Reviews

The Bat by Jo Nesbø

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mkhaas29's review against another edition

3.0

I think I was expecting something a little darker and grittier (not to say that a serial rapist and killer isn't dark and gritty) but it's written at such a clip to feel a little less like the Norwegian Noir I was anticipating. Perhaps that's because my first Nesbo book was The Son. I've heard the series picks up with time. I'll get back to them someday but not immediately.

kandicez's review against another edition

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3.0

I have very mixed feelings about this book. I really liked Harry Hole (Holy, here) and so did everyone else in the book. That's one thing that bugged me. I know charisma exists, but everyone Harry encounters seems to immediately trust and love him as if they've been acquainted for decades, not mere hours or days. Especially when Harry is a "fallen" man. I won't go into how he fell, because that sets up his personality for the series, but it's part of what I liked about him. As a reader. As a human being, if I met Harry, I would be a bit reserved until I had taken his measure, not immediately be willing to place my life in his hands.

Another thing that seemed unrealistic to me was that despite being an office of the law, he seemed to have no budget and no superiors to report to or explain his actions. Now maybe law enforcement is not the same the world over, and of course I am only familiar with America's version, but there can't be unlimited finds, can there? If so, we are doing something very wrong as a country! Harry flew all over and spread money around as if he were a fat cat. It may be realistic, but it didn't seem so to me.

I bought a few of the titles in this series on the recommendation of a friend and I ma hoping I like the others a bit better. I didn't dislike this as my three stars can attest, but I didn't love it. The writing was great and I am willing to forgive a lot of plot snags, and even holes, in the pursuit of good writing, but I will be expecting more from the next.

hkent80's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

3.0

rj_novotny's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

gailxoxo's review against another edition

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4.0

I've had this book about 15 year and just never got round to reading it. Lots of interesting twists and turns. As a detective, Harry Hole is far from perfect. It reminds me of hard smoking, hard drinking 1940s crime noir mixed with a modern jack reacher ( without the pyshsic or the fighting ability). It was a great book to break up my normal fare. Can't wait for the next one.