I found this to be a really odd book. I don't love books with unreliable narrators, and this was my least favorite one I've read in a while. The marketing made it sound like a horror novel, which it really turns out not to be. I feel like it probably could have been a short story, rather than a novel. Getting dragged through the narrator's delusions for over half the book gets kind of boring after a while. I liked that the narrator had a happy ending and managed to get over what had happened to him as a child (at least somewhat), and was possibly going to have a career and a future with Karen. However, if I had known it was going to be more of a psychological novel than a horror novel, I probably would not have read it. This was the first book I've read by Jo Nesbo, and it didn't make me want to ready any more of his novels. It was okay, but not great.

I love horror and looked forward to reading this book. I was in for a surprise. Not only was it a horror story, but it was also a love story, a mystery story, and a look at how trauma can affect a person's life.

A young man moves in with his grandparents after losing his mother and father in a fire. As he tries to adjust to a new school and new friends he experiences one horror after another. When he tries to explain what happened to his friends he is not believed. He is a suspect in their disappearance. Struggling to come to grips with what has happened he finds himself in even more trouble.

This is an engrossing read. I highly recommend this book to mystery and horror fans as well. But be ready for some surprises.

This was my first read from this author and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

There are three main parts to this story and each part felt like its own isolated horror story even though they all revolve around the same MC. I didn't love our MC, in fact, I didn't even like him. He was quite a jackass IMO. But I felt like a lot of that was the point. Normally I don't know if I would have put up with the MC but I was enjoying the horror descriptions so I kept reading. By the end I was ok with the MC. I think the author made the right choice for the story. Overall a decent thriller to add to my October reads.

"If you have to be fucked up, you might as well be properly fucked up."

The Night House by Jo Nesbø is a classic style horror novel that has been translated by Neil Smith. The audio is narrated by Michael Crouch with the flair of an 80s style horror flick. If you're a lover of writing style's like Stephen King with layers to the narrative, than you'll enjoy this!

The book is told in three distinct parts. Each section is as weird and outlandish as the next, that is, until all the pieces come together. I felt like I was thrust into a fever dream of nightmares only to come out the other end whole and slightly disturbed.

Nesbø shows his talent as an author with this novel. He embraces the elements that craft a horror novel and builds on an ever evolving narrative. The characters are not what I'd call likable but they are hard to turn away from. The atmosphere breathes urban legend at its core and touches on a more psychological horror it its heart.

Released on the 3rd, I recommend adding this twisted dark rabbit hole to your spooky tbrs!

As someone who very much enjoyed Jo Nesbo's Harry Hole series, I was excited to get my hands on a copy of The Night House.
Unfortunately the author's first stab at a horror novel left me a little dazed, confused and a little furious.
Part one of the story was super fun, campy, very reminiscent of horror movies I watched as a teen.
Part two sent my head spinning, as I found the abrupt change in plot disorienting at first, but grew to appreciate it along the way.
Alas, where it really went of the rails for me was when part 3 tried to clear things up in a tidy package, but to me it just felt cheap and convenient, which is all I can say without spoiling the ending (even tho I really have some strong opinions about the theme and how I think it is best avoided in this day and age).
I would have enjoyed the book a lot better if part 3 had never happened to be honest. I believe there was a great book in there somewhere. Maybe next time!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance reader copy of this book. This is the first Nesbo book I've read and I guess he is just not for me. There are supernatural elements to the mystery and the twists do not exactly make sense if you are not realizing that. Might be a great read for science fiction or supernatural fans, but only getting 2 stars from me.

As I read this book my review was going to be about how this reminded me of the great coming of age horror novels I’ve read and loved in the past. Then there was the twist which made it more intense and elevated the genre and THEN there was another twist that made this a horror book that will be sure to stick with me. A great novel that I plan to recommend to others.
Thanks to #Netgalley and Knopf for this ARC in return for my honest review.

Rating: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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So for my first ever Jo Nesbo - I am pretty pumped, because I enjoyed this horror! I felt that it was perfect for spooky season! Isn’t this cover amazing?!
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The Night House has some major 80’s vibes and takes off right from the start and very rarely loses any momentum. This story is written into three parts. The first part revolves around Richards childhood era, where children go missing in some pretty sketch ways. The second is 15 years later, where Richard is attending a reunion. Part three, throws in a nice twist, which I cant say much else in order to avoid any spoilers. Throughout the entire book, Richard is so unreliable you never know what is actually true or not.
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I love the twist that Nesbo put into this one, I like the way that it ended. I found this story to be addicting and and a super fast paced read. Just be aware, you’re going to be a tad confused at some points, but in the end it will all make sense. Also it can be a bit choppy at some points, Nesbo kind of jumps from one thought to the next, but again, it all makes sense in the end. It can be grotesque at points - not over done, but still giving that horror feel.
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Definitely recommending this one as a spooky season read for all my horror fans. I found this one to be a fun one. The Night House was just released on 10/3, be sure to grab it!! Huge thank you to Netgalley, Jo Nesbo, Knofp books, Pantheon Books and Vintage and anchor books for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is the first Jo Nesbo book I’ve read. It had an early Stephen King feel to it. There were some areas that felt underdeveloped and I wonder if some of it is translation. While nothing was terribly surprising, the mood was creepy enough and the story was paced well. Interested in seeing other books by the author.

