Thursday, March 11, 2010

THE DEVIL'S STAR: REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

GIVEAWAY ENDED
THE DEVIL'S STAR

BY JO NESBO

ABOUT THE BOOK:

From one of the most celebrated crime writers in Europe and the award-winning author of The Redbreast comes an epic thriller featuring Police Detective Harry Hole. In the vein of the crime novels of James Patterson and Dennis Lehane, Jo Nesbo’s The Devil’s Star is an intricately plotted and suspenseful thrill-ride from beginning to end.

Oslo is sweltering in the summer heat when a young woman is murdered in her flat. One finger has been cut off and a tiny red diamond in the shape of a pentagram—a five-pointed star—is found under her eyelid. Detective Harry Hole is assigned the case with Tom Waaler, a colleague he neither likes nor trusts. He believes Tom is behind a gang of arms smugglers—and the murder of his partner. But Harry, an off-the-rails alcoholic, is barely holding on to his job and has little choice but to play nice.

Five days later, another woman is reported missing. When her severed finger is found adorned with a star-shaped red diamond ring, Harry fears a serial killer is on the loose. Determined to find the killer and expose the crooked Tom Waaler, Harry discovers the two investigations melding in unexpected ways. But pursuing the truth comes at a price, and soon Harry finds himself on the run and forced to make difficult decisions about a future he may not live to see.

One of the brightest stars of Scandinavian crime writing, Jo Nesbø has been compared to Ian Rankin, Michael Connelly, and Henning Mankell. His novels are bestsellers throughout Europe, acclaimed by critics and revered by aficionados of thrillers and mysteries. Brilliantly plotted and paced, The Devil's Star shows Nesbø at his absolute best, combining powerful emotional resonance with truly stunning suspense.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A musician, songwriter, and economist, Jo Nesbo is the winner of the Glass Key Award, northern Europe's most prestigious crime-fiction prize, for his first novel featuring Police Detective Harry Hole. With his eight internationally acclaimed crime novels featuring Detective Harry Hole, Jo Nesbø has achieved an unparalleled success both in his native country Norway and abroad, winning the hearts of critics, booksellers and readers alike. Translated into thirty languages, awarded a whole range of awards and boasting record-breaking sales, Nesbø has been lavishly praised by international critics for broadening the scope of the contemporary crime novel, and is today regarded as one of Europe’s most important crime writers.He lives in Oslo.


REVIEW:

THE DEVIL’S STAR by Norwegian author Jo Nesbo is a well-written, suspenseful novel about Detective Harry Hole. Harry has been dealing with problems from his last few cases and Nesbo’s novels, and has been self-medicating his grief with alcohol. Harry actually is in danger of being kicked off the squad but for now is needed too much. You see, Harry is the only one who has ever dealt with a serial killer. And it looks like a serial killer who likes to chop off a finger and leave a red star as his calling card is what they have on their hands.

So when the Chief of the Crime Squad first calls Harry to investigate the death of a young woman, he assigns Tom Waller also to the team of investigators. Tom Waller is a co-worker that Harry believes is a “crooked cop” and is involved in criminal activity. They are not friends to say the least and this is a bad sign from the start as readers will see the more they get into the book. Detective Hole is the first to arrive at the girl's apartment. There he finds the woman's disfigured body, and a tiny five-sided diamond hidden in her flesh, so that it looks like she may be a victim of some kind of ceremonial ritualistic murder. When a second body is soon discovered, also missing a finger and has the same red diamond “signature” found at the scene, the chance that this is a serial killer becomes very real. The case picks up speed propelling the reader head long into this fast moving mystery, and Harry must show his best work to solve this one!

Nesbo gives his readers a gripping mystery with compelling, well-developed characters, and he does it with amazing literary expertise and style. His use of dark humor and exaggerated details lend themselves to his very descriptive scenes that border on terror and shock so that the reader is almost prepared for his classic "ah-ha" moment at the end. The book is enjoyable as a stand-alone novel but I think people who have read the first few Harry Hole books will be more in tune to what is going on with many references from past “mysteries”. Nesbo’s works are being translated into English, so many readers may encounter this as his first work and will need time to get used to his style and pace but it is one you will enjoy if you like a really well written mystery that keeps you guessing until the end. Will Harry find this serial killer and what part does his arch enemy Tom Waller play in all this? Hold on for a great ride and enjoy the talent of author Jo Nesbo in THE DEVIL’S STAR!

GIVEAWAY

THANKS TO KYLE AND GOOD PEOPLE
AT HARPER COLLINS PUBLISHING,
I HAVE 3 COPIES OF THIS EXCITING
BOOK TO GIVE AWAY. HERE IS WHAT
YOU NEED TO DO TO WIN A COPY!



--U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY
--NO P. O. BOXES
---INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
IN CASE YOU WIN!
--ALL COMMENTS MUST BE SEPARATE TO
COUNT AS MORE THAN ONE!

