Wolf Hour: A Novel

From the modern master of Nordic noir comes a shocking new thriller set in contemporary Minneapolis, in which a detective and a crime writer conduct parallel investigations, six years apart, into a series of puzzling murders

"Jo Nesbø is one of today's most interesting thriller writers." —Lee Child

Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2016. When a small-time criminal and gun dealer is shot down in the street, all signs point to Tomas Gomez, a quiet man with a mysterious past—and deep connections to a notorious gang—who has seemingly vanished into thin air. Other murders soon follow, and it appears Gomez is only getting started. Meanwhile, Bob Oz, a down-and-out suspended police officer with a dubious past of his own, becomes fascinated by the case: he is obsessed with the notion of hunting down a serial killer who only he can understand, a killer with a story as tragic as his own.  

Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2022. An enigmatic Norwegian man with ties to Minneapolis – a self-described crime writer – has traveled to the United States to research the Gomez case, in the hopes of writing a book about it. But as his investigation progresses, the writer’s seemingly neutral position reveals itself to be more complicated than the reader is initially led to believe.

Wolf Hour is a twisty and unforgettable thriller in classic Jo Nesbø style, which bears out Vanity Fair’s observation that “Nesbø explores the darkest criminal minds with grim delight and puts his killers where you least expect to find them. . . . His novels are maddeningly addictive.”

About the Author :
JO NESBØ is a #1 New York Times bestselling author, whose books have sold sixty million copies worldwide and have been translated into fifty-one languages. In addition to the Harry Hole series, his novels include The Night House, Headhunters, The Son, Blood on Snow, Midnight Sun, Macbeth, and The Kingdom. He is a recipient of the Raymond Chandler Award for lifetime achievement. He lives in Oslo.

ROBERT FERGUSON has lived in Norway since 1983. His translations include Norwegian Wood by Lars Mytting, the four novels in Torkil Damhaug's Oslo Crime Files series, and Tales of Love and Loss by Knut Hamsun. He is the author of several biographies, a Viking history and, most recently, The Cabin in the Mountains: A Norwegian Odyssey.

Review :
“Mr. Nesbø encloses Wolf Hour, translated from the Norwegian by Robert Ferguson, in a clever conceptual envelope. . . . The device adds another layer of intrigue to a mesmerizing and often heartbreaking story.”
—Wall Street Journal

“A fair-play mystery, with breadcrumbs scattered strategically along the way. . . . The violence and macabre elements that are Nesbø’s trademarks emerge gradually and organically, building to a chilling conclusion. . . . Nesbø is such a fluent and persuasive storyteller.”
—AirMail

“Exquisitely plotted, darkly funny. . . . Readers will have no doubt they’re in the hands of a brilliant storyteller. This soars.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Another standout standalone from the author of the Harry Hole series. . . . The novel is a pleasure to read with its engaging, easy-twisting plot, its cerebral touches, and characters like Liza, a bartender whose teasing scenes with Oz are highlights.”
—Kirkus (starred review)

“Nesbø has crafted a powerhouse here, a profoundly human exploration of loneliness and grief driven by a twisting procedural plot and grisly shocks…. Nesbø’s taut narrative and social commentary [are] deeply infused with emotional depth. Highly recommended for newcomers seeking startling perspectives on justice, such as those found in Dennis Lehane’s and Richard Price’s works.”
—Booklist

“Be warned: this constantly unsettling and constantly surprising new stand-alone thriller from Jo Nesbø concludes with an increasingly shattering and grisly finale.”
—Anniston Star Tribune

“Twisty, suspenseful.”
—Crime Fiction Review

“There aren't many writers on the planet capable of combining the grit of crime noir with the thrills of following a police investigation that is also anchored in the cultural and historical settings of the territory in which it is grounded. Wolf Hour will surprise and unsettle readers.”
—Bookreporter