Review of The Phantom – Jo Nesbo
Been a few weeks but I can’t be inspired by the Barcelona Milan Champions League tie so I thought I’d write a wee review of the latest Jo Nesbo, Harry Hole book.
First up, spoiler alert. To give my opinion there’s certain facts about this fact which will appear in my review. So if you don’t want your reading enjoymemt spoiled, look away now.
All safe now?
Well, this book is quite sad for me. Why? Well unless Nesbo believes in zombies, this is Harry Hole’s final case and given the nature of the case and the facts of the murder this is very sad.
However, that doesn’t detract what is a very well plotted story that cracks along a swift pace and makes you turn the pages and move on quickly. In fact, it only took me a couple of intensive day’s reading to put it to bed.
The book starts with the viewpoint of a rat trying to get past a dead person to feed its babies in its nest which is blocked off by that person. This is a bit strange and ultimately rather pointless.
That aside we encounter Harry returning from his Far East sojourn. We’re not sure why but soon learn that his former lover, Rakel’s son, Oleg is being held for the murder of his drug buddy, Gusto in a drug fuelled shoot out.
There are all manner of subplots involving airline pilots, Russian gangsters, bent policemen, randy big chested politicians and desperate rats!
Most of these are good reading but some ultimately fail the way they kind of fade away.
However, none of this detract from the rattling, good plot and the fact that a lot of flab that made the Leopard a bit tiresome is missing. Although some would say that this could still have been slimmed down.
That said the saddest thing about this story is that Harry is retired off in a very final way making it a book end to what has been a very entertaining, stimulating series.
I read recently that a film versions of The Snowman is in production and that Headhunter is about to be release in this country in the cinema. This is all very good news for those that can’t get enough of Jo Nesbo’s fast paced, riveting writing. I for one look forward to what he has in mind for the future.