HOW TO ENTER:


+1 ENTRY: COMMENT ON SOMETHING YOU FOUND INTERESTING ABOUT AUTHOR JOE NESBO OR THE DEVIL'S STAR FROM THE REVIEW AND POST ABOVE.

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON SOMETHING INTERESTING YOU FOUND ABOUT JOE NESBO FROM THE HARPER COLLINS SITE HERE.

+1 MORE ENTRY: BLOG OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY AND LEAVE A LINK I CAN FOLLOW IN THE ENTRY

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON HOW YOU FOLLOW MY BLOG OR SUBSCRIBE. IF YOU DON'T FOLLOW YET, YOU CAN BY SUBSCRIBING VIA EMAIL, FOLLOW ON GOOGLE FRIEND CONNECT, OR ON FACEBOOK WITH NETWORK IN LEFT HAND COLUMN TODAY..OR ALL THREE! EACH WAY YOU FOLLOW IS A SEPARATE ENTRY AND COMMENT.

GIVEAWAY ENDS
6 PM, EST, APRIL 2 !

GOOD LUCK

83 comments:

scottsgal said...

I found it interesting that Jo is an economist
msboatgal at aol.com

scottsgal said...

Anything that is similar in style to James patterson - I'm reading it!
msboatgal at aol.com

Linda Kish said...

I want to find out more about the crooked cop he has to partner with and why.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

GFC follower

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

He won the Glass Key Award, Europe's most prestigious crime-fiction prize.


lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Reading said...

+1 I follow on GFC.

lizzi0915 at aol dot com

Reading said...

The author is also a musician, songwriter and economist.

lizzi0915 at aol dot com

tetewa said...

I'm always looking for new authors to read! tWarner419@aol.com

Margie said...

I was interested that this author was compared to Henning Mankell, as Mankell is one of my favorite authors.
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

I get your emaiol subscription
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

The author won the Glass Key, a very prestigious European crime fiction prize, for his first novel.
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

Follow via Facebook.
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

Follow with Google Friend Connect
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

wheresmyrain said...

+1 i follow via google reader

wheresmyrain at yahoo.com

wheresmyrain said...

i found it interesting...and GREAT that the author writes about someone named Henry Hole...i love that

wheresmyrain at yahoo dot com

justpeachy36 said...

justpeachy36@yahoo.com

Please enter me in the giveaway.

I found it interesting that he was a musician and songwriter as well a writer.

CMash said...

It must be a great read as he "has been lavishly praised for contemporary crime novels"
CMashLovesToRead
Mash1195(at)aol(dot)com

CMash said...

Am a email newsletter subscriber.
Mash1195(at)aol(dot)com
CMash Loves To Read

Glenn said...

Looks like a great thriller from the writeup. Thanks for the giveaway.

glenn_pessano AT yahoo DOT com

CMash said...

Am a google connect friend follower
CMashLovesToRead
Mash1195(at)aol(dot)com

rubynreba said...

I find it interesting that Jo Nesbo is from Norway since that is where my ancestors are from.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

I follow on google and subscribe by email.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

He will be going on tour to promote his book from March 15 to March 26
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

Irene said...

I was surprised to learn that Jo Nesbo also is a musician and a songwriter! WOW, that is a lot of talent.

cyeates AT nycap DOT rr DOT com

Irene said...

I am an e-mail subscriber and a Google follower.

cyeates AT nycap DOT rr DOT com

Irene said...

After reading The Redbreast, Nemesis, and The Redeemer, I am excited to read another Harry Hole mystery.


cyeates AT nycap DOT rr DOT com

traveler said...

I am an e-mail subscriber. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

Jo is a musician and song writer. Multi-talented and has written other novels as well. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I am fascinated with this novel. thanks for this giveaway. The review sounds great and his writing and character development what makes it interesting. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

Colleen Turner said...

I found it interesting that he is not only an award winning crime novelist but...an economist. Interesting combination!
Colleen
candc320@gmail.com

Colleen Turner said...

I follow via email, google connect and facebook.
Colleen
candc320@gmail.com

Karin said...

He's Norwegian....My dad was 100percent Norwegian. He was very proud of that, even though he never had the chance to visit Norway. He used to fly the American flag and the Norwegian flag together in his yard.

karin56381 (at) gmail.com

Vera said...

I subscribe by email. vvperesk@gmail.com

Vera said...

That's a very interesting MO (I think that's what they call it?) Who leaves diamonds on dead bodies?! vvperesk@gmail.com

MurderMysteryMayhem said...

I am a huge Jo Nesbo fan! What I find odd from reading his books is that he is an economist. Somehow an economist seems too tame to have created Harry Hole.


LooseEnds AT Snet DOT Net

MurderMysteryMayhem said...

I have been a follower in Google Reader.

Thanks for the chance,

LooseEnds AT Snet DOT Net

MurderMysteryMayhem said...

The interesting fact from the HarperCollins site is where Jo Nesbo will be Monday, March 15, 2010
at 07:00 PM - IDLEWILD BOOKS


LooseEnds AT Snet DOT Net

Rebecca Orr said...

