When I read my first Harry Hole novel, some years ago, it was an entry partway through the series and I immediately bought all of the prior books. Jo Nesbo's characters are complex and they grow and change and Harry is central to this. In Killing Moon, Nesbo is not hiding some of the key life events that preceded this Harry Hole adventure that sent him off to Los Angeles where he's holed up in a seedy room going to a seedy bar and he befriend Lucille. Harry has one special gift that pretty much always saves him and also keeps him deep in the bottle. He cares about people so much, that once they are his humans, that he will do what is necessary to save them. And to save Lucille, Harry has to go home and work privately for a wealthy scoundrel who is implicated in a couple murders. Murders with unusual characteristics that certainly seem like a serial killer may be on the loose in Oslo. He pulls together a motley crew of people as his team, all at the bottom of something, each for different reasons. Perfect: Harry is at the bottom too. And next we watch the police, journalists, politicians and Harry and his crew mess up over and over. And we mess up with him because the murderer, who we know as Prim, early on, is never who we think he might be. Prim is creepy crawly and we know early that he is into some odd things, but not why. I was proud to have noticed one clue that stood out but I still didn't solve it. I didn't recognize it was a clue. A riveting read, as usual. Nesbo is consistent, his crimes are original, Harry's struggles stay similar but his work on himself varies. His crew grows and changes with him, face danger with varying results that also are original yet consistent with their characters. You don't get jarred by Jo Nesbo's writing. He creates unbelievable people and crimes but makes them make sense. Great minor characters; Awesome science lessons; Great plot; Wow of an ending. You go Jo.

Unemployment Harry Hole is intrigued by an older woman (Lucille) who frequents his local bar that reminds him of his deceased mother. Lucille is being harassed by the mob for a debt she owes. Harry is determined to help her and agrees to be hired by Marcus Roed. Marcus is willing to pay Harry over a million dollars to clear him of being accused of murdering three women, two who had attended Mr. Roed’s party and the other one who is his wife. With the help of a suspended police officer, a former police psychologist, and Harry’s childhood friend, they soon hon in on a serial killer who takes the victim’s brains and heads of those he kills. But, are they looking at the right suspect or will it lead back to Marcus Roed? This book is very suspenseful with many creative twists that make it hard to put down.

This was my first Harry Hole novel, and I have to say, if they're all this good, I'll definitely go back to the beginning and read my way through the series. It would definitely make a few things more clear.

Overall, this is a great story. It's an interesting mystery. The murders are creative, and the MO of the killer is absolutely fascinating. That alone would keep you reading the page, but when you throw in strong characters and great pacing, you've got yourself an amazing book here. Harry Hole is a fascinating character, but the supporting cast is really where this book shines. I love all of the characters and want to get to know them better.

If you're like me and never read a Harry Hole book before, you won't be too lost reading this book. There are some references to past cases and a couple of characters who are no longer in the series, but nothing was spoiled in such a way that I wouldn't enjoy reading about them when I get to them in the series.

In this 13th book in the 'Harry Hole' series, the retired Norwegian police detective helps search for a serial killer. The book can be read as a standalone, but familiarity with the series is a plus.

*****

As the story opens, Norwegian former police detective Harry Hole - severely depressed after the death of his wife Rakel - is in a Los Angeles bar, trying to drink himself numb. One of Harry's bar friends is a 72-year-old woman named Lucille, a former actress who borrowed over nine hundred thousand dollars for a movie project. The project fell through and Lucille can't pay back the lenders - mobsters who threaten to kill her. Harry wants to help, and a possible solution presents itself.

A wealthy Norwegian real estate mogul called Marcus Røed, in danger of being arrested for two murders, wants Harry to return to Oslo to hunt down the killer. Harry agrees, with the stipulation that - if he's successful - Harry will be paid almost a million dollars. This would clear Lucille's debt.

Harry soon finds himself back in Oslo, looking into a bizarre set of crimes. Two attractive young women have been murdered: Susanne Anderson's body was found without a brain; and Bertine Bertilsen's body was found without a head.

When the police investigate, they learn both Bertine and Susanne had Marcus Røed as a sugar daddy. In addition, shortly before they disappeared, Bertine and Susanne attended a party thrown by Røed - a party where liquor and cocaine flowed freely. This makes Røed a person of interest in the homicides, and Røed hopes Harry Hole will finger someone else.

