Jo Nesbo Popular Books

Jo Nesbo Biography & Facts

Jon "Jo" Nesbø (Norwegian: [ˈjuː ˈnɛ̀sbøː]; born 29 March 1960) is a Norwegian writer, musician, and former football player and reporter. More than 3 million copies of his novels had been sold in Norway as of March 2014, and he had sold over 50 million copies worldwide by 2021, making him the most successful Norwegian author of all time. His work has been translated into more than 50 languages. Known primarily for his crime novels featuring Inspector Harry Hole, Nesbø is also the main vocalist and songwriter for the Norwegian rock band Di Derre. In 2007 he released his first children's book, Doktor Proktors Prompepulver (English translation: Doctor Proctor's Fart Powder). The 2011 film Headhunters is based on Nesbø's novel Hodejegerne (The Headhunters). Early life Jon Nesbø was born in Oslo on 29 March 1960 and grew up in Molde. He graduated from the Norwegian School of Economics with a degree in economics and business administration. He worked as a freelance journalist and stockbroker before he began his writing career. Career The Harry Hole series The series follows Harry Hole, a tough detective working for Crime Squad and later with the National Criminal Investigation Service, whose investigations take him from Norway to numerous other countries. Hole takes on seemingly unconnected cases, sometimes found to involve serial killers, bank robbers, gangsters, or the establishment, but spends a significant amount of time battling alcoholism and his own personal demons. The Harry Hole novels are multi-layered, violent, and often feature women in peril, as typified by The Snowman. On the return of Harry Hole in The Thirst, Nesbø said: "I was always coming back to Harry; he is my soul mate. But it is a dark soul, so it is – as always – both a thrill and a chilling, emotionally exhausting experience. But Harry and the story make it worth the sleepless nights." A film adaptation of The Snowman, with Tomas Alfredson directing (replacing Martin Scorsese, who executive produced), and starring Michael Fassbender, Rebecca Ferguson, and Charlotte Gainsbourg, premiered in October 2017. The Doctor Proctor series Doctor Proctor's Fart Powder, originally published in 2007, was Nesbø's first children's book. They are illustrated by Mike Lowery. The series is set in Oslo and follows the story of Doctor Proctor, a crazy professor waiting for his big break, his next-door neighbour Lisa and her peculiar friend Nilly, a short redheaded boy. The ruthless twins Truls and Trym Thrane sometimes lurk in the background. Doctor Proctor's first major inventions are a powder that makes the user fart (and the farts don't smell) and the "Fartonaut Powder," which makes the user fart so powerfully that they blast into space. In book 2 he invents a bathtub that allows the user to travel through time. As of 2018, there are 5 books in the series. In 2014, a live-action film adaptation of the first book was made, and is only available in Norwegian. A sequel, Doktor Proktors Tidsbadekar, was released in 2015 with German involvement. Both films received mixed reviews. The Olav Johansen series It was announced in October 2013 that, writing under the pen-name of Tom Johansen, Nesbø had written at least two novels provisionally entitled Blood on Snow and More Blood on the Water, scheduled to be published in autumn 2014 and spring 2015. The books Blood on Snow and its sequel Midnight Sun: Blood on Snow 2 were published in 2015, but under Jo Nesbø's name. It was also announced in October 2013 