FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE SNOWMAN - OVER 9 MILLION BOOKS SOLD WORLDWIDE. THE MARK OF THE DEVIL, THE SIGN OF A KILLER...A young woman is murdered in her flat and a tiny red diamond in the shape of a five-pointed star is found behind her eyelid. Detective Harry Hole is assigned to the case, alongside his long-time adversary Tom Waaler and initially wants no part in it. But Harry is already his final warning and has little alternative but to drag himself out of his alcoholic stupor when it becomes apparent that Oslo has a serial killer on its hands. 'Nesbo sets a cracking pace...A series of spectacular plot twists leads to a thrilling finale. Highly recommended' Guardian.

About the Author

Jo Nesbo is a musician, songwriter, economist and author. His first crime novel featuring Harry Hole was published in Norway in 1997 and was an instant hit, winning the Glass Key Award for best Nordic crime novel (an accolade shared with Peter Hoeg, Henning Mankell and Karin Fossum). Another of the series was recently voted best Norwegian crime novel of all time by Norwegian readers. The Devil's Star is the first of his novels to be translated into English

Prizes

Detective Harry Hole: an angry and off-the-rails detective who wants to play the game by his own rules

Reviews

A serial killer taunts Harry Hole in Nesbo's searing third crime novel to feature the Oslo police detective to be made available in the U.S. (after Nemesis). Still suffering from alcohol-fueled demons and obsessed with hunting for evidence against a clearly dirty cop, Hole grudgingly agrees to help look into the murder of a woman whose finger has been amputated and a red diamond stuck under her eyelid. More bodies follow, with the murderer leaving identical five-pointed diamonds (the titular devil's star) at each crime scene. At first the killings appear to be random, but Hole soon discovers an ominous pattern. Nesbo brilliantly incorporates threads from earlier novels, including Hole's often tumultuous relationship with his lover, Rakel, without ever losing the current story's rhythm. Even with-or perhaps because of-his flaws, Hole is arguably one of today's most fascinating fictional detectives. 5-city author tour. (Mar.) Copyright 2010 Reed Business Information.

The Next Big Thing... Absolutely gripping Daily Telegraph Compelling...Shocking and surprising...expertly paced...I place Nesbo high up in the Scandinavian mystery league The Times A well-crafted rollercoaster of a book...Nesbo sets a cracking pace...A series of spectacular plot twists lead to a thrilling finale. Highly recommended Guardian Terrific...A stunning twist turns this into a first-rate thriller Sunday Telegraph

Devastated by his inability to convince his superiors that fellow detective Tom Waaler is both guilty of his former partner Ellen's murder (The Redbreast) and an arms dealer, Harry Hole goes on a four-week bender. Dragged back to work by his loyal boss, Harry is partnered with Waaler to investigate what quickly looks like a serial killer on the loose in Oslo who leaves star-shaped red diamonds with his victims. Upset by his inability to maintain a relationship with girlfriend Rakel and her son, Harry dries out and buries himself in the case, investigating with only the help of forensic tech Beate and determined not only to identify the killer but finally to get Waaler. Verdict Harry is one of the best lone-wolf cops for the 21st century, and Nesbo's third book is equally as good as The Redbreast and Nemesis. Scandinavian noir is alive and well, and Nesbo is one of its best authors. Highly recommended, especially for readers who like Henning Mankell's Kurt Wallander series (Faceless Killers) or Arnaldur Indridason's Inspector Erlendur series (Jar City).-Jessica Moyer, Univ. of Minnesota, Coll. of Education & Human Development, Minneapolis Copyright 2010 Reed Business Information.