The night the first snow falls, a young boy wakes to find his mother gone. He walks through the silent house, but finds only wet footprints on the ...
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Jan 15, 2012
Sharon
rated it: 
Although Nesbo is apparently a household name abroad- especially in his native Norway- he is just starting to receive acclaim in the States. His reputation appears to be well-deserved.
Admittedly, I did have to work a little to get into the book at first. The Snowman is the seventh Harry Hole novel, so I felt a bit like I was overhearing the middle of a conversation. I also had somewhat of a learning curve to overcome when it came to the landscape, characters, and the political structure More...
Admittedly, I did have to work a little to get into the book at first. The Snowman is the seventh Harry Hole novel, so I felt a bit like I was overhearing the middle of a conversation. I also had somewhat of a learning curve to overcome when it came to the landscape, characters, and the political structure More...
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Oct 20, 2011
Jessi
rated it: 
This is probably more of a 3.5 , I feel bad I am giving it the same rating as The Mating but I enjoyed them about the same, but this is most defintley the Better book.
I did not know this was a series and this was the 7th of said series, but it wasn't really a huge issue, as far as I know.... there may have been a few references that I did not get, but if I'm being honest that happens a lot to me regardless of if a book is part of a series or not.
As a mystery, I thought it was reall More...
I did not know this was a series and this was the 7th of said series, but it wasn't really a huge issue, as far as I know.... there may have been a few references that I did not get, but if I'm being honest that happens a lot to me regardless of if a book is part of a series or not.
As a mystery, I thought it was reall More...
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Jul 17, 2011
Jennifer
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(3.5 stars) I usually like to start at the beginning of a series but The Snowman was getting so much hype I decided I couldn't wait to read 6 books to get there. So this was my first introduction to Harry Hole - a divorced alcoholic police detective in Oslo. Harry didn't seem that different from Henning Mankell's Kurt Wallender and the murder mystery plot was fairly typical of the genre. That being said, I devoured this book in only a few sittings and it kept me engaged throughout. There are
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Mar 09, 2010
Andrea
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Review - The Snowman (Harry Hole, Book Seven)
Little snowflakes start to fall taunting us with what's to come. Flurries grow stronger settling softly on the ground, powdery and fluffy at first but darkness soon takes hold, the cycle turns. Subfreezing temperatures, crystals formulate and yet dipped in magical moonlight everything sparkles and glisten. This brings a gentle calm of all things white and beautiful..............until someone builds a Snowman!
November Oslo, Jo More...
Little snowflakes start to fall taunting us with what's to come. Flurries grow stronger settling softly on the ground, powdery and fluffy at first but darkness soon takes hold, the cycle turns. Subfreezing temperatures, crystals formulate and yet dipped in magical moonlight everything sparkles and glisten. This brings a gentle calm of all things white and beautiful..............until someone builds a Snowman!
November Oslo, Jo More...
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Nov 25, 2011
Sheilagh
rated it: 
if this had been the first book i'd read of the series, it would also be the last.
'the other end!' she exclaimed, removing her hands from her face. 'we'll have to begin at the other end. in bergen!'
'no,' harry whispered with the last air he had left in his lungs. 'bergen's not an end. could you ...?'
he looked up at her. saw her dark eyes fill with tears.
"IT'S MY PERIOD,' she whispered.
honestly. i'm amazed i bothered to finish. i was completely u More...
'the other end!' she exclaimed, removing her hands from her face. 'we'll have to begin at the other end. in bergen!'
'no,' harry whispered with the last air he had left in his lungs. 'bergen's not an end. could you ...?'
he looked up at her. saw her dark eyes fill with tears.
"IT'S MY PERIOD,' she whispered.
honestly. i'm amazed i bothered to finish. i was completely u More...