that Warner Brothers had bought the rights to Blood on Snow and planned to make a screen adaptation, to be produced by and possibly starring Leonardo DiCaprio. However, on 4 April 2017, it was reported that the screen rights had been purchased by Tobey Maguire's Material Pictures and Lawrence Grey's Grey Matter Productions, and that Maguire would make his directorial debut on the projected film adaptation. This series follows Olav Johansen, a fixer for Oslo crime boss Daniel Hoffman. In Blood on Snow, Olav has just found the woman of his dreams. The only problem is that she's his boss's wife and that his boss has hired him to kill her. A film adaptation of Midnight Sun, titled The Hanging Sun, directed by Francesco Carrozzini directing and starring Alessandro Borghi, Jessica Brown Findlay, Sam Spruell, Peter Mullan and Charles Dance, premiered at the 79th Venice International Film Festival in September 2022. Other projects In 2011, the Nesbø story Twelve was adapted by Magnus Martens into the film Jackpot (Norwegian: Arme Riddere), a black comedy crime mystery film. In 2014 it was announced that Nesbø would contribute a re-telling of the story of Macbeth as part of the Hogarth Shakespeare project, described as a 'crime noir' version of the tragedy. His Macbeth is set in 1970 in an unspecified location that combines aspects of Scandinavia and Scotland, and involves an Inspector Macbeth of a paramilitary SWAT team targeting bikers, drug dealers, and his police colleagues. It was published in April 2018. In 2016, it was announced that there are also plans to adapt his stand-alone novel, Sønnen (The Son), as a film, to be directed by Denis Villeneuve, with Jake Gyllenhaal as producer and Channing Tatum in the lead role. On 5 April 2017, it was announced that Icelandic director Baltasar Kormakur was working on a new adaptation of I Am Victor, a short story by Nesbø previously planned as an NBC television series but not completed. Other work Nesbø played as a striker for the football team Molde FK until he was forced to give up his football career upon tearing the cruciate ligaments in his knee. Nesbø has been the lead vocalist and primary songwriter for the Norwegian rock band Di Derre since its formation in 1992. Personal life Nesbø lives close to his ex-wife and their daughter in Oslo. Nesbø is a dedicated rock climber, having begun climbing seriously at age 50. In 2023, he achieved a long-standing goal of climbing a French grade 8a sport route. Bibliography The Harry Hole novels Flaggermusmannen (1997) (English: The Bat, 2012) Kakerlakkene (1998) (English: Cockroaches, 2013) Rødstrupe (2000) (English: The Redbreast, 2006) Sorgenfri (2002) (English: Nemesis, 2008) Marekors (2003) (English: The Devil's Star, 2005) Frelseren (2005) (English: The Redeemer, 2009) Snømannen (2007) (English: The Snowman, 2010) – Adapted into the 2017 film of the same name. Panserhjerte (2009) (English: The Leopard, 2011) Gjenferd (2011) (English: Phantom, 2012) Politi (2013) (English: Police, 2013) Tørst (2017) (English: The Thirst, 2017) Kniv (2019) (English: Knife, 2019) Blodmåne (2022) (English: Killing Moon, 2023) The Doctor Proctor novels Doktor Proktors Prompepulver (2007) (English: Doctor Proctor's Fart Powder) (2010) Doktor Proktors Tidsbadekaret (2008) (English: Doctor Proctor's Fart Powder: Bubble in the Bathtub) (2011) Doktor Proktor Og Verdens Undergang. Kanskje. (2010) (English: Doctor Proctor's Fart Powder: The End of The W.... Discover the Jo Nesbo popular books. Find the top 100 most popular Jo Nesbo books.