Harry can't join the official police investigation, so he forms his own unofficial detective squad. This includes Truls Berntsen - a police detective who's been suspended for alleged misconduct;former police psychologist Ståle‎ Aune - who's hospitalized with pancreatic cancer; and Øystein Eikeland - Harry's childhood friend, who drives a cab. Luckily, Truls Berntsen can still access police files, so Harry's team can collect forensic data, DNA, fingerprints, phone records, etc.

Harry's squad regularly meets in Aune's hospital room, where they plan their investigation, go over the evidence, discuss their findings, speculate about possible perpetrators; and so on. A third murder complicates matters, and Harry's team has a hard time honing in on the killer.

The book's investigative sections alternate with observations by the killer, who calls himself Prim. Prim details the reasons for his crimes, and describes what he does in detail. Prim's methods are riveting, albeit a fit far-fetched. (Warning: Prim's procedures are not for weak stomachs.)

The grotesque killings intrigue the public, and two journalists vie to get scoops for their newspapers: Mona Daa from VG and Terry Våge from Dagbladet. Mona hates that Våge seems to have inside information, and indeed Våge would do almost anything to be first with the news.

While Harry's in Oslo, he reconnects with some old friends, including police detective Katrine Bratt (and her little son Gert); and forensic medical officer Alexandra Sturdza. Both ladies have a soft spot for Harry, who seems to attract women like honey draws flies.

The story is filled with red herrings, surprises, and misdirection, and I give Jo Nesbo high marks for a creative plot. This is a good novel, highly recommended to fans of thrillers.

Thanks to Netgalley, Jo Nesbo, and Knopf for a copy of the manuscript.

Harry Hole is one of my favorite detective series. I was concerned about where this book was going to go after how the previous book ended but I shouldn’t have worried. Though still almost compulsively self destructive, Harry with his amazing analytical skills is still such a good and well meaning man. The plot was twisty and interesting. Highly recommend.

This is a complex mystery thriller featuring Harry Hole doing what he does best. There are many twists that keep you guessing. This deals with child sexual abuse as a back story which is hard to read about and there are graphic murders and cannibalism. A lot of tough and dark elements but Nesbo pulls them together to produce a harrowing mystery. The character of Harry Hole is a complex portrait of someone seemingly at rock bottom that you can't stop rooting for. A satisfying entry in the series.

Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley

Picking up a few months after Knife (#12 in the series) we come across Harry Hole, off the wagon, randomly at a bar in Los Angeles. He's at one of his, um, lower ebbs. The LA stuff does seem random - the people encountered, the situation Harry finds himself in. And Nesbo doesn't hold back on how he feels about where Harry has landed: "...Los Angeles wasn't a city built on movie successes but on a garbage heap of human and financial failure". Ouch. Events in Oslo mixed with what's happening in LA quickly pull him back to Norway, where the major plot line of Killing Moon (#13) takes place.

Killing Moon does feel like a continuation of Knife, more so than some of the others in the series (maybe because I just finished Knife?). I wouldn't start reading Killing Moon blind. While Nesbo does a good job of getting the reader up to speed with snippets and memories from the series, the novel's impact won't be as strong. The knowledge of the connections of characters in Harry's world increase the reader's immersion into the story. So - read Knife (at least) first for that continuity of plot.

Speaking of plot. WOW. I was sure I had this one figured out. Red herrings galore, I thought I was seeing right through them. Wrong. A new serial killer is on the loose, there is a lot of cocaine, exclusive Eyes-Wide-Shut like clubs, and callbacks to Silence of the Lambs and Mindhunter (among other classics). Harry is off the force but gets the gang gets back together to solve this one, hired by the ultra-rich primary suspect to get the focus off of him. And it all takes place in a week or so leading up to the blood moon of a lunar eclipse. What an atmosphere.

I've been devouring the Harry Hole series since its publication in English. Being back in Harry's world is always a great read, and in Killing Moon Nesbo does a masterful job of weaving together old and new threads, old and new characters, getting resolution while setting the stage for #14. I'm ready!!!

My thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for an ARC of this book.

Harry Hole is drinking himself to death in Los Angeles, living with an actress past her sell date and in debt to some unethical lenders as she tries to resurrect her career. Time has run out for her so when Harry is offered a lucrative job by a wealthy real estate investor in Norway that will pay the million dollars she needs, he goes back. His job is to solve the murders of two young women, the only connections between them being they attended the same party at the mogul’s house and, in both cases, the brain of the victim was missing (typical gruesomeness in a Nesbo novel!). Harry assembles a team of his old cronies, trying to stay clear of the police establishment with whom he has had many differences over the years, to solve the crimes within a one week deadline. The underlying reason for the murders themselves (a strange parasite is involved) will lead Harry to an unexpected result.

