Genre: Nordic Thriller
Norwegian Title: Sorgenfri
English Translation: Don Bartlett (2008)
POV: 3rd Person
Sensuality: Warm
Violence: A few gruesome scenes
My Grade: A-
Nemesis is the fourth book in Jo Nesbo’s excellent Harry Hole series, but the second available in English translation if you wish to read the books in chronological order. It is confusing as the first two Harry Hole books have not been translated into English and the rest have been translated out of order. For the correct reading order, I’ve provided a list at the end of this review. I strongly recommend reading the series in order if you can. While the mysteries are self-contained and solved by the end of each novel, there is a subplot which forms a continuing story arc over a few books. Note: For people who haven’t yet read The Redbreast, this review is as spoiler-free as I could make it.
Following his unwanted sojourn in the intelligence department, Inspector Harry Hole is back working in the Crime Squad. Over the past few months, Harry and his partner have devoted their time to the continuing investigation into a colleague’s death. When Harry’s boss insists he put the investigation on hold and concentrate on more pressing cases, Harry is less than pleased.
He is assigned to work on a bank robbery case in which a bank assistant was killed. The investigation is a joint venture between the Crime Squad and the Robberies Unit, led by the odious Rune Ivarsson. From the outset, it is clear that Harry and Ivarsson are not destined to play nicely together. Harry persuades his boss to allow him to work on an aspect of the case parallel to Ivarsson’s investigation, but with a degree of autonomy. He requests Beate Lønn, a promising, young video analyst, as his partner.
While Harry is busy following leads for the bank robbery, his personal life takes a complicated turn. While his girlfriend is away in Russia, Harry receives a phone call from an old flame. He agrees to meet her for dinner, promising himself that nothing will happen between them. The next morning, Harry wakes up in his apartment with no memory of the events of the last twelve hours. He assumes he had too much to drink.
Unfortunately for Harry, a hangover is soon the least of his concerns. Harry is called to the scene of a fatal shooting only to discover the victim is the woman with whom he spent the previous evening. Everything appears to point towards suicide, but Harry isn’t convinced. Aware that his situation is precarious, Harry doesn’t inform his boss that he knew the shooting victim and decides to follow a few leads on his own time. When he starts to receive threatening emails, Harry is certain that the shooting wasn’t a suicide, but his only clue is a mysterious photograph found in a shoe.
Harry’s investigations into the bank robbery and the suicide/murder bring him into contact with a notorious bank robber, the gypsy Raksol. Is Raksol trying to help Harry, or is his motivation more sinister? Meanwhile, the subplot involving Harry’s old adversary, Tom Waaler, heats up.
Nemesis is excellent. It’s clever without being too clever; there are twists and turns, but the story never becomes convoluted. While I probably preferred the premise of The Redbreast, I loved the fact that the character of Harry Hole is front and centre in this book. Harry is flawed but amusing. He has his problems, but he’s a good guy at heart, and a talented investigator. The secondary characters are also very well done, particularly Tom Waaler and Beate Lønn.
Don Bartlett has done an excellent job at making the translations of Jo Nesbø’s books read smoothly. I didn’t notice any awkward constructions in either The Redbreast or Nemesis, and I presume the rest of the series is equally well done.
For fans of quality, character-driven thrillers, I can highly recommend the Harry Hole series. I’m itching to read the next book, The Devil’s Star, but I’m trying to space the books in order to make the series last. Let’s see how long I can hold out before I succumb to temptation!