Best Seller Jo Nesbo Books of 2024

  • The Redeemer synopsis, comments

    The Redeemer

    Jo Nesbø & Don Bartlett

    INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER Inspector Harry Hole pursues an assassin bent on revenge in this “fastandfurious” installment (The New York Times Book Review) of the bestselling series. ...

  • All Fall Down synopsis, comments

    All Fall Down

    M. J. Arlidge

    FROM THE MIND OF THE MILLIONCOPY BESTSELLER M.J. ARLIDGE COMES THE BRAND NEW SERIAL KILLER THRILLER STARRING DETECTIVE INSPECTOR HELEN GRACE... "You have one hour to live."Those...

  • The Leopard synopsis, comments

    The Leopard

    Jo Nesbø & Don Bartlett

    INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER “Meaty, gripping, full of tantalizing twists” (Associated Press), this installment of the international bestselling series brings Inspector Harry Hole bac...

  • Like Mother, Like Daughter synopsis, comments

    Like Mother, Like Daughter

    Elle Croft

    'Utterly absorbing and thoughtprovoking' Caz Frear'What a premise, and packed with suspense' Victoria Selman'A dark, delicious triumph' Niki MackayIf what they said was true, then ...

  • For the Missing synopsis, comments

    For the Missing

    Lina Bengtsdotter

    'A thriller that lingers in the memory' SUNDAY TIMES CRIME CLUB'Dark Nordic noir' THE i 'A global bestseller' SUNDAY TIMES The awardwinning, international bestselling Swedish crime...

  • The Bat synopsis, comments

    The Bat

    Jo Nesbø & Don Bartlett

    INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER In the electrifying first installment of the New York Times bestselling series, Harry Hole of the Oslo Crime Squad is dispatched to Sydney to observe a mu...

  • DUKE synopsis, comments

    DUKE

    Rozlan Mohd Noor

    For fans of Jo Nesbø, Ian Rankin, and John Burdett, a gripping crime thriller that is steeped in the grit and feel of the street:"Inspector Mislan Latif is my kind of detective. Ha...

  • Cell 8 synopsis, comments

    Cell 8

    Anders Roslund, Börge Hellström & Kari Dickson

    THE SUNDAY TIMES 60 BEST THRILLERS AND CRIME NOVELS OF THE PAST 6 YEARS PICK A CAPITAL CRIME AND A CHILLING CONSPIRACY AWAIT DCI EWERT GRENS.'A powerful, multilayered novel' Guard...

  • Retribution synopsis, comments

    Retribution

    Steffen Jacobsen & Charlotte Barslund

    On a warm Autumn afternoon, Denmark's largest amusement park, Tivoli Gardens, is devastated by a terrorist attack that leaves more than 1,200 dead. No one claims responsibility for...

  • Phantom synopsis, comments

    Phantom

    Jo Nesbø & Don Bartlett

    INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER An “addictive pageturner” (Los Angeles Times)Inspector Harry Hole attempts to exonerate his wouldbe son Oleg in this installment of the New York Times bes...

  • The Wolf and the Watchman synopsis, comments

    The Wolf and the Watchman

    Niklas Natt och Dag

    “The Alienist set in eighteenthcentury Stockholm: Brawny, bloody, intricate, enthrallingand the best historical thriller I’ve read in twenty years.” A.J. Finn, #1 bestselling autho...

  • Police synopsis, comments

    Police

    Jo Nesbø & Don Bartlett

    INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER In this “invigorating mustread” installment (Newsweek) of the New York Times bestselling series, Inspector Harry Hole investigates a serial killer targeti...

  • Macbeth synopsis, comments

    Macbeth

    Jo Nesbø

    A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK OF 2018Shakespeare’s dark and tragic play retold in a heartpounding New York Times bestselling thriller from the author of The Snowman&...

  • The Mountain King synopsis, comments

    The Mountain King

    Anders de la Motte

    This atmospheric and sinister mystery will have you “hooked from the very first page” (Kyle Mills, #1 New York Times bestselling author) as it follows a brilliant female detective ...

  • Midwinter Blood synopsis, comments

    Midwinter Blood

    Mons Kallentoft

    Meet police superintendent Malin Fors: Talented. Troubled. With a sixth sense for the truth. Join her on a manhunt that takes her to the darkest corners of the human heart in this ...

  • The Guilty Wife synopsis, comments

    The Guilty Wife

    Elle Croft

    THE TOP 10 EBOOK BESTSELLER 'A gripping tale of betrayal, deceit, and duplicity. Fabulous.' Jenny Blackhurst, author of How I Lost You 'Relentless and intense...I loved the final ...

  • Frozen Moment synopsis, comments

    Frozen Moment

    Camilla Ceder

    'Provincial detective Christian Tell is more sensitive than Henning Mankell's Wallender, while an extraordinary twist offers a women's take on Stieg Larsson's Lisbeth Salander. Thi...

