Why is this book called 'The Leopard'?

[Prince]

There is no mention of any leopard, and even the serial killer is dubbed 'Prince Charming'. Where does the leopard come in? Is it something lost in translation?

[Richard]

The blood spatter on the snow is compared to the leopard's spots. The dust jacket of the edition I read shows this.

[Prince]

Marguerite wrote: "The leopard is the device inserted in the mouth of victims. As I recall, the device, once inserted expands and efforts to remove it results in releasing razor-sharp hooks...Unless, of course, I've ..."

Nope, the device used to kill the victims is called Leopold's Apple.

[Sharon]

Anyone who READ it knows it was the apple device used to kill.....

[Richard]

Sharon wrote: "Anyone who READ it knows it was the apple device used to kill....."

And that's why YOU should read this excellent book. The device is indeed called Leopold's Apple, and Harry Hole thinks of a leopard's spots when he sees the spatter of blood on the floor.

[Sharon]

Richard wrote: "Sharon wrote: "Anyone who READ it knows it was the apple device used to kill....."

And that's why YOU should read this excellent book. The device is indeed called Leopold's Apple, and Harry Hole t..."

Read it September 2011 and finished Phantom earlier this month. So I would not ask the question!

[Eline]

It's a very good thriller. Spots on snow? Maybe. But not the apple. One has to wonder how King Leopold came to be associated with such a gruesome device. I'm looking forward to reading more Harry Hole mysteries.

[Colleen]

The book is amazing - does it really matter what the title was translated into? Be sure to help convince the publisher to translate the first 2 books in the series. We really need to know what happened in Australia...

[Sharon]

Colleen wrote: "The book is amazing - does it really matter what the title was translated into? Be sure to help convince the publisher to translate the first 2 books in the series. We really need to know what ha..."

Absolutely.....I loved all the books but was very disappointed with his last Phantom....very.

[Colleen]

Perhaps the white spots on Bellman"s face had something to do with the title. However at the very beginning, he speaks of how a Leopard stalks his prey without any noise or warning.

[get stuffed]

Contains ending spoiler***

That is a good question - like many books and movies you forget about the title and it's meaning.

Agree with all that has been said. I like Jo Nesbo's work but some of it is beyond 'the suspension of belief' - and I'm pretty gullible. The killing device was pretty ridiculous but the denoument at the volcano was hilarious.

[Sharon]

Jim wrote: "Contains ending spoiler***

That is a good question - like many books and movies you forget about the title and it's meaning.

Agree with all that has been said. I like Jo Nesbo's work but some of ..."

Well, wait til you read the last...Phantom then! Look forward to hearing your comments....

[get stuffed]

Contains Spoilers**
I finished The Phantom a couple of weeks ago. As a writer I'm in awe of his changes in POV and switches in narrative but he does have a propensity to include items that are well beyond the ridiculous (his escape from the water filled tunnel for example).
His books contain an odd mixture of the arcane (which I love) and the silly (less likeable - a new drug called violin?)

As with Henkell's final Wallendar novel I think Nesbo has take two or three previously unfinished books and thrown them together to finish the Hole series.

I still think The Snowman was his best Harry Hole novel.

[get stuffed]

OK, here's a quote from the book re The Leopard title.

“She couldn’t hear anything, but she could sense a presence. Like a leopard. Someone had told her leopards made so little noise they could sneak right up to their prey in the dark. They could regulate their breathing so that it was in tune with yours. Could hold their breath when you held yours.”

[Terri]

Thanks Jim - that was the quote I tried to find.

[Jo]

Colleen wrote: "Perhaps the white spots on Bellman"s face had something to do with the title. However at the very beginning, he speaks of how a Leopard stalks his prey without any noise or warning."
I agree about the description of the silent stalking of the leopard - and a similar feeling describing the killer stalking the victim that was killed in the park. For awhile I thought maybe Bellman was somehow involved, because of the spots on his face, but no.

[Lanatomia]

The Leopard refers to the stalker of the girl in the park because he was silent and no one could hear his footsteps. It was a metaphor for someone who could be very close but invisible. I'm listening to the book on tape or else I could give a page number.

[Carl]

The Leopold's Apple is a nice device to add some gruesomeness to the story. However being a history buff with an irritating habit of correcting inaccuracies, such a thing probably never existed. Just too complicated and advanced for the Belgians who were torturing and exploiting the Congolese in the late 1800's and early 1900s. And torture, murder and exploit they did with relish. For a good account of the history of King Leopold's horrible African exploits, read King Leopold's Ghost, by Adam Hochschild. A great, well-written exposé.

[Lucky]

Sharon wrote: "Richard wrote: "Sharon wrote: "Anyone who READ it knows it was the apple device used to kill....."

And that's why YOU should read this excellent book. The device is indeed called Leopold's Apple, ..."


your an idiot

[Sharon]

Lucky wrote: "Sharon wrote: "Richard wrote: "Sharon wrote: "Anyone who READ it knows it was the apple device used to kill....."

And that's why YOU should read this excellent book. The device is indeed called Le..."

Calling someone an idiot is not going to inspire constructive discussion....!

[Richard]

>>your an idiot <<

Point, set and match to me.

[Jenna]

Jay wrote: "The first paragraph of the Wikipedia entry regarding The Leopard comments on the name, the original title, in Norwegian, has nothing to do with a leopard but the effect on Harry Hole. See:

http://..."

So interesting! Thanks for sharing! I actually thought that Harry was The Leopard, always trying to change "his spots." Couldn't have been farther off the mark!

[Line]

I read the book in Norwegian, and if I don't remember totally wrong "Panserhjerte" (the Norwegian title) was the name of the device. I never understood the translation, but then again I haven't read it in English.

[Shane]

Doesn't the eventual killer have a skin condition that gives him sort of spots that contrast with his natural skin tone? He's the leapord, a predator.

[Gwenllian]

opening pages describe the killer as moving as silently as a leopard. pretty straightforward