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Jul 17, 2011
Sunny
rated it:
You can't get a more perfect crime thriller. Around the corner, there are numerous unexpected plot twists and turns. This book by Jo Nesbo of Norway is the story of a detective named Harry, with a problemed past and brilliant mind. He is on the case of an unusual serial killer and along the way, we will meet some of the most interesting characters and witness some of the best plot choreography of this genre. Jo Nesbro sets it up beautifully. There are other books in the series, but this one seem
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Nov 17, 2011
Melissa
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Jul 17, 2011
Petra
rated it:
A veteran mystery reader, I'm always excited when I discover a new author. Although I came into this series in the middle, I didn't feel left out (although I may now go read the others!). I enjoyed Harry and his adventures in the snowbound land chasing 'the snowman'. Like other reviewers, I never thought I'd be afraid of snowmen, so I suppose Nesbo deserves no small amount of credit for inspiring such vivid fears! Although I think I had a sense of where the tale was going, I was never bored and
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Nov 23, 2011
Saxton B. Little
rated it:
Who would have thought that snowmen could be frightening? Clowns, yes, but snowmen? Mind you I've never been overly fond of the stuff snowmen are made of but they've never given me cause for fear. Not until I read Jo Nesbo's The Snowman.
I usually start a series right bang at the beginning but after hearing about The Snowman, I just couldn't wait. Imagine a snowfall, then looking out your window to find a snowman gracing your yard; one not of your making. Nothing sinister about that, More...
I usually start a series right bang at the beginning but after hearing about The Snowman, I just couldn't wait. Imagine a snowfall, then looking out your window to find a snowman gracing your yard; one not of your making. Nothing sinister about that, More...
Jul 17, 2011
Amy
rated it:
Women with children are disappearing in Norway, always with the first snow in winter. An Oslo investigator stumbles through dead ends and misdirections, to find the killer striking very close to home.
I liked the number of misdirections and twists and turns in this case. I did predict the villain about halfway through, but I was unsure of my prediction until the end. I now want to read more Harry Hole books. Looks like I might have to do some e-book shopping.
I liked the number of misdirections and twists and turns in this case. I did predict the villain about halfway through, but I was unsure of my prediction until the end. I now want to read more Harry Hole books. Looks like I might have to do some e-book shopping.
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Jan 30, 2012
Jodi
rated it:
I was in the public library and when I saw the cover of this book I had to see what it was about. I am so glad I picked it up and checked it out I thoroughly enjoyed Joe Nesbo’s writing style and would definitely recommend reading it and the rest of the Harry Hole series.
Jonas, a young boy in Oslo Norway wakes up in the middle of the night only to find his mother is gone. Heading back to his bedroom he looks out of his window to see if his mother is outside that’s when he sees the snowman More...
Jonas, a young boy in Oslo Norway wakes up in the middle of the night only to find his mother is gone. Heading back to his bedroom he looks out of his window to see if his mother is outside that’s when he sees the snowman More...
Jan 26, 2012
Bennett
rated it:
Grade: C
L/C Ratio: 20/80
(This means I estimate the author devoted 20% of his effort to creating a literary work of art and 80% of his effort to creating a commercial bestseller.)
Thematic Breakdown:
50% - Detective mystery
30% - Action/Adventure
10% - Horror
10% - Romance
I don’t know what is wrong with me. This is twice in a row I’ve broken my own rule and read a book from a series. And in both cases I jumped right into the middle of More...
L/C Ratio: 20/80
(This means I estimate the author devoted 20% of his effort to creating a literary work of art and 80% of his effort to creating a commercial bestseller.)
Thematic Breakdown:
50% - Detective mystery
30% - Action/Adventure
10% - Horror
10% - Romance
I don’t know what is wrong with me. This is twice in a row I’ve broken my own rule and read a book from a series. And in both cases I jumped right into the middle of More...
Jan 19, 2012
Al
rated it:
Harry Hole is an engaging character, and Mr. Nesbo tells an exciting story. So what's wrong? What's wrong is that so many of the crime novels I've been reading recently, including this one, are just too far over the top. It seems like today's authors are on a breakneck race to outdo each other in outrageous violence, sex, and totally unbelievable plot developments. OK, maybe I'm grumpy, but if I want to read fantasy, I'll read fantasy which is identified as such. A book like this
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Nov 27, 2011
Morticia
rated it:
This might have been worth three stars, because I quite enjoyed it, but I’ve been stingy and given it just two, because of the disproportionate number of five star ratings it has, which I don’t think it deserves. It’s not a bad read by any means, the story is engaging, gripping at times, and genuinely creepy in places. But it’s far too long, so many red herrings it became tedious, and there were some utterly pointless non-sequiturs (eg the mould man, or was I missing some subtle reference ther
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Nov 23, 2011
Carol
rated it:
Who would have thought that snowmen could be frightening? Clowns, yes, but snowmen? Mind you I've never been overly fond of the stuff snowmen are made of but they've never given me cause for fear. Not until I read Jo Nesbo's The Snowman.
