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Flaggermusmannen
What They Said About This Flaggermusmannen Book (Reviews):
Jeffrey Keeten
Writes about Reading Flaggermusmannen BookAs you read this novel you are going to realize just how much sarcasm is loaded into that statement. Harry Hole, pronounced Hoo-leh, is dispatched to Sydney Australia to investigate the murder of a Norwegian woman. He soon discovers with the help of the Australian half caste Aboriginal officer, Andrew Kensington, that this murder is not an isolated case. The victim is one of a string of blond women who have been killed over a series of months. This is a different Harry Hole than the man that shows up in and which are number three and four in the series. Because the American publisher decided to publish those books before publishing I started the series in the middle. I rarely do that. I usually insist on reading a series from the beginning because I find in later books there are generally significant revelations that may harken back to an earlier book in the series. In this case instead of ordering an intensive Rosetta Stone course on learning Norwegian I decided to suspend my controlling need for order and read book three first. I now understand why the US publishers elected to start with book three. We have been experiencing an invasion of Scandinavian mysteries similar to the invasion of Rock and Roll from England in the 1960s. You can’t swing a backpack in a bookstore anymore without knocking down a display of the latest author to be touted as the new . I too have been seduced by the work of our Nordic neighbors. In this book Hole spends the entire time in Australia, so introducing this regionally misplaced character to a reading public desperate for a new mystery from the frozen North doesn’t really work. Now that his works have been doing very well in the English speaking world publishers have decided to go back and publish the first two in the series. His Australian colleagues call him Holy instead of Hoo-leh and Harry makes the decision that Holy isn’t too bad and doesn’t bother to correct their pronunciation. He prefers it to being called something most people associate with an orifice. He meets a lovely Swedish girl named Birgitta. Everything is going well between them until Harry falls of the wagon. Andrew Kensington ends up dead and even though Harry only knew him a week they had become good friends. Harry wraps both arms around the shock and the grief of his friend’s passing. Resuming drinking is an allure he can no longer ignore. Now there are drunks and then there are Harry Hole drinking binges. 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. Harry loses this bet, but you will have to read the book to find out how. The more Harry drinks the more maudlin he becomes. He seems to be punishing himself for past crimes (which are revealed in vivid detail in this book). The death of Kensington brings back the past, but it seems drinking himself into a staggering state of ineptitude is not enough. He decides to hire a hooker and of course he gets caught by Birgitta. One must destroy one’s life completely before one can make better decisions it seems. I only wish that Birgitta would have hopped the next flight out of there back to Sweden or Paris or Timbuktu anywhere to get away from Harry.Harry without barely a shred of evidence makes suppositions that are not only incorrect, but turn out to be colossally wrong. As he should be, he is a much better investigator in later books. He is more violent and reckless as a young man. Aren’t we all? I spend a large part of this book not liking Harry very much. We do, though, see glimmers of the seasoned cop he will become.This book has a nice twisty plot and certainly kept me turning the pages. I didn’t mind spending time in Australia even though if I’d been able to step into the book I certainly wouldn’t have spent any time with Harry. I prefer spending my vacations not wringing vomit out of my clothes. I do wonder if reading a couple of the later books didn’t add to my enjoyment in reading this book. I meet the older Harry and then meet the younger Harry several years later. It made me appreciate the man, still flawed, but maybe not as much so, that Harry becomes a few books later. He still gets in trouble with his superiors. He still screws up relationships, but I feel more sympathy when it happens to the older Harry. 3.5 stars.
Noeleen
Writes about Download Flaggermusmannen PDFAs a huge fan of Jo Nesbo and the Harry Hole series, I waited eagerly, like many other fans, for The Bat, the first book in the Harry Hole series, to finally be translated into English. It was like waiting for Santa to arrive on Christmas Eve and deliver that wonderful present that you are hoping you will get, the pure excitement of it all! Unfortunately, Santa didn’t deliver that wonderful present in the form of The Bat, instead of receiving that perfect present, Santa delivered to me (oh the disappointment)..... a pair of socks...which is the equivalent of what this book ended up being; basic, practical and not very exciting. This book was a huge disappointment. I’m really glad that I wasn’t able to read this first book in the series until now. I wouldn’t have continued with the series if this had been the case and would have missed out on all of the rest of the wonderful Harry Hole books.In The Bat, Harry finds himself in Australia when a young Norwegian girl is murdered and he assists the Australian police with the case. While the book served its purpose in giving us the background to Harry, this was the only good thing about it. I much prefer Harry working in Norway on home ground. There was a lot of Australian and Aboriginal history in the book which in itself was very interesting and I learnt a lot, but it wasn’t necessary to the story at all. In addition, there were many times when the book went off with reminisces of Harry’s past relationship and this really happened at odd times in the book and it too was unnecessary. These aspects of the book seriously ended up taking away from the momentum, pace and interest in the main plot which in itself was mediocre at best. At times I almost forgot about and lost focus on the main plot because of the way the story went off course throughout.It’s very obvious from the writing and plot in The Bat that this is a debut novel and that it is the first book in the series. It’s also evident now how much better the books become in the later works. I’m still a huge fan of Jo Nesbo and the Harry Hole series, from The Redbreast through to Phantom, each one of them has kept me very entertained, I’m just not a fan of this book. I don’t like giving one of my favourite authors, Jo Nesbo, a negative review and I can’t believe I am giving one of his books only two stars but this book just didn’t work for me. I would recommend reading the series from book three, The Redbreast. You don’t really need to read this book to enjoy the rest of the series.
