The fourth or fifth novel I have read by this Norwegian crime writer, which follows the career of Harry Hole, often drunk or on the wagon, depending on the book, always has a girl friend, though usually no good comes of it. This is his first novel and for some strange reason, it's set in Australia; I don't get it because I like the feel of his Norwegian novels, the darkness and gray, lack of sun and this one is so different.
Harry is sent to Australia to investigate the murder of an Norwegian woman, which allows him to get involved with a Norwegian expatriate and fall for her, as he is investigating the crime. His police partner in Australia is an Aborigine, allowing Nesbo to narrate much of the sad history of the aborigines lives since the arrival of the convicts and immigrants from Great Britain; its not a pretty story obviously. Harry's role seems at first to be subordinate but he eventually takes over when his partner is found having committed suicide, perhaps the result of a drug overdose it is first thought. Later, they realize it's also a murder, an attempt to cover up the trail which leads to the murderer, also an aborigine, a good friend of the murdered detective but also a psychopath. Along the way, Harry's girl friend is also killed, in an attempt to lure the killer out into the open. The plan goes wrong, she's kidnapped and killed, as the attempt to bring him out of his cover fails. Harry, obviously distraught, goes on a binge but awakens long enough to continue the trail, finally apprehending and killing the psychopath and so it ends.
We get a good feel for the underworld of Australia, the police procedures, the drug trade as well as the clubs the dealers inhabit and some of the girls who ply their trade in these clubs. Not a pretty picture of a certain side of Australia.
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