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A deftly plotted novel that probes the deepest mysteries: sin, redemption, love, evil, the human condition. . . . One of Nesbø’s best, deepest and richest novels.
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
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Excellent . . . Nesbø takes the reader on a chilling ride with many unexpected twists.
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)
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The standard bearer for the phenomenon that is Scandinavian crime fiction. . . . Fast-paced and imaginatively violent, this latest example of Nesbo’s Nordic noir hurtles like an express train towards a last act of almost operatic extravagance that leaves dead bodies and carefully nurtured reputations littering the stage. Great stuff altogether.
— Independent (Ireland)
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[Nesbø is] one of the current leading lights in Scandinavian crime fiction . . . Ridiculously talented . . . with his clear gift for hairpin twists and turns. . . . The thriller is so tightly plotted that it will keep readers steadfastly glued to their seat. . . . What Nesbø has crafted is not a whodunit in the traditional sense, as the writer is interested in the far more fascinating question of what can drive a person to evil?
— Daily Style (Australia)
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Scandinavian Reviews
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Nesbø’s new book makes all the hype before publication seem like false modesty, and is quite simply a fantastic piece of crime literature. . . . First and foremost, this is a clever, enthralling and driven story that is impossible to put down.
— Dagens Næringsliv (Norway)
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Yet another powerful demonstration of Nesbø’s talent for creating a story that plays on all nerve strands and with so much intensity that it embodies both the Bible and Batman at once. It is really well done. It is still early in the year, but I wouldn't be surprised if someone should dub The Son as the crime novel of the year.
— Ekstra Bladet (Denmark)
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The pace proves to be on top in the new book, in a positive sense. This remains Norwegian crime literature in a class by itself. A plot that stretches and spreads out like great mathematical formulas, with many unfamiliar characters in the equation, but without being arcane or excessive in his fantastic interpretations. . . . Jo Nesbø prevails once again.
— Dagsavisen (Norway)
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Tremendously well written by Nesbø. . . . There is something unstoppably vital about Jo Nesbø as a designer of crime stories in the baroque style. His pen is on fire and although it may be noted that it goes too fast sometimes linguistically, the stories he creates has so many staggering twists and turns that it is almost physically impossible not to get hooked.
— Aftenposten (Norway)
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Crime novels are rarely so skillfully told and at the same time so much more than pure entertainment. But Nesbø is a master.
— Berlingske (Denmark)
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No Norwegian crime writer can create such complex crime plots without losing in detail like Nesbø can. You might say that Nesbø is both high and low in his texts, and that is one of the main reasons why his novels rise above most others in this genre.
— Dagbladet (Norway)
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It is a formidable, diabolically clever and devilishly good book that is well put together, down to the smallest detail.
— Nordjyske Stiftstidene (Denmark)
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The story . . . is propelled with great force and an unerring sense of detail. . . . It is simply thrilling to read.
— NRK (Norway)
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Fast-paced and rip-roaring suspenseful.
— Politiken (Denmark)
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No one at our latitudes knows the game like Nesbø does. No one is even close to his craftsmanship in writing crime novels that hold such international standard.
— Adresseavisen (Norway)”
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A high level of suspense all the way and limitless brutality. The bad guys get what they deserves and Nesbø’s writing is almost more cynical and concrete than usual. There are also a few love stories along the way, that—almost—end happily.
— Lolland-Falsters Folketidende (Denmark)
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The Son is a modern take on the story about Christ, that tackles the corruption in Oslo. . . . Jo Nesbø’s writing is incredible as usual.
— Jyllands-Posten (Denmark)
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“Disturbing…with its creepy,
sinister, purgatorial cops and crooks in an extravagant universe, you keep
waiting to see light poking through.”
— New York Times Book Review
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“The standard bearer for the
phenomenon that is Scandinavian crime fiction…Fast paced and imaginatively
violent, this latest example of Nesbo’s Nordic noir hurtles like an express
train towards a last act of almost operatic extravagance that leaves dead
bodies and carefully nurtured reputations littering the stage. Great stuff
altogether.”
— Independent (Ireland)
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“[Nesbø is] one of the current
leading lights in Scandinavian crime fiction…with his clear gift for hairpin
twists and turns…The thriller is so tightly plotted that it will keep readers
steadfastly glued to their seat…What Nesbø has crafted is not a whodunit in the
traditional sense, as the writer is interested in the far more fascinating
question of what can drive a person to evil.”
— Daily Style (Australia)
-
“Nesbø’s new book makes all the
hype before publication seem like false modesty and is quite simply a fantastic
piece of crime literature…First and foremost, this is a clever, enthralling,
and driven story that is impossible to put down.”
— Dagens Næringsliv (Norway)
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“This excellent standalone from Nesbø, best known for his Harry Hole series, centers on Sonny Lofthus (aka the Son), who’s serving a sentence
at Oslo’s Staten Maximum Security Prison for two murders to which he
confessed but which he did not commit…A chilling ride.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)
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“A terrific thriller but also a
tragic, very moving story of intertwined characters swerving desperately
to avoid the dead ends in their paths.”
— Booklist (starred review)
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“A deftly plotted novel that probes the deepest mysteries: sin, redemption, love, evil, the human condition…One of Nesbø’s best, deepest, and richest novels.”
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
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“The bestselling author of the Harry Hole series delivers an exceptional, gritty, fast-paced stand-alone thriller; the
smooth transitions among each character’s perspectives lure readers in,
and Barslund’s translation is accessible to American readers.”
— Library Journal