Snømannen (novel)
Encyclopedia
The Snowman is a novel by Norwegian crime-writer Jo Nesbø
. It is the seventh entry in his Harry Hole
series.
detective
, Harry Hole
investigates a number of recent murders
of women around Oslo
. His experiences on a course with the FBI lead him to search for links between the murders, and finds two - each victim is a married mother and after each murder a snowman
is found at the murder scene.
Going through historical murders, he comes to realise that he is on the case of Norway's first official serial killer
, as he discovers more women who have also disappeared and are believed to have been abducted or murdered in a similar pattern. Almost all of the victims vanish after the first snow
has fallen and a snowman is found near the scene, although this is usually ignored as not being indicative during the original investigation.
Further investigation leads Harry and his team - including newcomer to the Department, Katrine Bratt, recently transferred from the Police Department in Bergen
, to suspect that paternity issues with the children of the victims may be a motive for the murders. They discover that all of the victims children have different fathers
to the men they believe to be their father. Following DNA Testing results leads the investigation down a few wrong routes and several murder suspects
are eliminated from the enquiry.
During the investigation, Harry continues to meet, clandestinely, with his ex-girlfriend, Rakel, despite the fact that Rakel has a new boyfriend, Mathias.
Eventually, suspicion falls on Katerine Bratt after she attempts to force a confession out of one of the innocent suspects. Harry chases her across Norway and finally catches up with her at a previously discovered murder site. She is apprehended and sent to see a psychiatrist
. After initially seeming to be unresponsive, she eventually informs the psychiatrist of the reasons for her behaviour.
At the same time, Harry's superior officers decide that the scandal
of allowing a long-time serial killer to work on the murder case will be damaging and determine that they require a scapegoat
to appease the press. Due to his previous issues with alcoholism
, Harry is put forward in absentia
.
Harry comes to realise that the murderer is still at large when another victim is discovered. Purely due to a random thought triggered by a comment from Mathias, Harry makes a vital connection that ultimately leads him to the true perpetrator. His success in finally apprehending the killer prevents any need for a scapegoat and Katrine Bratt, following further mental stability checks is sent back to Bergen
PD.
recommendations by Richard and Judy
in association with WHSmith.
Martin Scorsese
will direct a film adaptation.
Jo Nesbø
Jo Nesbø is an Edgar Award nominated Norwegian author and musician. As of September 2008 more than one and a half million copies of his novels have been sold in Norway, and his work has been translated into over forty languages....
. It is the seventh entry in his Harry Hole
Harry Hole
Harry Hole is the main character in a series of, so far, nine crime novels written by Jo Nesbø. Hole is a classic loose cannon in the police force, with few close friends and some unorthodox methods.-Character:...
series.
Plot
NorwegianNorway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
detective
Detective
A detective is an investigator, either a member of a police agency or a private person. The latter may be known as private investigators or "private eyes"...
, Harry Hole
Harry Hole
Harry Hole is the main character in a series of, so far, nine crime novels written by Jo Nesbø. Hole is a classic loose cannon in the police force, with few close friends and some unorthodox methods.-Character:...
investigates a number of recent murders
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
of women around Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
. His experiences on a course with the FBI lead him to search for links between the murders, and finds two - each victim is a married mother and after each murder a snowman
Snowman
A snowman is an anthropomorphic snow sculpture. They are customarily built by children as part of a family project in celebration of winter. In some cases, participants in winter festivals will build large numbers of snowmen...
is found at the murder scene.
Going through historical murders, he comes to realise that he is on the case of Norway's first official serial killer
Serial killer
A serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification...
, as he discovers more women who have also disappeared and are believed to have been abducted or murdered in a similar pattern. Almost all of the victims vanish after the first snow
Snow
Snow is a form of precipitation within the Earth's atmosphere in the form of crystalline water ice, consisting of a multitude of snowflakes that fall from clouds. Since snow is composed of small ice particles, it is a granular material. It has an open and therefore soft structure, unless packed by...
has fallen and a snowman is found near the scene, although this is usually ignored as not being indicative during the original investigation.
Further investigation leads Harry and his team - including newcomer to the Department, Katrine Bratt, recently transferred from the Police Department in Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
, to suspect that paternity issues with the children of the victims may be a motive for the murders. They discover that all of the victims children have different fathers
Father
A father, Pop, Dad, or Papa, is defined as a male parent of any type of offspring. The adjective "paternal" refers to father, parallel to "maternal" for mother...
to the men they believe to be their father. Following DNA Testing results leads the investigation down a few wrong routes and several murder suspects
Suspect
In the parlance of criminal justice, a suspect is a known person suspected of committing a crime.Police and reporters often incorrectly use the word suspect when referring to the...
are eliminated from the enquiry.
During the investigation, Harry continues to meet, clandestinely, with his ex-girlfriend, Rakel, despite the fact that Rakel has a new boyfriend, Mathias.
Eventually, suspicion falls on Katerine Bratt after she attempts to force a confession out of one of the innocent suspects. Harry chases her across Norway and finally catches up with her at a previously discovered murder site. She is apprehended and sent to see a psychiatrist
Psychiatrist
A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. All psychiatrists are trained in diagnostic evaluation and in psychotherapy...
. After initially seeming to be unresponsive, she eventually informs the psychiatrist of the reasons for her behaviour.
At the same time, Harry's superior officers decide that the scandal
Scandal
A scandal is a widely publicized allegation or set of allegations that damages the reputation of an institution, individual or creed...
of allowing a long-time serial killer to work on the murder case will be damaging and determine that they require a scapegoat
Scapegoat
Scapegoating is the practice of singling out any party for unmerited negative treatment or blame. Scapegoating may be conducted by individuals against individuals , individuals against groups , groups against individuals , and groups against groups Scapegoating is the practice of singling out any...
to appease the press. Due to his previous issues with alcoholism
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
, Harry is put forward in absentia
In absentia
In absentia is Latin for "in the absence". In legal use, it usually means a trial at which the defendant is not physically present. The phrase is not ordinarily a mere observation, but suggests recognition of violation to a defendant's right to be present in court proceedings in a criminal trial.In...
.
Harry comes to realise that the murderer is still at large when another victim is discovered. Purely due to a random thought triggered by a comment from Mathias, Harry makes a vital connection that ultimately leads him to the true perpetrator. His success in finally apprehending the killer prevents any need for a scapegoat and Katrine Bratt, following further mental stability checks is sent back to Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
PD.
Additional Information
The English translation of the novel was recommended as one of the first Book ClubBook club
A book discussion club is a group of people who meet to discuss a book or books that they have read and express their opinions, likes, dislikes, etc. It is more often called simply a book club, a term that is also used to describe a book sales club, which can cause confusion...
recommendations by Richard and Judy
Richard and Judy
Richard and Judy is the name informally given to Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan, a married couple who are both British television presenters and columnists. Since their marriage, their television appearances have been largely made as a couple. They are best known for presenting This Morning and...
in association with WHSmith.
Martin Scorsese
Martin Scorsese
Martin Charles Scorsese is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, actor, and film historian. In 1990 he founded The Film Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to film preservation, and in 2007 he founded the World Cinema Foundation...
will direct a film adaptation.