Have you read Jo Nesbo yet? Well, you should. I first discovered him a couple years ago as a recommendation for fans of Stieg Larsson’s Dragon Tattoo series. Although there are some similarities—these are set in Norway, Dragon Tattoo’s are set in Sweden, and both deal with brutal crimes—the comparisons stop there. The series stars the infamous police detective Harry Hole and are gritty, disturbing and complex. Some of the best detective writing I’ve ever seen. I’m totally addicted. I’ve read three in almost as many months and am about to be caught up. Uh oh, what am I going to do?

This one, The Leopard, is the eighth in the series and finds Hole returning from Hong Kong to be with his sick and dying father, only to be drawn into an investigation. The mysterious deaths of two young women found drowning in their own blood. Seemingly unconnected, Hole is convinced they’re acts by the same killer and is determined to uncover the truth…as he does. This one might be the best one yet.

Last week: What I Had Before I Had You // Sarah Cornwell (5 out of 5 stars)

I just really loved this book. Maybe it was because I was reading it while on vacation in Big Sur, maybe it was because I wasn’t expecting to love it so much, or maybe it’s just because it really was that good. But ya, totally worth the read.

 

I had every intention of getting this blog post up at the beginning of the month…but, you know, life got in the way and the month has just disappeared. Just think, when I retire I’ll maybe actually be able to catch-up on my reading. A girl can wish…

But here’s my newest additions to the to-read list. I think I must have been in a “guilty” pleasure mood because it’s filled with easy-peasy thrillers.

1. The Luminaries // Eleanor Catton – Winner of the Man Booker prize, so why not?

2. Cut Me Loose // Leah Vincent – Promiscuous memoir about a young girl who was cast out of her super-Orthodox Jewish family…yes, please.

3. Runner // Patrick Lee – Because Lee Child said I should read it.

4. Police // Jo Nesbo – I’m addicted to Harry Hole! Honestly, just gobbling them up. So good.

5. The Lowland // Jhumpa Lahiri – I just keep hearing about this and needed to officially add it to the list. The Goodreads blurb starts, “Two brothers bound by tragedy…” Sold.

6. Lexicon // Max Berry  – A mysterious institution schooling on nuisances of language and influence. Sounds strange, but good strange.

7. Love Letters to the Dead // Ava Dellaira – Because Stephen Chbosky said so.

8. Frog Music // Emma Donoghue – I was such a fan of Room, I’m really excited to read her next novel.

9. The Encyclopedia of Early Earth // Isabel Greenberg – Although graphic novels are not always my favorite, I’m intrigued by this one. First, the author and artist is a woman (in a man’s world), and it’s about a boy traveling from the south to north pole where he finds his first, ill-fated, true love. Awwwww.

10. Shotgun Lovesongs // Nickolas Butler – The premise of small-town friends reuniting sort of reminded me of one of my favorite books ever, South of Broad. Plus, I like the cover.

Want to know what else I’ve been reading? Check out the February List.

What are you reading next?