The Son

A Novel

By: Jo Nesbø

Narrated by: Gildart Jackson

Length: 17 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

The author of the best-selling Harry Hole series now gives us an electrifying stand-alone novel set inside Oslo’s maze of especially venal, high-level corruption.

Sonny Lofthus is a strangely charismatic and complacent young man. Sonny’s been in prison for a dozen years, nearly half his life. The inmates who seek out his uncanny abilities to soothe leave his cell feeling absolved. They don’t know or care that Sonny has a serious heroin habit - or where or how he gets his uninterrupted supply of the drug. Or that he’s serving time for other peoples’ crimes.

Sonny took the first steps toward addiction when his father took his own life rather than face exposure as a corrupt cop. Now Sonny is the seemingly malleable center of a whole infrastructure of corruption: prison staff, police, lawyers, a desperate priest - all of them focused on keeping him high and in jail. And all of them under the thumb of the Twin, Oslo’s crime overlord. As long as Sonny gets his dope, he’s happy to play the criminal and the prison’s in-house savior.

But when he learns a stunning, long-hidden secret concerning his father, he makes a brilliantly executed escape from prison - and from the person he’d let himself become - and begins hunting down those responsible for the crimes against him.... The darkly looming question is: Who will get to him first - the criminals or the cops?

©2014 Jo Nesbø (P)2014 Random House Audio

No Harry Hole, but OK

I thought I would love this book, as I LOVED all of Jo Nesbo's Harry Hole books. Unfortunately I did not love The Son, it was just OK. I also did not care for Gildart Jackson's narration.

Great story in spite of the narrator

I suppose I have been spoiled by the late Robin Sachs and John Lee when it comes to Nesbo novels. From the beginning I found myself squirming when the narrator kept pausing between each word. And for those female accents, well, those sounded more like C-3P0 from Star Wars.
Having said that the story was easily strong enough to overcome the narration and in fairness to Jackson, it sounded a lot better by half way through. I found myself making comparisons to The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo at times which I can say is a great compliment to the story.
If you like Scandinavian murder mysteries then you can't go wrong with this as long as you get over the narrator early on. Otherwise I would highly recommend the paperback.

Nesbo at his best!

I enjoyed all of the Harry Hole books. They were troubled and dark - but seemed more real than some American police procedurales even with villains that were often a bit over the top.

The Son is even better - it is definitely in my top 5 for the year - might be top 3.

It is long - but keeps you captivated throughout. I never was tempted to jump ahead.

Nesbo has always been very good at character development - not just primary - secondary characters are more than caricatures.

The story telling is great - the translation is awesome.

Highly recommended.

His best one yet!

Would you listen to The Son: A Novel again? Why?

Maybe in a few years. I don't usually listen to mysteries and thrillers more than once.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Fun waiting for the next creative murder.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, I like to drag out the suspense.

jo nesbo

I always enjoy his books. He has become one of my favorite writers. Plan to listen to more of his books.

enjoyable

engaging from beginning to end... couldn't wait to keep listening. want to read more by this author.

A must read. Couldn't stop listening!!!

Would you listen to The Son: A Novel again? Why?

Yes. So detailed and twisting, would still love it the second time around!

What did you like best about this story?

The way Nesbo weaves a story about a character that you feel so much empathy for and want his life to end up right.

Which character – as performed by Gildart Jackson – was your favorite?

Sonny

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Sonny finally experienced a true connection with another person after being emotionally desolate for so long!

Any additional comments?

The reader was so good and added such a soft touch to Sonny's voice that you could actually picture him in your mind as you listened. I really love Jo Nesbo, the Harry Hole books have always been some of my favorites. Anyone who likes his novels, will really love this new one!

It’s excellent.

I have read the Harry Hole series and I throughly enjoyed it.

This book has something more. It has all the good ingredients of the HH series but it contains or gives the reader, me, a deeper experience.

It’s my favorite of his books. I Strongly recommended.

Hmm. Don't believe the hype.

Though parts were satisfying revenge fantasy, it was so implausible, and the villain so cartoonish (with his massive bone crushing hands etc.) that the story lost me by the end. Religious references were heavy handed.

Best since The Snowman

The story is intricate and the characters finely drawn ... tension is not contrived. A really sublime crime thriller. This is Jo Nesbø at his best. I don't even miss Harry Hole.