The Snowman (Nesbø novel)
 Hardcover edition | |
| Author | Jo Nesbø |
|---|---|
| Original title | Snømannen |
| Country | Norway |
| Language | Norwegian |
| Series | Harry Hole |
| Genre | Crime fiction |
| Publisher | Aschehoug |
Publication date | 2007 |
| Pages | 438 pp |
| ISBN | 978-82-03-19212-8 |
| OCLC | 213225595 |
| LC Class | PT8951.24.E83 S56 2007 |
| Preceded by | The Redeemer |
| Followed by | The Leopard |
The Snowman (Norwegian: Snømannen, 2007) is a novel by Norwegian crime-writer Jo Nesbø. It is the seventh entry in his Harry Hole series.
Plot
In 1980, a married woman has illicit sex with a lover while her adolescent son waits in a car outside; their lovemaking is disturbed when they think somebody is looking at them from outside the window, which turns out to have been only a tall snowman. Twenty-four years later, Norwegian detective Harry Hole investigates a string of murders of women around Oslo. His FBI training leads him to search for links between the cases, and he finds two of them—each victim is a married mother and a snowman appears at every murder scene.
Looking through cold cases, Hole realises that he is tracking Norway's first known serial killer. Most of the victims vanished after the first snowfall of winter, and snowmen were found near each scene. Further digging leads Harry and his team, including newcomer Katrine Bratt, to suspect that paternity issues with the children of the victims may be a motive for the murders. They discover that all of the victims' children have different fathers from the men they believe to be their father. Following DNA testing, results lead the investigation down a few wrong turns and several suspects are eliminated from the inquiry.
Within a short time, Hole and Katrine are romantically drawn together, though Hole doesn't pursue her overture. Hole sees her as a kindred spirit and a brilliant, dedicated detective in her own right. However, suspicion falls on Katrine herself being the "Snowman", after she attempts to frame one of the prime suspects. Hole chases her across Norway and catches up with her at a previously discovered murder site. She is apprehended and committed to a psychiatric unit. Hole's superiors, concerned that Katrine's arrest for the murders she reportedly committed will damage their reputation, put forward Hole as a scapegoat for the press.
When another victim is discovered, Hole realises that the Snowman is still at large. Due to a random thought triggered by a chance comment, he makes a vital connection that ultimately leads him to the identity of the true perpetrator. His success in finally apprehending the killer obviates any need for a scapegoat, and Katrine, following further mental stability checks, returns to her post in Bergen.
Reception
Thomas Kaufmann wrote that "The Snowman gives us suspense and a veritable gallery of memorable suspects makes it a great read. Once Alfred Hitchcock talked about people taking a roller-coaster ride – how they would scream going down the hill, and laugh when they were finished. Some people like to be entertained in this way, Hitch said, and he was just a fellow who built roller coasters. The Snowman is a first-class roller-coaster ride."[1]
Film adaptation
A film adaptation of the novel The Snowman was developing from British production company Working Title Films. In 2013, Martin Scorsese was attached to direct the film.[2] In 2014, Tomas Alfredson was hired to direct.[3] On September 8, 2015, Michael Fassbender was in talks to join the film for the lead role.[4] On October 14, 2015, Rebecca Ferguson was cast in the film to play the female lead role.[5] Alfredson's Another Park Film would also produce the film, starting production in January 2016.[5] The film was released in the UK on 13 October 2017. Unlike the novel, the film was poorly received by critics.
References
- Larsen, Turid (2 June 2007). "Harry Hole holder koken" (in Norwegian). Dagsavisen. Archived from the original on August 19, 2007. Retrieved May 26, 2009.
- "Online Catalog: Snømannen / Jo Nesbø". The Library of Congress. Retrieved May 26, 2009.
- Oksnes, Bernt Jakob (June 6, 2011). "Harrytur" (in Norwegian). Dagbladet. Archived from the original on October 14, 2012. Retrieved June 6, 2011.
- ↑ Kaufman, Thomas. "The Snowman review". The Washington Independent Review of Books. Retrieved May 31, 2011.
- ↑ Scott Roxborough (November 21, 2011). "Martin Scorsese to Direct 'The Snowman' for Working Title". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
- ↑ "'Let the Right One In' Director Boards Jo Nesbo's 'The Snowman' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. April 28, 2014. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
- ↑ Ford, Rebecca (September 8, 2015). "Michael Fassbender in Talks to Star in Crime Drama 'The Snowman' (Exclusive)". hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
- 1 2 Jaafar, Ali (October 14, 2015). "Rebecca Ferguson In Talks To Star In 'The Snowman' Opposite Michael Fassbender; Eyeing Other Big Roles". deadline.com. Retrieved October 18, 2015.