Phantom
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I loved the ending, including the update on Harry given by the rat,
Love Harry and Nesbo, hated the structure of this book. He punishes HH too much and plays around with point-of-view in a way that's distracting and seemingly only there to fill out the pages. (Mini-spoiler coming ... ) For example, the assassin in the early section of the book is farcical - the bad guy couldn't really anticipate Harry's actions to such an extent to warrant this degree of forethought. And to be spoken to by a dead guy, as we are throughout, is just bizarre. And not in a good way. Hope the next is better.
This series is my favorite of all time. For other Nesbo fans, the first in the HH series "The Bat" has been published in English!
Lisa wrote: "heartbroken"Yes, me too but I felt it coming so had time to prepare. There was just no where left for him to go.
Harry's not dead, if that's what you're worried about. Nesbo says he has the whole series mapped out so I'm sure he hasn't killed him off yet. Especially as he's just becoming super-famous and earning the dollars!
Keith wrote: "Harry's not dead, if that's what you're worried about. Nesbo says he has the whole series mapped out so I'm sure he hasn't killed him off yet. Especially as he's just becoming super-famous and earn..."Cool! But he sure seemed dead to me. Happy to be wrong.
I too thought Harry had died - but in an interview with Nesbo earlier this year I read how he stated that when Harry dies, he will be going straight to hell. To me it sounded like a "bender" was in Harry's future. Think about it, the boy he loved like a son tried to kill him, he has let Rakel down again - what does he have left to be good for...
I thought Harry died too! Until I read the interview given by one of the goodreaders. I was disappointed that Nesbo didn't let Harry go. Of course I love the character but I thought Nesbo is exceptionally smart to let go of HH. Not many author can let their number one detective go.
More like WTG! Only one way to go for Hole from here & that is down, down, down to Hell's dark hole. Happiness is NOT in his DNA, which is a huge part of Harry's appeal: his humanness in his drunkenness & brokenness. Although it was cool to see the "father figure" in him, as well as staying true to his "once a cop, always a cop" roots. I wouldn't be surprised if Nesbo does eventually kill off his ace detective one of these days since the author is known for his complex & creative twists; just not TODAY, as the rat gives us hope in the end of Harry's still beating heart. Looking forward to where Nesbo takes him from here: only one way to go once you hit rock bottom, right? Although in Hole's case, you never know.
Spoiler alert!Since I've finished reading Phantom yesterday,I can't stop thinking about one thing- is that old poor in the cemetery Dubai?Because all the other descriptions at the end of the book are logic-Irene gets well,Truls gets rid of Michael and so on,like happy ending,BUT WHAT THAT FOR to tell about unknown priest and that gravestone(seems like the one used to communicate by Dubai and Truls)???Who else is the same suspicious as I am?Is Dubai alive?
If Harry can survive anything, so can Dubai, especially since Nesbo portrayed so many similarities between the two (i.e. Dubai basically & physically an older version of Hole, Dubai a father & Harry a father figure, etc.)...so I guess we'll have to wait and see...
HH had on a bullet proof vest. I had to reread the last chapter. What a shocker!
Nesbo is one of my favorites. Phantom has great writing, an interesting plot, and yet is tremendously upsetting. Why ruin Oleg? And the ending? How sad. I have a fondness for Nesbo's earlier works, Redreast and Nemesis. Tricky plot lines and strong character development were more in evidence in them.
Fantastic read, much better to have to think about things you have read through the book in order to come to correct conclusion at the end than see it spelled out for you.I thought this book was like all the harry books absolutely mint.
thank god for bullet proof vests and pistols that are a bit...wayward
Wonder if Harry will make it one piece? Nesbo is a star.
Who actually killed Gusto? And does Rakel know her father is The Redbreast?
Carol wrote: "Who actually killed Gusto? And does Rakel know her father is The Redbreast?"Oleg killed him for drugs, did you read the ending?
I did read the ending, but there was something about it that made it seem that perhaps it wasn't Oleg. Unfortunately the book I read is back at the library so I cannot quote it.
I have an e-book edition,I always read on my e-reader! maybe I read it too fast, I am absolutely sure Harry explained it in the last few pages, before that we were almost led to think it was Irena's brother and before that Dubai!Harry bought Oleg a game and got his fingerprints which he compared to the one at the crimescene, where he found the secret drug stash in the wall!