James Thane
Writes about Read Online Flaggermusmannen Book PDFThis is the book that introduced Inspector Harry Hole of the Oslo Crime Squad--or it least it would have been had not several of the later Harry Hole novels reached the U.S. ahead of it. The wait is finally over, though, and is now at last available in a U.S. edition.It seems a bit odd that the first book in a series featuring a Norwegian police inspector would be set in Australia. Nonetheless, that's the case. A young Norwegian woman who had been something of a minor television celebrity back home, has been raped and murdered in Sydney. Harry is sent to Australia to act as a liasion with the Sydney police in the investigation. His instructions are clear: he is to be an observer and he is not to actually meddle in the investigation. The Sydney police clearly expect that Harry will spend most of his time seeing the sights and will be content to go home and report after a few days at most.Even if you've never read another Harry Hole novel, if you've read any crime fiction at all, you know that's never going to happen. From practically the moment he arrives in Australia, Harry develops his own ideas about the case and is anything but shy about pursuing them.The principal merit of this book is that the reader gets to meet a younger Harry Hole and to learn a bit more about his background. The case itself is intriguing and Harry meets a number of interesting characters along the way. If there is a problem with the book it rests with the fact that Nesbo spends quite a bit of time as a tour guide and cultural anthropologist, exploring the land, its mysteries and its peoples, and sometimes the travelogue gets in the way of the story itself.Actually, seems more like one of those books that you would find much later in a series, at a time when the author has begun to run out of ideas and so sends his character off to an exotic land to mix things up a bit--and, not incidentally, to give the author a great vacation that he can deduct as a business expense.Still, though it's not up to the standards of some of Nesbo's later Harry Hole novels, this is a fun story with a lot of unexpected twists and turns. And for those of us who are compulsive completists when it comes to our crime fiction, it gives us the chance to finally start reading this series in order. The problem remaining is that the second book in the series, will not be released in the U.S. until December. At that point, all of the Harry Hole novels will finally be available here and all will be right with the world.
Suzanne
Writes about Reading Flaggermusmannen BookA very different experience this one was for me. Harry 'Hoo-ley' is an experienced detective with a story of his own to tell, bought out to Sydney, Australia to assist Australian Police in a murder of a Norwegian woman. The poor man is called Harry Holy by everyone, he's given up on correcting people. An interesting one here as this is a Norwegian writer delving strongly into Aboriginal culture, and even re-telling some dream time stories. I am not at all good at concentrating at the best of times, so I really do feel this was my undoing. I did not feel a connection with Harry, and although the narrator did quite an outstanding job of flicking between male/female/drag queen and Aus/Aboriginal/Norwegian accents, it did come across a little 'okka'. I think this author is worth investigating, but possibly not on audio, at least for me. The Australian imagery was great, I think creates a lovely scene. As for the rest of the series being for me? Not sure.
Kris
Writes about Read Online Flaggermusmannen Book PDFAlthough I love mysteries and thrillers, and have collected the Harry Hole series, this is the first mystery in the series that I have read. My procrastination meant that I could begin with the first book in 's acclaimed series -- sometimes procrastination does pay off. In this book, Harry Hole has just arrived in Sydney, Australia, after being assigned by the Oslo Crime Department to liaise with the local police department in investigating the recent death of a beautiful Norwegian citizen. Inger Holter was young, beautiful, somewhat famous, and leading a fairly complicated personal life. As Hole, along with his assigned Australian partner Andrew Kensington, begins to explore Holter's professional and personal life, he is confronted with the possibility that Holter is a victim of a serial killer. I found to have some the weaknesses typical in first books in an established series. The pacing and tone are somewhat inconsistent, there are some plot holes and leaps of faith you must make as a reader, and the resolution of the case is rather sensational. However, there are many pleasures to be had from reading the book. Hole is a complicated and appealing protagonist, and newcomers as well as current fans of the series will enjoy reading his back story. Nesbø's choice of setting for the novel surprised me a bit, but Hole's status as a visitor and his pairing with Kensington provide Nesbø with ample opportunity to introduce some local color and background -- he even incorporates some myths and legends in the novel, sometimes awkwardly, but always intriguingly. In summary, I found to be a welcome summer read -- engaging and difficult to put down. Definitely recommended for current and future fans of Harry Hole alike. I'm looking forward to reading more books in the series. I received an ARC of from the publisher in return for an honest review.
Jon Kurtz
Writes about Download Flaggermusmannen PDFMy first novel by author Jo Nesbo, left me nearly as schizophrenic as a Jim Carey character. From the beginning, I found the writing difficult to digest. Set in Australia, authored by a Norwegian, and translated into the Queen's English, my American brain sloshed through the idioms saturating the pages. But I remained engaged. With a background in law enforcement, I viewed the portrayal of protagonists and antagonist as over-the-top and not realistic. But I stayed entertained. With the same eye, I felt the storyline was improbable, yet my interest in the outcome persisted. In addition, I became lost on occasion, yet found my way back. Two points of clarity for me, Nesbo does a wonderful job of character development, especially with the main character, Inspector Harry Hole (pronounced like holy). A recovering alcoholic, Harry's fall from the wagon is described in gritty detail. Likewise, other scenes are presented in a similarly thorough fashion, giving the reader a front row seat as the tale unfolds. To sum up my thoughts, I liked the story, but it left me feeling, well, unbalanced. Yours truly, Jon...or is it John?!?
Eva
Writes about Reading Flaggermusmannen BookThis is a curse with books translated into English: they don't appear in the order they were published in the original. Once you got to like Jo Nesbo here comes his first Harry Hole novel and only then you learn things about the detective that would have helped you to understand the books you have already read. So what is your option? Start re-reading the already read books? Btw no problem with me as I read quite fast but don't remember the plots (not even the perps..) but on the other hand there are too many books waiting to be read. In The Bat you will see the weak points of a debut and the strong points of Nesbo's writing at the same time. Harry Hole (only now I learnt how his name should be pronounced correctly) is a "likeable bastard". The plot is a bit more atomized than I would have appreciated - it's like a mosaic and when all the parts fall into place it might be a little late for some readers. If you haven't read any of Nesbo's books (which I envy you) start with this one and look forward for him to get better. As usual with Nesbo: highly recommended.NB I really like Nick Cave and the music he composes/plays including Where the wild roses grow, which also appears in the book.
Helena Halme
Writes about Reading Flaggermusmannen BookI really wanted to like this first Harry Hole novel, but I'm afraid I found it rather far fetched and dull. For me the best thing about Jo Nesbo's Harry Hole novels is their dark and moody Norwegian setting, so perhaps I didn't like The Bat because it's set in Sydney. A Norwegian girl is found brutally murdered, and the Australian police send for a Norwegian policeman to pacify the country's Embassy. What follows is Australia through the eyes of a damaged, t-toal, young Norwegian policeman. There are several long passages explaining the multiculturalism, and the racial relations, in Australia. At times it felt as if the Australian tourist bureau had paid for the translation of this novel.Harry, the foreigner, is teamed with another outsider, a senior aboriginal detective, and together they make inroads into the mystery killing. But it seems his fellow policeman knows rather more than he is willing to reveal. Harry, who himself is struggling to come to terms with already a checkered police career at home, tries to make sense of murder mystery down under. As usual he first fails, but his doggedness pays off and in the end, he finds the solution and the murderer.But before we get to this, there's a love affair, several wrongly accused people, more bodies and so many characters that in the end I started skimming the text instead of reading each word. I just wanted the book to end.