This is the 13th book in the Harry Hole series. I began reading them in 2011 and rated 8 of the first 10 in the series 5 stars. But since then, it seems the books have become less compelling - perhaps I have grown weary of how unlikeable the main character is. I am not sure if the Harry Hole character has run its course or if the writing style/translation has become tedious to me. I still rated the book 3 stars as the story (however contrived) but containing several twists and surprises kept me interested enough to finish. My thanks to Knopf and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review the ARC of the book.

Harry Hole is back! In all his deeply flawed, yet engaging weakness we also find his strength. But Harry would likely not have appreciated such an esoteric description. We find Harry in Los Angeles (for some reason) but soon enough he is back in Norway leading a group of characters hunting a serial murderer. We the reader spend not only a good part of this procedural in Harry’s brain but we also descend into the depravity of the murderer’s mind. And, oh, what a mind. I’m still laying here in bed in the middle of the night rethinking the images we are provided of this horror show.
So please enjoy the return of Harry Hole in “Killing Moon.” NetGalley delivered an electronic copy of this novel to my desktop for which I am grateful. I also purchased an Audible copy of “Killing Moon” so enabled me to follow along whilst listening to the dulcet tones of John Lee.
Five creepy stars Mr. Nesbo. Nightmare time, anyone?

I.recieved a.copy of this book from Netgalley and I apologize for taking so long to read To get a chance to send a review saying I absolutely love this book
Welcome.back my train wreck friend
I sure have missed.you and the nightmares.you bring The need.to look under.my he'd The need.to drive with and leave all the house.lights on
It's refreshing to be spooked so brilliantly
Who needs sleep, hah!

One.a side note.
I always enjoy the supporting cast.
However, the introduction of gert took this book to.a whole other lever for.me.
The writing to bring to life this adorable human being So real so sweet
Made me smile
The bad man is a disturbing as ever.
I mean What is that about
But here.i am still smiling

Jo Nesbo's KILLING MOON is another solid entry in the Harry Hole series. As a longtime reader of these books, I had my doubts about how Nesbo would bring Harry back and integrate him into this case, but I was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed the book. It's consistent with the quality of the previous Harry Hole books--readers who enjoyed those will be satisfied with the latest installment.

Harry is down and out in LA, drinking himself to death after he’s had some big losses in Oslo. When he meets a woman that needs help, he can’t say no. With his usual attention to detail, Nesbo’s plot is good and his use of red herrings always leaves us guessing, but while good, this one isn’t as good as his previous novels. It might be time for Harry to retire and Nesbo to come up with his next bigger than life character. Thank you to Knopf and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

Harry Hole is back and feistier than ever!
This series just seems to get better and better. Harry is the most likeable flawed character ever! The killers in this series get badder, uglier, and sicker with each installment and I'm here for them all!
If you're reading this, I hope that means you're familiar with the series and are looking for another reason to read this book. If you're not familiar with Jo's books all I can say is 'what are you waiting for!' Jo Nesbø is my all-time favorite author and I can't wait for his next book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf for an Arc of this awesome book!

If you were missing Harry Hole, this was a great new installment! I'm really enjoying this story and mystery. It keeps me on the edge of my seat.
Starting the story in LA was a unique and fun way to get the story started, then continuing in Oslo and bringing in some of the familiar characters is great too.

Overall, this has been a great book (I'm almost finished!) and really brought those vibes back from the first two books for a bit.

Killing Moon is another success for Jo Nesbo. I have been reading Nesbo's work for years. I enjoy reading about Harry Hole's personal struggles all while trying to solve a wacky case. The writing is dark and gruesome but also funny at times.

Fans of Norwegian superstar Jo Nesbo's Harry Hole -- the troubled cop with the unparalleled investigation skills, plus a "liver-colored scar," titanium finger and eyes as blue as Steve McQueen's -- will find him far from home in "Killing Moon." This 13th in the series finds Harry in Los Angeles, reeling from loss and preparing to drink himself to death. Terrible events (no spoilers here) in the previous book, 2019's "The Knife," cost him his job, his livelihood and his will to live.