  • The City Between the Bridges synopsis, comments

    The City Between the Bridges

    Niklas Natt och Dag

    A #1 international bestseller, this atmospheric and breathtaking sequel to the “cerebral, immersive pageturner” (The Washington Post) The Wolf and the Watchman explores the darknes...

  • Rule of Three synopsis, comments

    Rule of Three

    Sam Ripley

    The Whisper Man meets the paranoia of The Blair Witch Project in this terrifying suspense thriller about an urban legend coming true.That’s the one. That’s the girl who’s going to ...

  • Midnight Sun synopsis, comments

    Midnight Sun

    Jo Nesbø & Neil Smith

    From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Cockroaches, a “forcefully written story of personal defeat, despair, and salvation” (The New York Times Book Review) about a man w...

  • The Night House synopsis, comments

    The Night House

    Jo Nesbø & Neil Smith

    From the internationally bestselling author, a chilling fresh spin on the classic horror novel  When the voices call, don't answer.“In The Night House, the horror begins immed...

  • The Snowman synopsis, comments

    The Snowman

    Jo Nesbø & Don Bartlett

    INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER Inspector Harry Hole tracks a Norwegian serial killer in this “fiendishly complex and terrifically entertaining” (The New York Times Book Review) installm...

  • Dark Forces synopsis, comments

    Dark Forces

    Stephen Leather

    When you're caught between two evils, only the most decisive will survive . . .A violent South London gang will be destroyed if Dan 'Spider' Shepherd can gather enough evidence ag...

  • Cockroaches synopsis, comments

    Cockroaches

    Jo Nesbø & Don Bartlett

    #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER In this installment of the New York Times bestselling series, Inspector Harry Hole heads to Thailand to investigate the murder of a Norweigian ambassa...

  • The Stonecutter synopsis, comments

    The Stonecutter

    Camilla Läckberg

    Critics are raving about this deliciously chilling new thriller from Scandanavian crimewriting sensation Camilla Läckberg.Named by major media outlets, such as USA TODAY, The New Y...

  • The Kingdom synopsis, comments

    The Kingdom

    Jo Nesbø & Robert Ferguson

    INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER A tense and atmospheric thriller about two brothers, one small town, and a lifetime of dark secrets, from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Cock...

  • Trust No One synopsis, comments

    Trust No One

    Paul Cleave

    In this “outstanding psychological thriller” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) by the Edgarnominated author of Joe Victim, a famous crime writer struggles to differentiate betwee...

  • Knife synopsis, comments

    Knife

    Jo Nesbø & Neil Smith

    INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER Brilliant, audaciously rogue police officer Harry Hole is back and in the throes of a new, unanticipated rage in this installment of the New York Times be...

  • The Unwanted Dead synopsis, comments

    The Unwanted Dead

    Chris Lloyd

    'A gripping murder mystery and a vivid recreation of Paris under German Occupation.' ANDREW TAYLORWINNER OF THE HWA GOLD CROWN AWARD FOR BEST HISTORICAL FICTIONSHORTLISTED FOR THE ...

  • No Echo synopsis, comments

    No Echo

    Anne Holt

    When one of Oslo’s hottest celebrity chefs is murdered, Hanne Wilhelmsen is called back into action in “a nearly pitchperfect procedural layered over a moving exploration of reject...

  • The Corpse Flower synopsis, comments

    The Corpse Flower

    Anne Mette Hancock

    The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo meets Sharp Objects in this internationally bestselling psychological thriller, for fans of Jo Nesbø and Henning Mankell, now for the first time in ...

  • Three Minutes synopsis, comments

    Three Minutes

    Anders Roslund, Börge Hellström & Elizabeth Clark Wessel

    INFILTRATOROnetime Swedish government agent Piet Hoffmann is on the run from the life prison sentence he escaped: living under a false identity with his family in Calí, Colombia.IN...

