By Jo Nesbo.Roger Brown is a headhunter - a recruiter for big-business, a man who has it all - a high power, high paid job, a beautiful wife. When he thinks he's discovered the perfect candidate for Pathfinders best client in the form of Clas Greve he thinks he's got it made. Even more so when he discovers Greve owns one of the holy grails of the art world, a long missing Rubens paining - The Calydonian bear Hunt. For Roger Brown has a double life, when he is interviewing potential clients, he is also seeking potential victims, he is an art thief, and of course he can't resist the big one. But from then his life turns on its head, and too late he realises he has bitten off more than he can chew with Clas Greve, and he has to think and react fast to survive.
There were parts of this book I really enjoyed, and parts of this book where I had to suspend belief too much for my tastes. I think my main problem was that I didn't warm to the narrator, which meant I generally felt a bit ho hum about it all. There were some great twists, and I can see that it would make a great movie, which is coming out next year. But for this reader, it was ok but not great.
Posts
6 comments:
Vanda - I have to admit I haven't read this one, but I know exactly what you mean, both about suspending disbelief and feeling a connection to the narrator. For me, both of those things just make a book more enjoyable...
I thought the main charcater was a totally obnoxious prick,the story completely unbelievable and my suggestion to Jo Nesbo is that he gets back to writing what he does so well, crime fiction featuring Harry Hole. He has seriously damaged his reputation with this disappointing novel and my advice to his legion of fans is don't worry about reading it. There is a new Harry Hole coming in February, hang on for that.
Exactly my feeling. I remember that I wrote "while we are waiting for Harry Hole" in my review two years ago, meaning that the story was passable, but not what we have come to expect from Nesbø.
This is the first Jo Nesbo book I have read, so I'm relieved to know the Harry Hole books are better, because after this one I wasn't feeling inclined to pick up another.
Bookman, heh, heh, maybe it was better I did the National Radio review than you, but then again...
I have not read this book, but all I can say is that it would have to be a stellar book to surpass Nesbo's Nemesis, one of the best thrillers I have ever read, with two juxtaposed plot lines, nonstop twists and turns -- and, well, it's just plain riveting.
Interesting comments - and timely, as I was about to purchase this book. I'm a Harry Hole fan, so maybe I'll wait for the next one.
Post a Comment