Stephen King recommended this novel in Entertainment Weekly a few months back and I'm glad I picked it up. Jo Nesbo's The Snowman takes place in my old stomping grounds Oslo, Norway. Inspector Harry Hole is a fascinating character who is a well-known policeman for both good and bad reasons. He is the only Norwegian policeman to have taken down a serial killer, but he also is known as a rebellious alcoholic.
The premise for the book goes something like this: Norway has had unsolved murders of women for over 10 years, but no one really believed it to be a serial killer until Harry receives a letter from The Snowman challenging him. All of the women had children and the murders always took place on the first snowfall of the year. There was always a snowman left in the yard as well.
I had a lot of fun reading this because it mainly takes place in Oslo and Bergen-my two favorite places in Norway. When Nesbo describes the fish market and aqaurium in Bergen , I could picture exactly what he was talking about. Then a murder took place on Mt. Ulriken and I was hooked. It also was fun to read about Harry going to Ulevaal Sykehus which was about two blocks from my studenthjem while I lived in Oslo. His ex-girlfriend lives right by Holmenkollen ski jump which is famous and one of the lakes that Harry goes to is a place where I went swimming.
Now the question is will someone not familar with Norway enjoy the book? I would say yes. The Norwegian names might throw you off a bit, but it is no different than reading a fantasy novel and all of their wacky names. The story itself is top notch and has many twists and turns that keep you guessing up to the end. I would give The Snowman 4.5/5 stars.
Content: some swearing and sexuality, alcohol use. Violence is at a minimum but pretty descriptive when it happens.
