In Jo Nesbo’s latest novel, “The Leopard,” series protagonist Harry Hole enters the picture in a smoke-filled haze attempting to heal his wounds through evading his past as a former crime-scene detective. These days, Harry is as reckless as ever — beat up, addicted to drugs, and hell bent on staying away from his former employment. But, somehow, Harry’s past refuses to let go.
While the novel was originally published in Nesbo’s native Norwegian language in 2009, the book was not translated into English and republished until this year. Translator Don Bartlett, who has previously worked with Nesbo, manages to preserve the story without loss in translation along the way.
The novel opens with an inner monologue from a woman. We have no idea who she is, but there is a sense of impending doom as she awaits her next torture. While readers follow along hoping for the best outcome, sadly for the woman, her future is already written.
Now, only a short while later, the woman has made history as becoming part of a string of unsolved murders that leaves Harry’s former investigative department baffled. A group of those colleagues enlists to find Harry with hope that he will solve the crime before the next murder is committed.
After taking a momentary leave of absence, his colleagues find Harry consumed by an opium addiction — failing to put the pieces of his life back together from where readers last left off in “The Snowman.”
While much of Nesbo’s novels chronicle life in Norway, “The Leopard” takes a brief interlude in the opening when Harry is found isolated in Hong Kong.
The plot focuses on a series of murders that are all seemingly unrelated. However, Harry refuses to accept that disconnection, urging him further into the crime. Two brutal murders of women have already taken place, but following the third, Harry realizes that without his instincts, the killer, now dubbed Prince Charming, may never be found.
While the name of the killer may elicit some raised eyebrows due to the graphic nature of how each woman is killed, Nesbo’s dark emphasis creates strong lines between good and evil.
The most enjoyable aspect about Nesbo is his ability to write in mind of the reader. Even more excellent, is his nature to often do the complete opposite of readers’ expectations — a technique that has led to his acclaim. While the conclusion of the novel manages to tie up loose ends from the previous novel, it also leave ones at large for future works.
Rating: W W W W
| Tweet | Follow @wkdr |
|
|