Follower via gfc, email, facebook, twitter, and google reader. bekki1820cb at gmail

Rebecca Orr said...

I like that he is also an musician...very creative. I would love to read the other novels as well. Thanks for the chance. bekki1820cb at gmail

Misusedinnocence said...

I follow on gfc. :)

misusedinnocence@aol.com

Misusedinnocence said...

I thought it was pretty cool that the author is a musician. =)

misusedinnocence@aol.com

enyl said...

The intresting aspect of the story is the crooked cop subplot.
enyl(at)inbox(dot)com

enyl said...

The fact that the author was inspired by Frank Miller's Sin City.
enyl(at)inbox(dot)com

enyl said...

e-mail subscriber.
enyl(at)inbox(dot)com

enyl said...

Networked Blogs follower.
enyl(at)inbox(dot)com

enyl said...

GFC follower.
enyl(at)inbox(dot)com

bison61 said...

I read that Nesbø has been lavishly praised by international critics for broadening the scope of the contemporary crime novel, and is today regarded as one of Europe’s most important crime writers.

tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com

Carol M said...

I like that he is compared to Dennis Lehane who is one of my favorite authors.
mittens0831 at aol dot com

Carol M said...

He is regarded as one of Europe’s most important crime writers.
mittens0831 at aol dot com

Carol M said...

I follow on Google Friend Connect.
mittens0831 at aol dot com

Carol M said...

I subscribe via email.
mittens0831 at aol dot com

g.g. said...

The serial killer must be rich to leave jewelry like that with the victim

anjamie4 AT gmail dot com

g.g. said...

I am an email subscriber

anjamie4 AT gmail dot com

g.g. said...

I follow on Google Friend

anjamie4 AT gmail dot com

g.g. said...

Jo Nesbo lives in Oslo

anjamie4 AT gmail dot com

Teresa said...

I think its interesting that he is Norwegian
mstlee2000 @ hotmail.com

Lacey said...

im intereseted in how the details of the murders are described. I love a good murder mystery.


Lacey914 at sbcglobal dot net

Lacey said...

interesting to see a singer songwriter with a book.

Lacey914 at sbcglobal dot net

Lacey said...

http://twitter.com/HtxAstrosFan/status/10580156299

tweet

Lacey914 at sbcglobal dot net

Lacey said...

I follow through networked blogs and google friends

Lacey914 at sbcglobal dot net

Lisa Richards/alterlisa said...

+1 tweeted@ alterlisa

http://bookinwithbingo.blogspot.com/2010/03/devils-star-review-and-giveaway.html
alterlisa At yahoo DOT com

Lisa Richards/alterlisa said...

+1 blogged contest
http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/
RECENT GIVEAWAYS THROUGHOUT THE LAND

alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com

Lisa Richards/alterlisa said...

+1 subscribe by email
alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com

Lisa Richards/alterlisa said...

+1 loyal follower on GFC
Lisa Richards/alterlisa

alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com

Lisa Richards/alterlisa said...

+1 Jo Nesbo is Norwegian

alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com

Lisa Richards/alterlisa said...

+1 At age seven he pulled "Lord of the Flies" off a bookshelf and asked his father to read it to him at which point he decided that he could have wrote the story more exciting himself
alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com

Lisa Richards/alterlisa said...

Oh, and like scootsgal comparing it to James Patterson is enough to get me to try it.

alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com

Carol W. said...

I learned that Nesbo's work has been translated into 30 languages.

wolfcarol451(at)gmail(dot)com

Carol W. said...

RSS Google Reader subscriber


wolfcarol451(at)gmail(dot)com

Carol W. said...

Email subscriber


wolfcarol451(at)gmail(dot)com

Carol W. said...

From the publisher's website I learned that the author has won at least six literary prizes.


wolfcarol451(at)gmail(dot)com

Carol W. said...

I follow with Google Friend Connect.


wolfcarol451(at)gmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

I find books about serial killers more interesting than a regular crime story -- the whole psychosis (?) aspect

ashleymaymott(at)aol(dot)com

Unknown said...

I think it is neat that an economist is writing a book like this!

ashleymaymott(at)aol(dot)com

Unknown said...

I get e-mail updates:

ashleymaymott(at)aol(dot)com

mrsshukra said...

It's spectacular that Jo's novels have been translated into 30 languages!

delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com

mrsshukra said...

Google friend follower!

delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com

mrsshukra said...

Jo's novel The Snowman won the Norwegian Booksellers' Prize for Best Novel, 2007!

delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com

Francine Anchondo said...

google friend

fmd518(at)gmail(dot)com

Francine Anchondo said...

I found it interesting that it might take some time to get used to his style.

fmd518(at)gmail(dot)com

Benita said...

On this site I found out Jo Nesbo is the winner of the Glass Key Award, northern Europe's most prestigious crime-fiction prize, for his first novel featuring Police Detective Harry Hole.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Benita said...

I subscribe via email and follow via GFC.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Benita said...

On the Harper Collins site I found out that he lives in Oslo.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

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