The Bat

Holy. Those readers who love character-driven crime fiction can be voracious in wanting to consume every word written about a favorite protagonist. To satisfy this demand, we can finally read Jo Nesbo’s first Harry Hole novel, The Bat. Set in Australia, the younger Harry behaves just like the older one: impulsively, doggedly, intoxicated and creatively. In Sydney, Harry is introduced as “Holy,” so that may be how his name should be pronounced, although Nesbo, whose name is pronounced “Yo,” has become reconciled to being called “Joe” by many English-speaking readers. All Harry Hole fans will love this first installment to help round out the story of this great detective character. New readers can start here or elsewhere and find a well-told story and a complicated and compelling protagonist. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase The Bat from amazon.com.