Michael
Writes about Reading Flaggermusmannen BookGood for a first Harry Hole novel as it was the first in the publishing sequence in Norway, though a late arrival to these shores in translation. I had the pleasure of his background and personhood on an away game in New South Wales, where his sister was murdered in Sydney. Away games for detective characters is a common practice, but rare for a first time at bat. But it works for me as a way to know Harry without his team, a pure form so to speak. Harry turns out not to be a cold fish or totally cynical noir character. What he lacks in Chandleresque wisecracks, he makes up for in heart and human fallibility. He’s the type of guy to takes the time to forge serious personal connections while he works, despite the seriousness of his investigation. Here he befriends an Aborginal cop who bends his mind with folktales (including one about a bat) and a Swedish barmaid who bends his heart and the rest of his body. He gets to liking Sydney and environs and learns through his nightlife how the city has become the gay capital of down under. But the ante is upped, and the case starts to look like the path of a serial killer with a long term spree over a large geography. Harry follows hunches without quite the full logic he needs and starts missing trouble signs. His stupidity over solo forays puts him in harm’s way. And when some bad things happen to more than one of his new friends, sorting things out start getting desperate. His old alcoholism starts shaking up his wagon. Harry is the man to get the job done if he just find enough inner reserves. The plight of the Aborigines is woven into the story without making a sociology run. As with Native Americans, many tribes got jumbled together, and cultural traditions have gotten worn away. For example, his cop friend was adopted by a non-native family. Other little windows on Australian society and ecologies and contrasts with the Nordic north add to the satisfaction of the read. I render 3 and a half stars rounded down to leave room for higher reviews later in the series. Because Harry is only visiting, I am expecting gains in pleasure from a wider ensemble of long term characters.
aPriL does feral sometimes
Writes about Reading Flaggermusmannen BookI read different genres, and books which slide over the genre category rules don't bother me. This first in the Harry Hole series is a slider, I think - somewhere between a cozy and a noir (In my opinion, I think many British/European mystery series tend to be sliders). Many of the characters have normal family relationships they care about, and the cops have relaxing lives beyond the job - which bring the story into cozy territory. However, the crimes and criminals are noir country. A sliding mystery novel might disappoint readers who expect their mystery to be all darkly depraved, hopeless and bloody, while those looking for a cozy mystery want their story to be warm and hopeful, with middle-class values firmly upheld. The author, Jo Nesbo, has taken the time to develop scenery, personalities, and opinions which might be colorful red herrings, but thriller mystery readers may find the digressions frustrating. In my opinion, though, I really liked this first-in-the-series novel. I believe hearing it as an audiobook significantly boosted my enjoyment - it seemed as if this book was designed to be heard aloud because of the conversations and thoughts revealing plot secrets through voice inflections, made clear through the actor/reader performing on this audiobook.Our hero, Harry Hole, in this book is himself between genres in his life. He arrives in Australia to find out what happened to a Norwegian citizen, in which country he serves as a detective. He is a recovering alcoholic, with a noir past; however, he has become a model citizen, determined to make up for an accidental death caused by driving drunk. At first, it works. Then, while running down clues with the Australian police, he falls in love with a decent girl, and discovers a good friend in an aboriginal cop. Bad mistake when the job is about serial killers, murder, and omg, circus clowns.......
Rosa, really
Writes about Download Flaggermusmannen PDFI love you, Harry, but--And I love this series and would highly recommend it, but--This was kind of an odd experience because although is the first book in the series, it's the 9th or 10th book published in English. When I first started the series I was most seriously disturbed that they chose to start with , the third book (IT'S JUST NOT RIGHT), but I read an article about the author where he said he thought the first 2 books were not well-done and he was happy the English-language pubs were starting where they did. Okay, fine, I suppose the man knows his own series. (IT'S JUST NOT RIGHT.) However, no one predicted the popularity of the series and, as you can see, they eventually published the first 2 books.Anyway. It's just odd, though, because while Harry is going through all this traumatic shit for the first time, for me it's the 6th or 7th. I think. And it's the same shit over and over: there's a crime, Harry wanders around talking to people and philosophizing, there's another crime, something traumatic happens to Harry, Harry goes binge drinking, Harry figures out who done it in the midst of a drunken haze, Harry sobers up, solves the crime and attempts to move on with his life. I loved this pattern in , and but was growing a wee bit tired of it by & . (I would HIGHLY recommend those first three though.)Here's the thing: if these cops/PIs/tough guys are so fucking smart shouldn't it occur to them at some point that they seem to run into an awful lot of serial killers? I don't know shit about math, but I feel confident saying it's a mathematical improbability to face this many killers without being the main character in a mystery/thriller/crime book series. And at some point in almost every book the main character gets all maudlin and feels like he just gets the people around him killed -- and I want to say "! Yes, you !" That's what happens when you're in a book and people love you: THEY ALL DIE. (Or leave. Leaving is good.)I feel like it's time for Harry Hole to get a clue and move to a remote farm or island. Still gonna read book #2, , though. (IT'S JUST NOT RIGHT.)
