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Content snapshot
Flag an inaccuracy →What's in this book, at a glance — five things readers want to know before they start.
Violence
A lot
A serial killer investigation in Sydney; graphic crime scene violence and sexual violence implied
Language
Some
Strong language throughout; police procedural profanity
Sexual Content
Some
Sexual violence is part of the criminal MO; handled seriously but not graphically
Substance Use
Some
Hole's alcoholism is established; Australian bar culture features prominently
Emotional Intensity
Some
Dark psychological atmosphere as a serial predator's pattern emerges
What this book is about
The first Harry Hole novel finds the Oslo detective sent to Sydney on a semi-diplomatic mission after a Norwegian woman is murdered there. Working with an Aboriginal detective named Andrew Kensington, Hole navigates an unfamiliar city and culture while hunting a killer who may have struck before. Nesbo uses the Australian setting to explore outsider status and cultural collision, and the early glimpses of Hole's character—his intelligence, his drinking, his damaged integrity—establish a powerful series foundation. Dark, violent, and original, it introduced one of crime fiction's most compelling protagonists.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
Serial killer theme
Sexual violence as part of killer's MO
Graphic crime violence
Alcoholism
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