Jo Nesbo books

[murf]

Any good??

Always lazily described as "the next Stieg Larsson" but are they good or just trading on the scandanavian link?

Considering as I spotted 5 books for a tenner at Amazon sale:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jo-Nesbo-Gift-S ... ef=lh_ni_t" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

(presume its the first 5 in series)

[Beerfuelledman]

My sister raves about them, was considering finding out what the first one was & giving it a go.

[Smurphy Paw]

Just bought my first one last week. Slightly concerned & also excited about the Millennium comparisons. Two young boys mean that my reading time has reduced a lot so I'm keen to hear how you find them

[murf]

Reviews seem good. First one (Snowman) is apparently in stock in my library so I might suss that out first but by then the Amazon offer will have gone......

[Beerfuelledman]

Wiki doesnt seem to think Snowman was the first? "The Redbreast" is the third novel, but the first to be available in English I think.

The Harry Hole novels
1997 – Flaggermusmannen: The Bat Man
1998 – Kakerlakkene: The Cockroaches
2000 – Rødstrupe; English translation by Don Bartlett: The Redbreast (2006)
2002 – Sorgenfri; English translation by Don Bartlett: Nemesis (2008)
2003 – Marekors; English translation by Don Bartlett: The Devil's Star (2005)
2005 – Frelseren; English translation by Don Bartlett: The Redeemer (2009)
2007 – Snømannen; English translation by Don Bartlett: The Snowman (2010)
2009 – Panserhjerte; English translation by Don Bartlett: The Leopard (2011)
2011 – Gjenferd; English translation by Don Bartlett: The Phantom (2012)

The Doktor Proktor novels
2007 – Doktor Proktors Prompepulver; English translation: Doctor Proctor's Fart Powder
2008 – Doktor Proktors Prompepulver: bubble i badekaret; English translation: Doctor Proctor's Fart Powder: Bubble in the Bathtub
2010 – Doktor Proktor og verdens undergang. Kanskje.; English translation: Doctor Proctor's Fart Powder: Who Cut the Cheese?

Stand-alone novels
1999 – Stemmer fra Balkan/Atten dager i mai (with Espen Søbye, documentary)
2001 – Karusellmusikk (short stories)
2007 – Det hvite hotellet; English translation: The White Hotel
2008 – Hodejegerne; English translation: The Headhunters

[Aardvark]

I've read The Snowman and I'd give it a 6 out of 10. It's an OK read but the plot is about as implausible as a Midsomer Murders one.

[murf]

Wiki doesnt seem to think Snowman was the first? "The Redbreast" is the third novel, but the first to be available in English I think.

The Harry Hole novels
1997 – Flaggermusmannen: The Bat Man
1998 – Kakerlakkene: The Cockroaches
2000 – Rødstrupe; English translation by Don Bartlett: The Redbreast (2006)
2002 – Sorgenfri; English translation by Don Bartlett: Nemesis (2008)
2003 – Marekors; English translation by Don Bartlett: The Devil's Star (2005)
2005 – Frelseren; English translation by Don Bartlett: The Redeemer (2009)
2007 – Snømannen; English translation by Don Bartlett: The Snowman (2010)
2009 – Panserhjerte; English translation by Don Bartlett: The Leopard (2011)
2011 – Gjenferd; English translation by Don Bartlett: The Phantom (2012)

That tallies with something else I found. The 5 books in the Amazon set are those bolded (first 5 translated)

[bspittles]

For those with an iDevice, iTunes have released a 12 days of Christmas app. Today's freebie is a Nesbo novel.

[murf]

For those with an iDevice, iTunes have released a 12 days of Christmas app. Today's freebie is a Nesbo novel.

I take it that is (fake?) kindle as opposed to Audio?

The only iThing iOwn is an iPod which doesn't do apps.

I've just ordered the books anyway...

[Mike_]

I've read the first three - decent reads but waaaaaaay over complicated.

[murf]

Wiki doesnt seem to think Snowman was the first? "The Redbreast" is the third novel, but the first to be available in English I think.

The Harry Hole novels
1997 – Flaggermusmannen: The Bat Man
1998 – Kakerlakkene: The Cockroaches
2000 – Rødstrupe; English translation by Don Bartlett: The Redbreast (2006)
2002 – Sorgenfri; English translation by Don Bartlett: Nemesis (2008)
2003 – Marekors; English translation by Don Bartlett: The Devil's Star (2005)
2005 – Frelseren; English translation by Don Bartlett: The Redeemer (2009)
2007 – Snømannen; English translation by Don Bartlett: The Snowman (2010)
2009 – Panserhjerte; English translation by Don Bartlett: The Leopard (2011)
2011 – Gjenferd; English translation by Don Bartlett: The Phantom (2012)

That tallies with something else I found. The 5 books in the Amazon set are those bolded (first 5 translated)

The first novel ("The Bat" not The Bat Man) is now out in English, reading some reviews it seems it isn't quite as good as the more polished later novels and may explain why they started translting further into the series.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Bat-Harry-H ... =8-1-spell" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[murf]

I've just started reading The Bat and I have to say it is excellent so far (admittedly I haven't even reached page 100 yet), it certainly doesn't read in any way 'amateurish' as some first novels can.

The writing style is quite fresh and fun, it keeps you turning the page without using 'tension' like say Dan Brown.