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Content snapshot
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Violence
A lot
Serial killer murders depicted with procedural detail; the violence against women is a defining element
Language
Some
Some strong language in the Scandinavian crime tradition
Sexual Content
Barely any
Minimal sexual content
Substance Use
None
No substance use (alcohol is Harry's drug and is central to his character)
Emotional Intensity
A lot
Harry's self-destruction and the psychological cost of investigating horrific crimes while maintaining sobriety are the novel's emotional core
What this book is about
The fifth Harry Hole novel follows the damaged Oslo detective through a summer heat wave as a serial killer targets women, leaving a small red diamond star at each scene. Nesbø's Scandinavian crime fiction is characteristically dark and unsparing. Harry's alcoholism is at its worst here, and the investigation leads to a personally devastating discovery. The violence against women is depicted with significant detail. One of the series' best entries.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
Serial killer murders of women
Graphic crime scene details
Reader Verification
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