, you will definitely get hooked. His other Harry Hole books are also outstanding, like The Bat, The Devil Star, and the Snowman, with the latter having a screen adaptation coming on October 2017.

Other Book Series You May Like

A lot of Harry Hole fans are also fans of Val McDermid’s “Tony Hill and Carol Jordan” series. Tony Hill, the main character, is a criminal psychological profiler who spent most of his years investigating the psychological thinking of madmen, but then has become one of the hunted. All in all, the books are clever, but a little gruesome and deviant, which made lovers of crime fiction love these series.

Harry Hole FAQs

Q: Who writes the Harry Hole series of books?

A: The Harry Hole series of books are written by Norwegian crime fiction author Jo Nesbo.

Q: What is the first book in the Harry Hole series?

A: The first book in the Harry Hole series of novels is The Bat, which was published in 1997.

What Is The Next Book in The Harry Hole Series ?

There doesn't seem to be an upcoming book in The Harry Hole Series . The newest book is Killing Moon and was released on May, 30th 2023.

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