The Leopard

A Harry Hole Novel

By: Jo Nesbø, Don Bartlett - translator

Narrated by: Robin Sachs

Length: 21 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

Two young women are found murdered in Oslo, both drowned in their own blood. Media coverage quickly reaches fever pitch: Could this be the work of a serial killer?

The crime scenes offer no coherent clues, the police investigation is stalled, and the one man who might be able to help doesn't want to be found. Traumatized by his last case, Inspector Harry Hole has lost himself in the squalor of Hong Kong's opium dens. Yet when he is compelled, at last, to return to Norway - his father is dying - Harry's buried instincts begin to take over. After a female MP is discovered brutally murdered, nothing can keep him from the investigation.

There is little to go on: a piece of rope, a scrap of wool, a bit of gravel, an unexpected connection between the victims. And Harry will soon come to understand that he is dealing with a psychopath for whom insanity is a vital retreat, someone who will put him to the test in both his professional and personal lives as never before.

Ruthlessly intelligent and suspenseful, The Leopard is Jo Nesbo's most electrifying novel yet - absolutely gripping from first to last.

©2011 Jo Nesbo (P)2011 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Intense . . . Nesbø moves the action easily from Hong Kong to Norway, with side trips to the Democratic Republic of Congo, without ever losing the plot’s sense of urgency.” ( Publishers Weekly, starred)

“Nesbø knows exactly what he’s doing [in] this gripping, intricately plotted tale . . . Like all intelligent crime fiction, this book is not only about multiple murders by heinous means. It is also about legacies, most specifically about the good and evil, love and hate, passed from one generation to the next. This vivid, violent novel promises to speak on many levels to many readers.” ( Library Journal)

“Outstanding . . . Probably the best big crime novel you could lay your hands on this year.” ( BBC Radio 4)

Twisted Plot

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

This murder mystery had multiple twists and at times was compelling. I had trouble keeping all the characters sorted out and found the story too long.

Would you recommend The Leopard to your friends? Why or why not?

No. There are many authors that write with more energy.

Did The Leopard inspire you to do anything?

No

Really enjoyed listening

Really good story,very detailed with many twists and turns. My only complaint were the Norwegian names. It was hard to remember who was who.

another excellent story

I enjoy Jo Nesbo's work. This is another quality story. The author leaves you wondering which way the story will turn next, while at the same time, the character development is excellent. The narrator is well suited for the story.

The very best crime writer

Jo Nesbo, the author, is a hit in Norway. Not all of his books have been translated but the Leopard is the latest to reach our shores. It is a fantastic read though like most of his books, the story is dark and a bit gloomy. Don't look here for positive thinking but do expect to find over 21 hours of mesmerizing listening.

Had my attention from start to finish.

I love the Harry Hole series by Jo Nesbø.
As a Norwegian living state side, I was thrilled to find out I could get all of the books here.

could have been delivered better

What did you like best about The Leopard? What did you like least?

Not an original story but it had a good variety of characters, settings and locations. I usually listen while doing other things and found this book somewhat hard to follow, and I am thinking it could be because it was originally written in another language.
Not a bad listen though.

Who was your favorite character and why?

For sure Harry, old style of investigative detective, always finding the angle no one else thought about and shedding new light to the case.

What aspect of Robin Sachs’s performance would you have changed?

I found it a bit monotonous, it might have helped to add a few different inflexions for different characters.

Could you see The Leopard being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

Not really, this topic has been done to exhaustion on tv and the movies.

Could Not Be Better

Like many readers/listeners, I was captivated by the Millenium Trilogy and powerfully drawn to a whole new cast of talented Scandinavian writers.....Henning Mankel, in particular (couldn't seem to get enough of Kurt Wallander for a while there). The new star author, however, is Jo Nesbo and the action has shifted westwards to Oslo. His police inspector Harry Hole is the bomb. Narrator Robin Sachs is the bomb as well. The best voice for the grittiest character ever. I made the mistake of ordering The Nemesis with someone other than Sachs as narrator. I will be buying the book instead. I am serious.....ROBIN SACHS is HARRY HOLE!!! The Leopard is a spectacular listen. It'll help to listen to the series in order, but it is not a deal killer. Just try Jo Nesbo as soon as you can.


[For whatever reason (vanity, I suppose), I used to not mention that I have devoured a certain book or series via the audio route. Isn't, after all, just listening to a book ridiculously easy fare compared to actually flipping pages? News flash -- I'm over it! As an adult who spends a fair amount of time driving alone, Audible has rejuvenated my commute! I often spend a little extra time in the office parking lot and even in my own carport refusing to turn off the IPod. I am hooked, just like those nice folks in the TV ad!]

can't believe how much I like these

This was my 3rd Nesbo/Harry Hole book and I truly thought they were all great! I blew through this one quickly. This was a good follow on to "The Snowman" but I would recommend you start at the beginning if you thought you wanted to try them out. The crime story is a taut thriller that alone keeps your interest but, at the core, Nebo has created a great character in Harry Hole. Harry is an alcoholic who has his demons but, at heart, is a very good human being and you can't help but relate to him. The setting in Norway is interesting and when you consider the story in its totality, it's absolutely great. Nesbo is now one of my favorite authors and I recommend his books highly.

Where is Harry Hole?

The last place you'd expect to find a Norwegian detective is an opium den in Hong Kong where he continues to engage in his self destructive behaviors. Yet that's where Kaja Solness finds him when she's assigned to bring him back to Oslo to help with the latest series of murders. After all, he's the only one with experience in tracking serial killers.

The methods the killer comes up with are unusual and torturous. We experience the first one right out of the gate and when I say we experience it, that's exactly what I mean. Nesbo writes that scene, as well as most others, so well it's as if we are living it. I was so scared after those first few pages that I wanted to go on, but my heart was pounding so hard I wasn't sure I could hear the narrator. But I went on. I told my husband, "You think Devil's Star was good, try this one." It took him about thirty seconds to load the story to his listening device. I still beat him to the end.

Nesbo keeps us engaged throughout the story with so many surprises that it's tricky to keep up. But if you listen carefully, you can. It's a fast-paced ride.

There are five other Harry Hole mysteries, but they can be read as stand alone novels. Nesbo gives you just enough information to fill you in without boring those who have read the previous ones. His newest one, The Phantom, is due to be released in October 2, 2012.

I'm a fan of Nesbo and Harry Hole, although in the next book I hope Harry gets his act together a little bit more than he does in this one. There's only so much self destructive behavior any reader can tolerate.

Sachs is a great reader for Nesbo tales. I'd encourage you to buy the book. And just in case the October release ends the series, read it now.

Hole holds your attention to the end

This was the first book I have read of the Harry Hole series, but definitely will not be the last. Hole is a flawed hero, no superman but definitely engaging in his quests to solve the flaws of society and his own life. Robin Sachs does an outstanding portrayal of Hole.