Literary Life | The Son by Jo Nesbo

I have never read a book by Jo Nesbo that hasn't totally enthralled me. He has a way of writing - whether it's in his Harry Hole collection or his equally successful other crime novels - that is so complex and intelligent that his books are almost impossible to put down. I've had a lot of long train journeys over the last four or so days, meaning this book has been an absolute blessing (although it did struggle to block out the overly affectionate couple sat beside me on my way home on Sunday night).

Knowing I'm a Nesbo fan, my mum bought me this book as part of my birthday presents just under two weeks ago. I started reading it more or less straight away and was gripped instantly. In The Son, Nesbo alludes to corruption nestling away in Norway's police and judicial system, following the vengeance of Sonny Lofthus, a drug-addicted prisoner, who believes his father was wrongly labelled a mole several years earlier. Taking on the role where he absolves others of their sins, Sonny uses his fellow inmates' confessions to fuel his escape and begin his exacting of judgement. 

Of course the novel is not that simple;  there's a surprisingly earnest love story which develops, a few gruesome murders and of course the big reveal as to who the mole really was. It's so interesting to follow the mind of Lofthus, a killer who isn't as cold-hearted as most. All the characters were intriguing though; we have young Markus who is as much an audience of Sonny as we, the readers, are; there's Johannes, the cancer-stricken inmate who becomes embroiled in Sonny's plan; Kari Adel, a hard working, straight-edged officer all the way through to Anders, Martha's sometimes uncontrollable fiancé. No matter the sizeof their involvement, Nesbo excels in creating layers for every character he introduces, weaving their lives ever so slightly together so that each action is never without its consequences. 

The Son is one the beset books I've read recently and I revelled racing through the chapters. It's definitely a book I would recommend and only serves to ensure that Nesbo remains one of my favourite contemporary authors.

Jade x