''Knife'' (, 2019) is a

crime novel Crime fiction, detective story, murder mystery, crime novel, mystery novel, and police novel are terms used to describe narratives or fiction that centre on criminal acts and especially on the investigation, either by an amateur or a profession ...

by Norwegian writer

Jo Nesbø Jon "Jo" Nesbø (; born 29 March 1960) is a Norwegian novelist and musician. His books had sold over 50 million copies worldwide by 2021, making him the most successful Norwegian author to date. Siegel, Lee (5 May 2014).Pure Evil: Jo Nesbø and th ...

, the twelfth in the

Harry Hole Harry Hole (the surname pronounced as "HOO-leh"), who is also called "Harry Holy" (strictly the first novel) by allies in the Australian police force,'' The Bat'' by James Nesbø, first novel of the Harry Hole series. Originally released under t ...

series. The book is set in Oslo.

Plot

Harry Hole started drinking again and was kicked out of his home by his wife Rakel. Recently, only minor cases have been entrusted to him, despite the fact that his investigative skills are well known at the anti-crime in Oslo. Everything changes when one morning he wakes up covered in blood without remembering what happened the previous evening and, a short time later, he discovers that a murder had taken place that night.

Reception

Tom Nolan of '' Wall Street Journal'' praised ''Knife''s "memorable, well-drawn" character and called it "arguably the best entry yet" in the Harry Hole series, writing, "The moral conundrums in "Knife" are Dostoevskian, the surprises are breathtaking, the one-liners are amusing and the suspense is unrelenting." ''

Publishers Weekly ''Publishers Weekly'' (''PW'') is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers, and literary agents. Published continuously since 1872, it has carried the tagline, "The International News Magazine of ...

'' criticized the novel for having an "enormous number of characters, backstories, subplots, and themes" but nonetheless praised its "well-orchestrated" ending. Rob Merrill of the

Associated Press The Associated Press (AP) is an American not-for-profit organization, not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association, and produces news reports that are dist ...

praised the novel's pacing but felt part of its quality was lost in the English translation.

References

External links

* Harry Hole (novel series) Norwegian crime novels 2019 Norwegian novels Aschehoug books 21st-century Norwegian novels {{2010s-crime-novel-stub