Tony Nielsen
Writes about Read Online Flaggermusmannen Book PDFI was really looking forward to this, the first Jo Nesbo thriller, introoducing the flawed but fantastic cop character Harry Hole. Strangely its the last of the series to be translated from the original Norwegian. I certainly wasn't disappointed. This story is mostly based in Sydney, so familiar territory to us antipodeans, and so Jo Nesbo tells it, he wrote most of The Bat after he'd taken time-out in Australia following his hectic career in finance. Having read The Bat I'm even more convinced that there's a lot of Jo Nesbo in the Harry Hole personna. Ostensibly Harry is an invited police guest in Sydney following the death of a young (blond) Norwegian tourist. Harry meets up with a motley bunch of characters and his dogged pursuit of what turns out to be a serial killer is mixed up with his falling off the wagon and back into the pit of alcoholism, as well as setting out on a torrid romantic liason with the beautiful Birgitta. Top notch thriller action from Mr Nesbo
Nicola Mansfield
Writes about Download Flaggermusmannen PDFReason for Reading: I've been waiting ages for them to finally publish the first book in this series in English!Harry Hole's time in Australia is continually referred to throughout the series and it has been frustrating as an English reader to not have the first book in this series available to read. Now that it is finally here and I've read it, I really wish it had been there to start with as it really does fill in some blanks and add insight to Hole's character that have been missing to the reader who has not experienced this first glimpse of Harry. I'll admit it was a little weird going back to this new, fresh Harry. At first I was in wonderment as I kept thinking, "wow, this is not the Harry of the later books at all." The guy was actually happy and eager for the first part of the book! There was a secret in him though and it was eventually revealed and we finally find out the story of what really happens to him in Australia that adds to his burden of grief and guilt that he carries with him for the rest of his life. The mystery itself was superb. I was thrilled to not have figured out the killer in this one and we are given plenty of suspects. The murders are slightly gruesome with a couple of doozies added in for the chilling effect. At a certain point the story takes a turn to the dark and Harry Hole readers will eventually find themselves in familiar territory. As with all Nesbo books, once I started it was hard to put the book down and I can understand how this one won an award and set Nesbo's career as a writer on full speed. The story does take place 100% in Australia so it doesn't have the Scandinavian allure that the others have and Harry is like a fish out of water in this setting for readers who know the character well but it's something a little different for us also and fantastic to see this character's beginnings. New readers of Nesbo should certainly start here for full enjoyment of the character development. Book 2 will be published soon and then finally, English readers will be able to read the series in order. Great first book!
Rachael
Writes about Reading Flaggermusmannen BookFirst off: If you've never read Jo Nesbo, DON'T start with this one. Nesbo's first Harry Hole book and the least accomplished. It's set in Sydney and just when I though I would lose the will to live if I had to read/hear one more Aboriginal creation myth used to explain the mysteries of life; on about pg. 168 order was restored with a spectacularly gruesome murder involving a clown leading Harry to fall off the wagon (thank God!), wreak havoc, have a couple of dark nights of the soul and of course catch the murderer. As usual, plenty of suspension of disbelief required but it does eventually work itself up into a bit of page-turner. Overall Harry seems a bit too happy and well, normal, in sunny climes. He's much more endearing in dreary Oslo hunting down its large population of serial killers.
Brandon
Writes about Download Flaggermusmannen PDFA Norwegian national is killed while working in Australia and Detective Harry Hole is sent to assist in the investigation. It’s not long before her death is linked to a string of murders and it’s believed a serial killer is on the loose. Can Harry and company track down and stop the murderer before he kills again?Like seemingly everyone on the planet, I enjoyed Stieg Larsson’s Millennium Trilogy and after I closed the book on the final novel, I began hearing that this Jo Nesbo guy was someone I should check out. I was hesitant at first as it felt like the publishing world was trying to cash in on Larsson’s success by quickly throwing out the first Scandinavian crime writer (similar to the influx of post-grunge music in the mid 1990s) they found in an effort to capitalize on the public’s newfound interest in Scandinavian crime. On the other hand, maybe it wasn't fair to judge Nesbo so quickly. Maybe this guy is a decent writer. Maybe Larsson opened the door for similar countrymen, giving them an opportunity to shine when the whole world was watching.After doing a little digging, turns out Nesbo has been around a little longer than Larsson. Larsson’s Salander books hit it big in 2005 and exploded onto the worldwide literary scene in 2008. While Nesbo had been steadily writing his Harry Hole novels since the late 1990s and has achieved great success in his home country, it’s arguable that Larsson’s success played a key role in Nesbo’s breakthrough into the world stage.When I initially decided to give Nesbo a go, I had stalled right out of the gate. Turns out that the first two novels in the Harry Hole series had yet to be translated to English. Unfortunately, I've never been comfortable with diving into a series with any novel other than the first. So, I waited. Finally, I got my hands on Harry Hole #1 (The Bat) and dug in. Maybe it was the hype or maybe I should have clued in that his publisher had forgone translating the first two novels in favor of starting with book five (The Redbreast) but I came away feeling underwhelmed.The first half of this novel is hopelessly dull and while Nesbo throws everything on its head midway through, I felt in the end it wasn't enough to save the whole experience. Sure, while the mystery was intricately plotted and I certainly didn't foresee the identity of the killer coming, the whole lead-up to it felt flat and run of the mill.The book is filled with countless info dumps that I’m not entirely sure are necessary to the story. Not only that, but they weighed down the pacing and were written in an uninteresting manner.Given all the problems I had with The Bat, I’m still interested in Jo Nesbo. Judging by other reviews of subsequent releases, the series looks like it gets better. While I’m in no rush to get the second book, I can see myself picking it up down the road.Oh, and Harry Hole.. what an awful name.
Αλίκη
Writes about Download Flaggermusmannen PDFΗ Νυχτερίδα είναι ένα άκρως καλοκαιρινό βιβλίο, όπου ο Νορβηγός πρωταγωνιστής μας ταξιδεύει Ιανουάριο στην Αυστραλία για να παρακολουθήσει την έρευνα που διεξάγουν οι τοπικές αρχές για την εξιχνίαση του θανάτου μιας νεαρής κοπέλας διάσημης στη χώρα του. Παρόλο που ο ρόλος του είναι καθαρά εκείνος του παρατηρητή, ο Χάρι Χόλε θα εμπλακεί στην υπόθεση και θα κυνηγήσει τον δολοφόνο που απ' ότι φαίνεται δεν είναι ένας απλός δολοφόνος της μιας φοράς, αλλά ένας ψυχοπαθής που δρα σε ολόκληρη την Αυστραλία, βιάζοντας και σκοτώνοντας με φριχτούς τρόπους κοπέλες. Όσο πιο κοντά του θα φτάνει όμως, τόσο πιο πολύ θα συνειδητοποιεί πως δεν είναι κανείς ασφαλής, ούτε καν οι ίδιοι οι ερευνητές της υπόθεσης.
