Book review: The Snowman

The Snowman by Jo Nesbo is published in hardback by Harvill Secker, priced £12.99. Available now.
By The Newsroom
Published 13th Mar 2010, 11:11 BST
Updated 13th Mar 2010, 13:12 BST

Norwegian novelist Jo Nesbo's new novel is the fifth in his series featuring the alcoholic cop Harry Hole to be published in this country.

Hole is a stereotypical Scandinavian cop, complete with a messy private life and a strained relationship with his bosses – as well as a serious drink problem.

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The latest book finds him pitting his wits against a serial killer, dubbed "The Snowman", who is slicing his way across the country's female population.

There are some genuinely chilling moments as the search for the killer goes on, but the plot takes too many twists as the body count and list of suspects rises.

The clichd plot – a psychotic killer locked in a battle with a lone cop – has been done before better, but fans of the genre will enjoy it.

6/10 Review by Robert Dex