Norwegian by Night

By: Derek B. Miller

Narrated by: Sean Mangan

Length: 10 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

Sheldon Horowitz - 82 years old, impatient, and unreasonable - is staying with his granddaughter's family in Norway when he disappears with a stranger's child. Sheldon is an ex-Marine, and he feels responsible for his son's death in Vietnam. Recently widowed and bereft, he talks to the ghosts of his past constantly.

To Norway's cops, Sheldon is just an old man who is coming undone at the end of a long and hard life. But Sheldon is clear in his own mind. He'd heard the boy's eastern European mother being murdered, and he's determined to protect the child from the killer and his Balkan gang. With an endearing combination of dexterity and daring, Sheldon manages to elude the police in what is hostile, foreign territory for him. But what he doesn't know is that the police and the gang both know where he's heading.

Norwegian by Night is the last adventure of a man coming to terms with the tragedy of his own life as he tries to save another's. It combines laconic, deadpan humour, moral seriousness, visceral grief, and narrative tensions in a remarkable way - and Sheldon, in particular, is about to become a famous fictional hero.

©2012 Derek B. Miller (P)2013 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Critic reviews

"Norwegian by Night ‘may just be the Australian publishing coup of the decade, for this is a very powerful novel indeed, and Sheldon Horowitz is an absolutely unforgettable hero....A novel that will last and, soon enough, will be added to that canon of those finer works that transcend mere genre." (Jonathan Dawson, Sunday Tasmanian)

"To say this is an enigmatic read would be the understatement of the season." ( Courier Mail)

Entertaining Read

I really enjoyed this book. The story kept me interested and the narrator was good. Just simple entertainment, which was what I was looking for.

Sheldon’s story

It took me a bit to get into this story, But once I did, it was a fabulous book. Sheldon has a dry sense of humor and the story is poignant and full of interesting storyline.

Compelling and Unforgettable

The creation of the character Sheldon Horowitz and the multi-faceted, splendidly paced plot make this listening experience unforgettable. Sheldon's comments and take on life made me laugh out loud, and sometimes my heart ached for him and his long and complex life (shown in flashback style that flowed smoothly from the present events), and I continually was amazed at how skillfully rendered he was as a character. The narration is fantastic, really bringing Sheldon to life. The situation Sheldon is drawn into and the subsequent conflicts and events are interwoven into his past, making him one of the best characters I've ever read. The detective Sigrid of course takes part in the events, but Sheldon is the star. (Sigrid's father is another elderly character whose commentary on life were noteworthy and humorous.) Buy this book.

Good story that takes place nowhere.

Norway is nowhere: ever meet anyone from Norway? No. Is there ever interesting news from Norway? No way. The story could be set about anywhere, or any manufactured somewhere: like Norway.

persevere through the early character development

stick with it through the early chapters and you will be glad you did. I loved sheldon. this would make a great movie

I want more

I loved this book! The reader was fantastic at interpreting the engaging, memorable characters. I can't wait to play his other books- hoping they're available on audio.

Great character!

The “old man” is cantankerous, funny, macho, and securely insecure-one of a kind. He will definitely stay in my head. The police captain is unique and hilarious as well. I’m so glad I found this adventure.

Don't Miss This Amazing Book

I want to be very careful with my review so that I don't say too much and ruin the story if you haven't read it yet. This book is so powerful and fascinating in its depth and complexity that it needs to be experienced with an open mind and no preconceived ideas. Just let the story sweep you up and guide you through the labyrinth the author has created. The wry humor made me laugh out loud in several parts. The beautiful writing allows the reader to experience first hand the characters' interior thoughts, perceptions, and frames of reference. It focuses on ideas of war, nationalism, double standards and hind sight. A mediation on memory, meaning and how the things we are taught in life form who we are and dictate our actions. Amazing characters are brought expertly to life.

The narration started out sounding a bit like that announcer from the TV show The Twilight Zone long ago. As the reading progressed it smoothed out and improved. I think overall Sean Morgan did a fantastic job.

To me this was a page turner, a thriller, and a mystery filled with edge of your seat suspense. But much more than all of those things it made me think and it was a fantastic book. Glad I didn't miss this one!

If you like quirky & offbeat this may be for you

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

The writing is great and it has humor, great characters and just a hint of the magical

What did you like best about this story?

The main character

Have you listened to any of Sean Mangan’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Professional. He does sound a little like a newscaster but this was perfect for this story. Think the old Saturday night live newscasts where the deadpan voice was reporting something funny.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Old marines never stop fighting.

Any additional comments?

The best book I have listened to in a long while.

Nothing derivative about this story

It has it all: mafia, murder mystery, war stories, ingenuity, and the exceptional Sheldon Horowitz who will remind you of the best old grandfathers you never got to meet. The silent generation, those who fought in the "approved wars," and those who fought in the shameful ones merge in tender and mysterious ways. Magical realism at its best.

I'm going to listen again because I simply liked it that much.