Harry
Writes about Read Online Flaggermusmannen Book PDFThe first in the Harry Hole series comes to an American audience as the last published (what on earth is wrong with these publishing companies - so often, their disregard of readers who read series in the order written reeks of ignorance: the ignorance as to what compels readers to follow a series). My series review below starts with , the third in the series as forced upon us by the American publishers and that context should be kept in mind when reading it.As to this, the first in the series:We meet a more youthful, more naive Harry Hole. In the series review below I remark the following: . That flight, if you're curious, was on its way to Australia with Nesbo on it. It marked the beginning of his writing career and the beginning of the Harry Hole series. And so, we have a Nordic Noir novel, the first, that never touches soil in Scandinavia but remains rooted in the Outback and the cosmopolitan city of Sydney.Next, I will tell you that I'm a huge fan of this series and of Jo Nesbo. I consider him to be one of the best authors for this genre out there, if not the best. Often, things are upside down (no pun intended for you Aussies out there). Harry admits it in a snippet of dialogue: [at which point they drop down onto their four legged stance].This is what a Harry Hole novel is like. Nothing is what it seems...not so much in this novel, but especially as Nesbo matures and is to write the other novels in this series.We are reminded of the universitality of his novels: in this, the Aborigines plight is brought to the foreground:Laying claim to property has always been a decidedly Western Caucasian notion. And isn't this universal? Look at the American Native's plight. Isn't this exactly what happened to them when the white man settled this country? Or take a look at the , where the Beduins, a nomadic people, experience the same by the rise of cities in the Empty Quarter?Harry identifies with these outsiders, those who consider themselves nomadic, and the wisdom that comes with leading a nomadic life. In fact and ingeniously so, is the Aboriginal fable of Walla, Moora and Bubbur made explicit in modern times.Even more important and as stated previously we gain insight into what caused Harry to become an alcoholic. In his last Hole novel to date, Harry states: "In the end, I am a policeman." That is a statement that may be considered the tip of an iceberg. Nesbo shows us what lies beneath the ice cold waters. The author, to me, is the only author I'm aware of - yes, I'm thinking about Robicheaux here in America - that has so exhaustively explored the concept of a flawed hero.or, driving at the core of alcoholism, and the origins of that in a policeman's life, the horrors he must somehow internalize on his own?As with other Nordic Noir writers, Nesbo explores secularism vs. religion.And isn't that just like Nesbo to end the novel with a hint as to what's to come? It speaks of a mind with a long range view already manifested in the writer's mind:Indeed, with proper protest to the order in which these are being published, I look forward to the publication of the second Harry Hole novel: Cockroaches.If you're not familiar with Nordic Noir, or Scandinavian Noir, I highly recommend a reading of .--------------------------------------------------------------------------Here's the thing about the recent popularity of Scandinavian writers and if you're a Nordic Thriller aficionado you couldn't care less about the distinction: the novels are depressed, somber, filled with ennui, a lack of humor, with flawed characters if not suffused with a strong tendency towards determinism; in short, whether you're reading , , or you are likely reading . If you live in Scandinavia you might consider this par for the course, ennui is imbued into the populace (as it is also reflected in the works of prominent Russian writers - comes to mind). Just as we continue to struggle here in the States with our history of slavery and the resulting racial tensions, so do Europe and Scandinavia struggle in coming to terms with Nazism and the Bolshevik revolution (More than a few reviewers have expressed their dissatisfaction with the Nordic writers' pre-occupation with Nazism). And yet, the rise in popularity of these Nordic thrillers here in the States is puzzling given our strong tendency towards literary Romanticism. We like for the good guys to win, we like emotion, we like our heroes (as opposed to anti-heroes) we enjoy free will, and in general consider ourselves in control of our own lives.Having said that: there is excellence in Literary Naturalism. The above doesn't mean we can't enjoy a well written novel, an intriguing mystery, a flawed anti-hero, a well crafted story written in the style of literary Naturalism. It doesn't mean we can't enjoy the works of . I did.In Jo Nesbo's words: With a librarian mother and a father who sat before the fire and told the kids stories they wanted to hear (each repetition bringing something new to the tale) Jo's foundation was carved in stone. Again, in his own life story we sense the determinism filtering into his life: he wanted to be a soccer star but an injury put a quick stop to this; with a dreadful feeling of fate guiding his life he entered the military in the hopes something would happen (what happened was "Self-Discipline"); thinking he might want to be an economist he entered the world of finance which he abandoned as well; someone told him he could play guitar (he only knew 3 chords) and he formed several bands, being the most successful; and finally he wrote (on an airplane to begin with) and he never stopped. is Jo Nesbo's third Harry Hole (pronounced "Hooleh") novel (the other two not being translated for a US audience as of yet) and is Nesbo's claim to fame. So, this is where we start. Yes, the books should be read in order! For an American audience, Harry Hole can be likened to ; he defies authority, is an outcast within his own organization, is best left alone to do this job (his office is at the end of the hall), is more of an anti-hero than a hero, has trouble with his romantic life, lives alone, has a fierce propensity for justice (as opposed to the Law) and once let loose is like a pit bull with a bone fastened to his jaws. But perhaps the most compelling reason why Harry Hole has such a following is Nesbo's devastating characterization of what exactly comprises a flawed hero. Upon reflection, American hard-boiled writers don't come close to accomplishing the same. This is not too dissimilar to the way Nesbo sees himself.And...ah, yes, there is the matter of plot! So how do we justify this decided streak of fate/determinism within the novels with Nesbo's apparent mastery of plot? The two seemingly ought to contradict each other. On the one hand, we have Nesbo's almost Shakespearean tendency to cast characters as marionette puppets on the strings of fate (the very opposite of plot), while on the other hand we are riveted by the very complex actions and reactions made by Harry Hole during his investigations (Nesbo is a master at not adding anything superfluous to his novels). Perhaps it is an unholy marriage between the two that transfixes us. His plots are intricate, very complex, the seemingly irrelevant details exposed throughout the novels become larger than life as the story closes, and they can weave through time, forward and backward, as the story unfolds. But, with a little alacrity, we can remember we are reading Naturalism and so it isn't always Harry Hole making events happen, but rather the reverse, it is the events that move Harry Hole. Again, it is a matter of preference but in Nesbo's case it is done with utter expertise as a writer.The exposition/setting is often Scandinavia: the weather is somber, the descriptions grey-like, the people absorbed with alcohol and withdrawn, if not bundled and sequestered. And yet, the dialogue and scenes are full of references to other millieus', continents, languages, and cleverly hidden philosophical references that speak to a widely cultured audience (as opposed to American writers of this genre who rarely venture beyond the borders of their land, if not their own State). And as with plot, there are no superfluous details. Everything in the novels matters and Nesbo does not forget even the tiniest detail to which he's made a seemingly furtive reference earlier on in the story. This is one of the biggest reasons why I love Jo Nesbo.I thoroughly enjoyed Jo Nesbo's and am currently reading the remaining Harry Hole novels. I remain intrigued by events left undone (such as the fate of our undiscovered villain in this and other stories). You'll just have to read the novels to find out more.Oh, yes, as with other series this review is likely to be repeated for all (unless there is a drastic divergence from what I have written here). So, if you've read this review, you've read 'em all. Enjoy!