  • The Thirst synopsis, comments

    The Thirst

    Jo Nesbø

    #1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER In this electrifying thriller, Inspector Harry Hole hunts down a serial murderer who targets his victimson Tinder. Part of the New York Times bestsell...

  • Japantown synopsis, comments

    Japantown

    Barry Lancet

    Named Best of Debut of the Year by Suspense Magazine and the winner of the Barry Award for Best Debut Novel.​In this “sophisticated international thriller” (The New York Times Book...

  • Kill the Father synopsis, comments

    Kill the Father

    Sandrone Dazieri

    In this “absolutely electrifying” (Jeffrey Deaver) thriller and huge international hit, two peopleeach shattered by their pastteam up to solve a series of killings and abductions t...

  • Killing Moon synopsis, comments

    Killing Moon

    Jo Nesbø & Seán Kinsella

    NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER  This killer will get inside your head. Brilliant rogue police investigator Harry Hole is back, this time as an outsider assembling his own team to...

  • Blind Goddess synopsis, comments

    Blind Goddess

    Anne Holt

    The first book in Edgarnominated Anne Holt’s international bestselling mystery series featuring detective Hanne Wilhelmsen, last seen in 1222.A smalltime drug dealer is found batte...

  • The Other Couple synopsis, comments

    The Other Couple

    Sarah J. Naughton

    THE NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER'I am sleep deprived having stayed awake desperate to find out what happened!' reader reviewFor fans of Clare Mackintosh's LET ME LIE, Cara Hunter's CLOSE...

  • Nemesis synopsis, comments

    Nemesis

    Jo Nesbø

    “Nesbø’s storytelling abilities are incomparable. Nemesis is crime novel as art form and great entertainment.”USA TodayThe #1 international bestseller from one of the most celebrat...

  • The Disappeared synopsis, comments

    The Disappeared

    Kristina Ohlsson

    From “one of Sweden’s best younger writers” (Los Angeles Times Magazine) and a “talented new author” (Booklist) comes this riveting third book in the critically acclaimed Fredrika ...

  • The Chosen synopsis, comments

    The Chosen

    Kristina Ohlsson

    In her phenomenal #1 international bestsellerfifth in the critically acclaimed and awardwinning Fredrika Bergman series“one of Sweden’s best younger writers” (Los Angeles Times Mag...

  • Blood on Snow synopsis, comments

    Blood on Snow

    Jo Nesbø & Neil Smith

    From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Cockroaches, Olav Johansen is a walking contradiction: a coldblooded killer with a heart of gold. This was not a problemuntil he fe...

  • The Redbreast synopsis, comments

    The Redbreast

    Jo Nesbø

    “An elegant and complex thriller….Harrowingly beautiful.” New York Times Book Review“The Redbreast certainly ranks with the best of current American crime fiction.” Washington Post...

  • Love Me Not synopsis, comments

    Love Me Not

    M. J. Arlidge

    THE GRIPPING DI HELEN GRACE THRILLER BY THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR M. J. ARLIDGE'Nailbiting . . . full of twists and turns' 5 READER REVIEW'The writing grabs you and pulls...

  • The Son synopsis, comments

    The Son

    Jo Nesbø & Don Bartlett

    INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER From the author of the bestselling Harry Hole series comes an electrifying tale of vengeance set amid Oslo's brutal hierarchy of corruption.“The crime aut...

  • 21 Immortals synopsis, comments

    21 Immortals

    Rozlan Mohd Noor

    21 Immortals introduces an exciting new voice in international noirfor readers of Jo Nesbø, Keigo Higashino, and John Burdett. Inspector Mislan Latif's final case after a long nigh...

  • The Gingerbread House synopsis, comments

    The Gingerbread House

    Carin Gerhardsen

    From the same Swedish editorial team and publisher as Stieg Larsson's Millennium Trilogy comes a sensational new crime writing talent Ingrid Olsson returns home from a Stockholm ho...