The Bat

I did eventually warm up to this book however I am not raving about the series just yet. I will give Harry Hole another shot at catching my interest as the book absolutely caught my interest as it progressed and was a definite puzzler until the reveals began.

So...it is 2023 and I have just re-read The Bat. I guess my review from 2015 was correct because I've warmed even more to this book which many told me to skip. I love knowing the history of characters and this book did an excellent job of painting the history of Harry Hole. For fans of Nordic Crime I think this series is a win.

I really enjoyed this one. The writing was top drawer and the characters had depth and were completely believable. I will definitely be following up Harry Hole books.

When I say depth, the whole book has a kind of depth to it that, up till now, I've found lacking in crime fiction for the most part. Maybe I've just not been reading the right ones.

Um. Really? This is the international publishing sensation that has so many people (including non-mystery readers)? Is it just that Nesbø is profiting from being as Scandinavian as Stieg Larsson? I don't get it.

While I wouldn't call this anything special, The Bat is a perfectly adequate book about your typical dysfunctional cop with substance abuse issues and internal demons working a tough case, falling for someone who knew the victim, letting said substances and demons mess things up, before cracking the case at great personal cost. I know that seems spoilery, but it's not – the writing's on the wall within a couple of chapters.

It was a pleasant enough way to pass a few hours, and I'll probably pick up one or to more in the series, just to see if I get the fuss. But if you're wondering if you should read The Bat, I'd shrug and point you to a handful of other works. Go ahead and read it, but don't make it a priority.

I really am curious – has anyone read further on? Do they improve? What nugget of greatness did I miss?