The Bat: Read the first thrilling Harry Hole novel from the No.1 Sunday Times bestseller (Harry Hole, 1)

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I could raise a few grumbles, were I to be so uncharitable, in that the ending seems to be exciting but a little too contrived (why would a fleeing murderer be in that particular location?) and that a realist might raise a sceptical eyebrow at the situation in which, in a country the size of Australia, all of the protagonists are not only in the same place at the same time but all have relationships with each other. It is a testament to Mr Nesbo's skill that, while you're reading the book, none of these inconsistencies get in the way of your enjoyment. OK, Holy, I’ll be honest with you and tell you how the land lies. I’ve been told in no uncertain terms by my governor that councillors in Sydney would like to see this case cleared up as soon as possible. As usual, it’s all about politics and dosh.” Very interesting for various reasons. Intriguing, gripping. Not nearly as gripping as was reading 'Snowman', but still a highly enjoyable read. It left me with some very nice moments (and others not so nice) and several things I know I will not soon forget. Harry Hole considered his options. He had decided to spend the first days in Australia correcting the pronunciation of his surname so that he wouldn’t be confused with apertures or orifices. Mr. Holy however, was infinitely preferable.

Harry felt a bead of sweat running down between his shoulder blades. This heat was giving him goose pimples. A Norwegian girl is found brutally murdered, and the Australian police send for a Norwegian policeman to pacify the country's Embassy. His heart sank, as it invariably did when there was a hint of a catastrophe in the offing. Perhaps ‘sir’ was used only when situations became critical?The Bat begins in the most non-Nordic location imaginable, with Harry Hole arriving in Sydney, Australia. He’s there at the request of the Australian police who are investigating the murder of Norwegian TV presenter and minor TV celebrity, 23-year-old Inger Holter. The Australian authorities had recovered her body from the sea after someone had beaten and raped her. The Australian police don’t actually want Hole’s help investigating the case. They are only hopeful that having a Norwegian police officer around will allay Norwegian tourists’ fears so that the valuable Scandinavian tourism won’t dry up with all the negative press. The first in the Harry Hole series which sees the detective sent to Australia to help assist in a murder inquiry of a young Norwegian student whilst on a gap year in Sydney.

It is fantastic to see a younger Harry, a more loquacious Harry.... [Nesbø is] a terrific writer who knows how to build a story, taking you slowly to the top of a rollercoaster before sending you hurtling towards a solution that you never see coming.” The Bat is the first book in the Harry Hole series and while this was an average story it did establish the character that has since gone on to facilitate some very engrossing thrillers. This book had too many plot holes and a constant question of why start a series about a Scandinavian investigator travelling to Australia. I can only presume that Jo Nesbo felt his home location may not have provided the most appealing setting for his debut. Perhaps my criticism is influenced by knowledge of how the series subsequently developed. It is clear that Jo Nesbo has an eye for suspense, surprises and a deadly killer. Respecto de la historia, hasta la mitad del libro se siente bastante simple; una investigación que avanza sin muchos sobresaltos por diferentes localidades de Australia, hasta donde llega Harry para colaborar con la policía australiana en la resolución de un caso de violación y asesinato de una ciudadana noruega residente en Sidney, que en el pasado había logrado cierta fama animando programas infantiles. En esta primera parte se disfruta mucho el relato de varias leyendas del pueblo aborigen australiano, principalmente narradas por Andrew, el compañero asignado a Harry por la policía local y que, al menos para mí, se roba el protagonismo de la novela. De todas maneras, lo recomiendo sobre todo para continuar la serie y entender mejor los demonios de Harry Hole. Harry is already every bit as volcanic as in his later cases. The big difference is Australia, which Nesbø, seeing it through the eyes of both a tourist and a cultural pathologist, makes you wonder how much different it is from Norway after all.Here Norwegian author Jo Nesbo first introduces Harry Hole, an unconventional, very young detective. Harry has been sent to Australia to help investigate the murder of Ingrid Holter, a young, blonde Norwegian woman with an Australian work permit. Harry's first discovery is that no one there can pronounce his name correctly, always calling him "Hole," as in "mole." Ironically, he starts referring to himself as "Holy," much closer to the correct pronunciation, though not to his character, and the spelling continues in the narrative. His second discovery is that he will be working with a powerfully built former boxing champion, an Aborigine on the force whom Harry finds intriguing, both personally and culturally. The basics: Norwegian detective Harry Hole is sent to Sydney, Australia to help investigate the murder of a Norwegian woman, Inger Holter. Australian officials don't really want his help, but he digs into the case anyway. He's paired up with an Aborigine detective, Andrew Kensington. Hole (pronounced Hole-y) finds that there are similar killings of other blonde women, turning the investigation into the search for a serial killer. A tall, broad man with a stomach designed to impress was standing by the window, behind an oak desk. Beneath a thinning mane protruded gray bushy eyebrows, but the wrinkles around his eyes smiled. Respecto de la historia, hasta la mitad del libro se siente bastante simple; una investigación que avanza sin muchos sobresaltos por diferentes localidades de Australia, hasta donde llega Harry para colaborar con la policía australiana en la resolución de un caso de violación y asesinato de una ciudadana noruega residente en Sidney, que en el pasado había logrado cierta fama animando programas infantiles. En esta pri

