The Bat: Read the first thrilling Harry Hole novel from the No.1 Sunday Times bestseller (Harry Hole, 1)

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A picture of a boat is discovered after it has been realized that Birgitta is not in the apartment, and they head out to find it. What he discovers, is that this murder seems to be a part of a larger string of rape murders, all happening to blonde haired women, of Norwegian descent.

With special thanks to the person who placed it in the hotel used book library that enabled me to read it while on holiday last week. Here I am sitting in a bar, Harry thought, listening to a transvestite lecturing on Australian politics. The bar introduces Harry more to Birgitta Enquist, whom he asks on a date, and whom he develops a very emotional relationship.Through Birgitta we get more of Harry's back story, which, having been following Harry, we learn he was an alcoholic.

Also, the characters are generally well-developed, and it’s nice to see a queer character or two that isn’t entirely stereotypical show up in a book that’s now some 25 years old. Andrew gets frantic, attempting to warn Harry not to be bring Otto in, but given his condition he can't quite seem to get out what he wants to say. Still, it isn’t enough of a distraction to take anything away from Nesbø’s confident and masterful storytelling style. In fairness I wasn't all that impressed with Nesbo's next thriller 'Redbreast' either but that's more personal taste than a continuing lack of writing skill.

January’s the tourist season in Australia,” Andrew explained as they lurched forward in the traffic around Circular Quay. With a stiff back and jet lag beginning to announce its presence, Harry and his suitcase were now alone on a pavement in a town boasting a population roughly equivalent to the whole of Norway, outside the splendid Crescent Hotel. Picked up from the airport by Andrew Kensington Harry is thrust into Australian culture rather quickly. The mystery itself is well-constructed, despite a number of sequences where the author would shove clues in our face.

First of all, they take our people’s pride, and when it’s gone they’re scared to death of treading on it.What you’re gonna do is watch carefully while we haul the bastard in, tell the Norwegian press along the way what a wonderful job we’re doing together—making sure we don’t offend anyone at the Norwegian Embassy, or relatives—and otherwise enjoy a break and send a card or two to your dear Chief Constable. The Harry Hole character displays the brilliance of a Sherlock Holmes combined with the angst of a man constantly battling alcohol and the demons from his past.