Harry Hole (pronounced Hoo-la in Norwegian) is the flawed but sympathetic detective in the popular crime fiction series by Jo Nesbo. Harry battles personal demons as well as gruesome criminals around the world, but the books are primarily set in Oslo, Norway.

Jo Nesbo excels at character-driven thrillers, and his books are favourites among readers of “Nordic noir.” With each successive novel, readers gain a richer experience of Hole and what drives him. Some of the books contain grisly violence, but Jo Nesbo’s excellent writing propels the stories forward and delivers shocks and scares for the readers.

Fans of the series recommend reading the books in order because you will get a deeper understanding of Hole and the supporting characters, as well as avoid spoilers. While the books are set in multiple locales, there is an “Oslo Sequence” within the series, which includes The Redbreast, Nemesis, The Devil’s Star, The Redeemer, The Snowman, The Leopard, Phantom, Police, Knife, and Killing Moon.