Snotchocheez
Writes about Read Online Flaggermusmannen Book PDFIf you're like me, you probably encountered the Jo Nesbø phenomenon by reading one of his more recent Harry Hole novels (for me it was that sold me), and if you're like me, you have a nagging feeling you're missing something when skipping the first installments of an episodic police thriller series, you'd then feel the overwhelming need to start with .I gotta tell you: this was...not very good. There are several explanations floating around out there as to why the first few installments weren't initially translated to English, but, after reading I can only surmise that that this was hastily translated or something. There's plenty of "Harry Holy"s to, I suppose, stave off the sniggery, Norwegian phonetics-challenged (like me) that couldn't resist pinning a hirsute orifice moniker on our intrepid Oslo detective, but I still have no earthly idea why Nesbø, a Norwegian writer, chose to open his series in Australia, of all places, when half the appeal of was Nesbø's (and Hol-lay's) use of Norway's fjord-land atmospherics. In Australia (where Hole has been sent to assist the investigation of a murdered Norwegian girl, only for it to turn into the makings of a serial killer), Hole seems alternately bewildered and constrained to do the work he was sent "down under" to do. (He more seems like a fish out of water than a bad-ass he demonstrated later; was he trying to appease audiences who prefer travelogues with their police procedurals?) There's evidence in dribs and drabs of the Harry Hole I remember enjoying, but the writing on display...just seems off here. Very choppy and circumspect. (And that ending...()...crikey, that was bad).
Matt
Writes about Read Online Flaggermusmannen Book PDFIn my other binge-reading project of the winter, I thought that there was no better time to explore the Harry Hole series by Norwegian Jo Nesbø. I had heard much about the series, and with a keen interest in all things Scandinavian when the thriller genre is involved, I thought I could do no wrong. As the series begins, Harry Hole (that's two syllables, Holy) finds himself in Sydney, Australia where he's been sent to represent the Royal Norwegian Police Directorate to investigate the murder of a Norwegian national. Working alongside some of Sydney's finest, Hole discovers that there may be a serial rapist and murderer on the loose, whose penchant for blondes leaves a trail that grows every few days. Alongside the murder investigation, Hole discovers a woman who pulls on his heartstrings and becomes an integral part of his time in Oz. The reader is also introduced to Hole's checkered past, including an addiction that almost got him fired from the force and one that reemerges at the worst possible moment. With no firm leads and Hole's secondment running to an end, a serial killer continues to elude the authorities and baffle Hole to no end. While soaking up the history of this foreign land, Hole may be too distracted, which hinders his ability to bring answers to a grieving family back in Oslo. In this series debut, Nesbø tells a very interesting tale, both about his protagonist and the race for justice.I was pleasantly surprised at Nesbø's work and found that the story flowed very effectively, full of wonderful tidbits to lure the reader in a little deeper. Harry Hole is a complex man, whose background is multi-layered and will likely take the entire series to unravel. However, Nesbø does a stellar job by paving the way with a thorough glimpse into the man's foibles, as well as the strengths that shape him. I cannot leave this review without pondering a glaring question that leapt off the page for me, especially as a reader who loves to immerse myself in a character. Why would Nesbø choose to use his opening novel and take Hole away from his native Norway? I could see this in the third or fourth novel, but the story begins and remains in Australia for its duration. I could never fully understand this, as it makes logical sense to lay some groundwork before taking the character out of his environs. Allow the reader to learn about local friends and family, plant roots before jetting off to places unknown. That said, perhaps Nesbø has a plan here and I am too cerebral in my analysis this early in the series.Kudos Mr. Nesbø for a great opening novel. I cannot wait to get deeper into the series to see what else you have in store for us.Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
Lyn
Writes about Read Online Flaggermusmannen Book PDFThe Bat, by Norwegian author Jo Nesbo is the first of the Inspector Harry Hole (pronounced Hoo-leh) novels. Set in Australia of all places, Nesbo introduces our hero as a foreign policeman sent on a diplomatic mission to assist with the investigation of the murder of a minor Norwegian celebrity in Sydney. The novel starts slowly but builds to an exciting, if somewhat minimalistic, and troubling, ending. Nesbo does an above average job of introducing an array of characters and develops some intriguing dynamics and complexities for Hole. For a crime mystery, Nesbo also shows a flair for Holmesian attention to detail and logic. There are some inconsistencies and some loose ends but I can understand how this character and this series have become so popular. I will probably read more from Nesbo.
Emily
Writes about Reading Flaggermusmannen BookΠρόκειται για το πρώτο βιβλίο της σειράς με ήρωα το Χάρι Χόλε, τον ψηλό, ξανθό, πλην όμως αλκοολικό ντετέκτιβ. Αν θα πρέπει σώνει και καλά οι ήρωες των αστυνομικών να έχουν ένα κουσούρι, ο δικός μας εδώ έχει το ποτό. Ωστόσο κάπου αναρωτιέται ο ίδιος ο ήρωας γιατί ένας καθ' όλα σωστά μεγαλωμένος έφηβος, με πλήρη υποστήριξη από μια αγαπημένη οικογένεια, φτάνει να το ρίξει στο ποτό, ερώτημα που θα μείνει αναπάντητο. Η υπόθεση διαδραματίζεται στο Σίδνεϋ, τον Γενάρη, μακριά από το παγωμένο Όσλο και το χειμώνα της βόρειας Ευρώπης. Εκεί ο Χάρι θα κάνει φίλους και εχθρούς προσπαθώντας να λύσει αυστραλέζικους γρίφους. Και θα ερωτευτεί. Στα πρώτα του βήματα προς το αναγνωστικό κοινό ο ήρωας σκιαγραφείται απόλυτα ανθρώπινος και ευάλωτος. Παράλληλα μαθαίνουμε και λίγα πράγματα για τους ατυχείς αυτόχθονες της ηπείρου, τους αβορίγινες, που συρρικνώθηκαν σε μια φτωχή μειονότητα.Χωρίς ακρότητες και υπερβολές στην πλοκή, διαβάζεται απνευστί και με το που κλείνει, ο αναγνώστης ψάχνει για τη συνέχεια, τις "Κατσαρίδες".
