Book review: The Devil’s Star, by Jo Nesbo

Jo Nesbo is a prolific Scandinavian author who has sold millions of books world-wide and for many a traveler via train and plane the hue of his books will be familiar on the eye, being as they are generally on display in WH Smith and the like. The Devil’s Star is the first book from Nesbo I’ve read, a gift from Mrs. Stewart for my birthday last month.

A murderer is on the loose in stifling Oslo, a city in the grip of a summer heat wave and under the dark shadow of a serial killer who takes a finger and leaves a red diamond on the victim. The shape of the diamond? You guessed it, a pentagram.

The killer’s victims are seemingly chosen at random and his (for it is always a he, eh?) modus operandi seems to be dominated by the number five: sides in a pentagram, intended victims, days between murders, time of day when killed and so on. In short, he’s a psycho – but can at least count.

Chasing after him we have the reluctant cop Harry Hole – who could well be Michael Connolly’s own Harry [Bosch] – and his colleague Tom. Harry and Tom don’t get on. Harry thinks Tom killed a fellow officer. Harry is an alcoholic with relationship issues. Usual cop-in-books stuff. You know the drill by now.

Most importantly the plot and the narrative are strong and I do enjoy a Scandinavian translation for some reason. Nesbo describes the summer siege on Oslo wonderfully well. The description of the city and its denizens, alongside the intrigue and plotting is well laid out. The dialogue is fierce and typically without any flab – every word matters even though c. 500 pages of them is needed to get the story done.

If I had one complaint, it would be that I found the identification of killer easy to work out early on. Nesbo’s misinformation didn’t fool me, and even appeared forced at times, as if he was trying to convince himself as much as me. Of course, I doubt it was me personally he was trying to sway.

The Devil’s Star is a good read, fast-paced and gripping. Worth a look through if you are stuck at an airport with no book and need to make a choice.

7/10