The Redeemer

A Harry Hole Novel (6)

By: Jo Nesbø, Don Bartlett - translator

Narrated by: John Lee

Length: 13 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER • Inspector Harry Hole pursues an assassin bent on revenge in this “fast-and-furious” installment (The New York Times Book Review) of the bestselling series.

Shots ring out at a Salvation Army Christmas concert in Oslo, leaving one of the singers dead in the street. The trail will lead Harry Hole, Oslo’s best investigator and worst civil servant, deep into the darkest corners of the city and, eventually, to Croatia.

An assassin forged in the war-torn region has been brought to Oslo to settle an old debt. As the police circle in, the killer becomes increasingly desperate and the danger mounts for Harry and his colleagues.

Don't miss Jo Nesbo's latest Harry Hole thriller, Killing Moon!

©2013 Jo Nesbo (P)2013 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Fast-and-furious.” (The New York Times Book Review)

“The pace is relentless.... The plot ... [is] complex without becoming overheated.” (San Antonio Express-News)

“Though there’s plenty of twisty plot, it’s Nesbø’s writing—textured, humane, evocative, moody, cinematic—that keeps this thing rolling forward like a toboggan on a steep slope.” (Minneapolis Star Tribune)

Love Jo Nesbo

Would you listen to The Redeemer again? Why?

As with his other books, I love the intricacy and detail of Jo Nesbo's plots. Harry Hole continues to delight me, and, as with his other stories, I found myself listening to this in my driveway before going into the house after getting home from work. The narrator is fantastic…he has a gritty, dark tone that is perfect for the series.

Recommend

I thought the story was compelling, with several unanticipated plot twists.
John Lee’s narration was way, way too fast - so much so it seemed like a production error rather than his performance. As another review recommended I slowed it down to .75 & it was almost perfect.

Another great Harry Hole mystery

Would you listen to The Redeemer again? Why?

Probably not. I very, very rarely listen to books again because I already know how they end. I've only ever listened to one more than once: a Craig Johnson Longmire story.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Redeemer?

Can't think of any right off the bat.

Which scene was your favorite?

don't recall.

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

yes, it was suspenseful and kept me listening.

Any additional comments?

I always enjoy Jo Nesbo and Harry Hole. His character was less depressing in this book. You had some hope for the guy.

Good addition to series.

Well written and well read. Good plot. Rich characters. Went into it already a fan and only gained more respect for it by the end.

Narrator Rains On Harry's Parade

Redeemer might be another excellent book in the Harry Hole series, except that the narrator does such a poor job as to make the book hard to follow. I almost stopped listening several times, but it's Harry Hole, and I don't quit on Harry!

I know we're used to Robin Sachs, and I was entirely prepared to cut John Lee some slack because inevitably he'll be compared to Sachs. I'm sorry to say that after finishing the book, I'm not prepared to cut him any slack at all. His narration of this book was unacceptable, standing on it's own, without comparison to Robin Sachs.

John Lee doesn't do voices. This makes it difficult to follow the characters. The book skips between characters and places without transition, so I often found myself wondering which "he" was speaking, and where, and about who/what. The transitions weren't marked by pauses of suitable length either, again, making the book hard to follow. Many times I was simply lost, and kept rewinding until I thought maybe I was back in sync. Sometimes it wa just a lost cause and I had to plow on.

This is a shame, because there are good themes and good character development in this book. The title isn't empty, but a theme that runs throughout. In this book, Harry himself seeks personal redemption.

I found myself getting mad at Harry sometimes. Mad at his inability or unwillingness to get sober and stay sober. Maybe Harry's mad at himself for the same reasons, and that's one reason he seeks redemption. Decide for yourself, I won't give away the book!

We also wonder about the future of his love for Rakel, Is there a future at all?

This almost felt like it might be a last book in the series. I hope not.

If there is a next book, I do hope they'll try a different narrator

Harry Hole is a terrific series.

The Redeemer is another great installment in the Harry Hole series. Listening to this book answers some confusion that I had in later books. The Redeemer has plenty of Nesbo trademark detail. twists and turns that make the series so enjoyable. If you're a Hole fan, or just enjoy an interesting police procedural, this is a worthwhile way to spend a credit!

A less violent installment

First, I have always enjoyed listening to John Lee. The unfortunate passing of Robin Sachs should not give anyone the opportunity to compare the two. This was well narrated.

Next, I was surprised that, by the end, Harry had not been shot, stabbed, beaten nor threatened!

This episode is just as engaging as the others, but it did not leave me cringing at the evil that humans can do to each other. Harry still fights the same demons and regrets that haunt him throughout the series.There are still murders and odd clues than the clever mind of Harry Hole manages to tie together to untangle a twisted plot. His personal sense of justice makes for an apt conclusion.

This is another great listen from Jo Nesbo.

Really hard to put down!

Wow -
Took me only 2 days w headphones to get through it!!
Great story(s) that magically all come together in a perfectly believable fashion.
Nesbo is the master of great murder mystery writing.

Powerful Drama

The mystery at the heart of the novel itself is a wonderful roller coaster ride of increasing tension and amazing revelations. But it also wraps up some small threads which have been dangling from the five previous novels. The narrator adds emotional depth to what already is a terrific story as well.

I love this series. It not only fulfills every mystery lover's desire for an amazing entertainment, it is incredibly intelligent. Every book so far is an architecture of award-winning beauty.

Slow start but excellent finish

I'm holding back one star even though this is an excellent book because it did have a slow start. Also, there's the pattern again and again in the Hole mysteries that while it adds authenticity becomes predictable.