Harry Hole

Harry Hole is the protagonist in a series of crime thrillers by Norwegian Jo Nesbø. A detective in the Oslo Police Department, Harry is usually tolerated by his superiors and colleagues despite his habitual alcoholism and unorthodox methods because he is a brilliant detective. The first two novels in the series are set in respectively Australia and Thailand, while all the subsequent ones largely take place in and around Oslo. The series has been translated into several languages, reaching bestseller status in Britain and Germany, and contains nine novels so far:


 * 1997 – Flaggermusmannen
 * 1998 – Kakerlakkene
 * 2000 – Rødstrupe; English translation: The Redbreast (2006)
 * 2002 – Sorgenfri; English translation: Nemesis (2008)
 * 2003 – Marekors; English translation: The Devil's Star (2005)
 * 2005 – Frelseren; English translation: The Redeemer (2009)
 * 2007 – Snømannen; English translation: The Snowman (2010)
 * 2009 – Panserhjerte; English translation: The Leopard (2011)
 * 2011 – Gjenferd

Flaggermusmannen (literally Bat Man), Kakerlakkene (literally Cockroaches), and Gjenferd (Ghost) have yet to be translated into English; the others have been translated by Don Bartlett. The Redeemer does not appear to have been released in the United States.

Nesbø's strong anti-authoritarian streak and concern for women in peril have earned him comparisons to the late Stieg Larsson, although Nesbø's work tends to be less overtly Anvilicious than Larsson's. His plotting has also been highly praised. The Redbreast was voted the best Norwegian crime novel of all time by a poll of Norwegian readers, and  Flaggermusmannen won the Glass Key award for Best Nordic Crime Novel.


 * Crapsack World: Very much so, particularly when it comes to Harry's private life, and it gets worse as the series goes on.
 * Defective Detective: Harry, of course.
 * Never Suicide: Nemesis
 * Norse by Norsewest: Brutally averted in the novels that are set in Oslo, which is portrayed as full of druggies, neo-Nazis, prostitutes, corrupt policemen and businessmen, and the occasional Serial Killer.
 * Rape as Drama: Happens at least twice, due in no small part to the Crapsack World setting.
 * The Stoic: A rather large number of the sympathetic characters. Averted by Hole himself, though, who is frequently driven to drown his sorrows.
 * Serial Killer: A recurring trope, as Harry is one the very few people in Norway who has direct experience with serial killers. Played straight in Flaggermusmannen and The Snowman, but subverted in  (and, to a lesser extent,  ), where the killer turns out to have a rational motive.
 * Shout-Out: Flaggermusmannen and Rødstrupe translate to Bat Man and Robin. Snømannen translates to Snow Man (Mr. Freeze?)
 * Shout-Out: Flaggermusmannen and Rødstrupe translate to Bat Man and Robin. Snømannen translates to Snow Man (Mr. Freeze?)