Carol - Reading Writing and Riesling
Writes about Read Online Flaggermusmannen Book PDFMy View: I am a Jo Nesbo fan. I have read all his other books in the Harry Hole series and mostly have been very impressed with the action, the narrative, the character development, the intrigue and the resolution. This book however is an exception to the series. It is banal, its language wooden, stilted and as an Australian reading Hole’s experience of his adventures in Sydney, Australia and of Australians, I generally felt let down and uncomfortable with the stereotypes and colloquialisms - of big waisted, slow witted, “dinkum” white Aussie males and the Indigenous cop’s voice felt stunted and farcical too – continually explaining the world in Dream-time stories and explaining everything very carefully... all the Australians had a dumbed down quality I did not like and I did not appreciate reading this interpretation of Australia and Australian life. (I did however enjoy the Dream-time stories perhaps worthy of a book in their own right but not relevant in this book) The political voice in this book was ...annoying.The first 160 odd pages of this book were flat, dull, convoluted and clumsy and did I mention far fetched and I could not stretch my imagination to believe the premise of the murders and the police procedures or rather the lack of procedure and lack of professionalism. How disappointing. This is the first book I have read on NetGalley where after 50 pages I thought I would just not bother to continue, that my time was being wasted trying to find something interesting or redeeming in this book. Stupidly I continued on. The story did not improve – it worsened becoming more incredulous and bumbled along with the addition of masses of blood and gore and torn apart limbs and should have been read whilst listening to the theme track of JAWS!Jo Nesbo – I am glad some publisher somewhere saw the potential in your writing – I did enjoy your other books in this series but think that the publisher did me a favour by not translating this first novel of the series any sooner – if I hadn't read this book at all I would be perfectly happy and not felt as if I had been cheated of a potentially great read. Do your self a favour - skip this book and read the others in the series.
Jenny Ko
Writes about Reading Flaggermusmannen BookΤο πρώτο βιβλίο του Jo Nesbo δε με ενθουσίασε όσο περίμενα. Βέβαια είναι λογικό καθώς είναι η αρχή της συγγραφικής του καριέρας και ψάχνει να βρει τα πατήματά του. Η ιστορία μου φάνηκε συνηθισμένη, δεν είχε την αγωνία που συναντά κανείς στα άλλα του βιβλία και ο πρωταγωνιστής Χαρυ Χόλε δεν έχει βρει ακόμα το δρόμο του. Κάποια στοιχεία του χαρακτήρα του, όπως ο αλκοολισμός του μου φάνηκαν οτι εμφανίζονται απότομα. Το καλό είναι ότι μαθαίνουμε πληροφορίες για το παρελθόν του Χάρυ και όλη η πλοκή διαδραματίζεται στην Αυστραλία, όπου μοιάζει με ένα ιδανικό τοπίο με πολύ όμορφες περιγραφές από τον Nesbo με αναφορές σε ιστορικά και λαογραφικά στοιχεία που κρατούν το ενδιαφέρον του αναγνώστη.
Patrice Hoffman
Writes about Download Flaggermusmannen PDFI have been excited for so long to read a book by Jo Nesbo. I have come across a few of his works featuring the Norwegian detective of the Oslo Crime Squad, Harry Hole but I didn't read them because I hadn't acquired The Bat yet. I've read reviews for The Snowman and Redbreast since they are two I have found in the local bookstore I frequent. Plans to collect more are on the horizon but for now, let's talk about The Bat.The Bat is Jo Nesbo's introduction of Harry Hole. Hole is called to Australia to sit on the sidelines and stay out of trouble during an investigation into the death of a minor Norwegian celebrity named Inger Holter. Holter is only 23 years old when her body is found by a fisherman on the ocean side of Watson's Bay. She is brutally killed and that's all I'll say about that. It appears that she fits the mold for a serial killer who targets beautiful blondes and has been the cause of a string of similar murders across the country.During the course of the investigation, we see Hole battle with his own demons as well as fall for Birgitta, the victims sister. I liked this romantic element to Hole because for most of The Bat he just seemed like a guy going through the motions. We were never given much depth to his character. The only ideas that were supplied to readers initially is that he's a good looking blond guy. As the story develops, Hole does as well. I imagine in the later books he's featured in there will be more character development.As far as the writing and the plot goes, I think it's pretty solid. I didn't find the plot to be too thrilling in the sense that I was biting my nails from angst, but overall it is a very quick read. I devoured the first half of this book in a few hours. The true killer's identity was never something I expected and when once revealed it made perfect sense. Although the ending was very rushed, I do appreciate there wasn't an unnecessary moment in this novel. There was no meandering so pay attention.Although I would say that my first encounter with Jo Nesbo is average, I am still anxious to read the rest of his Harry Hole series. I recommend this novel to lovers of crime fiction or Scandinavian thrillers. Now on to the next...**I know this is completely off subject but there's a chapter in this novel named Kookaburra and I'm sure it was very interesting... I admit that once I read kookaburra my mind kept wandering off to the wings of the same name on the menu at Outback Steakhouse. I know it's so off topic and has nothing to do with the actual Kookaburra bird, but I just had to say how much I love those wings. Yes!
