Harry Hole Facts: A Series Of Thriller Fictional Novels
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If you're a fan of crime thrillers, you would be probably familiar with the Harry Hole series.
Written by Norwegian author, Jo Nesbo, the series follows the life of the eponymous detective and his investigations into some of Oslo's most dangerous crimes. While the books are set in Norway and written in Norwegian, they have been translated into dozens of languages and hundreds of millions of copies have been sold worldwide.
The story revolves around an Oslo police officer, Harry Hole as he attempts to solve various murders and mysteries, all while battling his personal demons. The Harry Hole novels contain a great deal of material based on the author's home city, Oslo.
Harry's apartment in Sofies Gate is an actual building, and there is even a doorbell with his name engraved on it as a tribute to the famous fictional detective.
If you're a fan of the Harry Hole series, you'll love learning these facts about the books and the characters. If you've never read any Harry Hole books, this will give you an idea of what to expect.
Character
The main character is a detective in Oslo's Crime Squad named Harry Hole. He was born in 1965 and has a younger sister with Down's syndrome to whom Harry is deeply attached.
As a young man, Harry lost his mother to cancer and never had a close relationship with his father, a former teacher.
With a complex past, his personal and professional lives often intersect in unexpected ways. As a tough, hard-drinking detective, Harry is also a bit of a lone wolf and has a reputation in the department for being unpredictable yet dependable.
The story is often centered around Hole's mental health problems as a recovering alcoholic who is prone to depression. He is a complicated character, and his journey is one of redemption and self-discovery. Despite his flaws, Harry is a sympathetic and compelling character who readers cannot help but root for.
His aberrant behavior leads him to leave the police force, but he continues to assist in the criminal investigations while putting his life and the lives of those close to him at risk. Throughout the novels, he is confronted by a number of assassins, corrupt individuals, and serial killers, further contributing to his melancholy and cynicism.
His unsociable behavior and obsessions during investigations often put him at odds with his superiors.
Harry Hole's name translates to 'hill' in English and is also the name of a historic Norwegian town (Hole, Norway) whose history dates back to the Viking Age. In his novel, 'The Bat,' the police refer to him as 'Harry Holy.' This is a two-syllable word with a strong accent on the first syllable (HOO-leh).
Novels
The first novel in the Harry Hole book series was published in 1997, and the most recent one, 'Knife', came out in 2019. In English, the order of publication differs from the chronological order in which the books were originally published in Norwegian.
Below is a quick look at English translations of Jo Nesbo's Harry Hole novels in their proper sequence, as intended by the author.
In 'The Bat' (1997), Harry Hole is a detective with the Oslo Crime Squad assigned to take part in the investigation in Sydney into a murder case where the victim is a 23-year-old Norwegian woman who is a minor celebrity in her country of origin.
A Norwegian Ambassador to Thailand is found dead in Bangkok's brothel in his next novel 'Cockroaches' (1998), and Oslo's Inspector Harry Hole becomes involved in covering up the crime.
The Redbreast (2000) shifts Hole's career trajectory when he gets transferred to a quieter department and becomes involved in a murder investigation with links to World War II. The historical era of Norwegian-Nazi collaboration serves as both a backdrop for the killer's motivations and the point of convergence for the plot.
After a night of drinking with his ex-girlfriend, Anna Bethsen, Harry wakes up the next day with no memory of the night before. She is found shot to death in her bedroom, which makes Hole the prime suspect in an investigation led by his colleague and a nemesis, Tom Waaler in 'Nemesis' (2002).
Hole and his team are confronted with an unusual murder in 'The Devil's Star' (2003): the first Harry Hole book translated for English speakers and the fifth one for his Norwegian readers. The victim in this book is missing a finger, and a red diamond, the shape of a star is discovered behind the eyelid.
As more victims emerge, Hole suspects a serial killer at work and is forced to team up with his long-time adversary Tom Waaler.
The Redeemer (2005) finds Hole on the trail of a Croatian hitman who murdered a Salvation Army officer during a Christmas concert in Oslo. As his ex-girlfriend Rakel leaves him, Hole meets and eventually begins a relationship with a young woman named Martine.
In 'The Snowman' (2007), a killer takes a woman and leaves behind a snowman, in what seems to be the pattern of a serial killer. Hole works alongside detective Katrine Bratt, who also has a complicated past like him. There was a film adaptation released in 2017, directed by Tomas Alfredson and starring Michael Fassbender as Harry Hole.
