Phantom

Identity. Check the five day weather forecast before you start reading Jo Nesbo’s novel, Phantom. There’s enough gloom and misery in this novel to spoil the sunniest day, so I can’t imagine the experience of reading this on a gloomy or cloudy day. Protagonist Harry Hole is one of the most complex characters in modern fiction. He has the moral core of the policeman he has been, and the erratic behavior of the alcoholic he has also been. The extremes of love and hate are never distant from the daily life of Harry Hole. While each novel in this novel stands alone, there’s richness for readers who have followed the trajectory of Harry’s life. I won’t even bother with reference to the plot here because the reason to pick up this novel is to enter into a complex life and watch the tension between good and evil play out, no matter what else is going on. Fans of crime fiction are those most likely to enjoy this novel and this series, provided one has a high tolerance for gloom. Rating: Three-star (Recommended) Click here to purchase Phantom from amazon.com.