The Bat by Jo NesbøMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Nordic noir down under? Y’know what, it works for me. I think I might’ve read some of Nesbø’s other Harry Hole books a while ago, but I’d already forgotten most of the details, and since Nesbø himself is now writing the series adaptation for Netflix, I figured I should go back to the beginning. Interestingly, this book didn’t get translated into English for 15 years after its initial publication, but for a 90s era book, it actually feels a bit ahead of its time, especially in terms of Aboriginal Australian representation. Nesbø does a great job avoiding stereotypes thereof and fleshing out characters like Andrew Kensington, Hole’s partner in Sydney and beyond. As for Hole, he’s got a sad side and tons of tragedy in his past, but he’s far more likable than most of the typical assholes that populate the ranks of Nordic noir protagonists. I think I’ll be sticking with this series for a while, hopefully even catching up before long.
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