Victoria
Writes about Read Online Flaggermusmannen Book PDFI’ve been hearing great things about Nesbo’s books for years now. But when I heard that the first book in the Harry Hole series had not yet been translated into English, I paused, genuinely disappointed. I really prefer to read series novels in order. I hate that overshadowing feeling that details or context is missing because it was covered in a previous novel. And based on conversation with friends of mine who went ahead and started the series with the third novel, (the first to be translated into English), it makes a lot more sense to read them in order! But when this first novel in the series finally appeared in English, I jumped at the chance to read it!This is an immediately engaging series, and like the shadowy opera house on the cover suggests, the entire novel takes place in Sydney (and its surrounds). It makes for an enjoyable backdrop - especially when the city is viewed through Hole’s Norwegian eyes. The inclusion of Aboriginal folk tales really adds to the novel and the overall sense of scene. It feels well-researched and quite authentic. And though the novel originally appeared in 1997, it really does not feel terribly dated (though that could be in part my own bias - by coincidence I traveled to Sydney that same year!). The translation feels quite smooth - even with grasping some of the Australian lingo, too. The book has a very distinct style to it, but it is such an interesting read, that it quickly becomes difficult to set aside. Harry, with his dark past and his inner struggles, becomes a flawed, but sympathetic hero - even through his missteps. The romance fits nicely in with the overall story and does not feel forced or overly emphasized. The plot takes some surprising turns, but none of them feel unjustified and all the clues truly add up. And the climatic finale in the aquarium certainly has a dramatic flair. It certainly is an action-packed debut - full of both internal and external conflict. It makes for a terrifically thrilling and well-executed begin to a series.I can’t wait to read the rest of the series! But I am definitely going to wait for the second novel, , to be published in English (rumour has it this will be just a few months away!).
Amar
Writes about Download Flaggermusmannen PDFSve u svemu i nije toliko loše , koliko sam čitao po komentarima . Likovi su zanimljivi i ima par twistova u priči (zanimljivih ). Ali , MENI je opet falio nekakav WOW momenat .Vidim da nastavci imaju mnogo bolje ocjene i radujem se njima . Ima potencijala , Harry mi je bas zanimljiv lik .A izdavaču idu velike kritike. Em zbog prijevoda , em zbog onoliko neprevedenih engleskih fraza . Nemam ja problem sa tim , ali vjerujem da mnogi ljudi ne razumiju baš sve te engleske rečenice .
Nicole~
Writes about Read Online Flaggermusmannen Book PDFSimilar to the story of Adam and Eve, Ber-rook-boorn and his wife were told by the Great Fatherly Spirit, Baiame, Baiame's tree was guarded by The wife, as wives often do, did the opposite of what she was bade, and I first was introduced to Detective Harry Hole in The Snowman, part of Jo Nesbø's unsurpassed Scandinavian crime series (second only to Stieg Larsson's Millennium Trilogy, imo). I ended up reading the latter of the series (excellent) and had to work backwards. The first ,The Bat , was just recently published in English. I steeled myself for a let -down thinking the first couldn't be up to par with the more developed later books, sort of like the deflated outcome of the Star Wars prequels.In The Bat, Harry is sent to Australia to assist in the murder investigation of a Norwegian woman, which turns out to be one of a rash of serial killings. With the help of Andrew Kensington, a leathery Aboriginal sidekick on the police force, Harry is given an epic view of the Down Under, its folklore, its multicultural society, and the still underlying resentment over lands illegally taken from the native Aborigines. Harry discovers a land as mysterious in its lore as the origins of the murders.I confess, I wasn't too keen on Harry in the first few chapters. His persona was bland, stripped of that sympathetic character I have enjoyed- a sarcastic wit, a dark and brooding, self- destructive soul going deeper into persecution. This, thankfully, started to evolve little by little. I could see how and why Harry became who he became in the latter books. You just want to reach in there and shake him up a bit- in a helpful way.The psychological plot and thriller aspect also seemed to be a work in progress, but not unentertaining at this level. Surely a good start to a great series.
Negativni
Writes about Download Flaggermusmannen PDFSa osamnaest godina Jo Nesbø je morao ostaviti nogometnu karijeru zbog povrede ligamenata u koljenu. Nakon toga je tri godine proveo u vojsci, a potom završio Ekonomsku školu i osnovao bend Di derre. Izdavač je naručio biografiju o životu na putu s bendom, no on je umjesto toga smislio radnju za ovaj roman. je prvi roman u serijalu o detektivu Harry Holeu koji je i proslavio norveškog pisca. Danas je on jedan od najčitanijih i najprevođenijih autora krimića na svijetu. S Nesbøom sam se upoznao romanom i ugodno se iznenadio kako dobro piše pa sam odlučio da ću ga definitivno ponovno čitati i krenuo sa ovim serijalom.Ovaj roman je kritiziran zbog nepotrebnih opisa, što mi na početku nije toliko smetalo jer se činilo da će se priče iz mitologije na kraju fino povezati s radnjom, no to se nije desilo. Moglo je i bez par pozadinskih priča likova, koje se protežu i na nekoliko stranica, a na kraju se i za njih ispostavi da su nepotrebne. Također ni sama radnja nije nešto novo, a i opet je tu barem jedan twist viška. Glavni lik Harry Hole je zanimljiv iako je i on tipični kliše detektivskih romana - jedino što ne nosi šešir! Dakle, uz ovo napisano ocjena bi trebala biti i manja, ali unatoč tomu Šišmiš je čitljiv, ima par pamtljivih scena i već se pomalo može vidjeti Nesbøov spisateljski talent koji je sudeći po kritikama uspio izbrusiti na 3. knjizi.Ovo je mršava trojka.
Lisa
Writes about Download Flaggermusmannen PDFThis book was okay but nothing to write home about The Bat was a bit slow in some areas but seeing i live in Australia i enjoyed reading about all the places Harry hole talked about.The plot was good but i could not connect with Harry to bad maybe its just me All in all was readable & not predictable.
Cathy DuPont
Writes about Download Flaggermusmannen PDFThis was good but much like others, my friends and strangers on Goodreads, I agree that I'm not so sure I would like Harry Hole as much as I do had I read this one first, the first of the series. And I, too, go out of my way to read a series in order. It's my understanding this first of the HH series was translated to English and published in 2012, after six other of the series were published in English. (Great idea on their part, I think.) I agree with everything my friends at Goodreads said in their review all of which are beneath me. I strongly recommend each and every one of their reviews. They're great reviews, too: , , and Stephen who has a couple of comments. Here are the comments from Stephen: See anything odd about this list? They are all guys. Here I am again, in with all the guys. My favorite place to be. Take their advice (my advice, too)...read this one after you've been established as a Harry Hole follower.
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