During the times that he is halfway sober he continues to investigate the serial killings and the death of Andrew Kensington. The more he finds out about Kensington the more secrets that are revealed. These shrouded bits of information lead to more secrets and many of them seem to involve a friend of Andrews, a German gay man named Otto. He is a friendly chap and Harry soon learns just how friendly. I have an idea for Harry’s life, for what is going to happen to him. Harry’s near future looks bleak. After that it’s getting even worse. And after that everything is going to hell” January’s the tourist season in Australia,” Andrew explained as they lurched forward in the traffic around Circular Quay.

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I really wanted to like this first Harry Hole novel, but I'm afraid I found it rather far fetched and dull. Thank you for that, sir,” Harry said, and he meant it. The thought of panting Norwegian journalists looking over his shoulder was not a welcome one. Harry is already every bit as volcanic as in his later cases. The big difference is Australia, which Nesbø, seeing it through the eyes of both a tourist and a cultural pathologist, makes you wonder how much different it is from Norway after all.” Even with this first book Nesbø’s command of the idiom is completely in place—there is absolutely no sense that the writer was finding his feet and aficionados will be very pleased to slide this on to their bookshelves alongside the other Harry Hole novels.”

There is a lot of interesting discussion about Aborigine history, life and beliefs. I enjoyed those portions of the story immensely. And the criminal investigation was engaging and suspenseful, if a bit far-fetched in spots. I liked the way the story ends -- it was perfect.Episodes from Harry's teen years include some stories about his sister, about his yearning to be punished for a death he caused as a youth but which others covered up, and about his family. These homey details stand in stark contrast to the life of Andrew Kensington, the Aborigine officer with whom he is working. Part of the Stolen Generation of Aborigine youth, who were removed from their parents and educated by outsiders, Andrew has been doubly hurt, denied a family and denied a culture. Nesbo reveals much about Aborigine culture here, their myths and legends, beliefs, and value system, and while it is clear that the author is fascinated with this culture, these digressions, unfortunately, do not advance the action and feel added on to the story. Un comienzo bastante digno para una serie que, por lo que he leído, mejora notablemente en sus próximas entregas. Por lo mismo, lo sentí como un libro más bien introductorio, que ocupa varias páginas en presentarnos a su personaje principal, Harry Hole, un policía noruego, que lucha permanentemente para mantener controlado su problema de alcoholismo (no siempre con mucho éxito, la verdad). Yeah, I’ve been told that your papers are making a big thing of this murder. Couple of them have sent people here already. We’ve given ’em what we’ve got, and that’s not a great deal, so they’ll soon be bored and bugger off home. They don’t know you’re here. We’ve got our own nannies, so you won’t have to take care of them.”