The Snowman by Jo Nesbo is a Norwegian crime novel in which Detective Harry Hole investigates and tries to find a serial killer dubbed The Snowman.   The novel follows the police procedural model/format, and the plot has many twists and turns, false leads, and it develops into a thriller in the last chapters.   There are some clever sections and a number of surprises along the way.

Jo Nesbo is a popular Scandinavian noir mystery writer and the Harry Hole series has many fans.   But I found this story to be a bit cliched, episodic, and uneven.   There are so many crime stories in print and on television so it is hard to be original and creative.    An author can succeed in this competitive market by taking the time to build well-developed characters with inner lives, and multiple connections, to others, to the setting, and to their own personal histories.     The Snowman succeeds as a straightforward detective thriller, but it did not engage me as a reader.    For those who want a twisting and turning thriller, it is a good choice.    For those wanting more depth, characterization, thematic development, and creative storytelling, it will not meet those expectations.  3.8 out of 5.0 stars3.8