The Bat

Harry Hole' s first case

A Norwegian girl is found dead in Australia. All indications are that she was raped and murdered. The Oslo Police Department' s homicide department sends criminal investigator Harry Hole to Sydney to assist the local police in their investigation. At the same time, Harry is supposed to rest here from his alcohol problems and mental health problems.

A young colleague died in a car accident due to his fault. However, Harry cannot stand by passively and just give advice, so he begins to get heavily involved in the investigation, despite the displeasure of his Australian colleagues, especially after it becomes clear that this is not a single murder and that the police are probably dealing with a serial killer. Harry gradually finds himself in an environment of pimps, drug dealers, prostitutes, transvestites, circus performers and boxers, and becomes acquainted with the world and the legends of the original Australians, and through them with the bat - a symbol of death.

" Nesbo is above all straightforward and captivating here. (. ) His debut doesn' t lie with body and subtle finesse, but simply goes its own way. Hole' s introduction is simply a good thriller, for which even many a famous author would give his soul to the devil. "
- Boris Hokr, Aktuálně.cz

Jo Nesbo

The contemporary Norwegian writer and musician, originally trained as an economist and financial analyst, initially worked as a stockbroker and journalist. In 1997, his literary career began with the crime novel Flaggermusmannen (Batman), the first detective story featuring the distinctive and unconventional crime writer Harry Hole. The book was an immediate success for its author, Nesbo for not receiving the Rivertonprisen, Awarded by the Riverton Club for the best literary or dramatic work with a crime theme, and Glasnokkelen, Glass key, the Scandinavian award for best crime novel. Other books starring Harry Hole followed, 1998 Cockroaches (Cockroaches), 2000 Rodstrupe (Red), 2002 Sorgenfri (Carefree, published in Czech as Nemesis), 2003 Marekors (Pentagram), 2005 The Savior, 2007 The Snowman (Snomannen), 2009 Panserhjerte (Armored Heart) and 2011 Gjenferd (Ghost).
In 2008, Nesbo published another crime novel with a new protagonist, Roger Brown, which was published under the title Hodejegerne (Headhunters). Jo Nesbo also writes humorous books for children, in which Dr. Proctor appears as the main character: 2007 Doktor Proktors prompepulver (Doctor Proktor' s Fart Powder), 2008 Doktor Proktors tidsbadekar (Doctor Proktor and the Bath of Time), 2010 Doktor Proktor og verdens undergang, kansje (Doctor Proktor and the End of the World, Maybe). In addition to the above-mentioned awards, Jo Nesbo has won numerous other literary awards for his crime novels. In total, his books have been translated into 35 languages and published in 140 countries around the world. In Norway alone, with a population of four and a half million, one and a half million have been sold so far.