In LA, Harry gets roped into helping an elderly woman (delightfully detailed by Nesbo) threatened by loan sharks over a huge debt. Meanwhile, back in Oslo, young women are being murdered, and the prime suspect wants the real killer caught. Who can work outside the police to do that? Harry, of course.

"Killing Moon" is very much Nordic noir, deeply dark and graphically gruesome (no kidding) while also drily funny at times. Nesbo plunges readers into the twisted mind of the killer, with some details you may wish you were spared.

I especially enjoyed the characters who circle around Harry, including Lucille, the faded but still sassy actress who lost it all trying to finance a film featuring older performers. But the Oslo characters are the real stars, especially Harry's old friend, cop Katrine Bratt, who knows he's the person to catch the killer but can't bring him back to the force.

Nesbo is a master of wry. Consider the coroner finishing an autopsy and having a smoke. "She inhaled and looked out over a Oslo. Over the fjord, glittering like silver beneath a pale, cloudless sky. Over the low hills, where the colors of autumn burned in red and yellow. '(Bleep), it's nice here,' she said with a sigh."

"Killing Moon" is not the easiest book to jump into for anyone who hasn't read the whole series, but it's riveting even if you don't know all the history. And (if you can stomach it), you're likely to want to start back at the beginning.

Thank you Jo Nesbo for another Harry Hole book! It's only been 3 years but it seems like forever. I was curious how this would go because he's not a cop anymore. He is hired as a private consultant to clear his client of the crime! Outstanding because we still have all the familiar characters. This one is a really good one...and is very challenging for Harry! Read them all but definitely read this one.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

I accidentally stumbled on this author a couple of decade ago, and I haven't stopped reading his Harry Hole (yes, the English translation of his name is a bit unfortunate) series about a hard drinking, hard hitting acerbic Scandinavian cop with a bruised and battered outlook on life, but although he is jaded, he has a flicker of hope, if not of promise, then at least the hope of a day that differs from the one before.

I was thrilled to see this novel available for early review, because you see, Harry are in it together for the long haul, and this series will comfort you (and even provide a ray of hope that good, or mostly good, will overcome evil) in an unusual way...

This novel open as Harry has ordered his last drink before he ends it, and as he enjoys this farewell drink, he is chatted up by a companion who reminds Harry of his mother, who put the first scar on Harry's long suffering heart. This lady has a problem, one she feels Harry might be able to help her with, at least immediately. She is in debt (heavy financial debt) to loan shark thugs waiting right outside the door of the bar...

She is both Harry's saviour and burden, as he spirits her away from the violent money lenders, Harry knows he will be only offering her a temporary reprieve from the violent loan shark and his enforcers, however has nothing left to lose, and he is experienced in alluding people who want to find him, so his skill set compliments the situation in which he choses to involve himself.

With the unaccountable good luck that can sometimes grace the very unfortunate and unsuspecting, life provides Harry with the means of allowing one last fish, this aging ingenue, off a very precarious hook, as he helps her deal with these nefarious money lenders.

How can Harry help our wayward stranger escape the loan shark's long reach? Read the book and find out, dear friend!

Until next time, "never say never"...

I will always look for (and happily welcome) new Harry Hole mysteries by the talented author, Jo Nesbo.

Harry Hole, Jo Nesbo’s fictional hard-living, hard drinking, but obsessively diligent and brilliant detective and anti-hero is back on the scene in Oslo searching for a repeat killer with a penchant for human brains and eyes in “Killing Moon.”

With his nimble touch, Nesbo threads provocative leads, unexpected twists, numerous red herrings, and frequent misdirection throughout this latest installment of the Harry Hole series. For fans of Nordic Noir, like me, Jo Nesbo’s Harry Hole books are always favorites.

TheBookMaven graciously thanks NetGalley, Author Jo Nesbo, and Knopf Publications for this Advance Readers’ Copy (ARC).

Killing moon by Jo nesbo is an excellent entry in the harry hole series. Hole has escaped to la and to the bottom of the bottle to drown his troubles. He is pulled back to Oslo by the murders of two women who were both at the party of a real estate mogul and both are found with very unique calling cards. What follows is a twisted tale of rape, serial murder, drugs, and abuse as hole and the team in Oslo try to track down the murderer and untangle a web of mysteries and secrets.

A complex and riveting thriller that marks another strong entry in one of the best crime series going today.

Thanks to the publisher for providing the arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.