The Devil's Star

By: Jo Nesbø

Narrated by: Robin Sachs

Length: 14 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

A young woman is murdered in her Oslo flat. One finger has been severed from her left hand, and behind her eyelid is secreted a tiny red diamond in the shape of a five-pointed star - a pentagram, the devil’s star.

Detective Harry Hole is assigned to the case with his long-time adversary Tom Waaler and initially wants no part in it. But Harry is already on notice to quit the force and is left with little alternative but to drag himself out of his alcoholic stupor and get to work.

A wave of similar murders is on the horizon. An emerging pattern suggests that Oslo has a serial killer on its hands, and the five-pointed devil’s star is key to solving the riddle.

©2009 Jo Nesbo (P)2011 Random House Audio

Jo Nesbo gets better with each story

What did you love best about The Devil's Star?

Guessing til the end!

Which character – as performed by Robin Sachs – was your favorite?

Harry Hole, of course!

Any additional comments?

Robin Sachs' performance is spot on as usual. He is telling the story as if he is living it....i actually forget I am listening to a "book".

Nesbo is now one of my favorite authors

I think it was Lee Child's recommendation to read Nesbo, and although it did take a bit to get into the style, I have found that he is now one of my favorites, and Harry Hole is one of my favorite characters. The character's development is seamless, continuous and subtle. You can't help pulling for this fractured, damaged person. I find myself wondering who or what was Nesbo's model for this character. The story lines are solid, and both books I have read leave me wanting more. While I might not characterize his books as "great", they are certainly very, very good. Worth the time and the $.

quite complicated plot

struggled to finish - no clear path to the plot, too many characters/similar names. story rambled. certainly not his best.

Fantastic!

Jo Nesbo is brilliant! He manages to keep the reader careening around unexpected curves from the beginning to the end of this book. I am so taken with his main character, Harry Hole. He is like the Norwegian version of Jack Reacher but with more human flaws. I can't wait to begin the next Harry Hole book.

If you like the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Devil's star was a very good story and performance. If you have not read any of the series start with the first Harry Hole novel and then go in order. You do not have to but there is a little bit of history that runs through the books. Some of Harry's deductions are a little far fetched but still an excellent series of books.

My Anti-Hero....Love that Harry!

I absolutely love Jo Nesbo's Harry Hole, even though he is soooo "convoluted." Started with the "Snowman," and couldn't believe how the characters played out - every one interesting...never guessed who the Snowman was. The same with "The Devil's Star." I am now an avid fan. Harry, you might have to stay sober, but don't change a thing about your skills.
Are you listening, Jo Nesbo? Lois in Chicago

It's not Stieg Larsson....

But not a bad murder mystery. It lacked the depth of character and attention to detail I really enjoyed in Larsson's stories. Narrator was excellent though.

Ace in the Hole!!!!

What a protagonist. You see his flaws and you still want him to come out on top. There’s nothing like a story with a likeable main character that makes you want to root for him or her. You may not see yourself as anything like him, but you understand, you relate, you empathize. And the more nothing goes right for Harry Hole, the more dedicated you are to their cause. You are connected. The more disappointments mount for him, the more emotionally committed you become to help see him through. That’s what Jo Nesbo does so incredibly well with Harry Hole-- he makes him your buddy, your brother, your bumbling ace-in-the "Hole." Similarly Robert Galbraith (J. K. Rowling) produces the same catch-you-good and crank-you-up effect in the Cormoran Strike series. Michael Connelly does the same with Harry Bosch.

Nesbo once again blows us away. In this fifth installment, the sheer mystery/suspense angle behind the missing fingers of corpses and the devil star left by the murderer lock you in the guessing game. If you’re like me, you may get some things right—but only enough to trick you into believing you really understand what’s going. Nesbo and Hole provide an exhilarating ride from the beginning all the way to the multi-tiered surprising end.

As always, Robert Zachs does a superb job of flawlessly whipping up a sweet and salty treat for the ears and the mind with his exacting personification of each character and mood. Hats off!

Author crafts great characters

The author crafts strong character descriptions - he takes his time to get into the personal quirks.

Another overall success by nesbo.

I like this author. I've read all of his work. This one did not disappoint. The ending was a little less exciting, but plausible.