by Jo Nesbø
First published 2013
Inspector Harry Hole arrives in Sydney with clear orders from the Oslo Crime Squad: observe the murder investigation of a twenty-three year old Norwegian celebrity and stay out of trouble. Harry cannot follow instructions. He befriends a local detective and connects with witnesses, pulling himself deeper into the case. The investigation reveals a disturbing truth. This murder fits a pattern of unsolved killings across the country. A psychopath moves from city to city, selecting victims according to his own twisted logic. Harry and his new partner track the killer's movements, piecing together clues that point toward his next target. The closer they get to the truth, the more dangerous their situation becomes. Harry realizes the killer knows about their investigation. No one connected to the case can consider themselves safe. The hunter has become the hunted, and Harry must solve the case before the psychopath strikes again.
Genres: mystery, crime, thriller, detective
Vibes: dark, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, cat-and-mouse, fish-out-of-water
Setting: Sydney, Norway
Period: 21st-century
331 pages · Kindle Edition · Vintage Crime/Black Lizard
Content warnings: murder, violence