The Night House is an eerie story where the action starts right away with classic
campy horror vibes. The atmosphere is thick with suspense and never lets up. Readers are drawn in to the dark secrets of Ballantine. The protagonist, Richard Elauved, is a complex character whose troubled past and outsider status make him puzzling. Despite his past, I didn’t have much sympathy for him because of his cruelty.

Richard witnesses a classmate get sucked into a phone in a telephone booth at the edge of a forest and it only gets more wild from there. He teams up with another outcast, Karen, in pursuit of the truth. Nesbø kept me guessing and questioning the reliability of the narrator and the true natures that unfold.

I think it is better to go into this book not knowing much so I won’t give more detail in this review. The narrative twists and turns and the tension never fades.

This book is available now, released October 3rd! If you like a different take on horror, I would recommend The Night House. It is a quick read and one that will keep you guessing until the end.

This story is told in three parts in first person by Richard. Each part changes the perspective of the story in some way, sometimes by age and others by setting, but they all have commonalities and connections casting doubt upon the reader’s perception of what is true and what is not. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, a new part would begin, and everything would turn on its head. 😂

I think I loved the culmination of the whole even more after I finished reading. I honestly don’t want to go into it too much because I don’t want to give anything away. If you enjoy haunted houses, horrific consequences and hallucinations that will make you scream, “Wait! What?!?” then I recommend this horror novel by one of my favorite Nordic Noir writers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf for a copy provided for an honest review.

The Night House tells the story of Richard as he grows up in a new town after his parents death. I won't say more because this book is best approached blind and willing to suspend disbelief.

I absolutely adored this story from beginning to end. The nods to classic horror fiction were amazing and I just loved how it all played out. The pacing and writing style were done in a way that it was impossible to get impatient or bored with the story. The characters were dense and made you root for the heroes. I loved how this one was so unpredictable and kept you on your toes. The ending is amazing and is done in a way that you are thankful and hopeful for Richard. I just loved this book and it is a must read for Halloween. It isn't scary in the conventional sense but it is eye opening, hopeful, and daring.

There are times when our mind can play tricks on us—like when we see or hear things that don’t seem to be there. It throws us off-balance and makes us feel just a little out of sorts. But the teenager in Jo Nesbo’s The Night House knows what he saw—though no one will believe him.

Review published on NightsAndWeekends.com and aired on Shelf Discovery.

Horror from the first word! Felt like a Stephen King more than a Nesbo. Good story and characters - perfect for a scary night story.

I was hooked from the very beginning! It was so creepy, mind-altering, and just plain fun to read. I haven't read a great horror story like this in a while, I was impressed with the author's ability to create such a real situation and turn it on its head with the paranormal and spooky. I clung to Richard in each part of the book. It was fascinating, sad, weird, and eerie all wrapped up in a cute like bow. I didn't know what was real or what was a delusion, but I loved it that way. I'm still thinking of it days later and that is fantastic.

I enjoyed, in varying degrees, the Harry Hole series #1-10. After that, it dwindles in excitement for me. And while I know these are very different genres, for an author I once adored, this reads terribly. I had hoped for horror. Part 1 was mostly that, and it was fine. I disliked Part 2. I hated Part 3. Is this actually a horror? Is it even a crime? I'd be hard pressed to label it at this point, but suffice to say, I did not enjoy myself. Very glad I didn't drive to Pasadena for the launch.

This book was like a throwback to 90's books by RL Stine. There was a level of spookiness while not being too scary. This book was a perfect introduction into horror for young adults. I would have liked it to have been a tad bit scarier but overall really well done.

Easily one of my favorite covers of the year! I knew had to take this book to my favorite Halloween house for photos, even though set up was still in process! This guy goes all out every year and I love it🎃

Nesbø has created a unique tale of horror that will surprise you and leave you scratching your head. It is broken down into three parts, starting with the most traditional horror section. The whole book is narrated by the main character, Richard. In the first section, which gives ‘80s horror vibes, he is a young teen who moves in with his aunt and uncle in a new town and struggles to make friends. Then, he witnesses the strange disappearance of some of his peers (one gets eaten by a telephone😱) and no one will believe his story. The last two sections are from Richard’s point of view as an adult and this is where things get very twisty and bizarre!

This book is full of body horror and some psychological horror as well. I love being surprised when reading and this book definitely threw me for a loop! I’ve not read any of his other books, but I do have The Snowman on my shelf waiting for me. Check this one out if you enjoy vintage horror and are looking for something unique and unpredictable!

Tis felt like a kind of light-ish horror novel - but that doesn't mean that it isn't good. It was surprising, funny in parts, and oddly cozy.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest book by a big favorite, Jo Nesbo - 4.5 stars!

Richard Elauved has been sent to live with his aunt and uncle after his parents die in a house fire. Richard is an outcast and begins bullying others at school. A classmate, Tom, goes missing and Richard is the last to see him. His story of Tom's disappearance is so unbelievable that no one does. Then another classmate goes missing. His only friend is Karen, who believes him and helps him to investigate. Their investigation takes them to an abandoned house in the Black Mirror Wood. .

This is a definite departure from Nesbo's Harry Hole series, veering to the horror genre and maybe even YA. But I still loved it! It's told in three parts, and my head was spinning at the twists in each part. It's a short, quick read and perfect for October!