The Redeemer by Jo Nesbo
I don’t like horror. I don’t like crime fiction. And I really don’t like gratuitous violence.
And yet I have read so many Jo Nesbø books. I think that says everything you need to know about how good he is.
It all traces back to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. That book cracked open Scandinavian crime fiction for me, and once I found Nesbø, I never left. His Harry Hole series is fast-paced, tightly written, and genuinely hard to put down — even when you’d probably rather look away.
The Redeemer
The Redeemer is not Nesbø at his absolute best, but “not his best” for Nesbø still means it’s a very good book. The plot pulls Harry Hole into the world of the Salvation Army, a contract killing, and a web of secrets that gets darker the further in you go.
And dark is the right word. This book is dark. Even by Nesbø’s standards, which are already set pretty far into uncomfortable territory.
The Verdict
If you’re already a Nesbø reader, pick it up — it’s a page-turner and absolutely worth your time, even if it doesn’t hit the highs of some of his other books.
If you’re curious about Scandinavian crime fiction and you think you can handle the darkness, this is still a solid entry point. Just go in knowing what you’re signing up for.
If you’re squeamish or easily disturbed — this one, and honestly the whole series, probably isn’t for you. I say that as someone who doesn’t typically like this genre and reads it anyway.
The Redeemer is not Jo Nesbø's best Harry Hole novel, but "not his best" from Nesbø still means a fast-paced, well-crafted page-turner. Coming from someone who doesn't typically enjoy crime fiction or horror — and has read every book Nesbø has written — that's a real endorsement. Just know going in that this one is dark, even by Nesbø's already-dark standards.
- Fast-paced and genuinely hard to put down
- Works as an entry point into Scandinavian crime fiction
- Nesbø's writing quality holds even when the plot isn't his strongest
- Not his best — falls short of the series highs
- Extremely dark content, even for the genre
- Not for readers sensitive to violence or disturbing material
