The Devil's Star by Jo Nesbo is a complex and convoluted crime novel featuring the bad boy Oslo police detective Harry Hole. The story delves into multiple levels of criminality, with intricate plotlines involving theft, murder, and betrayal. Readers are taken on a thrilling and face-paced adventure in grisly crime detection, showcasing Nesbo's intelligent and cerebral writing style. Despite some inconsistencies in the details and translation, the book presents a richly rewarding read with a compelling narrative that keeps readers engaged till the end.

Characters:

Characters are complex, with Harry Hole portrayed as deeply flawed, while the supporting cast adds depth, though the female roles are notably less developed.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is engaging and cerebral, featuring rich details, humor, and intricate character analysis, showcasing the author's growth and improvement.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot involves a complex web of murders with numerous suspects, focusing on interpersonal dynamics within the police force and culminating in unexpected resolutions.

Setting:

The setting is primarily Oslo, Norway, incorporating local culture and police dynamics.

Pacing:

The pacing varies significantly, starting slow but picking up toward the end with a thrilling conclusion.

The house was built in 1898 on a clay base that had since sunk a tiny bit on the west-facing side, causing water to cross the wooden threshold where the door was hung. It ran across the bedroom floor ...

Notes:

Harry Hole is a complex character with deep personal struggles and flaws.

The story contains multiple murder suspects that keep readers guessing.

Jo Nesbø's writing has improved with each book, adding humor and twists.

The characters are portrayed with a mix of strengths and weaknesses, especially the male characters.

Nesbø shows sympathy towards villains by exploring their motives.

The book intertwines themes of sin and crime at different levels.

The narrative requires reader engagement to keep track of various plot lines and characters.

Harry's partner Lonn is supportive and adds depth to the story.

The novel includes a mix of relatable and unlikable characters, making it thought-provoking.

Many readers find Harry Hole exhausting due to his self-destructive behavior and alcoholism.

The final third of the book is described as fast-paced and thrilling, sparking interest.

Nesbø's writing style is praised for being intelligent and cerebral.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Triggers include depictions of murder, discussions of alcoholism, and general themes of violence.

From The Publisher:

A young woman is murdered in her Oslo flat. One finger has been severed from her left hand, and behind her eyelid is secreted a tiny red diamond in the shape of a five-pointed star - a pentagram, the devil's star.

Detective Harry Hole is assigned to the case with his long-time adversary Tom Waaler and initially wants no part in it. But Harry is already on notice to quit the force and is left with little alternative but to drag himself out of his alcoholic stupor and get to work.

A wave of similar murders is on the horizon. An emerging pattern suggests that Oslo has a serial killer on its hands, and the five-pointed devil's star is key to solving the riddle.

Ratings (5)

Loved It (5)

Reader Stats (8):

Read It (7)
Want To Read (1)

2 comment(s)

ColorfulLeo92

Loved It

1 month

More like 3.7 stars. Still think they story really did grow on me and still very much enjoy the series although this book wasn't quite as intriguing and didn't get as invested in it. But still curious on the next one. Glad I've got a few more books to read in this series

ehanut203

Loved It

4 months

oh have you read a lot of mysteries, a lot of hard-boiled noirs with super intense serial killer plots?

you haven't read this one, and jo nesbo laughs in the face of your homegrown serial killer plot-knowing, puny reader

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The Devil's Star?

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