Correct Reading Order of Books in the Harry Hole Series:
- Flaggermusmannen (1997) by Jo Nesbø - Not translated into English
- Kakerlakkene (1998)by Jo Nesbø - Not translated into English
- The Redbreast (2006 – translation by Don Bartlett) Original title: Rødstrupe (2000) by Jo Nesbø
- Nemesis (2008 – translation by Don Bartlett) Original Title: Sorgenfri (2002) by Jo Nesbø
- The Devil’s Star (2005 – translation by Don Bartlett) Original Title: Marekors (2003) by Jo Nesbø
- The Redeemer (2009 – translation by Don Bartlett) Original Title: Frelseren (2005) by Jo Nesbø
- The Snowman (2010 – translation by Don Bartlett) Original Title: Snømannen (2007) by Jo Nesbø
- The Leopard (2011 – translation by Don Bartlett) Original Title: Panserhjerte (2009) by Jo Nesbø
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I just finished ‘Nemesis’ a few days ago, so this is a timely review for me. I absolutely love the Harry Hole books, the character-driven and well paced narrative is among the best detective fiction I’ve read. And, unlike so many books in this genre, the two books I’ve read in this series have kept me riveted right to the end. I want more of Harry – RIGHT NOW.
I was interested you picked up on the translation, as this was something I really felt gave a lot to Nemesis. Some of the Scandinavian fiction in translation is not so well served. This is a top series and I too look forward to The Devil’s Star and others.
As much as I enjoyed Nemesis, I enjoyed the following books much better but all of his books are strong reads. Sarah, excellent and thorough review as usual and thanks for helping to spread the news around on this excellent writer. I really want him to hit it big here in the US so we can have more Harry Hole books. This is just an all around excellent series. Taking a mini-break from them right now to read Johan Theorin’s very dark and atmospheric The Darkest Room. Question: are you gonna try to read Stieg Larsson’s The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo? It’s good as well if you can get past the financial fraud to get to the murder mystery.
@Trish: Between sick kids and one thing and another, it took me almost two weeks to finish this book. I think that’s a record! Despite having to put it aside so often, it still kept my interest right up to the end.
@Ben Hunt: In my opinion, good translators don’t get enough credit. I’ve read so many badly translated books (mostly English-German and German-English) that I really take notice when I come across one which is well done.
@Keishon: Yes, I definitely want to give The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo another shot. I think I put it down quite close to the beginning because the financial stuff bored me.
Great review. I loved this book! I wish they would translate in the US faster. I finally discovered the British versions on Book Depository and treated myself because getting the next three books there was not much more than buying Devil’s Star in HB at my local store.
In case you hadn’t guessed, there is no way I’ll be able to make myself space these out.
Sarah, you and Keishon have interested me and my fiance enough to give this author a try. I just ordered The Redbreast through interlibrary loan at my local library and just found out it’s in transit for me to pick up soon.
I just finished The Devil’s Star today, so I’m totally out of order. Loved it and will read the rest. You must give the Millennium Trilogy another go.
@Lynn Spencer: I think my next read will be The Devil’s Star. I can’t wait any longer! I also bought my copies at The Book Despository, including The Snowman in HC. Their prices are fantastic.
@Amy: I hope you both enjoy it!
@Keziah Hill: I will give Stieg Larsson another go!
I have read all the Nesbos translated into English, and agree that the out-of-order translation has been awful for these books – particularly for the trilogy-within-the-series (nos 3, 4 and 5) which really do have to be read in order. I agree that Don Bartlett is a marvellous translator. He’s also doing Gunnar Staalesen’s novels, a Norwegian author of a private eye series running to about 20 novels. Only a few are translated, but I really loved Consorts of Death if you can get hold of that.
Returning to Nemesis, I agree it is a really good novel, and the character of Harry makes these books. However, I thought there were two big flaws in Nemesis – Harry’s lack of curiosity about his basement, etc; and the solution, which was frankly stupid and unbelievable. But apart from that, excellent! I have just finished The Snowman, and that’s very good too. If you check out the eurocrime webstite, (www.eurocrime.co.uk) you’ll find spoiler-free reviews of all the translated Nesbos, as the author (and the translator!) is something of a favourite of Karen (aka Euro Crime) and her regular reviewers.
@Maxine: Thank you so much for the Gunnar Staalesen recommendation. I’ve never heard of him. If Don Bartlett is his translator, I’m sure the books will read smoothly at the very least.
I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the Harry Hole series. I’ll definitely look up the Euro Crime blog. It’s wonderful to discover new review blogs, but very dangerous for my credit card!
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