Book Review: The Leopard
Jo Nesbo's The Snowman was a phenomenon! The eerie atmosphere, the bone-chilling murders and to top it all, a protagonist who eventually loses his loved ones in relentless pursuit of the serial killer made for a fascinating read. Nesbo's The Leopard starts off from the point where Harry Hole, after quitting Crime Squad, settles for a quiet life far away in Hong Kong, gambling and betting on horses and whiling away his time with no more hunt for mass murderers. Still haunted by the ramifications of the sensational Snowman case he tries as much to put his past aside.
It's in such a time that the city of Oslo is rocked by two murders, the police apparently baffled by the overall modus operandi. Could it be another serial killer on the loose? Harry Hole is compelled to handle the case which has gripped the attention of state-wide media. Though initially reluctant, Hole gets involved in the investigation when a local MP is found brutally murdered.
Let me tell you this first. The novel's is quite big and it's natural that you could be intimidated by its 700-something pages (referring to the paperback edition). But once you start reading there is no stopping further. The plot moves at a dizzying pace alongside the escalating murders and is psychologically well-explored like The Snowman. The violence, however gruesome and visceral, fits in well with the theme of the story and the rapid twists and turns are enough to keep you glued to it till the end.
And then you have Harry Hole, a man who is the hero despite all his imperfections. A well-etched complex character, Hole is in constant battle with his personal demons - be it his wife or his ailing father - and all determined to finish the job he has at hand no matter what - think of a Nordic version of Harry Bosch!
The Leopard is not without its flaws. The underlying motive and the MO on the whole look absurd if seen from a logical point of view and a couple of pointless thrills evoke tedium. Numerous references to The Snowman may also make the narrative a bit difficult to follow, but one thing is for sure. Jo Nesbo certainly doesn't disappoint in The Leopard. Best read as a series.
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| The Leopard |
Let me tell you this first. The novel's is quite big and it's natural that you could be intimidated by its 700-something pages (referring to the paperback edition). But once you start reading there is no stopping further. The plot moves at a dizzying pace alongside the escalating murders and is psychologically well-explored like The Snowman. The violence, however gruesome and visceral, fits in well with the theme of the story and the rapid twists and turns are enough to keep you glued to it till the end.
And then you have Harry Hole, a man who is the hero despite all his imperfections. A well-etched complex character, Hole is in constant battle with his personal demons - be it his wife or his ailing father - and all determined to finish the job he has at hand no matter what - think of a Nordic version of Harry Bosch!
The Leopard is not without its flaws. The underlying motive and the MO on the whole look absurd if seen from a logical point of view and a couple of pointless thrills evoke tedium. Numerous references to The Snowman may also make the narrative a bit difficult to follow, but one thing is for sure. Jo Nesbo certainly doesn't disappoint in The Leopard. Best read as a series.
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