I usually start a series right bang at the beginning but after hearing about The Snowman, I just couldn't wait. Imagine a snowfall, then looking out your window to find a snowman gracing your yard; one not of your making. Nothing sinister about that, More...
I usually start a series right bang at the beginning but after hearing about The Snowman, I just couldn't wait. Imagine a snowfall, then looking out your window to find a snowman gracing your yard; one not of your making. Nothing sinister about that, More...
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Oct 12, 2011
Lakis
rated it:
Jo Nesbo is one of those writers that seem to get better and better as time goes by. The Snowman is the seventh novel he’s written having as the main protagonist Harry Hole, a detective who can in a way remind the reader of the various clichés, but which at the same time blows all those clichés into pieces. He looks just like an acrobat, walking on a tightrope all the time, becoming the favorite target of his colleagues when anything goes wrong, fighting with his addiction to alcohol, falling do
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Oct 03, 2011
Bill
rated it:
THE SNOWMAN by Jo Nesbo is a novel originally published in Norway in 2007 and translated into English in 2011. It's the forth in the seriess, so we jump right in the middle of the life of Detective Harry Hole as he investigates the disappearance of several women.
Hole drinks too much and the woman he loved has just left him, although there is still sparks between them. His methods are unorthodox, but successful, and he is called upon to lead a task force to catch the Snowman, a possib More...
Hole drinks too much and the woman he loved has just left him, although there is still sparks between them. His methods are unorthodox, but successful, and he is called upon to lead a task force to catch the Snowman, a possib More...
Sep 08, 2011
Kira
rated it:
I listened to this on the drive from LA to San Francisco, up I-5, which people familiar with this route will know is mind-meltingly boring.
This book kept me alert, entertained, excited and a little nervous the whole way home, which is a success as far as my standards are concerned. In addition, I actually really enjoyed the characters, and was very excited to realize that it's part of a series about the main character, hard-boiled police detective Harry Hole. I am looking forward to l More...
This book kept me alert, entertained, excited and a little nervous the whole way home, which is a success as far as my standards are concerned. In addition, I actually really enjoyed the characters, and was very excited to realize that it's part of a series about the main character, hard-boiled police detective Harry Hole. I am looking forward to l More...
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Aug 30, 2011
If you liked Stieg Larsson (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, etal.), Jo Nesbø is the next mystery/thriller author you should try. Set in the cold climes of Norway, Nesbø's plots are complex, full of switchback turns, and contain much local color. In The Snowman, Nesbø's most recent book, maverick police detective Harry Hole, a not-so-successfully recovering alcoholic pining for the woman he recently broke up with, is tracking down a possible serial killer with a terrifyingly gruesome modus opera
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Aug 25, 2011
Grkchkruns
rated it:
OK Steig Larsson, you've met your match!!! This book is what a thriller should be. The friend who recommended it mentioned she was up all night thinking that there might be a snowman outside of our house in Carnota, IN THE SUMMER!!! I must admit to the same feeling alone in my hotel room in Barcelona. Comparing notes, it was at the same spot. He kept us interested in the chase, on a roller coaster, sometimes it was suspenseful, then it calmed down to where you thought "why are we talkin
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Aug 18, 2011
William Thomas
rated it:
Police procedurals are not crime novels. They will never be crime novels. They can't be crime novels. Police procedurals are a separate entity, not even coming close to their pulp crime predecessors in acrobatic linguistics or portraits of vice. They are something closer to the modern era than they will ever be a throwback, no matter who is writing them. Something birthed by the Law and Order, Criminal Minds, Without a Trace television shows, trying to piqué readers' interest with all of the beh
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Aug 14, 2011
Linda Branham
rated it:
A great mystery novel...
I have to admit it was a little difficult to keep some of the names and manes of places straight - because they are Norwegian and unfamiliar to me. But that was not the writers fault - only my own lack of knowledge :)
I have not read any of Jo Nesbo novels before but this one won't be my last. In fact I am currently reading an earlier novel in the series now - The Devil's Star
The main character is Harry Hole - an detective - no, "inspector" - in th More...
