Norwegian police detective Harry Hole returns in his third novel from musician, economist Jo Nesbo. Harry is still, semi-officially, working the case of his murdered partner Ellen (See the excellent previous novel - Redbreast). He's back in the homicide squad but when a bank employee is killed in a robbery he's drafted into a team put together to solve the crime. Harry, finagles a way to work a parallel investigation and takes with him. Beate Lonn, a forensic video expert, along with his regular partner Halvorsen.

On the personal front Harry's girlfriend (see the excellent previous novel - Redbreast), Rakel is in Moscow trying to get permanent custody of her son. Harry runs across an old flame. Anna, who invites him to dinner. He accepts. Harry's called the next morning to a crime scene. It's Anna. She's an apparent suicide and with the bank robber taking priority Harry, suspecting otherwise, has to investigate Anna's murder on his own.

Nesbo does a fine job of weaving the plot lines together. Harry Hole is a flawed but dogged, and observant detective. The novel reads fast yet may feel a little overblown; The cases in Nemesis, upon close reading, are stepping stones toward Harry's ultimate goal. A fine read independent of Redbreast and The Devils Star. But an excellent read when interconnected with them.

Dave Biemann