There was something in the conversation at the end, with Harry and Oleg, that made me question it... But perhaps I'm trying to read into it all as I don't want Oleg to be the one!
yes, it was quite shocking :( Oleg killed Harry, or thought he did, because he didn't want Harry to report him and Harry with his moral rules, didn't see any other choice than to do what he had to!I am thrilled to read Harry most probably didn't die! I really like his troubled character, I can relate to him in many ways :)
I love these books too - in fact, I just got a copy of "Redeemer" - finally out in the US. Guess what I'll be reading tonight!?
That's cool, it's a good book but I had objections on it and I wish I could have told about it to the author - it's about war in ex Yugoslavia and the author is sadly not well informed and lot of facts are untrue, I am originally from Croatia so I was a bit sad because people shouldn't write in details about things they're not well informed of, also, most writers give characters from the Balkans names which aren't from there at all - it's funny. Still a great read, apart from that I enjoyed it!I am glad I mostly read them chronologically except from the Redbreast which isn't somewhat of interesting thematic to me, Cockroaches still isn't translated, unsure about it? and the last one I read, for that same reason is the first case in Australia which is the weakest link!
The new Harry Hole novel - Politi - just came out in Norway this week. September 12 the UK version hits the shelves....reviews say one of the best from him. Cannot wait!
Colleen wrote: "The new Harry Hole novel - Politi - just came out in Norway this week. September 12 the UK version hits the shelves....reviews say one of the best from him. Cannot wait!"wow thank you so much for awesome news - you made my day, you know! :)
Keith wrote: "And to be spoken to by a dead guy, as we are throughout, is just bizarre."Although I really enjoyed the book, that was my biggest complaint with it, too. I thought that point-of-view character was kind of a forced way to give the reader certain information he/she needed.
So he didn't die in the end?
Jeff wrote: "So he didn't die in the end?"I'm guessing no since the latest Harry Hole novel has been released in Norway. Hope the English version comes out soon.
Police is another great installment of the HH series and there are a lot of tricks in writing in this book. You have to finish the book in order to get some answers.....
Love Harry Hole. Read the book Jeff. I live in the good old USA and love foreign authors. Love Jo Nesbo.
Carrie wrote: "Jeff wrote: "So he didn't die in the end?"I'm guessing no since the latest Harry Hole novel has been released in Norway. Hope the English version comes out soon."
Order it from Amazon.uk, it is out there.
I get confused. Norway, Sweden. There is a new one out. Police is the name of it.
Connie wrote: "I get confused. Norway, Sweden. There is a new one out. Police is the name of it."released in the UK on the 12th of September under the title "POLICE".
Jo Nesbo being a Norwegian writer it stands to reason that the Scandinavian countries had an earlier release.
i am from Hong Kong and love to read that nesbo writing about Hong Kong! however in the second last chapter, harry talked to oleg "Because i've been in love with the same woman.....But when night comes you've forgotten and you're in love again. And nothing can compete with this love, not even Irene...."
i cannot quite understand this, is it implying that oleg loves drug more than irene?
or it implies a specific person? Gusto?
Just finished Phantom. This is now the third killer Harry has gone after that is a major person in Rakel's life--father, boyfriend, son. What's the deal with that?
I would run away from her as fast as humanly possible, but then again I am no Harry Hole.
Antonia wrote: "Just finished Phantom. This is now the third killer Harry has gone after that is a major person in Rakel's life--father, boyfriend, son. What's the deal with that?"You are absolutely right. How come I didnt make that connection. There's a saying that goes something like girls attracts to bad boys. So, in this case, vice-versa? Cuz HH is no saint. Now that they are together who's next in line in Rakel's life who'll turn?
I wasn't really so shocked that Harry got shot given his lifestyle and associates. What I was shocked at was who did the shooting! Absolutely did not see that coming.
He had backed Oleg into a corner and like a rat he did what he thought he had to do to survive. Was interesting to finally get an answer to what drives Harry to do what he does, and his allegiance to the law and fight for justice is stronger than any other bond. Hope this keeps his heart beating for awhile longer.
Can someone explain to me what happened please?
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However, I am reserving my final judgement until the next installment. When one is as distraught, confused and dissillusioned, as I was upon reading the final chapters, there must be a pause, a corralling of the emotions, and a stalwart resolve to suspend the anger and incomprehension that has been visited upon them. HH speaks to me. For now he is silent, but I eagerly await his next words, and pray the breath that carries them is moist with life.