Jo Nesbo | KNIFE

Plot (via Goodreads):

Harry Hole is not in a good place. Rakel--the only woman he's ever loved--has ended it with him, permanently. He's been given a chance for a new start with the Oslo Police but it's in the cold case office, when what he really wants is to be investigating cases he suspects have ties to Svein Finne, the serial rapist and murderer who Harry helped put behind bars. And now, Finne is free after a decade-plus in prison--free, and Harry is certain, unreformed and ready to take up where he left off. But things will get worse. When Harry wakes up the morning after a blackout, drunken night with blood that's clearly not his own on his hands, it's only the very beginning of what will be a waking nightmare the likes of which even he could never have imagined.

Review:

Jo Nesbo is one of those authors that I've only read once before and I still consider him one of my favorite authors. His way of telling a story and creating a detective like Harry Hole is astonishing. It takes a lot for someone to keep my interest in a story for over 400 pages and Jo Nesbo is among one of the finest crime fiction writers I can think of. The Harry Hole series is dark and brooding. It's terrifying in its crime and yet heartfelt within its characters. These novels are dark and Knife may be the darkest one yet.

Harry Hole has hit rock bottom. Rakel has left him, he's drinking again, and a serial rapist and murderer that he arrested has been released. Think it can get any worse? It absolutely can. The plot to this one is reminiscent of one of those life-shattering hangovers. Everything is bleak and depressing, there's no light at the end of the tunnel, and it's emotionally draining. Well, Knife is better than a hangover, but the symptoms are all in the same. What I loved about this plot was that it kind of crosses over a couple of different cases and brings back some heavy hitters from the Harry Hole series. Of course, the most enjoyable part of this novel other than Harry himself, is the Oslo setting and the way that Nesbo can make you feel like you are trailing on Harry's heels as he pushes himself dangerously into a case that could possibly be his last. As I mentioned before, this is only my second Harry Hole novel but I am eagerly awaiting the day I can start this series from the beginning because it is that enjoyable!

I don't want to give too much away as to what happens in this one, but I loved reading Harry and as crazy as it sounds, Harry is best when he is in turmoil. His actions, his words, everything about him just is at an all-time entertainment level and will keep the readers investment at a concerning level almost to the point of obsession. I devoured this read in one day and during the first big storm of the summer and all I could think of was "please don't let the power go out" because I was in fear of losing reading light during this epic story. As much as I loved The Snowman, I think Knife is giving it a run for its money in terms of what Harry Hole novel may be my favorite. I was so invested in this story that I would stop about every 50-100 pages and tell my parents what was going on because I was just so dumbfounded with everything happening. A brilliant story throughout with a devastating and shocking finale - Harry Hole, I will be devouring all of the titles in this series very soon.

Special thanks to Alfred Knopf and Abby with @crimebythebook for this copy in exchange for my honest review.

Rating: 5/5