It is believed a serial killer is on the loose in 'The Leopard' (2009), as all the victims are linked by the same ski lodge, including a female MP who was murdered.
Following a new discovery about his father, Olav, Harry, who had been living in Hong Kong, returns to Norway at the request of his colleague and teams up with the Oslo Police to solve the mystery.
In 'Phantom' (2012), following three years in Hong Kong, Harry Hole returns to Norway to clear Oleg, his ex-girlfriend's son, who has been arrested for murder. Harry, who has been a father figure to him throughout the series, refuses to accept that Oleg is a murderer, so he must return to find the real culprit.
In 'Police' (2013), the Oslo Police squad is puzzled by a sequence of killings in which officers are lured to the places of unsolved crimes and slain in the same manner as the victims of the original crime. Will Harry Hole, whose whereabouts are unknown, return to save the day?
The Thirst (2017) depicts a murderer using the dating app Tinder to target his victims. Detective Katrine Bratt now heads the Crime Squad, but Hole has been taken off the teaching job at the police college to help catch the killer.
The 12th and the most recent novel in the Harry Hole series, 'Knife' (2019), finds Harry on forced leave and in a drunken state somewhere between depression and guilt while attempting to investigate a case that may permanently affect his personal relationships with the characters that have long been part of his life.
Best Harry Hole Book
There are now 12 novels in the Harry Hole series, which has sold millions of copies worldwide ever since it debuted in 1997 with 'The Bat.' Although all his books have been well received, there are some that have garnered more attention, and fans of the series consider them to be the series' true high points.
The second book in the series, The Redbreast, is an excellent introduction to Harry Hole, the tough-guy protagonist in his series. It won the Glass Key Award for best Nordic Crime Fiction, along with the Norwegian Booksellers' Prize in 2000 for best novel of the year.
In 'Police,' Nesbo spins an intriguing tale that shows the reach of human evil and also enthralls the reader in a cat-and-mouse game between the victims and the police.
'The Snowman' stands out as a serious page-turner filled with suspense, thrill, and action. In 2008, it was awarded the Norwegian Book Club Prize for Best Novel of the Year.
If you enjoyed the movie adaptation starring Michael Fassbender in 2017, you should add the book version to your reading list as well. Following the critically acclaimed, 'The Snowman,' 'The Leopard' is another international bestseller and an exciting thriller you can't put down.
Several other prestigious literary awards have been bestowed on Nesbo. His debut novel, 'The Bat,' won the Glass Key Award and the 1997 Riverton Prize for Best Norwegian Crime Novel. The Finnish Whodunnit Society's Annual Award for Excellence in Foreign Crime Writing went to 'The Devil's Star' in 2007.
While there are some strong books in the series, it is recommended that you read them sequentially because each book features its own mystery for Harry to investigate, and there is character development throughout the series that you wouldn't want to miss out on.
FAQs
Where does Harry Hole live?
A number of Hole's stories are set in Oslo and feature the city's landmarks and neighborhoods.
What order are the Harry Hole books in?
The chronological order of the Harry Hole books published in English: The Bat (1997), Cockroaches (1998), The Redbreast (2000), Nemesis (2002), The Devil’s Star (2003), The Redeemer (2005), The Snowman (2007), The Leopard (2009), Phantom (2012), Police (2013), The Thirst (2017), Knife (2019).
How many Harry Hole books are there?
There are 12 books in the Harry Hole series as of 2022.
What is the second book in the Harry Hole series?
Harry Hole's second novel in the series is 'Cockroaches', released in 1998.
What is the first book in the Harry Hole series?
'The Bat', published in 1997, is the first Harry Hole book.
What drives Harry Hole personally in his line of work?
Harry Hole is a man driven by extreme obsession and will power who will not give up until he catches his culprit.
In what order should you read the Harry Hole books?
It is recommended to read the books chronologically, as the later books may include references to spoilers from the previous ones.
Does Harry Hole have a child?
Although Harry does not have children, he is a father figure to Oleg, his girlfriend Rakel's son.
Is there a new Harry Hole book?
Nesbo's most recent book, 'Knife', came out in 2019, although he's reportedly working on a 13th Harry Hole novel at the moment.
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Bachelor of Science specializing in Mass Communication.
Adekunle Olanrewaju JasonBachelor of Science specializing in Mass Communication.
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