The Redbreast Jo Nesbo Harper Collins $24.95 Dec.

As soon as it's released read The Redbreast. After you've read The Redbreast go find a copy of The Devil's Star, as it's already been released. Save it. The Devil's Star, is actually the second book of this police procedural set in Norway. The main character, Harry Hole is a hard drinking, loner type cop.

In The Redbreast he is promoted and transferred after an incident during the visit of the US president. Part of Harry's new job is to rubberstamp paperwork and send it up the chain of command. He also gets orders to cover the Neo-Nazi who are planning to disrupt a Muslim holiday celebration held on the same day Norway celebrates its independence. He side tracks himself when he sees that someone has purchased a high powered hunting rifle. The odds of it being used for hunting are extremely slim. Harry is looking for a possible assassin.

Meanwhile, the early part of the story flashes back to WWII where a thousand plus Norwegians fought against Russia and for Germany. These survivors consider themselves the real heroes, men who turned the tide against the Reds. Harry makes some connections between the two Nazi groups. When the killings start Harry falls back on his old branch friends to help him catch the killer. Once past the WWII jumps the story unfolds well. Nesbo's The Redbreast won The Glass Key award and was voted Best Norwegian Crime Novel of All Time. Heady praise, well earned.

Dave Biemann