I have to admit it was a little difficult to keep some of the names and manes of places straight - because they are Norwegian and unfamiliar to me. But that was not the writers fault - only my own lack of knowledge :)
I have not read any of Jo Nesbo novels before but this one won't be my last. In fact I am currently reading an earlier novel in the series now - The Devil's Star
The main character is Harry Hole - an detective - no, "inspector" - in th More...
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Aug 11, 2011
Sheri
rated it:
The Snowman, by Jo Nesbo, has been favorably compared to Stieg Larssen's "The Girl ..." series, which got my interest since I had enjoyed Larssen's series. The Snowman is a creepy Nordic serial killer crime noir novel, the fourth in a series by Nesbo featuring Detective Harry Hole (odd name, I know). Hole is the stereotypical brilliant alcoholic detective, laden with angst about his own life's problems, while having to deal with serial killers and fellow detectives who may be crimina
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Aug 11, 2011
Bondama
rated it:
Well, once again, I have to eat my words!! I have no idea what was so off-putting in th first Nesbo novel I tried to read (The Redbreast) - I couldn't even finish it. But this one is pure, first class thriller writing. Nesbo manages not only to give his readers the flavor of Norway, but the tension in the last few chapters is well-nigh unbearable! I found myself sternly ordering myself to SLOW DOWN!!
I would highly, highly recommend this book - first of all, as an excellent intro More...
I would highly, highly recommend this book - first of all, as an excellent intro More...
Jul 30, 2011
Ruth
rated it:
c2007 - English translation 2010. This book was highly recommended by The Times and, although I was slightly hesitant as it seemed to be part of a series, I decided to give it a go. Wow - a great book with stunning plotting and brilliant pacing. Great protagonist and Mr Nesbo appeared to me to ease in his background - not sure what it would have felt like if I had read the previous books. I thought I had the killer but, no, not exactly a twist but brilliant reasoning and enough clues not to have
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Jul 25, 2011
Chris K
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"The Snowman" is no.7 in the series of Harry Hole novels, published by Jo Nesbo (but, weirdly enough, only no.5 of those currently translated to English). It's a skilfully written thriller, with a tight plot and a page- turning narrative (especially useful, given its 576 pages). The characters are all interesting, dark and complex (even the minor ones), giving the story an elaborate backbone and lots of “heart”. Despite the fact that the real killer is not really that hard to guess, af
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Jul 06, 2011
Trish
rated it:
One has to ask oneself why Norwegian novelist Jo Nesbø would create a mystery series with a protagonist named Harry Hole. Even allowing for the idiosyncracies of translation, this is a character with something to prove. He is teetering on the edge of a hole, which is growing larger the longer he works for the Norwegian Police Force on serial killings. He struggles with alcohol addiction, is separated from his wife and her child, and is accused by his colleagues of seeing serial killers in ever
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Jul 04, 2011
Alison
rated it:
First book by Jo Nesbo I've read and I really enjoyed it - eventually! It took me ages to get going with this - I'm not sure if it's the author's style to be so terse and clunky with words, or if that's crept in with the translation. It was very hard going but about a third of the way in the story really reeled me in and from then on it wad unputdownable.
There's a serial killer around, who seems to select married women with kids as his victims, and he leaves a snowman as his calling More...
There's a serial killer around, who seems to select married women with kids as his victims, and he leaves a snowman as his calling More...
Jun 29, 2011
Desirae
rated it:
I really can't find anything about this book, or author I don't love. I couldn't put it down and found myself almost skipping over sentences to get to the next out of anticipation! This is my first Jo Nesbo novel and will not be my last! What I really appreciate is how I picked up this book not realizing it was #7 in a series, yet had no problem following along. The perfect amount of background information on the protagonist allowed me to join in on the journey without feeling like I was missing
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Jun 26, 2011
Sarah
rated it:
Maybe it's the weather - dark, cold, long winters - that influenced the writing of authors Steig Larssen and Jo Nesbo. The Snowman is told more concisely than the Dragon Tattoo series, but no less richly. The characters are precisely and fully drawn, the plot is tightly woven, the crimes are horrific, the dialog is smart and the moral and philosophical beliefs (guilt, revenge, ethics) driving the characters are as prominent as their resulting actions.
I like reading stories in interna More...
I like reading stories in interna More...
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